Wedding | Jose Cordero and Jackie Hernandez

SERVICE OF MARRIAGE

Pre Service:

Enter Notes Below:

Invite ALL to Stand for the Bride

Who gives this bride to be with this man?

(congregation seated)

Words of Welcome:

To congregation:

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 NLT

All of us here love both of you so much, and today is a most special day!

We have gathered together in the presence of God to join Jose Cordero and Jackie Hernandez in sacred marriage, an institution ordained by God, and to be honored by all people.

To you, Jose and Jackie, may I express on behalf of your family and friends gathered here that we feel such a deep and profound sense of joy to celebrate this sacred union with you.

Word of Explanation:

Through the witness of Scripture, we learn that God has instructed all of those who enter into this marriage covenant to cherish one another with a mutual love; to share in the infirmities and weaknesses of one another; to comfort one another in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; to provide for one another; and, to partner with one another and the Holy Spirit to bless the world.

It is for this purpose, Jose and Jackie, that you are standing here today before God, one another, and these witnesses… to become united in sacred marriage and to celebrate the formation of a new family for the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Today, in the presence of your loved ones, both of you will declare your intent to marry, exchange vows, and give rings, all done in the full knowledge of what this sacred union means.

This kind of union - truly, this kind of love - now demands from both of you the highest form of human co-operation and sharing. This marriage covenant is binding until the day that death shall separate you.

Prayer:

Would you pray with me:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the real life and love that only you gave to us through the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ. We praise you, and we give you our gratitude, Lord, as we align our hearts and our wills to you.

Thank you for Jose and Jackie. Thank you for the love that you have formed between them. Lord, thank you for the company of these friends and family members gathered here today. Remain with us now and always. In you name we make this prayer, Amen.

Declaration of Intent:

Jose and Jackie, before God and this gathering of family and friends, I am going to ask you to declare your intent to enter into this marriage covenant:

Jose, will you have Jackie to be your wife, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful to her for so long as you both shall live? If so, then answer, “I do.”

Jackie, will you have Jose to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful to him for so long as you both shall live? If so, then answer, “I do.”

Now, to your witnesses gathered here with you today, do each one of you promise to support Jose and Jackie in their marriage together, honoring them, encouraging them, and praying for them? If so, then answer with an enthusiastic, “We do!”

***Readings:

None

Message Scripture Reading:

I would like to read a collection of short passages from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus that teach us about the essential values of marriage. He wrote:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

In your anger do not offend. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. 4:25-26

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ, God forgave you. 4:29-32

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 5:1-2

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 5:21-28

Wedding Homily:

Jose and Jackie, I want to offer both of you and your witnesses gathered here today a simple, yet profound charge: Serve one another.

In the passages that I just read, carefully hear these words: ‘be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.’

Truly, this kind of instruction demands the highest form of servanthood from both of you equally on behalf of yourself for the other… rooted in faith… and draped in humility.

The true essence of humility means more than just thinking about yourself less, it actually means losing yourself. True humility means completely taking yourself out of the equation… for the sake of the other.

As you live in marriage together, remember that Jesus did not hold onto his rights and privileges as the Son of God, but in humility, he made himself… a servant, and gave his life for all of us.

Jesus gave up his ‘everything’ - his prestige, his wants, his desires, and his very rights as the Son of God - for the sake of the world whom he loved… for the sake of his bride, the church... and for the sake of each one of you… Jose, Jackie, and all your witnesses gathered here today… and he calls all of those who enter into this sacred marriage covenant to do the very same thing.

Jose and Jackie, you are called to love one another with that same kind of humility and sacrifice, which, ultimately, calls both of you to set aside your rights as individuals for the benefit and blessing of the other.

In fact, if you want to know the secret sauce to a successful marriage… it’s not money… or time… or even good communication… it’s good old fashioned humble servanthood. That’s it. Everything good in marriage flows out of serving the other.

If you consistently set aside yourself and make your mission in marriage to serve the other, then ironically - and truly, this is the great secret of marriage - your needs will always be met. And the two of you will discover a rare kind of joy in marriage that only a few ever find.

Therefore, I implore both of you to make your “marriage mission” all about serving the another.

Jose, your marriage mission is to serve Jackie. Jackie, your marriage mission is to serve Jose.

Only the two of you know what serving the other really means.

Hold onto those unique qualities that make up the foundation of your relationship, for God has graciously formed them between you.

Keep after the heavenly vision for your marriage, and let your past experiences and present learnings continue to shape your life in Christ, together.

Bearing one another in love means remaining by one another through every argument, every illness, and every joy.

