Eitor and Erin Wedding

ZOOM Meeting Notes (4/2/2023)

Ceremony Script.

LONG DISTANCE.

5 years long distance.

Eitor and Erin met in Madrid, Spain.

Erin was teaching English in Madrid

Eitor was finishing an online degree and the last attempt to be a professional soccer player.

Switching back and forth traveling.

Erin visited Eitor in Florida

Eitor would visit Erin in Europe and travel.

Averaged 2 months out of the year to see each other.

December 2020 — Original Wedding Date

Through adversity and distance, Life brought them together.

READ ROMANS 8:38, 29.

Repeating vows to each other. Refer to Manu Wedding.

Length of Ceremony (4:30 start). 25-30 Minutes.

Order of Service

NO PHONES.

We will get a note

*BEFORE MUSIC STARTS, REQUESTING FOR PEOPLE TO TURN OFF PHONES.*

Declaration

“By the power invested in me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I now declare that Thomas and Kari are husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!”

Everyone, it is my greatest honor...to introduce to you..Mr. and Mrs. Pinotti!

Pinotti (Pee-NO-CHEEE) “Get your italian out of you.”

“We will awesome pictures, you guys confetti in your hands, but MAKE SURE you throw the confetti ABOVE them and not AT them.”

After you say the instruction, song will play.

BEFORE THE BRIDAL PARTY ENTERS...

SAY THIS: Before the bridal party enters, the bride and groom have requested for everyone to turn off their phones and refrain from taking photos. Don’t worry. There are photographers present to capture this moment. The couple so deeply wants all of you not to experience this ceremony behind a screen, but to be completely present in this incomparable moment. Thank you.

YOU MAY BE SEATED

Eitor and Erin, I want you guys to take this time to just turn and look to the audience. These are people that love you with all of their hearts. And these are people that will support you two through every season of life. So now, just breathe in…breathe out...and enjoy this divine moment.

We are gathered here today to join Eitor and Erin in holy matrimony. A special thanks to all of you that have traveled from far and wide to witness the promise these two are about to make to one another. We are here to offer our love and support, and to stand with Eitor and Erin as they begin this new chapter of life. And it is my honor to join you in marking the start of Eitor and Erin’s marriage.

Homily — Love Will Find a Way.

My favorite verse in all of Scripture is found in Romans 8:38-39. Romans is a book found in the New Testament written by the Apostle Paul. And it was actually a letter that Paul had written to a small house church in Rome. So in some sense, we are literally reading someone’s mail when we are reading Romans. He had written this letter with the intent to help this small house church see past their differences, and allow LOVE to take control of their lives. Now, this is no small feat. Paul was battling against overly prejudice, self righteous, judgmental people. Trust me. I’m a pastor. To do what Paul is doing is not easy. But even in the face of difficulty, Paul had a deep-seated belief. And that belief was this: Love will find a way. And that truth—that lesson—is so potent in the love story of Eitor and Erin.

Eitor and Erin met in Madrid, Spain. There, Erin was teaching English. And Eitor was completing an online degree, and giving a last stab at a professional soccer career. Little did they know that one day they would be standing together at the altar of marriage. Getting here was no easy journey. This couple had been in a long distance relationship for FIVE YEARS. And this was no “Babe, let me drive a couple of hours to see you” type of long distance. This was a “Babe, I need to buy a plane ticket to cross the Atlantic Ocean to see you” type of long distance. Eitor and Erin would take turns crossing the Atlantic. At times, Erin would fly to Florida to spend time with Eitor here. And other times, Eitor would fly to Europe to spend time with Erin there! Only seeing each other on average for about 2 months every year. And this would be their reality for five years (that’s about 1,825 days). But oh how sweet it must have been to be with each other after being apart for months. I believe that God is pleased to bring Eitor and Erin together, in spite of the thousands of miles that have separated them throughout the years. For love will find a way.

Now, the difficult part about love is to remain loving when loving isn’t easy. As a young groom, I could genuinely say that my marriage has grounded me through the adversities of life. This year, my wife and I will be celebrating 4 years of marriage together. And 11 years of dating (I know, crazy). We, too, were in a long distance relationship, but no where near the level of your guys’ long distance relationship. Being in a relationship was nice and all, but marriage is where the real joy and journey begins. Marriage reveals to you the depths and crevices of each other’s hearts. You will discover things that surprise you. And things that will frustrate you. You will laugh, laugh, and laugh. And you will cry, cry, and cry. You will exchange conversations that feel like a warn, breezy summer day. And you will have disagreements that feel like a cold, shivering winter night. But through it all, I know that Love will find a way. Erin and Eitor, your resilience and love toward one another is strong. And if you two allow it, Love will find a way.

