Robert Martin/Mckayla Pickering

PROCESSION

WELCOME/PRAYER

In this beautiful place, we gather as a community of friends to celebrate Robert and Mckayla’s ’s union.

If you thought you were coming to a wedding, sorry to disappoint you. A wedding is not what brings us together today. To quote a famous theologian: “I don’t think it means what you think it means.” Anyone can get married and then become unmarried. God’s first gift was breathing life into us and turning us toward each other to live in union, equality and unity.

So today, we’ve been invited here to share with Robert and McKayla and their families a celebration that marks the affirmation of their love for each other and desire to enter into this sacred union and begin the adventure of new life together as husband and wife. 

Today, they will promise to face the future together, accepting whatever may lie ahead.  What they promise today must be renewed every day. 

PRAYER

INTENTION/GIVING AWAY OF BRIDE:

Parents, are you willing, now and always to support and strengthen this marriage with your prayers, encouragement, love, and support? (Respond: We will)

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

VOWS

No other human relationship is more tender, no other vows more sacred than these:

Robert will you have Mckayla to be your wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy state of matrimony; will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her as long as you both shall live?

Mckayla will you have Robert to be your husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy state of matrimony; will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him as long as you both shall live?

SCRIPTURE READING  

Colossians 3:12–15 “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.”

MESSAGE

Look around. This is your cloud of witnesses. We love you.

It has been a privilege to have spent the past months with you as you’ve prepared not for this day but for your union.

You have done the important and sometimes hard work each in your own unique way. That’s good because it doesn’t stop here.

In this passage the mood changes from negative to positive; like driving out of fog to finally see sunlight.

There’s something else here too: an invitation to let go of old ways and take hold of new ways (therefore). Mostly, a new way of being human as God’s chosen and loved people set apart to him and for him.

The first time it was given is told in Genesis 2, where Moses shows the partnership male and female together have with God in being responsible for caring for all that he made. What we read describes how the loving union of man and woman is to reflect to the world who God is, what God is like, and bless it with goodness that heals, restores, promotes justice - work for the way God intends the world to be.

Wedding clothes. Appropriate for today and the role you will take in each others’ lives and together into all your relationships and the world. While Paul isn’t talking about wedding clothes here, the metaphor works: A symbol for the kind of character this new way of life is being put on as loved people of God made to look like him: a deep sensitivity to the needs of others shown in kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience.

All these things are buttoned up/zipped up by love. It pulls it all together and will look stunning on you.

But it’s not just for you. You get to practice on each other but here’s the thing: as you grow in these things together, you will have a tangible effect on everyone around you.

Let’s talk about how we see compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiveness, gratitude in you now - God’s word living in you - in different and complementing way already showing up in you:

You bring together Affirmation and a pioneering spirit

Supported by a strong support system of family and friends

Collaborative; team player - Mckayla

Brings a feeling of stability and makes people feel at ease- Mckayla

Sound judgment - Robert

Creative in working through problems - Robert

And you will have things to work through. Always - using the tools you have now and the ones you will pick up along the way.

The difference between an ok union and a thriving, flourishing union is the time and energy you both put into cultivating your life in Christ and his way of living. The more you cultivate this kind of life, the more you will contribute to the world than what either of you could by yourselves.

God brought you together not just for your own sake but to also help those around you see the way he intended life to be.

But don’t take yourselves too seriously. Love God fiercely, enjoy God. Love others fiercely. Enjoy them. Your joy will be attractive and infectious.

RINGS

I, Robert take you Mckayla, to be my wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or worse, for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and cherish; till death do us part; according to God’s holy ordinance.

I Mckayla take you Robert to be my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or worse, for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and cherish; till death do us part; according to God’s holy ordinance.

BLESSING AND PRONOUNCEMENT

Invite all to participate.

As you have committed yourselves to union with one another before God in the presence of family and friends, I pronounce you husband and wife.

KISS

BENEDICTION

May your marriage always honor God who loves you, bring joy to one another, and blessings to your family for many generations to come. May love and laughter fill your hearts and your home for all at the days of your lives. May you face every challenge hand-in-hand and side-by-side knowing that with God’s grace, you’ll thrive through all obstacles together. May the world be forever a better place because of your union. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

INTRODUCTION OF COUPLE

Rober and Mckayla Martin

RECESSION