Wedding | Trevor and Nicole Solarzano

SERVICE OF MARRIAGE

Prior to Service:

Arrive at 3:30

Arrive at DeSoto entrance

Opening Blessing - Pastor Megan

Welcome - Pastor Megan

Memory Candle - Pastor Megan

Opening Prayer:

Will 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 Trevor and Nicole. 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 the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we make this prayer, Amen.

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Read by O'Dali (Grooms Aunt)

Bride passes flowers and faces one another. Gabby.

Word of Explanation and Declaration of Intent:

Through the witness of Scripture, we have learned 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, Trevor and Nicole, 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.

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

Trevor, will you have Nicole 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.”

Nicole, will you have Trevor 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.”

Affirmation of the Bride’s Dad - Pastor Ryan:

- What exactly does this entail?

Who presents this bride to this man?

Gift of Music

Wedding Homily:

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

From the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, 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 for the sake of the other… rooted in faith… and draped in humility.

As you grow in your marriage and relationship with Jesus, remember that he did not hold onto his rights and privileges as the Son of God, but instead, in humility, Jesus made himself… a servant.

Jesus gave up his ‘everything’ - his prestige, his wants, his desires, and even 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… Trevor, Nicole, and your witnesses gathered here today… and he calls all of those who enter into this sacred marriage covenant to do the very same.

Trevor and Nicole, you are called to love one another with that same kind of humility and service, which, ultimately, beckons both of you to set aside your rights as individuals for the benefit and blessing of the other.

To bear one another in love means remaining by each other’s side through every argument, every illness, and every joy.

To bear 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 is priority one.

Therefore, as you begin this first day of your marriage and build a new family for God’s glory, always keep these three values from 1 Corinthians 13 front and center:

First is ‘hope.’

One pastor said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Finite disappointments, grudges, and conflicts may feel like an eternity in the moment. But in reality, they only last as long as you let them. You 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 either one of you face, always remain united to God, each other, your community - your family and friends - and your church.

And finally, always forgive.

Trevor and Nicole, Forgive one another, just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

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

Trevor, you are to forgive Nicole just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

Nicole, you are to forgive Trevor just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.

Nicole, care for Trevor, 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.

Trevor, love Nicole and sacrifice for her in the same way that Christ sacrificed himself for the church. The full charge and responsibility of this 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 Nicole, bear with her in love, cherish the source of your hope, maintain your bond of unity, and always forgive her when she falls short.

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

Will you pray with me: Lord, we invite your blessing upon Trevor and Nicole to forever unite them in the bond of love. Lord, may you grant them humility and courage to serve one another in the same way that your Son loved the world. Lord, may the the presence of your Spirit serve as a guarantee of your goodness and grace to them.

Lord, may you provide them with strength to forgive one another just as they have been forgiven by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Be with them now and always. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we make our prayer. Amen.

Exchanging of Vows:

We have now come to the moment when Trevor and Nicole will exchange their vows to one another. In these vows, both of you will forever pledge your lives to love one another before God and the company of your witnesses until death do you part.

Trevor and Nicole, you will first share the traditional Christian vows to each other and then give your personal written vows. Would you please face each other and join hands:

Trevor, please repeat after me:

I, Trevor,... take you Nicole,... 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... according to God's holy ordinance... and thereto... I pledge thee... myself to you.

You may now read your personal vows to Nicole.

Nicole, please repeat after me:

I, Nicole,... take you Trevor,... 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... according to God's holy ordinance... and thereto... I pledge thee... myself to you.

You may now read your personal vows to Trevor.

Exchanging of Rings:

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

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

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

Gift of Music: “Orancion Matrimonial” -

Unity Candle, Communion, Mantilla: Pastor Megan

Place mantilla on top of alter.

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. You have said, "it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helpmate for him." Now our joys are doubled since the happiness of one is now shared with another. Likewise, our burdens now have been halved since the troubles of one is now shared with another. Lord, bless Trevor as he becomes Nicole’s husband. May his strength be Nicole’s protection; his character be her boast and pride. May Nicole find in Trevor her haven and security. Lord, may you bless Trevor and continue growing his heart toward your grace and peace.

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

May you grant them humility toward each other. Unite their hands together to serve you. Lord, 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, God. 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. Lord, may they never take one another for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, "out of all this world, you chose me." And when life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found as now, hand in hand, still thanking you, Lord, for the love they share between each other, until at last one shall lay the other into your arms. This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, the great lover of our souls...

Ruth 1 Prayer?

Trevor and Nicole, I want to invite you to look at each other in the eyes, and repeat after me this prayer from the book of Ruth:

“Don’t ask me... to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go... I will go; wherever you live... I will live. Your people will be my people... and your God will be my God.” Ruth 1:16 NLT

Pronouncement:

Trevor and Nicole, today before your Heavenly Father, each other, your family, and your friends, 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 forever join hands.

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

Kiss :

Trevor, you may know kiss your bride.

Benediction:

I would like to invite all of you to stand with Trevor and Nicole and join hands together as we pray a final ancient blessing over them.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

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. Solarzano!