Darryl and Charlotte Wedding 13.04

Welcome and Prayer

barrie

We are gathered here in the presence of God, family, and friends to unite Darryl Blake and Charlotte Lykkee in holy matrimony. Marriage is an honourable commitment between each other and God, and is therefore not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, advisedly, soberly, and with God’s blessing. Today, they will receive one of God’s greatest gift; another person to share with, grow with, change with, be joyful with, to stand with as one when trials and tribulations enter their lives and to Serve Jesus with. It is fitting, therefore, that we should on this occasion begin by asking for God’s blessing on this marriage. Let us pray.

Father God, we gather to celebrate your gift of love, and its presence among us. We rejoice that these two people have chosen to commit themselves to a life of loving faithfulness to one another. We praise you, Lord, for the ways you have touched our lives with loving relationships such as Darryl and Charlotte’s and we give thanks for the special love and friendship you have put in their hearts. Renew within us an affectionate and loving spirit.

Enrich our lives with the gracious gift of your love so that we may embrace others with that same love. May our participation in this celebration of love and commitment, give to us a new joy and responsiveness to the relationships that we cherish. In your mighty name, we pray, Amen.

You may all be seated.

Message 1

Marriage is a joyous occasion. It is connected in our thoughts with the charm of love, the warmth of home, and with all that is pleasant, as being one of the most important events of our lives. Its sacredness and unity is the most significant and binding covenant known in human relations. It is a covenant between a male, a female and God.

Ephesians 5:31 says “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

The Bible gives us this picture of marriage as two people who become one flesh because they can effectively serve the kingdom of God better together than they can apart. It’s a covenantal bond between each other, and between yourself and God – You are making the commitment today to love one another the way that God has loved us, to allow God’s love to flow through you to one another and to walk side by side with your eyes fixed on Jesus serving Him throughout your life together.

Charge

Darryl and Charlotte, let me charge you both to remember that your future happiness is to be in mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence, and affection. It is the duty of each of you to find your greatest joy in the company of the other; to remember that your love pledged today must remain undivided for a lifetime.

It is your duty, Darryl, to be to Charlotte, a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving husband: to support, guide and cherish her in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge the place she holds in your life; to constantly show to her the tokens of your affection, to shelter her from danger, and to love her with an unchangeable love.

It is your duty, Charlotte, to be to Darryl, a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving wife; to comfort, guide and cherish him in prosperity and trouble; to give to him the unfailing pieces of evidence of your affection; and to continue making the place he holds in your heart, broader and deeper; to support him, value him and work with him to make your marriage the very best that it can be.

I call your attention to the seriousness of the decision which you have made and the covenant you are about to declare before God. The vows you are about to take care not to be taken without careful thought, for in them you are committing yourselves exclusively to one another for as long as you both shall live.

If you are ready to assume the obligations and duties before God, as I have defined them, you will unite your hands and pledge your love and your lives to each other.

Formal Responses

Darryl, do you take Charlotte to be your Wife? (“I do”)

Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her forevermore? (“I do”)

Do you promise to always put God first in your marriage, attempt to love Charlotte the way Christ loved the church? (“I do”)

Charlotte, do you take Darryl to be your Husband? (“I do”)

Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him forevermore? (“I do”),

do you promise to always put God first in your marriage and attempt to love Darryl the way that God has loved you? (“I do”)

Personal Vows

[Personal Vows]

Rings

You will now exchange rings as a symbol of the lifelong commitment and abiding love which you as husband and wife have promised to each other.

matt do you have the rings…

Darryl, please place the ring on Charlotte’s finger, and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness. To have and to hold you, to love you and to always be loving and kind.

And Charlotte, please place the ring on Darryl’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness. To have and to hold you, to love you and to always be loving and kind.

Message 2

John 3:16-17

God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

May You Darryl and you Charlotte share this love with each other as you allow God to operate through your lives and through your marriage. May you always remember that God gave us grace, and so you too can show each other grace. May God’s love shine through you and His will for your marriage operate within you.

Prayer

Let me pray a blessing over each of you and your marriage.

Father God, help Darryl and Charlotte to fulfill the promises they have made here today and to reflect your steadfast love in their commitment to each other. Give them kindness and patience, affection and understanding, happiness, and contentment. May their family and friends continue to support them in difficult days, so that their love for each other may continue to grow as long as they both shall live. May this be the beginning of a lifelong commitment that honours you and serves you as long as they both shall live. May their love for one another remain strong, their faithfulness continue to grow and may they turn to you in times of trouble. We pray for your spiritual protection over their marriage and their home and we pray for your blessing on their lives. We pray that they will continue to grow in the things of you and become deeper in their relationship with you and each other.

In Jesus Mighty name, Amen.

Close

Darryl and Charlotte, having witnessed your vows for marriage before God and all who are assembled here, by the authority invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!

Signing of the Certificates

Let me give you these words of encouragement;

A good marriage must be created. In marriage the “little” things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, ”I love you” at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together and facing the world. It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right person — it is being the right partner

I now present to you, for the first time, Darryl and Charlotte Blake.