Final Carlon James & Shenelle Wynne

Ceremony

Prelude-Music

Processional

Presentation of the bride

Welcome & Prayer – Pastor Al Blake

Declaration of intent

Reading – Colossians 3:12-17 verne Wynne

Reading – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 Andrea James Exhortation

Vows

Exchange of rings Unity Ceremony (Sand)

Pronouncement of marriage

Signing of register –

Presentation of couple

Recessional

**"To ensure we fully cherish these special moments, the bride and groom kindly request this be an unplugged ceremony. Please refrain from taking photos or videos during the ceremony. Our professional photographer and videographer will be capturing all the precious memories for us to enjoy. We'll let you know when it's time to grab your phones and start capturing the fun!

In the meantime, feel free to use the bubbles provided in your programs to celebrate the happy couple as they exit the ceremony."**

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to sharing the beautiful images with you soon!"

Prelude – Music, Ushers start seating guests, Family seating (parents, grandparents, immediate family and mothers)

Al and Carlon up front

Processional (Bridal Party) (maid of honor, best man already up front)

Please stand

Music starts for the bride’s entrance

Bride walks in escorted by her Father

Presentation of the Bride

Who gives Shenelle to be married to Carlon today? Dad: “I DO”

You may be seated

Call to Worship -- Welcome

On behalf of Carlon and Shenelle, and their respective families, thank you for coming and being a part of this day. It’s a great day to rejoice and celebrate, and I know Carlon and Shenelle have been anticipating this for many months!

It’s important to understand that we are gathered here in the presence of God to join Carlon James and Shenelle Wynne in holy marriage, according to the plan of God and the laws of this state. And, to ask for God’s richest blessing on their marriage.

As you have been a special part of their lives up to this point, today you will be witnesses as they pledge their love and lives to each other.

Join us as we ask for that blessing: Father in Heaven,

We praise You for giving us Your Son

To be our Saviour and Lord.

Bless us all as we gather here today

to honour we celebrate with Carlon & Shenelle

a reflection of your love in marriage.

Hear our prayer, loving Father,

For we ask this in Jesus' Name.

Declaration of Intent

MARRIAGE was instituted by God and Jesus reiterated God’s command and blessing from the beginning that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And so he has instructed those who marry to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other in difficulties and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; to provide for each other’s needs; to encourage each other; and to live together in a way that honors God.

In light of that, Carlon and Shenelle, I’d like for you to formally declare your intent to enter into that commitment.

Carlon , will you have Shenelle to be your wife and will you pledge yourself to her in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with her and cherish her, according to God’s holy plan for marriage?

(I will)

Shenelle, will you have Carlon to be your husband, and will you pledge yourself to him in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with him and cherish him, according to God’s holy plan for marriage?

(I will)

Reading – Colossians 3:12-17 Sheverne Wynne

Reading – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 Andrea James

Exhortation

Carlon and Shenelle you may be seated

Exhortation

Eph. 5:25-28

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 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. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

This passage gives us 3 ways we as married couples should loveeach other...it is applicable to both the husband and wife.

Christ gave himself up for the church and gave us as husbands an example of how we are to love our wives... Carlon and Shenelle your love should based on these 3 things:

I. ‘You before Me’ love

In verse 25, it says that Christ not only loved the church but he gave himself up for her... Christ gave (surrendered) himself up for the church.

1. Carlon, you should give yourself up for Shenelle. Willingly

This willingness doesn’t come naturally, and it is something that each of us (pause) and both of you will have to strive toward. But as Christ was our example in love for the church, so we must strive for that same willing attitude. That DAILYsacrificial love that willingly says ‘You before Me’....and it will grow your love for each other.

