“Peace, prosperity, liberty and morals
have an intimate connection.”

- Thomas Jefferson

Faith and hope remain. Let us not think that we can have love without faith and without hope! Love without faith is like a river without a source. That would mean we could have love without Christ. Faith alone justifies us before God. Hope directs our attention to the end. Love perfects.

Is the recession America is now experiencing disproportionately affecting women?

It obviously is.

The proportion of women who are working has changed very little since the recession started. But a full 82 percent of the job losses have befallen men, who are heavily represented in distressed industries like manufacturing and construction. Women tend to be employed in areas like education and health care, which are less sensitive to economic ups and downs, and in jobs that allow more time for child care and other domestic work.

Spain’s governing Socialists triumphed in elections held in March 2008, giving Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero a fresh mandate to pursue his agenda of sweeping social, cultural and political liberalization.

Despite a bitterly fought campaign, the outcome seemed to endorse some of Mr. Zapatero’s boldest decisions, including the withdrawal of Spain’s troops from Iraq, the granting of more autonomy to Spain’s rebellious regions, simplified divorce and the legalization of homosexual marriage.

(Read more of the excerpt.)

Mr. Zapatero’s Socialist party defeated the conservative Popular Party in a rematch of the bitter contest four years ago between Mr. Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy, the head of the Popular Party. It was then that Mr. Zapatero was unexpectedly swept into power after Spaniards delivered a message of disapproval and anger to the conservative government.

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Spain Steps Into Battle With Itself on Abortion
By VICTORIA BURNETT
MADRID — One day last month, Sister María Victoria Vindel gave her 15-year-old students a shockingly graphic lecture on reproductive health: PowerPoint slides of dismembered and disfigured fetuses interspersed with biblical quotations and pictures of a grinning José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain’s prime minister.

“They laugh while many innocent children will die,” one of the captions read. The presentation ended with the message, “No to abortion, yes to life!”

Sister Vindel’s class at Purísima Concepción y Santa María Micaela, a parochial school in Logroño in northern Spain, is the most controversial episode yet in an increasingly contentious debate about Mr. Zapatero’s plans to ease Spain’s restrictive abortion law.

The class was described by the mother of a student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of possible repercussions for her child, and by Inmaculada Ortega, a Socialist lawmaker who spoke to several students and their parents.

The school, where Sister Vindel is headmistress, refused to comment on the slide show, which appeared to be downloaded from the Internet. The regional government, run by the opposition Popular Party, sent inspectors to the school, a Catholic institution that is financed partly by the state and partly by the parents. The government called the presentation “inappropriate” and said that it could constitute “moral aggression.”

Since he became prime minister in 2004, Mr. Zapatero has pushed an ambitious series of reforms, prying the social fabric of Spain from the centuries-old grip of the Roman Catholic Church. The Socialist government has legalized gay marriage, eased divorce law and expanded the rights of transsexuals.

(Read more of the excerpt.)

Now Mr. Zapatero has ventured onto even more incendiary social terrain, the divide over abortion; and if he was looking for a battle, he found one. As Spain celebrated Holy Week, the clergy rolled out a vigorous protest from pulpits, billboards and the hooded ranks of traditional Easter processions.

Abortion is technically a crime in Spain, though a law introduced in 1985, 10 years after Franco’s death, permits abortions under certain circumstances. In practice, however, abortions are widely available because doctors cite a mental health exception.

The current law allows terminations in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy only in cases of rape and in the first 22 weeks in cases of congenital disorder. However, a woman can abort at any time if her mental or physical health is at risk — an exception cited in about 97 percent of abortions in Spain, according to Empar Pineda, spokeswoman for the Spanish Association of Accredited Abortion Clinics.

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Spain’s Falling Prices Fuel Deflation Fears in Europe
By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ

VALENCIA, Spain — Faced with plunging orders, merchants across this recession-wracked country are starting to do something that many of them have never done: cut retail prices.

Prices dipped everywhere, from restaurants and fashion retailers to pharmacies and supermarkets in March. Hoping to increase sales, Fernando Maestre reduced prices by a third on the video intercoms his company makes for homes and apartment buildings. But that has not helped, so, along with many other Spanish employers, he is continuing to fire workers.

The nation’s jobless rate, already a painful 15.5 percent, could soon reach 20 percent, a troubling number for a major industrialized country. (Ya think? Later on the article also includes this stat: The jobless rate for those under 25 is at a Depression-like level of 31.8 percent, the highest among the 27 nations of the European Union. NW)

With the combination of rising unemployment and falling prices, economists fear Spain may be in the early grip of deflation, a hallmark of both the Great Depression and Japan’s lost decade of the 1990s, and a major concern since the financial crisis went global last year.

Deflation can result in a downward spiral that can be difficult to reverse. As unemployment rises sharply and consumers cut spending, companies cut prices. But if sales do not pick up, then revenue can decline further, forcing more cuts in workers or wages. Mr. Maestre is already contemplating additional job and wage cuts for his 250 employees.

