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Jun 14 2006 11 Comments

Cosplay confessional

The music started, the chapel doors opened, and there was no turning back — not now. Then, seemingly as one, the guests turned towards the opened doors, and with a last deep breath I set off down the aisle, guiding my shaking legs tentatively towards the platform ahead.

wedding chapel

Rather worryingly there appeared to be a lot more people present than anticipated, but I squeezed out a nervous smile and the odd polite nod. Then, checking that the groom was close behind, it was up on to the platform and behind the podium, tightly clasping my bible and ceremony notes. Yes, I was performing my first ‘Christian’ wedding ceremony, and with somewhere in the region of 100 Japanese guests looking on expectantly, I was nervous to say the least.

But why be nervous? If nothing else I looked the part in my newly acquired robe — complete with a rather natty stole and embroidered crosses.

robe

And if that wasn’t enough, surely my 3 hours or so of ‘training’ and the resultant certificate would get me through the proceedings. I was now authorized for goodness sake.

priestly permit

In both English and Japanese.

priestly permit part 2

The trusty robe manufacturers certainly thought so anyway, as I wasn’t plain old Mr Lee Chapman anymore. No, not by a long shot. I was going up in the world, perhaps quite literally.

priestly promotion

Such a rapid rise leading me to believe that I’d be a bishop before I knew it. Or at least I would have been if I hadn’t opted for early retirement — it being a lot of Sunday work and all that.

Categorized: General, Odd, Religion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brian says

    6/15/2006 at 1:23 am

    Amen.

    Reply
  2. shisso says

    6/15/2006 at 9:43 am

    can a reverend have sex? I wonder….

    Reply
  3. Bunny says

    6/15/2006 at 4:05 pm

    Why stop at bishop, when you could go for pope?

    That’s hilarious, Reverend Chapman!!!

    Reply
  4. Lee says

    6/15/2006 at 9:08 pm

    Bunny: I was told I’d have to face ‘at least a couple of days’ training for a shot at the Pope’s job. That and a move to Europe put me off.

    Shisso: Occasionally…

    Reply
  5. Bunny says

    6/15/2006 at 11:42 pm

    Any Royal weddings? Ever ended up with a mouthful of confetti? Ever winked at the bride? Ever winked at the groom?

    Reply
  6. maktaaq says

    6/16/2006 at 11:51 pm

    That is hilarious! I wish I’d done that when I lived in Japan.

    Reply
  7. petit oiseau says

    6/18/2006 at 1:56 pm

    wow! complete out of left field!

    oh, and shisso….unlike the Catholic religion, Reverends can indeed have sex…..but after marriage of course. but that hasn’t stopped some! aahahahah!

    ~Pammy n_n

    Reply
  8. HanshinT says

    6/19/2006 at 2:48 pm

    Congrats Lee…
    Just remember, hands off the alter boys!

    Reply
  9. dada says

    2/19/2008 at 7:49 pm

    I can see form the certificate that you work in the same company as me! Take care wit your blog… keep low profile. zif they they find out… Still doing this job?

    Reply
  10. Unbelievable says

    12/1/2009 at 5:48 pm

    What? So you are deceiver priest? Your company is deceiver too?

    Tell us name of your company and name of your hotel.

    Please be honest in our country.

    Reply

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