Wedding Service

Wedding

Call to Worship

Mark 10:6-8

Friends, let us worship God as we now witness the marriage of Joshua and Nadia.

The Celebration and Blessing of Marriage

Beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by His presence and first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and His Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.

The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given on another in both prosperity and adversity; for the building up and nurturing children in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.

The Declaration of Consent

Nadia, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the 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? If so, respond with “I will.”

Nadia: I will.

Joshua, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the 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? If so, respond with, “I will.”

Joshua: I will.

Witnesses: Will you witnesses to these promises do all in your power to uphold these two in their marriage?

Witnesses: We will.

Prayer

Pastoral Charge

Joshua and Nadia, there will never be another day like today.

There will never be a day so anticipated, dreamed of, discussed, prepared for, choreographed, or expensive!

The uniqueness of this day lies in this: God has called you to become one! Your friends and family realize the same and are here to celebrate. What a great day this is!

My charge to you today entails The Cross, The Covenant, and the Christ.

The Cross

In light of Paul’s teaching that marriage evokes the mystery of Christ and the Church, you must understand that without the cross, your marriage is not a Christian marriage. Marriage is about dying, because that is what Christ did for His bride. “Husbands, love yours wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

Today, as you are joined in marriage, a single man and a single woman will die, and the two will become one flesh in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These sacred moments mark the end of your former life. Your joyous wedding is the beginning of a sacred death. Christian wedding vows mark the sweet inception of a lifelong death to self, give over not only all that you have but all that you are. This is a daunting reality, and it is so beautiful - an enduring glory to Christ and His church.

So on this long awaited wedding day, I charge you to raise the cross over your lives so that it towers over all, because that is what makes your marriage Christian. And, of course, the cross is the road to a particular joy as Matthew 16:25 says, “For whoever would save His life will lose it, but whoever loses His life for my sake will find it.” Joshua and Nadia, lift high the cross!

The Covenant

Along with the cross, you must embrace the fact that marriage is not a contractual relationship but a lifelong covenant. It is not a marriage if it is conditional or contractual. Marriage calls for a solemn oath before God - swearing together before Him that you will never, ever break your promise.

God is smiling on you today. This is so liberating, because your solemn word frees you to work together through ups and downs. Love is a commitment, not a feeling. The Hebrew word for love is “Ahava” which in layman’s terms says, “I’ve seen your crazy and I’m staying.” This type of playing-hard-to-get-rid-of commitment allows a marriage to flow harmoniously no matter how jacked up the notes to the song life gives you. This covenant gives assurance and freedom, allowing a husband to look at his bride and say “Darling, let’s dance.” Joshua and Nadia, keep the covenant.

The Christ

There is the cross, there is the covenant, and there is the Christ - the grand key to marriage. As believers, you are married to Him for eternity as His Church. And because Christ is the center of your lives, He will grace your intimacy as you draw near to Him. He is a far more faithful spouse than we could ever aspire to be. He is our example of perfect and patient love. In our ugliness, He swoons over His Bride. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was His covenant to us declaring: I love you, and nothing will ever separate us: What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6). Joshua and Nadia, cling to Jesus, who is the Christ.

May you always be dazzled with each other.

May you be amazed that God has given you such love.

May you explore the depths and heights of each other’s being.

May every season of life be graced with a deeper love.

May your love grace your families.

May your love grace the Church.

May your love grace a needy world.

Joshua and Nadia,

Lift high the Cross

Keep the Covenant

Cling to Christ.

The Vows

Joshua, facing Nadia and taking her hand in his, says:

Wrote their own vows

I, Joshua, take you, Nadia, 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 we are parted by death.

This is my solemn vow.

I, Nadia, take you, Joshua, 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 we are parted by death.

This is my solemn vow.

The Blessing of the Ring

Prayer

O Lord, bless these rings to be a sign of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Joshua places the ring on the ring-finger of Nadia’s hand and says:

Nadia, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow,

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.

Nadia places the ring on the ring-finger of Joshua’s hand and says:

Joshua, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow,

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 Blessing of the Marriage

Most gracious Lord, we give thanks for your tender love in sending Christ to us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank you for consecrating the union of man and woman in His name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out your blessing upon them. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle upon their shoulders, and a crown upon their heads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast forever. Glory be to God the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord, and the Holy Spirit, who is blessed forever. Amen.

The Pronouncement

Now that Joshua and Nadia have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Husband kisses the Bride

The Lord be with You.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time, I introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Prather