Wedding (Ashley/Amber)

Prelude Music

Bridal Party: Parents: Maids and Men

Enter the Bride "All rise for the bride"

Opening Words

Who gives the bride to be married?

Bride’s Father “I do.” (Bride’s father places her hand in Grooms hand and is seated

We are gathered here to share in the joy of __Ashley__ and ____Amber___ who have come to be joined in marriage. On behalf of them I want to thank all of you for being here for this special day. We have gathered to surround them with our love and to wish for them a marriage that will delight the very heart of God.

Let me just say

What a beautiful set this is for us to enjoy today. I already mentioned that we are here to surround them with our love and support. There is someone else here today to love and support them, God himself, the creator of us and the marriage bond.

The Bible teaches us that marriage is to be a permanent relationship of one man and one woman totally committed to each other as companions for life. Our Lord declares for this cause a man shall leave his father and mother.....and unite with his wife in the building of a life long commitment, and the two shall become one flesh.

Declaration of Intention

The word of God is final authority in our lives. And today I'll be talking about the first marriage from genesis 2. Just as God was present for the first marriage, he presents is here today with us.

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

In the beginning God created everything and said it is good. The only thing he said that wasn't good was for man to be alone. We see the hierarchy of God above man and man over the animals. God said be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the animals. I can see Adam in the garden naming the animals wondering is there anything around here for me? These animals are boring. But then we see God make the perfect co-laborer for Adam, just like God provides John and Jess with each other today, the perfect couple. God provides the man with a wife by causing the man to go into a deep sleep and takes a rib who was taken directly from his side out of his rib. In the original tongue of Hebrew it is a love poem saying, "Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh". This symbolizes the side-by-side relationship between man and women share in their marriage. In God ordains the first marriage and walks eve to her husband Adam. We see that marriage is not something man created or something that was just made up, But it is a beautiful special event that God has created.

The Apostle Paul gives us insight on what it means to become one flesh in . Wives understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to the church. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit and respect there husbands.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church. A love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty; everything he does and says is meant to bring the best out of her.

It's Christ love that restores his people back to God the father. (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. See Christ came, lived a perfect, selfless life and was obedient to death on a cross. Not because he deserved any punishment. Remember he lived a perfect life. He took the punishment because of his love for his people. God knew we needed a savior, a redeemer. As we see and respond to this perfect love of Christ, it helps us see by Gods grace, a love we should have for our wives. As we love our wife's this way, it helps them to not only flourish, but submit and respect the husband who is head of the house hold.

I see how God has made John and Jess for each other. And how John's characteristics and patients will serve Jess and their family well. I see in my sister Jess a woman that will complement John. Her soft and compassionate heart will make it easy to become one. I have known jess my whole life being my sister in all, and it is truly an honor to be here today. The last couple weeks John and I have been spending time and have had good fellowship. I am truly excited for what God is doing and I know this is a day you two will never forget.

The last insight for marriage I would like to build on is the importance of Christ as the foundation. Matthew7:24-25 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. Christ is the solid rock foundation that makes it possible for marriages to withstand. If trials or sickness come, Christ is that foundation to withstand and hold the marriage together. He is also the foundation that provides pure joy in our hearts.

Now I will have the parents join us as we use the unity candles as a symbol of their new life together.

Unity Candle

The two outside candles have been lighted to represent both your lives in this moment. They are two distinct lights, each capable of going their separate ways. As you join now in marriage, there is a merging of these two lights into one light. This is what the Lord meant when He said, "On this account a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall be one flesh." From now on your thoughts shall be for each other rather than your individual selves. Your plans shall be mutual, your joys and sorrows shall be shared alike. As you each take a candle and together light the center one, you will extinguish your own candles, thus letting the center candle represent the union of your lives into one flesh. As this one light cannot be divided, neither shall your lives be divided but a united testimony in a Christian home. May the radiance of this one light be a testimony of your unity in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I would like you to move a little closer and take each others hands.

Marriage Vows

“John, do you take Jess to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love her, to honor and cherish her, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to her in all things a good and faithful husband as long as you both shall live?”

Groom “I do.”

“Jess, do you take John to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love him, to honor and cherish him, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to him in all things a good and Faithful with as long as you both shall live?”

Bride “I do.”

John-repeat After me and look into those beautiful eyes....

“I, __John_____, take you _Jess______, to be my wedded 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, till death do us part. I promise to be your best friend and love you forever. I promise to never forget the gift God has given us in each other.

Jess-repeat after me and do the same

“I, ___Jess_____, take you,___John_____, to be my wedded 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, till death do us part. I promise to be your best friend and love you forever. I promise to never forget the gift God has given us in each other.

Prayer

Let us pray

“Father in heaven, You ordained marriage for your children, and You gave us love. We ask that You, God, will give them the ability to keep the covenant they have made. When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity; when mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength; when there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness; if suffering becomes a part of their lives, give them a strong faith and an abiding love. In the name of your precious son Jesus Amen.”

Blessing and Exchange of Rings

May I have the rings please?

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. The purity of gold in the ring symbolizes the purity of your love for each other. The unending circle symbolizes the unending vows which you are taking. As a token of your vows, you will give and receive the rings.

John give this ring and repeat after me, I give you this ring in celebration of our marriage, as a pledge of my love and faithfulness. I promise to you my love, friendship and support through our years.

Jess you will give this ring and repeat after me, I give you this ring in celebration of our marriage, as a pledge of my love and faithfulness. I promise to you my love, friendship and support through our years together.

Ceremony of the Sand

Groom, Bride, as a symbol of your union, we take the sands of your lives, each gain being an event, a memory, well executed plan and or disappointments of your past. These vases represent you as and individual before today, I ask you now to fill your hearts desires by blending the sands of your lives together, as the grains spill and scatter and mingle among each other so do they unite as you do today. As you have mixed the grains of your past, so do you build a united future. Just as the sands have endured the tests of time and nature and proven stronger so now do you face your future, and because you are together – so are you stronger.

Just as it is impossible to separate the sands you have just united, so is it impossible to separate the two of you completely anymore.

Ending Marriage Prayer:

I would like to pray one more time before we close out today. Remember prayer is how we communicate with God and God communicates with us through his word.

Our loving Father, we know that you are the witness of every marriage and the sealer of every spiritual union. We give thanks knowing that it is your love and light that fill the hearts and minds of __John__ and__Jess___. They have pledged their love and vowed their commitment to one another, on this their wedding day.

Grant that they may be true and loving to each other, living in such a way as to bring peace and joy into their lives and to family and friends, who support them with your love. May you continually rejoice with them, just as you do this day. Bless this, their wedding day and may they always be aware of your abiding love throughout their life together.

We ask these things in your son, Jesus name; Amen

Pronouncement

John, Jess, you have declared your commitment to each other before your friends, family and God. It gives me the greatest of pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.

John, you may kiss your bride.

Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it gives me great joy to present to you Mr. and Mrs. ____gone ya________