Face forward - even if not moving forward

Well, it’s all done. Matt and Erika are now officially Mr. & Mrs. Warmington. Although it was a simple wedding and reception in the church, it suited them and literally everyone was so happy to be a part of that. My happiness was not without tribulation, however..

Flashback to this morning. The worship team rehearsal is wrapping up just after 10am. No sign of the PowerPoint with the additional scripture texts and songs to be sung. The wedding is scheduled to start in less than 2 hours. I ask our receptionist if she’s seen the pastor so I could ask where this file is.

“Why?” she replies, “It’s already done and on the balcony computer. Didn’t anyone tell you?”

“No. No one said anything,” I say, “But I need that to put it together with the stuff I worked on last night!” The techie go-to ninja springs into action yet again.

I find the file and begin cutting and pasting the two PowerPoints together according to the service outline. I do a quick run-through on the projector to ensure pictures, fonts and backgrounds come up clearly. Font shadows are improperly applied (yet again ). Fix that up (yet again ). It’s after 11am and people are beginning to come in. The groom is walking around the sanctuary and I gently admonish him he has to get out so I can test things without him seeing them.

Quick run-through of text slides. Seems to work and look good. Double check the imported slide/sound clips from the maid of honour. The first few slides hang up on the audio clips.
I try one more thing that may fix the glitch, but it’s 11:35am and too late to do another run-through.

“Oh God,” I pray, “Please don’t let there be technical glitches for the wedding couple today.”

The whole service and PowerPoint run flawlessly. I get all weepy when the bride walks down the aisle and when the montage video runs to a lovely piano rendition of the song “Somewhere, Out There”. God is faithful and I am very happy.