Karen and Jackson Wedding 08.28.2021

Processional

“Bright” - Echosmith

Welcome:

In the words of retired US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, No union is more profound than marriage. Marriage embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were.

Karen and Jackson, welcome to the celebration of your union. You are about to embark upon something leading you to become something greater than you once were.

Family and friends. Welcome to this very special occasion to lift up this beautiful couple and celebrate their union. You are all here because you hold a special place in Karen’s and Jackson’s lives. They have asked you to be here to take a seat in the honored role of witness to their commitment to one another. Again, welcome.

Reflection:

In preparing to facilitate your ceremony today, Karen and Jackson, something my graduate school professors had shared keep coming to mind. He shared one of his experiences with a group of us studying servant leadership. So, I thought I might share it here today. I believe it is a fitting illustration for what the two of you are about to embark upon as husband and wife.

My professor shared that he arrived at the San Antonio airport on a hot Texas day in preparation for a presentation he had been invited to give at the Brooke Army Medical Center. Brooke Army Medical Center specializes in caring for wounded soldiers being fitted for prosthetics. He left La Crosse that morning where he teaches at Viterbo University, his flight connecting through Minneapolis before arriving in San Antonio. Upon arrival at the airport, he made his way to the area just outside baggage claim to wait for his driver to meet him. He stood in his suit and tie with his work bag at his side. It had a large Viterbo University logo on it in hopes that the driver could easily identity him. Scanning the area, and getting a good Texas sweat on, while waiting and looking for his driver he began to people watch. I don’t know about you all, but one of my most favorite pastimes…especially at an airport is people watching. As he was looking around, he saw a young couple. The husband wearing green shorts and a grey t-shirt with ARMY emblazon on the chest. In front of him, a stroller with an infant and what seemed to be his wife nearby. Because of what the young man was wearing my professor could see his prosthetic arm and leg. As he observed this young couple it was clear to see the husband was pushing the stroller with great difficulty. The wheels were just not going in the direction he needed, luggage in tow, swarms of people navigating the airport around them, and prosthetics limbs slowing him down…he witnessed this young man becoming increasingly frustrated.

My professor then went on to say that he witnessed this man’s wife coming along side her husband and he heard her say “honey, let’s push together…it’s just too hard to push alone.” Together they pushed and off they went.

This beautiful illustration of the exchange between this husband and wife is the very essence of marriage. Not only does this scene remind us all what it means to serve and sacrifice for others, a virtue of marriage, but it shows us what love and partnership looks like in action. Coming along side one another to push together, because it’s just too hard to push alone. Life is a string of peaks and valleys of which are filled with many unknowns. Great joys and great sorrows are sure to be had. What comfort it must bring to you both to know that through it all, you two get to push together. This is love! This is partnership!!!!

We are designed to do life together. It is baked into our DNA as human beings. As we gather here today and celebrate your love and partnership, Karen and Jackson, you gift us all with the opportunity to remember and celebrate love and partnership in all forms in our own lives.

We gather today to celebrate the very special love between you. Your wedding ceremony today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united by your hearts. Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in hand. Marriage is going to expand you as individuals, define you as a couple and deepen your love for one another. You will need to depend on each other and your collective strength, courage, patience and some good humor because pushing together is so much better.

Karen and Jackson, let us now move to sharing your intentions and vows for marriage.

Statement of Intentions

The intentions you enter marriage with begin in a promise of fidelity and honesty. Are you both ready to enter this commitment today?

Karen and Jackson: Yes, I am

Jackson, do you love Karen willingly and completely, withholding nothing? Will you protect her and give her your deepest considerations of her feelings, desires and needs?

Jackson: Yes, I will

Jackson, Will you strive to keep your love flexible and adapt to changing circumstances in the marriage? And will you be Karen’s counselor, helpmate, sweetheart, lover, and her best friend, form this day forward?

Jackson: Yes, I will

Karen, do you love Jackson willingly and completely, withholding nothing? Will you protect him and give him your deepest considerations of his feelings, desires and needs?

Karen: Yes, I will

Karen, will you strive to keep your love flexible and adapt to changing circumstances in the marriage? And will you be Jackson’s counselor, helpmate, sweetheart, lover, and his best friend, from this day forward?

Karen: Yes, I will.

Exchange of Wedding Vows

Karen and Jackson, now, here in front of your family and friends, I invite you to publicly share your personal vows to one another. Jackson, we will begin with you.

Exchange of Rings

If we can please have the rings.

The ring is an ancient symbol, so perfect and simple. It has no beginning and has no end. It is round like the sun, like the moon, like the eye, like the arms that embrace. It is a circle, for love that is given to come back around again and again. Your rings are precious because you wear them with love. They symbolize your commitment in marriage and to one another. They remind you of who you are, where you’ve been and where you’re going. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are as individuals, but also who you are as a couple. You may place your rings on one another.

Jackson and Karen you’ve expressed your intentions, shared your vows and exchanged rings. You may now seal your commitment with a kiss.

Karen and Jackson, would you please turn and face your family and friends. Friends and Family, I have the special honor to present to you for the very first time, Karen and Jackson as husband and wife.

Sending Blessing

I pray that goodness bless you and keep you; may love shine upon you and be gracious to you. May compassion surround you and give you peace all your days as husband and wife.

Closing

Everyone, once again, Karen and Jackson as husband and wife.

Recessional

“ILY” – Surf Mesa

Notes that helped me prepare:

Karen and Jackson

Matthew 18:20

Love always finds a way - Joyce Myers Love Series

Radical Optimism - Faith

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

Live to Love L2L

Walk in Love

Romans 12:10

Act - Feel - Know

Outward Focus

Bommerang

Colossians 3

Kindness and Generosity

Tom Thibodeau - airport stroller/ let’s push together, it’s just too hard pushing alone.

https://vimeo.com/514486766

"When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected." — Laverne Cox

A Buddhist Wedding Blessing

A Blessing for The Journey (Buddhist Prayer)

by Sensei Wendy Egyoku Nakao

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Let us vow to bear witness to the wholeness of life,

realizing the completeness of each and every thing.

Embracing our differences,

I shall know myself as you,

and you as myself.

May we serve each other

for all our days,

here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to open ourselves to the abundance of life.

Freely giving and receiving, I shall care for you,

for the trees and stars,

as treasures of my very own.

May we be grateful

for all our days,

here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to forgive all hurt,

caused by ourselves and others,

and to never condone hurtful ways.

Being responsible for my actions,

I shall free myself and you.

Will you free me, too?

May we be kind

for all our days,

here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to remember that all that appears will disappear.

In the midst of uncertainty,

I shall sow love.

Here! Now! I call to you:

Let us together live

The Great Peace that we are.

May we give no fear

for all our days,

here, there, and everywhere.

No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed.

IT IS SO ORDERED

Justice Anthony Kennedy

Supreme Court Decision on Obergefell v. Hodges

June 26, 2015