Shumpelt - Cleveland Wedding

Intro:

David up front to Start

Accompanying of Guests of honor

Gideon joins David on stage

Bridesmaides/Groomsmen

Ring Bearers

Flower Girls

Doors Close

-David Says: PLEASE RISE

Doors Open

Judah to Front

Lori accompanies Judah and Daryl

Presentation of the Bride

To Darryl And Lori: Who is it that gives this woman to be married to this man?

Response: WE DO

Gideon goes down the stairs to hold Judah’s hand

Prayer over the wedding

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Call to worship

We are gathered here this afternoon to witness the exchanging of wedding vows between Gideon Charles Shumpelt and Judah Lorraine Cleveland. it is right and appropriate that this wedding take place here in church, because truly marriage is an institution ordained by God. no one other than God could have given us a gift as wonderful as marriage. it was, in fact, god himself in the garden of Eden who first placed man and woman together to love one another, complete one another, provide the unique help and companionship found here in the marriage union. And thus it is also right for us, before we begin the ceremony celebrating Gideon and Judah, to set aside time in worship to the High King of Heaven, our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. so we would ask that you join us in singing praises before him as we together sing “in Christ Alone”.

Sing “In Chrsit Alone”

Seat the congregation

Charge:

At this time I ask of Both of you, Gideon first,

Gideon, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live with her in holy marriage according to the Word of God? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her and keep her, in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be husband to her as long as you both shall live? If so answer “I Will”

and to Judah:

Judah, will you have this man to be your husband; to live with him in holy marriage according to the Word of God? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, obey him, and keep him, in sickness and in heath and, forsaking all others, be wife to him as long as you both shall live? if so answer “I Will”

Prayer for Gideon and Judah

Almighty God of heaven and earth and Our father in heaven we are in humble gratitude for all of the precious gifts that you bestow upon us, your people. Today we thank you, in particular for the gift of marriage. We pray today that you would meet with us and bless this time together. We pray first and foremost that you receive all glory and honor and praise for the grace you have shown Gideon and Judah. WE also pray for your manifold blessings upon them and this wedding. in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

G and J up the stairs and introduction of the Scripture reading:

At this time we will hear from God’s Word:

Genesis 2:18-24 - George Shumpelt

Genesis 2:18–24 ESV

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Ephesians 5:22-33 - Terry Cleveland

Ephesians 5:22–33 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Homily

Thank you both for the reading of God’s word. And it is at this time that we move to what is often called the HOMILY, here a fancy word for a sermon, but this one interesting, for it is, first and foremost here for you to, Gideon and Judah, but for all of us here this is a critical time of this ceremony, for it is the time where we all can bring The holy words of God to bear on yes this wedding, this marriage, but the hope and prayer is for all of our lives.

Since you both have known me, at least for a little while, you know that if there is one thing I LOVE it is seeing the word of God in context, and if there is one thing that makes me upset, it is seeing the word of God being used OUT of context. So it may surprise you that in our time together I would like us to spend our time thinking on the passage that is most commonly taken out of Context in service of the events of a wedding.

We just heard Beautiful readings. The first from the book of Genesis where God himself created and ordained marriage. It was the solution to a problem. “It is not good,” God said, “that man should be alone”. And so in his infinite Grace and wisdom, he ordained for us marriage, where a man, and a woman come together — to encourage, to lift one another up, to help one another, to be the united bond that God made them to be.

And then we read from the New Testament. We heard Paul's exhortation from the book of the book of Ephesians, where he encouraged the wives to submit to the husbands, to submit to their headship, over them as the protector, as the cover, as the care. Submission here not a bad word, or a licence for being taken advantage of, rather and beautiful and wonderful covering by the grace of God. as evidenced by the next thing that we read, wich was the exhortation to the husbands.

Because for the husbands, the exhortation was in many ways even more Difficult. “Love your wives,” We read, “as Christ loved the church”. Paul exhorting, the husband to lay down his life in sacrificial love, forsaking all other things, making your wife, the source, and Center, in many ways of your joy, your care, and your attention.

But now the question I want to ask is: “Great advice, how do we do that”?

For that I have both a short and a more detailed answer. The short one is what we call the Sunday School answer: “Jesus” but lets do better. For both of you, I know you understand, we we do these things because the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us and works in. And as he sanctifies us and grows us, we are empowered to as Paul would write elsewhere in Ephesians: “Do the good works that God has prepared in advance, that you should walk in them.” And so for you too, as you begin your marriage, May you abound in good works and love for one another God is even now preparing in advance ways that you can care for love, enjoy one another Walk in those things.

