Selena Quinceanera

Welcome! What an honor it is for all of us to gather together to celebrate Selena’s Quinceanera.

OPENING PRAYER

Scripture Reading: Psalm 127:3-5

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. 4 Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

-In Psalm 127, we are reminded that children are a gift from the Lord—a heritage bestowed upon us to cherish, nurture, and guide. Today, as we celebrate Selena’s transition into young womanhood, we are called to reflect on the vital role that family and friends play in her journey.

-Family, as the cornerstone of our earthly relationships, serves as a source of love, support, and guidance. [Selena], your family has been with you since the beginning, shaping your character, instilling values, and nurturing your faith. As you embark on this new chapter of your life, remember the love and wisdom they have imparted to you. Lean on them in times of need, and let their presence be a source of strength and comfort.

-Friends, too, hold a special place in our lives—a chosen family who journey alongside us, sharing in our joys and sorrows. Selena, cherish the friendships you have cultivated, for they are a reflection of God's love and companionship. Surround yourself with friends who uplift and inspire you, and together, may you encourage one another in your walk of faith.

-Yet, amidst the love and support of earthly relationships, there is a deeper longing within each of us—a longing for salvation, for reconciliation with our Creator. As we celebrate Selena, we are reminded of the ultimate invitation extended to each of us—the invitation to experience salvation through Jesus Christ.

Selena,

I want to offer you three statements that will not only help you become truly beautiful, they will help you make everything you connect with more beautiful too.  If you live into them, you will birth a powerful identity that will carry you far beyond this world.  I have three scriptures that go along with each of them. Here are the statements.

Be secure as a woman.

Be courageous as a woman.

Be loved as a woman.

Be secure as a woman section:

-It’s really easy to feel lost in this world. There will be so many different things that will try to convince you that they can be your compass guiding you and giving you everything you need. But these things will at best be superficial guide and at worst lead you astray and down hard path that can cause pain, fear, anxiety, loss of identity.

-I want to encourage you to lock into a time transcendent anchor.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to: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.

-People often gauge their spiritual health by their current emotional health. I want to challenge you to choose to trust God even on days where you may not feel good or feel like trusting Him. Put your full trust and your anchor in God who is much stronger and more secure than your shifting emotions.

-He will guide you and will never fail you! His unconditional love for us leads to His faithfulness to us even when we are unfaithful to Him. He will never abandon you even if you get off track….He will be there with open arms full of grace and mercy…Don’t let your emotions condemn you or prevent you from having joy in the Lord.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Continuing with the idea of emotions I want to challenge you to think about where you place them. When you are scared where do you go? When you are mad where will you turn? When you are lonely to whom will you turn? When you are anxious where will you look for direction? Turn to Christ.

Proverbs 31:25-29 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

-As you practice making Christ the central driving force for making decisions and the place where you turn when you feel lost, you will gain a profound strength. You are only as strong and secure as the things you trust in and nothing is stronger or more secure than God.

Be courageous as a woman section:

-This world needs powerful leaders in men and women. Today I am calling out the courageous leader in you. This only works based on the security laid out above, but in that security you can change the world for good.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

-With Christ as your compass and the place of your trust, set an example for not only your peers but the adults around you too.

Romans 5:1-3  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

-Do not walk in shame. Your worth is immeasurable nothing in this world can ever define your tru worth. God gave His son to adopt you into His family. Be brave, be bold, be a daughter of the King. Embrace the identity of being a a daughter of the King of the universe and carry youserlfe in a way that reflects that!

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Let me say it again. Be brave, be bold, be the daughter of the King. How? With your family, the Family of God standing by you.  As you fight temptation and distraction, as you fight to help others caught by temptation and distraction, be brave.

Be Loved as a woman:

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

-You do not have the ability to understand as the Father does, but you do have His heart. When you are confused, remember: you are loved and in the end God will make all things right and fair. Trust your heavenly Father.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

-You are not only the daughter of the King, you were made by him and for a purpose. You are wanted.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

-You are still in process. You are still being formed. When this life feels like a workout it’s because it is. You are being formed right now. You are being made into something even more beautiful.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

-In these verses, we find a beautiful description of love—an enduring love that transcends mere emotion and manifests itself in action. As Selena stands before us, embarking on this new chapter of her life, let us reflect on how love can guide and sustain her on this journey.

-Love is patient. Selena as you navigate the complexities of adolescence and young adulthood, may you embody patience in your relationships and endeavors. Trust in God's timing, knowing that His plans unfold in perfect harmony with His love for you.

-Love is kind. In a world often marked by cruelty and indifference, Selena may you be a beacon of kindness, extending grace and compassion to all you encounter. May your words and actions reflect the love of Christ, who showed us the ultimate example of kindness.

-Love does not envy, boast, or pride itself. Instead of seeking validation from worldly accomplishments or possessions, may I again encourage you find your worth in the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. Let humility and gratitude be your guiding principles as you embraces your identity as a beloved child of God.

-Selena Your best is yet to come. I believe it, but even more important, God believes in you. Walk in His promises and you won’t only be truly beautiful, you will make everything you connect with more beautiful too.

The Crowning

The tiara represents how God sees the young girl as a princess and a daughter to be honored and respected.

Tiara: While a Sweet 16 girl may wear a tiara for fun, your Quinceanera tiara marks you as a princess of God who is now ready to rise above the simple life of a child and take your adult place in both your religious family and your family of relatives and friends.

Dedication Service:

Bring Up Gary & Theresa

Gary and Theresa, God has blessed your home and enriched your lives by giving you these beautiful children.

- It is your duty as his parents to love them unconditionally, nurture them, pray for and with them, teach them the fear of the Lord; to watch over their education that they may not be led astray by false teachings or doctrines, to direct their mind to the holy Scriptures, to bring them to the house of the Lord, and as much as is possible help them to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Will you endeavor to do this, by the help of the Lord?

If so, you may answer, we will.

To the family and friends gathered here with these PARENTS, each one of you has a special relationship to this beautiful family. It is your privilege and duty to be a positive and godly influence in the lives of these children. Each of you will contribute to his growth and development in your own unique way. Your life must be exemplary, for in your wisdom you know that “more is caught than taught.” Thus it will be your duty to encourage these PARENTS and endeavor to aide them in bringing up their children.

If you wish to express your desire to do so you may answer, “we will.”

Joaquin (god-parents:Jimmy & Jamika)

Gabriela (Leo & Lucy)

Selena (Me & Robyn)

CLOSING PRAYER