Nowhere is this cycle more evident than in Spain. Last month, it became the first of the 16 nations that use the euro to record a negative inflation rate. The drop, though just 0.1 percent, had not happened since the government began tracking inflation in 1961, and Spanish officials have said prices could keep dropping through the summer.

Some of the decline came as volatile food prices sank; the cost of fish fell 6.2 percent, and sugar was down 5.7 percent. But even prices in normally stable sectors like drugs and medical treatments fell 0.7 percent in March, and there were slight declines in footwear, clothing and prices for household electronics.

“Alarm bells are going off,” said Lorenzo Amor, president of the Association of Autonomous Workers, which represents small businesses and self-employed people. “Economies can recover from deceleration, but it’s harder to recover from a deflationary situation. This could be a catastrophe for the Spanish economy.”

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty. This is known as "bad luck."
— Robert A. Heinlein

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We're just about to begin. The processional is "Joyful Joyful," always an appropriate choice for a joyful event. We will have the following scripture readings:

Romans 5:1-2, 6-8
1 John 4:10-11
Isaiah 25:1, Jeremiah 29:11

We expect the arrival of the bridal party in a moment.

Update:

For those of you keeping score at home, here are the featured participants.

The bridesmaids are:

Patience "Tiger Lilly" Stewart, Maid of Honor
Lindsay Irish, Bridesmaid
Casii "Princess Flicker Feather" Stephan, Bridesmaid

We'll get back to the groomsmen. We are beginning.

Ben has just seated his mother and awaits his bride. The wedding party is emerging. We are singing "Amazing Grace" as they arrive. The maid of honor and best man have just arrived. The bride is imminent.


Tiger Lilly and KingDavid (Patience & Dave Cesarek) clear the way.
Photo by Katherine Cesarek.)

Now arrives the bride. Faith is here, beautiful.

Night Writer here, logging in after the fact with extra details. Let it be known that I was right there next to Faith, in a very snazzy tux, a picture of composure. And I don't even get a mention on my own blog? "Joyful, Joyful" by the way was sung by one of the bridesmaids and two of the bride's friends. Lovely.

Update:

Faith's mother, the Reverend Mother, is presiding. She is now reading from Ephesians, reminding Ben and Faith of what the Lord expects of married people.

Ben and Faith have professed their faith in Jesus. Now through their faith, they are ready to wed.

The Reverend Mother is reminding Ben and Faith that Jesus is part of any marriage. They will become one. The power of God will join Ben and Faith together.

We are now talking about witnesses. Everyone here is agreement with this union.

Ben and Faith look great.


(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

So does the Reverend Mother!

Now the vows.

Ben says "I do."

Ben Worley now tells Faith that he joins himself to Faith. From this moment forward we shall be one.

Faith says "I do."

Faith now tells Ben that she submits herself to Ben, to be his wife and that from this moment forward, they shall be one.

Now, the ring. The ring is the reminder of their faith and of the promise they have made today.

Now Ben places the ring on Faith's finger.

Now Faith places the ring on Ben's finger.

Now Ben and Faith join hands. They are now husband and wife.

The Rev. Mother says, "You may now finally... and without further ado ... or fear of bodily harm, kiss your bride."

(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

Ben and Faith kiss. The deed is done!

Kind of a long kiss, actually, but then they've been waiting a long time. Tiger Lilly flinches at first, probably from reflex, but the katana stays out of sight.

Update:

Now the recessional begins. It was a beautiful ceremony, but also one that underscores the seriousness of what has happened today. A marriage is a highly consequential event. But there's also a party to have. And that is next. We're going to have the receiving line now. Further updates are coming soon!


(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

Update:

We're back. We don't want to give short shrift to the groomsmen, especially since they are fairly large dudes and while gentle could conceivably cause some sort of stampede. They also make the bridesmaids look especially good in comparison. They are:


(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

Best Man: David "King David" Cesarek
Groomsman: Dave "Surly Dave" Christison
Groomsman: Dan "Stover!" Stover

They're all bloggers, too.

And we should also give the flower girls and ring bearer a shout-out, too, don't you think?

They are:

Arabella Jestus
Moriah Jestus
Deborah Harrison
Catherine Harrison
Christopher Slocum

Let's set the scene: the caterers are busily preparing the tables for dinner. I am hearing random shout-outs from inside Stately Night Writer Manor, which appear to be cheering of some sort. It's a happy event.

No caterers! The groomsmen were in charge of converting the seating to a table and chairs layout in the driveway with decorating done by the bridesmaids. An all volunteer group of friends organized the food preparation with a fleet of teen-agers rushing to tables with fruit plates and baked brie and later the entree and wedding cake. Speaking of volunteers, I notice that Mr. D has a prime seat with a good view of the action, but he also happens to be facing into the late afternoon sun.

Mr. D at work, with the Heathen Brother standing by.
(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

I am also now in possession of John's wide brimmed hat. It's a good look for Mr. D, who ordinarily favors Bugs Bunny baseball caps. I'm sitting in John's chair, writing on his blog and even using his laptop. This is almost the dictionary definition of living large. Mrs. D helpfully points out that it's a very good thing indeed that John has not also handed me the bill for this event.

