Quinceañera Ceremony for Lorea

**Special Song “More than Able” - Maverick City

Court Will be up front

Girl and Parent Enters

Welcome

On behalf of the Loraea and her family I would like to welcome you all to her Quinceañera

Loraea has been a part of our church here for the last year and a half.

And I’m honored that I have been asked to be a part of this today.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the tradition, a Quinceañera is a big step in the life of a young woman.

It is a ‘coming of age’ ceremony – typically celebrated when a young woman turns 15 and begins making the transition from a young girl to becoming a woman.

Origionally

Originally it was a time of introduction into society declaring a woman ready to begin courting.

today

today though we celebrate it as a time of public commitment to a relationship with Jesus.

This is also a deeply spiritual event.

It is a time for loraea to take responsibility for her own faith.

As a young woman, she will no longer be able to rely solely on the faith of her family.

So today is a day for loraea to make a public commitment in front of God and all of you, her friends and family, to live a life fully devoted to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

As we begin, will you join with me in word of prayer.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we gather here today to celebrate the amazing life you have created in loraea.

The Bible tells us that you knit her together in her mother’s womb.

And You deeply love her.

You know every detail of her life.

And there is nothing that pleases you more than when she lives a life fully devoted to returning that love back towards you.

Lord, We thank you for the pleasure it has been personally to know her.

To see her love, passion and excitement for life.

And Lord we ask you today as she makes the transition from a young girl to a young woman, that you will take priority in her life.

That she will live her life dedicated to loving like you loved, and serving like you served all the days of her life.

Bless our time together today and make this a cherished memory in her life.

It’s in the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.

Scripture

in the last year and a half I have gotten the oppurtunity to get to know loraea and her family

To see her amazing heart and care for others.

To see the joy she has in her life that she always expresses through her smile.

To watch as she does what she can to serve around the church when at all possible.

though shes a typical teenager in many ways..

She has shown a desire to love christ and has shared that desrie through the way she has tried to live her life.

Womanhood

Today though, Loraea we celebrate your transition into womanhood.

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

today, thats whats happening. Your growing up.

This is an awesome time in your life

a time when you can dream, learn and grow.

Difficult

But I want you to know that we all recognize this is a difficult time in your life as well.

The world is a difficult place

you will face many trials and temptationgs

you will go through peaks and valleys

The carefree days of your childhood are behind you

You are responsible for your actions and the descisions you are going to have to make

So in the years to come I want to encourage you to remember what the bibles teaches us

in proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

No matter what you face

if you will trust god and follow after him with all your heart

He will guide you

He will make your paths strait

He will show you the right and wrong choices in life

Christian

as a young christian woman you must never forget the sacrifices and the price that Jesus paid for you on that cross

like all of us, you were once dead in your sins

you fell short of gods perfect standard

but god loves you so much that he sent his one an donly son, Jesus, into the wolrd to pay the price for you sins.

Jesus

Jesus paid the debt that you could never pay

he died on the cross in your place, for all of your sins( past, present, and future)

so that you could be back in right standing with him.

and remember

Jesus didnt stay dead

on the third day, He conquered death and the grave and rose again so that you can be assured that he can also raise again to expereince eternal life in heaven with him

DOnt ever forget the price he paid on the cross

dont ever forget what he did for you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Because of Jesus, you are made new.

You are no longer defined by what you have done, but what He has already done for you.

Your worth is no longer wrapped up in your accomplishments, or what anyone else thinks about you.

Your worth is based solely on your position as a child of God.

Nothing can take that away from you. And nothing in this world will last, except your relationship with Jesus.

Because at the end of your life, when you stand before God in heaven the only question that will matter is did you know Jesus.

Woman

That is hwy the bible says in proverbs 31:30 in speaking about what a woman should be like…

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

I want to remind you today to seek after the Lord with all your heart

My hope and prayer is that you will continue to become a woman after Gods own Heart

A woman who loves her firends, cherishes her family, and commits whole heartedly to her faith.

Gifts

today, your family has prepared some gifts for you.

First we will present you with a Bible (Carmen)

This Bible is a reminder to keep God’s Word as a central part of your life.

(Psalm 119:105) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

May this Bible guide all the days of your life.

May the word of God illuminate your path and lead you on paths of righteousness.

May it lead you to peace, security, blessing and favor all of your days.

Tiara (Ashley)

Next we present you with the tiara.

It symbolizes that you are a “Princess” before god and the world

you can triumph over childhood and have the ability to face the challenges ahead.

It is also a reminder of the greater crown that christ will place on your head one day in heaven.

May you never forget who you are in christ and whose you are in christ.

And that you worth is soley dependant on what God has to say about you and not what others things.

You will now be presented with three roses Roses

The first rose symbolizes the budding rose. (Noreen)

It symbolizes when you were only a baby, and you didn’t know the effects of sin.

You were pure and just starting out in life.

the second rose is the rose in half bloom (Shaneese

It symbolizes you at the age of accountability..

As you grew up, you begin to experience the effects of sin in your life.

at this age you began to understand your need for christ as your savior..

The final rose is the rose in full bloom. (Jossiel)

It is beautiful and fragrant.

And symbolizes you as you stand here today.

Remember though that the Bible says that life is like the grass

It flourishes like the flowers of the field and the wind blows and its gone.

Your youth is only for a brief moment

It will be here today and you will be grown tomorrow.

And the most important thing during this time if that you guard and keep your faith in Jesus safe.

So that you may see eternal life at Christs side.

finally you will now receive the bracelet (Alex)

let This bracelet remind you of the infinite love god has for you

the bracelet has  no Beginning or end

and like it, gods love for you has no beginning or end

is everlasting and never ending

Transition

may these items be a blessing in this new season of your life and may they remind you of the woman that God desires you to be.

Sharing

Loraea at this time we have a couple of people who would like to come and share.

Mrs. Rose would you come.

…

Thank You Mrs Rose.

Cookie would you come?

Thank you cookie.

Closing

in concluding our time again today I want to thank everyone for being here on behalf of loraea and her family.

As we close will you join me in one final prayer and then the party will leave first.

Prayer

Lord, we ask you now as loraea moves from childhood to adulthood that you would watch over her.

Bless her.

Guide her.

Help her navigate in the descions aheads that will determin the direction and destination of her life.

Give her strength to make the right choices even when its heard.

Give her the courage to stand for what is right, even if she is the only one standing.

Give her faith to trust in your word, even when trials and temptations come her way.

We also pray that you would help us, her friends and family, to help guide her.

To look out for her, to love her, to strengthen her in her faith together.

Its in the name of your son Jesus that we pray. Amen.

**Special Song “Grattitude” - Brandon Lake