“If people did not love one another, I really don’t see what use there would be in having any spring”—so opined Victor Hugo. 

Or as Tiffany Aurora mused:
We are settling into the spring of things.
     Two-lipped Tulip kisses & cherry blossom breaths.

In matters of the heart, spring is the season of blossoming love, is it not? Why even Solomon himself was carried away with spring’s enchantment:
           My beloved spoke and said to me,
                   “Arise, my darling,
                           my beautiful one, come with me.  
           See! The winter is past;
                           the rains are over and gone.  
                   Flowers appear on the earth;
                           the season of singing has come,
           the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
         The fig tree forms its early fruit;
         the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
         Arise, come, my darling;
          my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Solomon 2:10-13)

Thus, spring is surely the perfect season to ponder matters of marriage, as we are in our current worship-pulpit series, “Marriage.”

This Sabbath our series continues through the ministry of David and Beverly Sedlacek in both services (9 AM/11:45 AM). As pastor and clinician, David is Chair and Professor of Family Ministry and Discipleship in the Department of Discipleship and Lifespan Education at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. And having specialized in psychiatric nursing, Beverly is a therapist in private practice at University Medical Specialties in Berrien Springs, Michigan. 

Combining their two academic careers (David’s doctorate in Social Work [Case Western Reserve University], and Beverly’s doctorate in Nursing Practice [Andrews University]), our guest couple collaborated to write the book Cleansing the Sanctuary of the Heart: Tools for Emotional Healing, along with its accompanying workbook. 

Together they conduct seminars nationally and internationally on many topics related to family ministry and are family ministry directors in their local church. They have five children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They know of what they speak!

And besides, who better than a husband and wife team to minister to our campus congregation on the subject of marriage? Given the stresses of both pandemic and culture, marriage faces unprecedented challenges today. But the Sedlaceks come to minister to us the hope and promise of Christ our Lord for all who have, who are, and who may yet experience the Creator's “in the beginning” gift of marriage to humanity. Welcome, Sedlacek's, and all to worship this Sabbath.