Update:

We're back and it's time for the father/daughter dance. After some of the earlier suggestions were rejected, such as "Butterfly Kisses" and "Funkytown," John and Faith are dancing to "My Little Girl," by Tim McGraw.

It's a beautiful moment.


(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

And now Ben and Faith dance together for the first time as husband and wife. It is also a lovely moment. The song is "Book of Love," by Peter Gabriel.

We're going to turn things loose a little bit now, since the party part of the wedding is about to begin. We had a lovely dinner and a lot of fun, including a trivia contest, a la Keegan's Irish Pub, a local watering hole that played a major role in this couple eventually finding each other. Two local bloggers who shall remain nameless were your winners.

Hey, my team won the trivia contest only to be disqualified for being family of the bride and groom (a number of questions had to do with their courtship). These people are making up rules after the fact, kind of like Minnesota election judges. Dang, I could use that $5 Caribou gift card. Btw, Tiger Lilly came up with the trivia questions and acted as emcee. Marty better watch his back!

The entire wedding party is dancing, or a reasonable facsimile thereof. As a general rule, it's never advisable for large, middle-aged bloggers to dance publicly; I am not aware of any statutory limitations on such things, but it looks like they are having a lot of fun. More party reportage anon!


(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

Update:

We're back! The groomsmen just danced with bags over their heads to the Black Eyed Peas. That is probably the best way to do it. It's early, but thus far the music provider has managed to eschew the "Chicken Dance" and the staple of all Wisconsin weddings, Nick Lowe's "I Knew The Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll." This is a classy ceremony, we'll have you know.


(Photo by Brad Carlson.)

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This you should see. We have the bride, bridesmaids, mother of the bride/officiant and various other women doing a frighteningly well-choreographed version of "Thriller."

The bride shed one of her ivory wrist-sweaters for the dance. Unfortunately, no photos at this time!!

Update:

We're going to let some of the other assembled blogging talent have an opportunity to address the vast North American Night Writer audience. First, let's bring on Brad Carlson, sage of Anoka County!

Hi, it's Brad here. I can't tell you how thrilled I am for Ben and Faith (and it's not just because the limo is coming in five minutes to whisk them away). Seriously though, to see a young couple take their first step in a Christ-centered journey is truly an honor.

And I also have to say this is the first wedding I've attended where:

a)One person served as both mother of the bride and Officiant (Marjorie Stewart a/k/a The Reverend Mother).

b)Each groomsman was old enough to be the father of each bridesmaid whom they escorted down the aisle.

Whoa, the Electric Slide is playing. I'm outta here!!!!

Yep, I think that was Brad that hit the dancefloor like Adrian Peterson breaking through the Green Bay defensive backfield.

Update:

Brad wasn't kidding, folks. It is the Electric Slide! Cha cha, y'all! It's just about dusk and the limousine is here, just about ready to whisk Ben and Faith away. But we've got lots of talent here. For example, we have Gino, all the way from Southern California, here to add his unique sensibility to this post. Take it away, Gino!

Hello,all who are still reading this.
Gino here,
First off, i want t thank Ben and Faith for planning their wedding to coincide with my escape from the wretched land on the left coast.
Seems the young lovers have wasted no time putting the joy in marriage: dancing,laughing,smiling non-stop.

They're on their way...

Oh, now they left. Off to the honeymoon, wedding night, and whatever else they got planned.

I'm sure they'll be busy...
Oh,yeah...

It should be noted that Gino, who's full name is Gino Ruffalo, received a special serenade from the Mall Diva and Tiger Lilly during the toasting: a rendition of the Veggie Tales' "Everybody's Got a Water Buffalo Song" with "Gino Ruffalo" inserted in the key places. We'd never met Gino of the Shreds blog in person before today but he has been a frequent commenter. When I admonished the girls that everyone doesn't have a Gino Ruffalo they inserted, "but they wish they did!"

Update:

Now that the happy young couple (or is that the dearly departed?) have decamped for their new life together, we're going to bring this live blog to a close. We hope that you have enjoyed this blessed event and I would like to wish Ben and Faith a blessed life together.

Your faithful correspondent,

Mr. Dilettante

Thanks, Mr. D! Great job! As Larry the Cucumber might say, "I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob." Photos will be downloaded and inserted into the appropriate spots here as soon as we can get to them! There's a sneak peak here.

The official wedding photographer informs us she has more than 2400 photos of the event to go through, proof and categorize. Expect these about the time the newlyweds return from their honeymoon in three weeks.

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The Gift of Community (from Life Together)
Because God already has laid the only foundation of our community, because God has united us in one body with other Christians in Jesus Christ long before we entered into common life with them, we enter into that life together with other Christians, not as those who make demands, but as those who thankfully receive. We thank God for what God has done for us. We thank God for giving us other Christians who live by God's call, forgiveness and promise. We do not complain about what God does not give us; rather we are thankful for what God does give us daily. And is not what has been given enough: other believers who will go on living with us through sin and need under the blessing of God's grace? Is the gift of God any less immeasurably great than this on any given day, even on the most difficult and distressing days of a Christian community?

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