Officiating

Officiatingbgarrett2018-08-30T20:29:50+00:00

“We’re all a little weird. And life is weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.”

– Robert Fulghum

Reverend Debra Joy Hart is an ordained minister through Progressive Universal Life Church and a Spiritual Director at Unity Church and Spiritual Center in Urbana, IL. She has been giving Sunday sermons at churches since 1998 and performing wedding ceremonies, vow renewal, funerals and christenings since 2003. Reverend Hart lovingly sanctifies and blesses same sex/ interfaith couple marriages.

Every ceremony includes light, love and laughter.

Her wedding ceremonies are tailored to fit each couple’s needs. In her unique marriage ceremonies, she has researched and performed traditions from a Celtic Hand fasting to a Mexican Lasso (Lazo) ceremony. Over the years she has blessed the couples with Irish, Polynesian, Jewish, traditional Christian and Native American prayers.

Each couple is asked:

How did you meet?
What makes you laugh?
What do each of you believe spiritually?
How can I best serve you?

Reverend Debra Joy Hart offers emotional wedding support to the couple (before and after the marriage date) as well as suggestions to make the day perfect. The couple is given a copy of their entire written wedding ceremony to commemorate their special day.

Deb is an effective, inspirational, spiritual and motivational speaker. During her talks I relax and connect with my inner Source. I experience love, joy and gratitude to the very depth of my being.

Evelyn M

I sometimes cooperate with the will of people who would like me to doubt my value, my contributions, my vision, my possibilities. Debra is always adept at identifying the undignified motivations and the error of the people who are trying to destabilize me, and she quickly reminds me of who she sees when she looks at me; she reminds me of what – when I am not besieged – I know about myself. When she affirms me in total confidence, I take comfort; she has more than once been absolutely – and in detail – prescient about the better turns that my exterior and interior fortunes were soon to take. If I lose sight of my True North, I count on her to help me see it again.

Kristina B

You’ll not find a more compassionate, caring individual to call on in a time of grief than Debra Joy Hart. She has an amazing intuitive sense of just what to say (and how to say it) and what to do to encourage a healthy, healing grief process. Deb was the officiant at my wedding, and then was there for me after my husband died suddenly. She has been blessed with a divine gift of spiritual and mental healing and for that I will be forever grateful.

Don B

Rev Debra Joy was a precious gift to our family as we celebrated the life of our father. She spoke with beautiful wisdom and compassion. She was the blessing we needed at the graveyard service.

Bonnie M

Deb Hart was wonderful to work with as the officiant for our wedding. We appreciate all guidance she gave us leading up to our day including her recommendations of ceremony reference material and the good helping of emotional support and encouragement she gave us while we were handling the pressures and stress of planning the wedding. Deb easily managed all aspects of the rehearsal and ceremony with an impeccable balance of humor and professionalism and delivered a personalized ceremony neither of us will forget. We’re grateful to Deb for really thinking of everything and lifting some of the weight of the day off our shoulders – She certainly had all the bases covered and we’re lucky to have had her.

Alex & Keith G., Married - October 1, 2017

Rev Debra Joy is the helmsman and the anchor in the turbulent waters that is a wedding. She tames the violent storm that can be bickering relatives and makes sure the bride and grooms wishes are the ones fulfilled. She personally interviews the prospective couple to ensure they are committed to each other, to ask sensitive, awkward questions that must be asked, and to layout a game plan to ensure the special day goes smooth. She must be good. Our other son just asked her to officiate his wedding.

Debbie S, Mother of the groom - May 2015

Rev Debra Joy is someone everyone needs in their life to make the journey easier. She makes a potentially anxious, stressful, life-changing moment bearable and fun. She did such a great job, my photographer used Rev Debra Joy to officiate her wedding.

Chrystal S, Bride - May 2015

Your Sparkle, generous heart and kindness radiates from you. You were the keystone to our ceremony.

Margaret & Josh, Married July 31, 2016