So Eitor, when Erin gets on your last nerve, be patient.

Erin, when Eitor says something that boils your anger, take a deep breath.

Eitor, when Erin doesn’t see things your way, even when you think you’re right, listen to her.

Erin, when Eitor just doesn’t understand or validate the feelings you so deeply feel, show him lovingkindness.

LOVE WILL FIND A WAY. And when I say that, I don’t refer to “love” as an idea.

It’s important to know that love is not merely an idea, a feeling, or an abstract concept. According to the biblical authors, Love is a person. 1 John 4:8 says, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God—the Creator of all that we see, feel, taste, touch, and experience—is the embodiment of love. He cannot act contrary to love because He is love. It’s kind of like expecting an apple tree to grow oranges. One cannot force an apple tree to grow oranges because the moment it does, it no longer is an apple tree. In short, God can only love because He IS love. The biblical story is a grand narrative arc that tells us of a God who so desires to be with His creation again. The story is full of twists, turns, complicated emotions, confusing characters, and dark moments. But through it all, God finds a way. When humanity was steeped in sin, God was so compelled by His love to come down to this earth in the person of Jesus. And Easter Weekend reminds us that evil will never speak louder than love. Evil will never consume the power of love. Even when we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, love will prevail. This story is no fairytale. It’s not wishful thinking. The victorious power of love is an ever-present reality. It is our duty to choose love every single moment of our lives. Love will find a way.

So when the loving gets hard, and you don’t know how things will resolve…fear not. God does not leave us alone. God doesn’t abandon us to figure it out all by ourselves. If we find ourselves incapable of loving those who need our love, Scripture has this promise for us in 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.” If God is the source of all love, we can come to Him before we attempt any act of love. Why? Because He first loved us. Our love is informed, inspired, and empowered by His. So before we try to lay out our “logical” arguments before our spouses, go to God. Before you blow up in front of your partner after a particularly stressful day at work, go to God. Before you write surprise love letters to show that appreciate your spouse, go to God. Before making a heart-warming dinner to serve to your spouse right after they get off of work, go to God. While you’re in the grocery store, looking for a bouquet of flowers to surprise your wife with, go to God. For He will teach you. He will hold you. God will find a way.

Through every adversity in life, love will find a way. Through every difficulty in life, love will find a way. Through every hill and every valley…every trial and tribulation…every victory and defeat…every laughter and tear…Love will find a way. Or in the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. My favorite verse in the Bible:

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us pray.

Vows

At this moment, the bride and the groom will be repeating their vows to each other. Eitor, we will begin with you. Repeat after me.

"I, Eitor...take you, Erin...to be my wedded wife... to have and to hold...from this day forward...for better, for worse...for richer, for poorer...in sickness and in health...to love and to cherish...till death do us part."

Erin, repeat after me.

"I, Erin...take you, Eitor...to be my wedded husband... to have and to hold...from this day forward...for better, for worse...for richer, for poorer...in sickness and in health...to love and to cherish...till death do us part."

Exchange of Rings

It is now time for you to exchange rings. Bridal party, you may all be seated. Your rings symbolize the eternal commitment that you make to each other, and the never ending circle of your love. May these rings always remind you of the commitment you are making here today.

Eitor and Erin, please repeat after me. This time we’ll start with Erin

I, Erin...give you, Eitor...this ring as a symbol of my love...and commitment to you.

I, Eitor...give you, Erin...this ring as a symbol of my love...and commitment to you.

Beautiful.

Declaration of Intent

Now,

Do you, Eitor, take this woman to be your wedded wife?

…I do...

Do you, Erin, take this man to be your wedded husband?

…I do...

Declaration of Marriage and the Kiss

“By the power invested in me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I now declare that Eitor and Erin are husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!” (GET OUT THE WAY)

Everyone, it is my greatest honor...to introduce to you..Mr. and Mrs. Pinotti (Pee-no-chee)!

SAY THIS: Friends, we would like to take amazing pictures to capture this moment! You all have confetti in your hands. Please throw your confetti ABOVE this beautiful couple, and not AT them. Thank you everyone for understanding!