Untitled Sermon

Cannon & Haley

Reception of the Bride.

You may be seated.

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

ANSWER

Welcome & Prayer

We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of Cannon and Haley in the covenant of marriage. As we begin this ceremony, let us go to the Lord in prayer.

PRAY

Father we thank you for this day that you have given us to gather together to celebrate Cannon and Haley as they join together in the gift that you have given us in marriage. I thank you for their family and friends that have gathered here to witness this special moment. I thank you for the ways that you have worked in their lives to be the people that they are and to bring them to this moment in their lives. I pray that you will be with us today and bless this marriage that they are about to enter into. We thank you for all that you have done for us and the ways that you have blessed us, in Jesus name. Amen.

Remarks

As you prepare to commit yourselves to one another in marriage, we should take a moment to reflect on what marriage truly is.

God is the author of marriage. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

From this day forward you are no longer simply two individuals who are living life together. You are one.

The decisions that you make should always take into account what is best for the other.

The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:28-29, “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church”

You are called to care for one another, as you would care for yourself. To nourish and cherish one another.

The most important part of that passage is the comparison we see: As Christ loved the church. There is no greater love, no love more selfless love than the love of Christ for the church.

He loved us so much that as Romans 5:8 says, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This means that you are called to love each other in this same selfless way. That even when it may be hard, even when they fall short, you love them in the way they Christ has loved us.

A passage that will help you to see how well you measure up is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

This passage tells us great things about what love is, but it can also be helpful in seeing how well we love. If we are truly loving in the way that we should, we should be able to say those things about ourself.

“I am patient and kind; I do not envy or boast; I am not arrogant 5 or rude. I do not insist on my own way; I am not irritable or resentful; 6 I do not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoice with the truth. 7 I bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things.”

If at any point you find yourself feeling as though what you are saying doesn’t quite fit, you have identified an area within yourself to work on so that you can be more effective at loving the other the way that you should.

Cannon; Haley it has been a privilege to get to know both of you as a couple. To see your love for one another. To see your desire to become better for each other. It is wonderful to see how God has brought two together that are so well suited for each other. You are both passionate and driven. Whatever you both do, you do it to the best of your ability. I am confident that you will both put that same mentality to work in your marriage, and you will be blessed for it.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment that will not always be easy, but if you will both pursue it with all that you are and place God at the center of your marriage, it will be one of the greatest blessings of your entire life.

VOWS

At this time, you will both now exchange vows to one another and enter into the covenant of marriage.

Minister (to Cannon): Cannon, in the presence of God and these witnesses will you take Haley as your lawfully wedded wife, entering into covenant marriage as ordained by God? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; for richer and for poorer, forsaking all others, and keep yourself only to her, so long as you both shall live?

Cannon: I do.

Me to Cannon (Repeat after me)

I, Cannon, take you Haley, to be my wife; and I promise, to be your loving and faithful husband; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.

Minister (to Haley): Haley, in the presence of God and these witnesses will you take Cannon as your lawfully wedded husband, entering into covenant marriage as ordained by God? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; for richer and for poorer, forsaking all others, and keep yourself only to him, so long as you both shall live?

Haley: I do.

Me to Haley (Repeat after me)

I, Haley, take you Cannon, to be my husband || and I promise, to be your loving and faithful wife || in plenty and in want || in joy and in sorrow || in sickness and in health || as long as we both shall live.

Exchanging of Rings

As a sign of the promises that you have made today, you will be exchanging rings.

Cannon, if you will get Haley’s ring.

As you place the ring on the ring finger of Haley’s left hand, repeat after me:

I give you this ring || as a sign of my commitment and the promises we made this day.

Haley, please get Cannon’s ring.

As you place the ring on the ring finger of Cannon’s right hand, repeat after me:

I give you this ring || as a sign of my commitment and the promises we made this day.

Closing Prayer

Seeing as marriage is a gift from God, and the best version of your marriage is one that is dependent upon him, I can think of no better way to begin your marriage than going to the Lord in Prayer.

PRAY

Father, we thank you for this day and this new marriage. I pray that you will be with Cannon and Haley as they are beginning this new journey has husband and wife. I pray that you will protect them and bless them. I pray that you will draw them nearer to you each day. I pray that their love for each other will continue to grow throughout their life. Lord, help us as their family and friends to be there to love and support them in any way that we are able. Thank you for Canon and Haley. Thank you for bringing them together. Please be with them as they begin heir life together. It is in Jesus name that we pray, Amen.

Pronouncement

Through the saying of vows and exchanging of rings before God and these witnesses, by the power vested in me as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I declare that you are married, what God has joined together let no man separate.

Cannon, you may kiss your bride.

STEP TO SIDE

It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the very first time Mr. & Mrs. Cannon and Haley Pender.

AFTER RECESSIONAL

At this time all family can head OUTSIDE (or other location) for pictures. Guests are invited into the breezeway for cocktail hour.