But what then should be our guide. Well, as those who are saved and Redeemed by Christ, as part of the fellowship of saints, It's something we've talked about a lot as the as we along with my wife have gone through premarital counseling. How do you do that? With love.

And so while usually this verse gets bandied about at weddings because “we should love one another.” Here's the truth, you must love one another but not with some trite, fleeting love But with a deep lasting love of God, what does that love look like, Heres the pay off. You love each other with deep true love that can only truly come from those who are first united to Christ. With that Groundwork out of the way, knowing that this is a message for believers in Chrsit telling us what the love that we have in us through being united to him I can exhort you both to love each other with a deep love. because:

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (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!

Love is patient and love is kind — Be patient with one another bearing through the ups and downs and the difficulties. And be kind to one another lift one another up with gentleness and sincerity in prayer.

Love does not envy or boast - Since now “whats mine is yours, in the bonds of marriage there is no room for envy. And as far as boasting... don't do that, but if you must, I encourage you instead boast in one another, take your pride in the accomplishments and the joys and the rewards of the other one. So truly, don't boast in yourself, rather boast in your spouse.

Love is not arrogant or rude. But instead in your marriage, count each other more important than yourselves.

Love does not insist on its own way. There's great advice for any newly married couple. Be okay with not getting your own way from time to time.

Love is not irritable or resentful. As you now enjoy life together, you will find things about one another that you did not know that you did not know... Don't be irritated rather rejoice that God has brought two different people together. And don't be resentful but instead cherish, the precious gift that God has given to both of you.

Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth, here's the important part. How can you love one another the way you've called? How can you lead and guide Judah Gideon and how can you serve and submit Judah? How can we do these things? Rejoce in the truth of the hope of Jesus Christ that moves in and through the both of you.

Love Bears, all things believes all things, hopes all things endures, all things Love Never ends.

So here it is, my last bit of advice to you. You gotta love one another. Love one another with the love of Christ that he has given to you that you both may being rooted and established in the love of Christ, can then love one another. And then here, in this love we find even more hope.

My hope for you both is that your marriage becomes a beautiful testimony of the work of Christ. Because as two broken Sinners come together. And there's two broken Sinners trying to live life together. It gets difficult. How do you do that through taht difficulty? Grace and love! And as you experience the love of Christ, My Hope and prayer for you both is that you would in turn radiate that same love towards each other. And then when the rest of us — when everyone around you looks into your marriage — Sure, we may see ups and downs. Sure, we may see difficulties in Trials but above all else. May we see the love of God, that you both have for one another. In this marriage.

Amen.

And so it is at this time. That we will move to the Vows. As you take these vows, you are promising really everything we've read and talked about this morning and more. To seek to love and care for one another as Christ has called you to according to the authority of scripture over, both of your lives.

These vows are solemn, holy, beautiful things. And yet they are difficult and hard and challenging things. And as you embark on this journey together, May these vows tie you together but more than that may your love for Christ do the same.

Are you guys ready?

Vows:

So Gideon, repeat after me:

I Gideon take thee Judah

to be my wedded wife;

And I do promise and covenant;

Before God and these witnesses;

To be thy loving and faithful husband;

For better and worse;

For richer and poorer;

In sickness and in health;

To love and to cherish;

Until we are parted by death.

And to this I pledge you my word.

And Judah:

I Judah take thee Gideon

to be my wedded Husband;

And I do promise and covenant;

Before God and these witnesses;

To be thy loving and faithful wife;

For better and worse;

For richer and poorer;

In sickness and in health;

To love and to cherish;

Until we are parted by death.

And to this I pledge you my word.

Rings:

Gideon gets the ring from Best Man. Places ring on Ring finger on LEFT hand of Judah, while holding says:

With this ring I thee wed

In the name of the father

And the Son

And The Holy Spirit

AMEN

Judah gets the ring from Maid of Honor. Places ring on Ring finger on LEFT hand of Gideon, while holding says:

With this ring I thee wed

In the name of the father

And the Son

And The Holy Spirit

AMEN

Prayer over the couple

Gideon and Judah, holding hands

Benediction

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you both.

Amen

Pronouncement

Since these two have made these vows here before both God and this assembly, by the authority of God, and the power vested in me by the State of New Mexico, I declare that Gideon and Judah are now Husband and wife. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

You may kiss the Bride.

Introduction:

It is now my privilege and joy to present to you, for the first time, Mr and Mrs Gideon Shumpelt!

Recessional

Gospel Presentation

If you will all please be seated for just a moment.

As we Endeavor to give Judah and Gideon just a little bit of time to maybe decompress and compose themselves and even to enjoy the first few moments of married life together. They've asked me to do something a little different, but something that I believe is very important and that I was very honored and grateful that they asked me to do.

We're about to go celebrate… There will be a receiving line where we can share our congratulations and then festivities afterwards with games and food and fellowship and dancing, in other words: fun to be had by all.

And yet, before we dive into those things, it's first important and right that we just spend some time thinking through What just happened? And the most important things involved in what just happened. For many of us, we might think the most important thing is Well, Judah and Gideon are now married and their life together can now start. And that's important. I don't know if it's the most important. The most important we've mentioned it in a few ways in different times. Is now we get to see in Gideon and Judah a testimony of God's love for us. In short. We get to see the gospel.

And so they've asked me for just a few moments to make explicit what's very much implicit in all that we've done and talked about this afternoon. So what is the gospel and what are we expecting their lives to be a mirror of?

So when we start talking about the gospel, we start with brokenness, And we start with sin. Romans is very clear. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None of us is perfect. All of us — in a vast diversity of ways, has sinned against the holy perfect, Sovereign commands of God.

Be it through lying or deceit, Maybe a lack of trust in the will and plans of God. or Selfishness or laziness… really we can pick, which one you want, we all have many of them in our lives. And so, we all start with this problem of sin and to make it a bit more personal we start with YOUR problem of sin.

So, here's the problem. We have sinful people and a holy perfect. God. And a holy perfect God cannot have Fellowship with sin for any sin is an affront to his Holiness. And so, what is the solution? There need to be both payment for the sin and also a washing and cleansing of the sin within. For a time this was in sacrifices of Bulls and rams, but those were temporary and ultimately they could never truly cleanse us. So God gave us a better solution. The solution that God has given to us. For our sin, is that Christ himself… God… the second person of the Trinity descended into creation some 2000 years ago.

The only perfect one to ever live. Jesus Christ, Our Lord, lived the life we could never live. in him was no trace of stain of Sin there was no sin in his life at all. No sin in his heart— In his mind— he lived a perfect life while here. He taught he commanded, he performed Miracles. He proved, he was who he said he was — Which is God.

But then, Being drug before the Sanhedrin and accused of blasphemy… Just think of that… The irony here, God himself is accused of blasphemy.. it's not possible. But that's what they said. And so they convicted him and then they began to shout crucify him. Though the Sanhedrin did not have the authority to crucify him, Pontius Pilate did, so they drag him before pilate. And, Pilot decrees Jesus would die. And then Jesus marching towards the cross where he would be crucified.

But here is why this is all good news and why not because here's the beauty of this story… he is crucified. Not because the Sanhedrin wanted — though they did — and he was crucified not because Pilate demanded it — though he did. He was crucified because we needed a sacrifice. And so it saw God saw fit to place on Jesus, the sins of us all. So that all who believe in Jesus Christ will have their sins forgiven. So if the problem is a holy God cannot interact with or be in fellowship with sinful people. God himself, fixed it, Jesus died that our sins might be forgiven and now we can have fellowship with God.

And that Fellowship is what the marriage is intended to show. As two broken people try to live together? It's going to be hard, it's going to require Grace. That's what we talked about in in the homily. As we seek to serve God, we can't do it in our own strength and life, it requires Grace, his grace, given to us in Jesus Christ. You cannot earn it. It is not something that you are good enough or can purchase in your own strength or might, rather it is a free gift of God, that is accessible to all who call upon the name of Jesus.

So before we go and fellowship and before we go and celebrate the exhortation I have to you all today is to hear the hope of the Gospel. If you feel the weight of sin and and you desire fellowship with God, The same sort of Fellowship that this wedding is meant to picture. Cry out to him. Find in Jesus a perfect savior.

If you don't know what I'm talking about and you never heard anyone say these sorts of things. I'll be here during the reception time. Pull me aside. I'd love to chat with you about this.

Or Maybe not today because they're really busy, but call up if you are Friends or relatives to either Judah or Gideon, possibly Judah AND Gideon. Call them up and say hey That Pastor guy was talking about how to be forgiven of our sins and that sort of stuff, can you help me? I'm sure they would love to help you with that.

In all of these things. May you serve him?

Let's pray.

Final Instruction

Orderly go through the line, or, if you want to say your congratulations later and NOT wait in line you can go around. Once inside, it is open season, I know what we usually do at weddings, but I will say this as clearly as i can: DO NOT WAIT FOR JUDAH AND GIDEON, you can begin eating once in there. and there are game all about, so have fun, play games, eat food, enjoy the joy of fellowship as we celebrate Gideon and Judah.

Amen