The Farnsworths

PROCESSIONAL

THE CEREMONY BEGINS

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT

Dearly beloved, we have come here today in the presence of God and the church, to join Sherry and Mike in the sacred bonds of matrimony; which is consecrated by God, and to be held in honor among all of God’s people.

They are grateful you have joined them today and are sharing in this celebration with them. You may be seated.

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

The bond of marriage was established by God during creation. Therefore, I want to remind you that marriage is a binding covenant between a man and a woman and is not to be taken lightly but with reverence and holy faithfulness. Let us ask God’s blessings upon this ceremony today.

PRAYER FOR THE COUPLE & MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Let us pray

Today I ask you, gracious God, creator of life, author of salvation, and giver of grace, look with favor upon Sherry and Mike. Make their life together a beacon of your love in this broken world and unity that overcomes all. Give them the bonds of mutual affection that will always encourage them to reach out in love to each other. Give them desires to be knit together in your will, and their spirit in your Spirit. Help them to grow in love and peace with you and one another for all the days of their lives. Amen.

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

Sherry and Mike may the Lord be with you as you go forth in marriage and create a home of which to live and create a life to celebrate. I want to remind you both and everyone here that we are given the bible to direct our path while on this earth.

One of the most familiar passages on love is First Corinthians 13: 4-8, which is an example of how we should act in love towards one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NKJV

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

I encourage everyone here to remember this verse as they live their lives and encounter others daily. Love is the greatest gift God gave us. Just as He loved us, so shall we love others.

Love is the bond which holds a marriage together.

Real love, as God described here is:

patient, kind, rejoicing in truth, bearing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things.

That is the love of God. That is the love between a husband and wife. Only this highest type of love is sufficient to hold a marriage together.

Mike and Sherry, God cares about all marriages. He designed this union, just as He built the first family in Adam and Eve. Recognizing Adam was incomplete on His own, He designed and created Eve to complement and complete Him. Together, as one they were the first husband and wife and serve as an example to us today.

Perhaps this is the popular phrase, “made for each other” originates! God, knowing everything, knew and planned for this day. God has both of you prepared to join today and move forward together as one.

Listen to how God describes marriage In the book of Proverbs, :

Proverbs 18:22 NKJV

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.

also

Proverbs 19:14 NKJV

Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Finding each other, is a gift from God.

It is good to unite as one and face together side by side.

We all know that everything in life won’t be sunshine and roses, but it will be better together.

He also has wisdom in times when you find yourselves in disagreement:

Proverbs 10:12 NKJV

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.

Our world is fascinated by being offended. We seem to be on a slow boil ready to explode over next one who slights us in any way.

Yet God says to forgive. God says that love covers sins. It is a choice to keep on forgiving each other. Is a choice to keep believing the best and hoping for the future. Love enables us to make such a choice

DECLARATION OF INTENT / CONSENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

Sherry and Mike you will now be making your verbal commitment to each other. With your words, I require that you promise, with the help of God, to fulfill the obligations which Christian marriage requires.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

Therefore, I ask you, Mike, do you take Sherry to be your wife , to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her), in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

PARTNER A

I do.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B

And do you, Sherry, take Mike to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him , in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

PARTNER B

I do.

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION / CONGREGATION

Family and friends, as you have witnessed the verbal commitment of Sherry and Mike, I will now ask for your blessings on their marriage.

As Sherry and Mike exchange vows of love and fidelity today, in the presence of God and this congregation, they become bound to one another in a sacred lifelong covenant. I encourage all of you gathered here to honor and uphold them, and to recognize them as a family in this community, to guide and pray for them in times of trouble, to celebrate with them in times of joy, to respect the bonds of their covenant, and seek to discern the continuing presence of Christ within them.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

Sherry and Mike, please turn and join hands. As you hold the hand of your dearest friend and companion, you will now make those promises which God will witness and bless, to weave your two hearts, and two lives, into one.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

Mike, please repeat after me:

I, Mike, take you, Sherry, to be my 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, until death parts us.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B

Sherry, please repeat after me:

I, Sherry, take you, Mike, to be my 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,

until death parts us.

BLESSING OF THE RINGS & EXCHANGE OF RINGS

You will now exchange rings as a symbol of the promises of marriage.

A ring has no beginning or end. Its path is endless and a symbol of your endless love and respect for each other.

By placing these rings on each other's fingers, you are promising to not just to love each other, but to honor each other, to be compassionate, patient, and understanding as you build your future together.

You can both feel the love in this room. These rings represent this love. Not just your love for each other, but from everyone here today. Let these rings be a reminder of that love, what you are feeling today.”

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A:

Mike, place the ring on Sherry 's finger and repeat after me:

With this ring, I thee wed

Sherry, place the ring on Mike’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring, I thee wed

PARTNER A PLACES THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE

By the power vested in me by the State of Texas as a minister of the Gospel here in the company of those who love and support you, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.

THE COUPLE'S SONG

THE KISS

You may now seal your marriage with a kiss.

OFFICIANT TO THE CONGREGATION

It is my pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth.

You are invited to a reception over in the gym. Please stay here a moment while the wedding party returns for some pictures and then you can make your way there.

THE CEREMONY ENDS