Nadeau Quick Wedding

Introductory Remarks

(While the groom, the bride, and her father stand before him, the minister says)

One of the most beautiful expressions of love ever penned came from the lips of Ruth when she said,

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17).

These words express the kind of love and togetherness that ought to characterize marriage:

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay”—together physically

“Your people will be my people”—together emotionally

“and your God my God”—together spiritually

“Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried”—together permanently

That’s the kind of love Andrew and Melissa feel for one another.

Sermon

Marriage gives permanence and structure to a couple’s love. It’s a way to tell one another that no matter how much you snore or how much you spent while out at the shopping mall, we’re still in this together. Marriage is taking turns taking care of a loved pet, even if the dog seems to love her bed more than you at times. Marriage is telling the person you love that you’re not going anywhere and that’s a powerful commitment for two people to make to one another.

A good marriage must be built on the foundation of this commitment. 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 partner — it is being the right partner .

(The minister then says:)

Andrew and Melissa, marriage is a sacred relationship and should not be entered upon lightly or unprayerfully. It is sacred, because it was ordained of God. The first thing God named in creation as not being good was loneliness. He saw man, whom he had created in his own image, and said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” So, the Lord took one of Adam’s ribs and created Eve. She was not taken from the head of man so she could rule over him; nor from the foot that she might be trampled on by him; but from his side that she might be equal to him, under his arm that she might be protected by him, near his heart that she might be loved and cherished by him.

Then, in the garden of Eden, the Lord performed the first marriage ceremony when he said,

“Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh”

The sacredness of marriage also can be seen in the fact that Jesus attended a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and he chose this occasion to perform his first miracle. The apostle Paul helps us to see the sacredness of marriage by comparing the relationship of a husband and wife to that of Christ and his church.

Charge to the Husband

Andrew, God says to husbands,

“Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.”

And, Andrew, there is no greater love in all this world than the love Jesus demonstrated when he died on the cross for us. This is the way the Bible says you are to love Melissa. And, Andrew, if you will do that, it will bring more joy and fulfillment into your life than any other human relationship you will ever have.

Charge to the Wife

And, Melissa, he says to wives,

“Wives, submit yourself unto your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife even as Christ is head of the church.”

Melissa, this means you are to walk by Andrew’s side. You are to encourage him and support him and help him in every way. And the two of you walking together and walking with the Lord will find in this relationship the fulfillment and the completeness God intended from the beginning.

Taking the Vows

Therefore, as you have expressed a desire to be united in marriage, I am going to ask you to take a vow—a vow that is made not only in the presence of your family and friends, but also in the presence of God. The Bible makes it clear that God is a witness to the wedding vows. I believe he is an unseen guest here today. He hears the vows you make and he intends that they be kept so long as you both shall live.

(The minister asks the groom:)

Do you, Andrew, take Melissa to be your lawfully wedded wife, and do you promise before God and these witnesses, to love her, to comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, stay faithful to her so long as you both shall live? Do you so promise?

(The groom replies,)

“I do.”

(The minister asks the bride:)

And do you, Melissa, take Andrew to be your lawfully wedded husband, and do you promise before God and these witnesses, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, stay faithful to him so long as you both shall live? Do you so promise?

(The bride replies,)

“I do.”

Exchanging of the Rings

The minister asks the groom:

Andrew, what do you give as a token of your love for Melissa?

The best man, acting for the groom, hands the ring to the minister. The minister then says:

Andrew, from time immemorial the ring has been used to seal important covenants. Rings are derived from humble beginnings of imperfect metal to create something striking where there was once nothing at all. It is customarily worn on the ring finger as it is the only finger with a vein running directly to the heart. The wearing of the rings is a visible, outward sign that you are committing yourself to one another. Andrew, you will notice that this ring is a complete circle, without beginning or end. It is symbolic, I trust, of the endlessness of your love for Melissa.

The minister then hands the bride’s ring to the groom and says:

Andrew, you will take the ring, place it on the third finger of Melissa’s left hand, and as you place it there say your vows to her,

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love; and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The minister then asks the bride:

And, Melissa, what do you give as a token of your love for Andrew?

The maid or matron of honor, acting for the bride, hands the groom’s ring to the minister.

The minister then says:

Melissa, you will notice that this ring is made of the purest of metals. It will not turn or tarnish with age. It is symbolic, I trust, of the purity of your love for Andrew. You will take the ring, place it on the third finger of Andrew’s left hand, and as you place it there, say your vows to him:

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love; and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The Pronouncement

The minister then says:

Now, by the power vested in me by the state of Michigan and as a minister of the gospel through the Assemblies of God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. And whoever God has joined together, let no man separate.

The Blessing

We will now bow for prayer and ask the blessing of the Lord on Andrew and Melissa and their life together as husband and wife.

GOD IS LOVE May you have His kind of love for each other.

LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND May you be able to lovingly overlook each other’s faults and weaknesses.

LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL May you seek praise for each other and not for yourselves.

LOVE IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE May you give of yourselves for each other’s needs and treat one another with utmost respect.

LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY May you genuinely listen to each other with a willingness to be wrong yourselves.

LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL May you be tolerant of each other’s moods, always ready to forgive, never holding a grudge.

LOVE DOES NOT REJOICE AT WRONG BUT REJOICES IN THE RIGHT May you experience happiness because of each other’s triumphs and successes.

LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS May you seek to understand each other’s differences, knowing you will stick together through it all.

LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS May you always expect the best in each situation, regardless of temporary setbacks.

LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS May you never give up your commitment to work on improving your relationship.

LOVE NEVER ENDS May you spend the rest of your lives together enjoying His love.

GOD IS LOVE

AMEN

The minister then says:

It’s my great honor and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Nadeau

Andrew, you may now kiss your bride.

Recessional music starts playing.

https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=146523