02/23/2003

Sarah Fuqua and Joseph Macedo

Weymouth United Methodist Church, Weymouth, Mass.

12.24.02

Camp Aldersgate is a 200-acre camp in Glocester run by the United Methodist Church. Sarah Fuqua and Joseph Macedo, both now 22, met there as young teens. They would spend weeks together in the summer, then fall out of touch during the year.

"It was a difficult friendship," says Fuqua, "as I lived in Weymouth, over an hour away from Joe's home of East Providence. Once in a while, when we were old enough, we would meet at Boston's Fanueil Hall with friends."

During the summer of 1999, they both worked as counselors at the camp, and this was the summer the romance ignited. "We would stay up talking until four in the morning, then run programs together, and take long walks."

At the end of that summer, Macedo returned to the University of Rhode Island and Fuqua returned to Weymouth. "Now we were faced with a two-hour gap -- we overcame it with long phone calls and big phone bills!"

Early last year, the distance became too much, and they decided to move in together. They found their place in Providence, where, last April, Macedo wrote "will you marry me" in plastic alphabet magnets on their refrigerator.

Sarah is a secretary in the psychiatric department of Rhode Island Hospital; Joe works as a benefits operations specialist at Brown University. She has a degree in social work from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy; his, from URI, is in communications.

Sarah had hoped to work with the elderly, but instead got a job in food and heating assistance, and hated it. Joseph's dream was to become a radio personality. "So Joe and I went to the same temp agency and ended up with permanent job offers, doing what we do now. We both love our jobs."

The Reverend Jeffrey Thomas, director of Camp Aldersgate, will marry the two today. He begins the ceremony: "I've known Joe and Sarah since they were children, and have watched them grow through their teen years. We have worked and played together, shared meals together, worshipped together. They have a quiet but strong assurance that their love is right for each other.

"Joseph, don't ever forget that Sarah is your girlfriend! Fall all over yourself to impress her. And Sarah, don't forget, Joe is your boyfriend."

It's Christmas Eve -- the limousine company called a few days before the wedding to make sure the date wasn't a mistake. The altar is filled with poinsettias, the bridesmaids carry fur muffs instead of bouquets.

At the reception, the place cards look like gift boxes, tree ornaments are favors, and the wedding cake looks like a pile of wrapped presents with a big bow instead of a bride and groom on top. The traditional toast will be with eggnog rather than champagne, and yes, Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance.