Wedding Nathan Pierce and Lucia Messersmith

Love Is.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to join together this man and this

woman in Holy Matrimony. Marriage is a sacred and joyous covenant, which should be entered

into reverently. Husband and wife should give to each other companionship, comfort, and

support in times of prosperity as well as in times of adversity. Marriage has been guarded and

esteemed through the ages for the stability and happiness it brings to the individual, the family,

and the community. Therefore, the uniting of two individuals, from two separate families and

backgrounds, to establish a new family, is an important and memorable event. For us, attached as

we are to Nathan and Lucia by special bonds and affections, the uniting of these two people in

heart, body, and mind is an occasion of great significance, which we can all celebrate.

Several years ago, the Brookings Institution—a prestigious and well-funded research organization-reported on the findings from a large-scale study of poverty in the United States. The researchers made an astonishing discovery: 98 percent of American teens who take three simple steps are able to avoid poverty as adults.

What are those three steps?

Complete at least a high school education. 

Get a full-time job. 

Wait until after marriage to have children.'

TWO KEYS

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (ESV)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

General Stonewall Jackson's army found itself on one side of a river when it needed to be on the other side. After telling his engineers to plan and build a bridge so the army could cross, his wagon master came in to tell him that it was urgent the wagon train cross the river as soon as possible. The wagon master started gathering all the logs, rocks and fence rails he could find and built a bridge. Long before day light General Jackson was told by his wagon master all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river. General Jackson asked where are the engineers and what are they doing? The wagon master's only reply was that they were in their tent drawing up plans for a bridge.

he was a “doer”

go back to verse

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

love should not be looked at as a noun- but a verb

the first key-

Love is something you do!

I saved the most important key for last

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

we have two strands right here, who is the third strand?

On July 21, 1861, the first land battle of the Civil War started before dawn.

The roar of artillery seemed to awaken everyone in Virginia as the Union and

Confederate armies clashed among the farms by a stream called Bull Run.

But a strange thing happened as the battle intensified. Hundreds of Wash-

ingtonians–Senators, Representatives, government workers and their

families, all dressed in their Sunday best and carrying picnic baskets–raced

to the hill near Manassas to watch the battle unfold. With opera glasses in

hand to survey the fighting, they chatted like friends at a coffee shop while

men were being slaughtered on the fields below. One northern sympathizer

commented, “That is splendid. Oh my! Is not that first-rate? I guess we will

be in Richmond this time tomorrow.” Spirits were high, toasts were raised. All

in all, they thought it was a superb way to spend a summer afternoon.

Suddenly a Rebel counterattack led by a hard-charging cavalry swept over

the Union flank, causing the Union army to retreat. Quickly they realized

that their picnic ground was about to become a battle zone. Mass confu-

sion erupted as the spectators fled. Within moments, a Confederate wave

washed over the hill.

They arrived on the hill that day looking for a picnic, but they soon realized

they were at war. For the sake of our illustration today, unfortunately, most

couples come to the marriage altar looking for a picnic; however, they soon

find themselves at war.

Keep Jesus at the CENTER of your marriage

if we don’t we will likely experience war like conditions.

but if we do… we will not just have a picnic like experience…

a Christ centered marriage is the closest experience to heaven we can have this side of the second coming

Post-Ceremony: Photos (Family)

Keep the 1 two rows Chairs move 

Games & o'd'oeuvres  Bathrooms 

Find your seats 4:45: Reception begins @ 5 pm

Jenga