Bride’s Processional
· “Ladies and gentlemen, would you please rise.”
· “You may be seated.”
· “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
· On behalf of Rusy, Emily and their families I wish to thank you all for coming to share in this joyous occasion.
· Please bow as we pray.
Prayer for God’s presence and blessing
Ministry of the Word
The Bible begins with a description the creation of everything that matters. It describes the beginning of the Heavens and the Earth, all plant life and animal life – everything.
After each day of creation, the Bible records, "and the Lord saw that it was good."
But, after creating man, God surveyed his new creation – man -- new, sinless and pure. And, for the first time in recorded history the Lord said, "IT IS NOT GOOD." IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE. The Lord saw that Adam was alone. There was no one to be a… “Suitable companion” to share in the joys, sorrows victories and defeats of life. And so the Lord caused a deep sleep to come over the man, took a rib from his side and from it fashioned Eve.
God did not take Eve from Adam’s foot or the head. Instead, he took her from under the shelter of Adam’s arm that they might face the future arm in arm, side by side.
In the New Testament Jesus referred to this original creation and explained this relationship more completely. He said, in Matt. 19
"For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate"
In this passage Jesus gives three essential instructions for a successful marriage.
· First, you must each be prepared to leave. In this statement Jesus is not calling on us to abandon our love for our parents. The Word still commands us to honorn monther and fathr. But, from this day forth you are to be more closely bound to your spouse than any other person.
· Second, You must cleave. This is an active verb in the present tense indicating that a truly happy and successful marriage will require active continuous work to draw closer and closer together as the years go by.
· Third, you must be prepared to be forever bound. The vows specifically state “Till death do us part.” These vows can only be boken by marrital unfaithfullness.
The Apostle Paul describes the kind of love that will be necessary to carry out the Lord’s instructions to never separate.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NKJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. {4} Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. {8} Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Explain agaph love.
These things should be remembered now as you declare your desire to be wed.
Marriage Vows
Rusty do you take this woman to be your wife. Do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses that you will love her and comfort and keep her in sickness and in health and that forsaking all others for her alone, will you perform all the duties that a husband owes his wife so long as you both shall live?
RESPONSE: "I do."
Emily do you take this man to be your husband? Do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses to love him, to comfort and keep him in sickness and health and that forsaking all others for him alone will you perform all the duties that a wife owes a husband so long as you both shall live?
RESPONSE: "I do."
Since it is your desire to take each other as husband and wife, please JOIN RIGHT HANDS and REPEAT AFTER ME and before God and these witnesses the marriage vows.
I Rusty take you Emily to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ’till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge you my faith.
I Emily take you Rusty to by my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish ’till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge you my faith.
RING CEREMONY
Rusty do you have a token of your love and affection for Emily ?
RESPONSE: "I do."
Repeat after me:
This ring I give you (a circle without end) as a token and a pledge, of our constant faith, and ever abiding love. With this ring I thee wed, and with all my earthly goods, I thee endow.
Emily do you have a token of your love and affection for Rusty?
RESPONSE: "I do."
Repeat after me:
This ring I give you (a circle without end) as a token and a pledge, of our constant faith, and ever abiding love. With this ring I thee wed, and with all my earthly goods, I thee endow.
Unity Candle –
Now, we come to the Unity Candle. Life is full of many symbolic actions that speak to us on a deeper level that we cannot always put into words. We have already used several ancient symbols in this wedding service—the exchange of rings, the clasping of hands, the bearing of flowers. By such things you act instead of speak in regard to your promises.
At the beginning of this service your mothers lit the two candles that represent your individual lives. Their actions at the beginning of the service reminded us that before you met, your parents made this day possible by bringing you into the world and bring you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Their joint action in lighting the candles together symbolized the fact that two separate families have now been brought together in support of this holy union.
In a few moments each of you will take your candle. Together you will light the one larger candle, and then replace your lit candles in their individual holders. This is a vivid reminder that in true Christian marriage our lives are merged, even as we remain individuals. This is a symbolic prayer that God will enhance your own personhood and bless your uniqueness as individuals: but that God will also make of your hands ONE hand...of your hearts ONE heart...and of your lives ONE life.
Prayer -- Blessing rings and vows
Declaration Of Marriage
For as much as _____________-- and ______________ have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by the joining of right hands and the giving and receiving of rings: I declare by the authority vested in me as a minister of the Gospel that they are now husband and wife. WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDER.
“You May Kiss The Bride”
Presentation Of The Bride And Groom
Ladies and gentlemen it is with great pleasure that I present to you for the first time MR. & MRS ________________________
Recessional
Releasing The Rows
The preceding Marriage ceremony of _____ and ______was performed by David E. Parks (minister of the Waterford Church of Christ) on Saturday, June , 2004.
THE BEGINNING