Bearing one another in love means always choosing your spouse - always choosing your spouse - ahead of yourself, no matter what person or thing, attempts to drive a wedge between the unity of your marriage.

This here [point to the two of them] from now on is your first priority... always.

As you begin day 1 of your marriage today and build a new family for God’s glory, always keep these three values from Ephesians front and center:

First is ‘hope.’

[[[A well known theologian once said,]]] “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

I think every married couple here would agree that finite disappointments, grudges, and conflicts can feel like an eternity in the moment. But in reality, they only last as long as you let them. You all decide when conflicts and grudges end. Cherish the kind of hope that’s infinite, and let that be your perspective.

Another value is ‘unity.’

Remain together no matter what!

In the midst of whatever challenge both of you face, always remain united to your community - your family, your friends, and your church.

As you make your lives together, make sure to hold onto these loved ones, and you all [[[look at the audience]]] need to make sure that you hold onto Jose and Jackie.

***

And finally, always forgive.

Jose and Jackie, Forgive one another, just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

Forgiveness requires the most complete commitment to humble servanthood. Forgiveness is true freedom, and freedom is joy!

Jose, you are to forgive Jackie just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

Jackie, you are to forgive Jose just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

Family and Friends, you are to forgive one another just as in Christ, God has forgiven each and every single one of you.

Jackie, submit to Jose, respect him and honor him in all that you do. Humbly serve him, bear with him in love, cherish the source of your hope, maintain your bond of unity, and always forgive him when he falls short.

Jose, love Jackie and sacrifice for her in the same way that Christ sacrificed himself for the church. The full charge and responsibility of marriage goes to you, my friend. Feel it, receive it, and keep your marriage holy, set apart, and engaged on mission for the glory of Christ in the world!

Humbly serve Jackie, bear with her in love, cherish the source of your hope, maintain your bond of unity, and always forgive her when she falls short.

Would you pray with me?

Exchanging of Vows:

We have now come to the moment when Jose and Jackie will exchange their vows to one another.

Jose, please repeat after me:

I, Jose,... take you Jackie,... to be my lawfully wedded wife,... to have and to hold... from this day forward,... for better or for worse,... for richer, for poorer,... in sickness and in health,... to love and to cherish,… from this day forward... until death do us part…

Jackie, please repeat after me:

I, Jackie,... take you Jose,... to be my lawfully wedded husband,... to have and to hold... from this day forward,... for better or for worse,... for richer, for poorer,... in sickness and in health,... to love and to cherish,… from this day forward... until death do us part…

Exchanging of Rings:

Jose and Jackie have decided to exchange wedding rings as tokens of their marriage together.

The wedding ring symbolizes both the unending love and commitment made by one to the other, as well as the unending love and commitment made by God to us.

Jose, please repeat after me: With this ring,... I pledge my life... and my love to you.

Jackie, please repeat after me: With this ring,... I pledge my life... and my love to you.

Prayer of Blessing

Please pray with me:

Heavenly Father, who created love and is defined by love, thank you for establishing marriage for the welfare and joy of humanity.

Father, bless Jose as he becomes Jackie’s husband. May his strength be Jackie’s protection; his character be her boast and pride. May Jackie find in Jose her haven and security. Lord, may you bless Jose and continue growing his heart toward your grace and peace.

Father, bless Jackie as she becomes Jose’s wife. May her tenderness be Jose’s honor; her love be his boast and pride. May Jose find in Jackie his respect and care. Lord, may you bless Jackie and continue growing her heart toward your grace and peace.

May you give them humility and softness of heart and mind toward one another. Unite their hands together to serve you. Father, as they seek your kingdom and righteousness, may all other things be added to them. May they come to know that perfection alone belongs to you, Father. Give them wisdom to minimize each other’s weaknesses, boldness to praise each other’s strength, and clarity to see each other through your kind and patient eyes. This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, the great lover of our souls...

Pronouncement:

Jose and Jackie, today before one another, your family, friends, and your Heavenly Father, you made a sacred covenant together, pledging your lives to one another and committing your joint relationship to God. As your community, we have witnessed both of you exchange your solemn vows, give rings, and join hands.

By the privilege vested upon me by God, I now pronounce you, husband and wife.

Kiss :

Jose, you may now kiss your bride.

Benediction:

I would like to invite all of you to stand and join hands together as we pray a final ancient blessing over Jose and Jackie.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, Jose and Jackie.

May the Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.

Amen

Presentation:

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you for the very first time,

Mr. and Mrs. Cordero

Post Service:

Enter Notes Below:

1.