On Friday, February 14, 2014 (Valentines Day) at 5:30 p.m., Sierra Madre Rotary hosted an event to benefit Compassionate Rescue, Sierra Madre Rotary’s International Water Project in Tanzania.

The event was one of Wedding Vow Renewal. The location was the beautiful Villa del Sol d’Oro, 675 W. Highland Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024, part of the campus of Alverno High School. The building which was completed in 1924 was designed by the famous Pasadena architect Wallace Neff, based on a house attributed to Michelangelo in Tuscany, Italy.

Among the couples entering the Villa to take part in the ceremony were two from Arcadia Rotary: (1) Paula and Michael Real and (2) Sharon and Dirk L. Hudson.

When the Hudsons turned a corner they were greeted by a surprise guest their oldest daughter Maura. With her was her husband Gerry and their two grandchildren Miranda and Quinn. Maura took a photo of the surprised look on her mother’s face.

After the couples assembled in order of years of marriage, they were guided into another room used for the ceremony. Officiating were Rev Cynthia Crowell of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Msgr. Richard Krekelberg of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, and Rev. Linda Marshall of Sierra Madre United Methodist Church.

The ceremony was subdivided as follows: (1) Gathering and Word of Grace (setting forth the purpose of the ceremony); (2) Charge to the Couples (to reaffirm their vows); (3) Affirmation of Friends and Families (offering their prayerful blessing and loving support to the marriage); (4) Scripture Reading (1 Corinthians 13); (5) The Vows (in which the husbands and wives sequentially promised once again to be true to each other and to love and honor each other all the days of their lives); (6) Affirmation of the Vows (by the Celebrant); (7) Unison Prayer of the Couples (expressing gratitude and seeking divine support and guidance for the marriage); and finally (7) Benediction and Blessing of the Couples.

All the couples (including the Reals and the Hudsons) simultaneously renewed their vows and sealed the event with a kiss.

Then the couples adjourned to another room where, along with apple juice, wedding cake was carved and pieces were distributed to participants and guests