I am sad. I was looking at my sitemeter awhile ago, and saw that someone had Googled “Weddings in Alaska” and had ended up at my blog. I reread the post I wrote about RT’s and my wedding in Alaska in September 2006, and on impulse clicked on the link to the minister who performed our wedding ceremony. Michael Mitchell’s website was no longer there. So I Googled his name and found the following:
Michael K. Mitchell, Ph.D. lived in Anchorage, Alaska, and ran a church without walls – a wedding ministry to the greater Anchorage area. Michael Mitchell studied for the Methodist ministry, and was assistant to the senior minister for the First Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska for four years. He also took ministerial courses under Rev. Dr. Robert H. Schuller at the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California. Following this, Dr. Schuller asked Michael to be his minister on site as he instituted his Hour of Power services on 35 mm film and showed them in cinemas in Alaska (movie house churches). Michael’s PhD is in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M. After years as a “closet Catholic,” studying Catholic theology, and participating in Catholic sacraments, he was ordained a Catholic priest by Bishop Jim Burch in March 2001, and continued his extraordinary schedule of wedding ministry in the Anchorage area, complimented by his wife, Nell. Michael passed on in 2007.
Michael performed Ron’s and my wedding ceremony, and it was a profoundly meaningful service. His wife, Nell, was one of the two witnesses. I’m very sad to know that this vibrant and energetic man died last year. May he rest in peace.
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August 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I love reading everything you write… Your tribute was beautiful…i am sure he recognized that you and PawPaw were special people too.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
August 10th, 2011 at 3:50 am
Today is our 7th wedding anniversary, performed by the Reverend Michael K. Mitchell at the Millenium Hotel in Anchorage. So sorry to hear of his passing. I looked him up to thank him for joining us this day, seven years ago.
August 10th, 2011 at 4:05 am
He also read from Corinthians 13 for our ceremony. I still have the folder he gave us with the words he spoke. For me, the most meaningful thing he said was “love is kind…be kind to one another”. He was a truly special person, and made our wedding so very memorable. I have photos from the ceremony which I will upload and share with you. It took place under the moose head in front of the fireplace in the lobby at the Millenium Hotel. Thanks for your blog!