2. As Christ willingly gave himself up -- Sacrificially -- It isn’t a ‘boss’ type of love that desires your needs to be met first but rather a Christ-like leadership that places the priority on Shenelle’s needs. Needs for communication, safety, security and consistency in your marriage. And it is amazing the desire God will put in your heart, Shenelle. to serve Carlon, and meet his needs. Needs of respect and honor and a listening ear. Carlon and Shenelle learn to love each other with a sacrificial love characterized by a ‘YOU BEFORE ME’ attitude. Your love for each other should also be…

II. ‘Growing’ Love

v.26 – that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. Love each other with a Growing Love

Sanctification means ‘To be set apart’ or ‘to make holy’ – it is a process...it doesn’t happen overnight, and it is a long term perspective that occurs daily over a lifetime. Just as Christ ‘set apart’ His bride, the church through His Word, the bible… Carlon, the symbolism in this verse is directed toward you in your marriage. Just as we take a shower to clean ourselves each day, you each must clean yourselves spiritually by reading God’s Word each day. This leads to a picture of beauty. Inner, spiritual beauty. Carlon, you are to lead and love Shenelle, with a love that not only places Shenelle’s needs in front of yours but a love that sets her apart in her devotion to Christ.

Strive toward knowing Christ more daily and his will for your lives…this is Being Set apart Do this by . . .

a. Making sure you each make time for God’s Word – Daily

b. Study God’s Word and discuss it together

c. Pray for each other and pray together

d. No matter where you go, find a church that you both will grow spiritually, thrive under and get involved with.

And as you grow in your love for each other and place each other’s needs in front of your own...you will see the result is a lifetime love!

III. ‘Lifetime’ Love

v. 27 – 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.

Christ’s love and devotion to his bride, the church, is through good times and bad and it results in our faith and trust in the One who is perfecting us…Jesus Christ.

This love and devotion in a marriage is (slow) not free from hurts and strugglebut BETTER. It is a marriage improvedby those struggles and that holds on to Christ and HIS provision to get you through to the other side. Carlon, this lifetime love will create in Shenelle a Nourishedand Cherished woman. Shenelle this love will create in Carlon a respected and honored and a ‘Be all you can be’ man. This love doesn’t stop at some time because you have “reached the goal”. It is a love that you both must work on day by day. But it is a love over a lifetimecharacterized by a growth in Christ, a love modeled by Christ and a love God

I’m so excited for you You have a rich life ahead of you, together, as you glorify God and him in all you do God Bless you

You have selected vows that express this type of love toward each other… Carlon & Shenelle - Stand facing each other

Exchange of Vows – Repeat after me

SHENELLE (Speaks) –

I, Shenelle take you Carlon to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

CARLON(Speaks) –

I, Carlon, take you Shenellel to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

Exchange of Rings

Carlon and Shenelle, you’ve chosen rings for one another as reminders of the commitments you have made before God and to each other today. Get Ring

Pray for rings: Father, bless these rings which Carlon and Shenelle have set apart to be visible signs of the inward and spiritual bond which unites their hearts. As they give and receive these rings, may they testify to the world of the covenant made between them here.

Carlon as an endless reminder of this hour and of the vow you have taken, place this ring, the symbol of your love, on the hand of Shenelle and repeat after me: CarlonSpeaks

I give you this ring – as the symbol and pledge -- of my love for you – and our covenant before God.

Shenelle, as an endless reminder of this hour and of the vow you have just taken, place this ring, the symbol of your love, on the hand of Carlon and repeat after me: Shenelle Speaks I give you this ring – as the symbol and pledge -- of my love for you -- and our covenant before God. Unity Ceremony (Sand) Carlon & Shenelle have chosen sand to represent their individual lives joined together today. Joined together not just with each other but with Jesus Christ being the thread that weaves and touches every part of their lives. 1 Cor. 6:17 says: “He who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him”.

Pronouncement of Marriage –

Since you, Carlon and you Shenelle have agreed to marry each other and have declared your intention before God and in the presence of these witnesses, I pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate. Carlon you can Kiss your bride.

Signing of the Register

Carlon & Shenelle – Stand facing the audience

Presentation – It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs Carlon James

Recessional