Luke 3:4-6

...as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

65 years ago today was a Sunday. I remember Dec 12, 1959 so very well! The day was a grand event! My cousin, Marie Holmes, was getting married in this very church. Large snow storm that day. This cousin was the same one who slapped my hand for taking back change from the collection place. She was a no-nonsense kind of girl. My cousin was 45 minutes late and Rev. Sam Holmes was pacing up and down Victoria St. Is she coming? Is she coming?

Rev. Holmes shook my little hand. I felt so important. He told me I was doing a great job. I was the flower girl. I was 8 years old and Marie said I would always be her flower girl. Looking back, I was the only one available. As I got older I started to panic.

At one time, I thought it wasn’t going to happen. I remember this like yesterday. Doug, groom to be, picked me up and Marie said “Elizabeth, I would like to introduce you to my boyfriend, Doug.” I said, Doug is not your boyfriend - Red is! That went over like a lead balloon. Reason to panic but it did come about and was a beautiful wedding. Velvet dresses, reds, and green. The sequins were to die for. One of the bridesmaids was Doug Matthews’ sister (Sylvia) and she made all the dresses.

The couple stayed married, had two boys and lived all over the world. There was no real religion or prayers to this story, but I got to meet Rev. Sam Holmes.

- Liz Hickey