"Mary made our wedding so special. The ceremony was exactly what we wanted—serious, sweet, romantic, and personal. She also made the rehearsal and wedding day run smoothly and completely removed the burden of stress. It was a pleasure to get to know her and we hope to stay in touch." --Meaghan and Kevin. photo by Matthew Jason (MatthewJasonPhoto.com)
Ritual and community are important in our lives, and as a Humanist Celebrant, certified through the American Humanist Association, I am happy to help facilitate all kinds of Rites of Passage and Transition, including weddings and funerals. I will work with you to develop a services that fits you and your worldview, to celebrate the unique person you are. Some of the most common rites are:
- Weddings and Commitment Rites
- Baby Namings
- Coming of Age Celebrations
- Blessing of a New Home
- Farewell Rites, including Funerals and Memorial Services
I have collected a vast selection of readings and rites, of different tones and styles, so that you can choose exactly the sort of ceremony and tone that suit you and the occasion.
In what has become a tradition, each year I lead a celebration of spring at The Humanist Hub. Katherine Ozment writes about one of these celebrations in her excellent book, Grace without God. Among the things Ozment recalls:
Exuding joy in her teal tunic, Mary Johnson stepped to the podium on the small stage. “I don’t believe in religion anymore,” she said, “but I have the Holy Week blues. I miss all the stuff I used to do.”
As a group, the humanists are not typically nostalgic for religion, but I saw some people nodding their heads in agreement. She told us she had moved on: “I don’t want to do that,” she said, referring to the Catholic Easter rituals she performed for many years as a nun. The crowd laughed, already in her palm.
For a fuller excerpt and a video highlighting the celebration, click here. To learn more about Kathryn Ozment's journey as a secular parent and to discover what was changing within her, buy Grace without God.
Mary was asked to write and deliver a blessing at the wedding of Jackie Plitch and Harvard Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein. Their wedding incorporated many Jewish traditions. photo by Maureen Cotton PhotographyIn order to have time to get to know you and plan a special event (as well as to accommodate legal requirements, if any) it is best if you get in touch with me several months before your chosen date. (For funerals and memorial services, this is obviously not always possible, though it may apply for someone with an extended terminal illness.) Initial meetings can be done in person, with interested parties travelling to meet me, or by Skype. For the actual ceremony, I can travel fairly easily to most locations in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Special arrangements would have to be made for ceremonies in other states. Please click here to get in touch.
I look forward to celebrating with you!
Meaghan & Kevin's married at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center. photo by Matthew Jason
I was so pleased to congratulate Jackie and Greg under the chuppa. photo by Maureen Cotton Photography