Mar Martin departed for Australia on 11-07-2008 in order to participate in a formal renewal of vows with his bride Deaconess Pamela, scheduled for November 11th. After delays in Los Angeles and in Sydney, Mar Martin finally arrived in Melbourne on November 10th, where he was greeted by Deaconess Pamela, who was grateful that her groom arrived in time for the wedding. From his Christmas 2008 letter to family and friends, Mar Martin adds:
....Pam and I were not through with celebrating our wedding, especially since her family and friends had not had the opportunity to share in our nuptials. Therefore, we celebrated in her parish church of Holy Trinity, Buninyong, Victoria, Australia, a full-blown Anglican-rite wedding (actually a very formal renewal of vows) and holy communion service. Thanks to some glitches furnished by United Airlines, my arrival in Melbourne was delayed to the point of costing us a day and then some, to the point that some may have wondered whether the groom would appear for the wedding No worries, though... The groom arrived the day before the wedding (which was actually necessary in order for Pam to register a legal wedding in Australia). The church rites were simply awesome, as the advance planning was excellent (kudos to Pam, and yes the groom participated in planning details), and the Scottish bagpipe processional and recessional brought tears to Celtic eyeballs! The honeymoon included a whirlwind tour of Melbourne (a huge world-class city that makes Indianapolis look like small potatoes), the western highlands around Pam's home, the historic city of Ballarat, the lower Dandenong Mountains east of Melbourne, and the Mornington Peninsula (magnificent--highly recommended). While we were at home, we stayed in the bridal suite that Pam had built, along with a kitchen-living-room suite and a large chapel. The house itself is a separate, equally-magnificent edifice on 12 acres of ground. If you are forming an impression that my lovely bride is a go-getter, you would be quite correct. Her four adult children are also wonderful people, who were very kind and welcoming to me and who were tremendously helpful to Pam with the wedding and reception. It was not difficult at all to feel their warmth and to feel warmly toward them and their families. Not only was the church building full for the wedding, but also was the home chapel, which hosted the reception. Pam is surrounded by family and friends who love her very much, quite a testament to her as a person who has a positive impact on people. Needless to say, it was quite hard to return to the States. A veritable basket-case of emotional wreckage, I felt as though I was leaving behind (albeit temporarily) not only Pam but also my Australian family. Somehow returning to work in the States just did not seem to be a very exciting proposition at that moment in time.... However, there will be a reunion, the sooner the better!
Since my return to the States, it has been amusing to offer the quip that my wife had the unusual good fortune to be a spring bride twice in the same year, with each spring wedding occurring on a different continent! Your prayers for our earliest reunion would be most welcome and warmly appreciated.
Gratefully,
+Mar Martin
Dear All:
June was indeed quite a month here in east central Indiana, including the following positive events over and above the recurring strong thunderstorms, occasional hail and funnel-clouds, and flooding:
(1) On June 20th Pamela Bright (a theology student of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Australia) and I exchanged wedding vows in the presence of Father Robert Kovacs, in Hartford City, Indiana. A renewal of vows is anticipated later this year to be celebrated among Pamela's family and friends in Australia, with a reception to follow here in the States.
(2) On June 28th Pamela was ordained to the order of deaconess for service in the Old Catholic Orthodox Church, which is in communion with the Christian Synod of St. Timothy.
Please feel free to view the June 2008 wedding and ordination photographs on the last page of this website.
It is truly exciting to realize the thought of sharing life and ministry with such a wonderful help-mate! Not only is Pam a theology student, she has served over four years as a licensed civil celebrant of weddings in Australia. Pam's service in both Church and society contributes a wealth of experience to the ministry of our local Christian mission!
Your prayers in our behalf are both welcome and appreciated.
Gratefully,
+Mar Martin