Family and friends attended a reception for newlyweds Paul and Damaris Gerber, who reside in Switzerland, on Sunday afternoon at the Calvary Baptist Church.
A video was shown of the wedding, which took place in a castle in Spiez, Switzerland last July. Paul’s parents and sisters, Heidi and Helen, attended the ceremony.
“While the guests were gathering for the service, two hymns were played,” recalled Helen. “It was beautiful, it just echoed across the mountains.
“The church is an old building which fit right into the ceremony, it was majestic,” she added.
A program was held prior to the luncheon in the lower hall, which included a trumpet solo by exchange student Rene Steinrickeng (accompanied by Marina Gerber on the organ) entitled “Now Thank Wwe All Our God,” which was played at the wedding.
Two candles—lit on the altar by nieces Layssa and Madeline Taylor—awaited the young couple as they walked down the aisle. They approached the lit candles and blew them out, meaning they are now bonded together.
Then they sat down near the altar and waited for the program to begin.
Marina Gerber led in the singing of “This Land Was Made for You and Me,” then the father of the groom welcomed everyone. The video of the wedding then was shown, which gave everyone an idea of what had taken place.
Pastor Andrew Hall related on scripture verses appropriate for the occasion, mentioning that sharing love is a mutual responsibility.
Sisters Helen Taylor and Heidi Gerber sang a wonderfully harmonous selection. Rachel Lahmann (piano) and Micha Gerber (flute) also entertained, followed by the Gerber brothers in a song “To Praise God.”
After the program, everyone retired to the lower hall for a luncheon and to visit with one another.
Paul Gerber is employed back in Switzerland as a finished cabinet carpenter while his wife is employed as a physiotherapist in a hospital at Basel.
I asked Paul if they had plans of coming to Canada? “It is too early to say,” he replied. “We’re comfortable at the present time. We are still young with plenty of time to think into the future.”
I remember Peter Gerber having done the same thing—going to Switzerland to find work, which he did, and then got married. They stayed a few years and returned to Canada (they now live in Calgary).
They could not make it to the reception due to unfortunate circumstances beyond their control.
Paul Gerber’s e-mail in Switzerland is pauldamaris@yahoo.com
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