Dawson and Jordan

3:30 – Music prelude (Rachel playing) (open seating)

4:00 – Seating of Family – great grandmother / grandparents, parents, groom’s first

4:05– Groom joins pastor – Groom joins Jon after seating parents

4:06 – Wedding Party Processional - Rachel

Kelvin and Natalie

Chad and Kassidy

Sam and Holly

Cane and Darcy

Ben and Brooke

Dion and Eryn

Ring Bearers

Flower girls with Josh

4:13 – Entrance of Bride and Father of the Bride

Welcome

Good afternoon, on behalf of the family, I want to thank-you all for coming to witness this ceremony today.

We are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of you all to join together Dawson Watts and Jordyn Gerlach in holy matrimony. This holy state of marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of the Lord. Into this relationship these two persons come now to be joined.

You may be seated.

Today is an exciting day. We get to celebrate and witness the joining together of the two of your lives into one. As we go through this ceremony, not only are we celebrating the two of you, but the rest of us get to reflect and be reminded of why marriage is sacred and special.

Statement of Purpose

Of the world’s three great institutions – the home, the church, and the state – the home is the oldest and most sacred. Genesis 2:18, 21-25 says: “’The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ 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 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 the man.’

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

In the conclusion of the first marriage, the woman whom God made as a helper for man was not taken from his head to rule over him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from his side that she might be his equal, from under his arm that she might receive his protection, and from near his heart that she might own and command his love.

Proverbs 18:22 says: “he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”

Opening Prayer:

The Giving Away Of The Bride

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Address to the Groom

Dawson, you are about to take upon yourself a sacred decision, and an important vow, involving serious thought and lasting responsibilities. Jordyn is now to become the partner of your life, the co-heir of your possessions, and the queen of your home. In no other way could she so manifest her love for you. She leaves her old ties, the companionship of others – to share with you the joys and sorrows of life. With you will she now abide, and for you she will live.

Address to the Bride

Jordyn, you are also to assume serious responsibilities. Dawson will look to you for comfort in his hour of trial. Your smile should be his brightest day, your voice his sweetest music, your skill and cleverness his greatest wealth, your careful planning and use his safest steward, your lips his faithful counselor, and your prayers his most able advocate at heaven’s court.

Address to the Couple

Now let me address the both of you and through this address all of us.

In Ephesians 5:31-32 - Paul quotes from Genesis 2:24 and adds a commentary note.

Ephesians 5:31–32 NASB95

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

By doing this he is cluing us in that biblical marriage from the beginning had 2 purposes.

Purpose 1: We Are To Be The Image Bearers Of God To The World Individually And Collectively.

Genesis 1 describes God creating everything, but most importantly, and the pinnacle of His creation, was man and woman.

Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that the man and the woman were created in the Image of God, what we call from the Latin, The Imago Dei.

And Genesis 1:28 tells us that God blessed man and woman, told them to be fruitful and multiply, and to fill the earth.

God wanted man, woman, and children to reflect His image to the world.

That is why family is so important and also why Satan tries so hard to tear families apart.

It is into this context where we see the use of our key verse, which establishes the standard for God’s plan for humanity.

The man and the woman, both bearing different aspects of the Image of God, in this unique covenantal relationship were to be of one heart, one mind, one body, and one soul, which is what the term one flesh means.

The reason for this special union was to reveal and reflect God and ultimately God’s covenantal relationship with us, which we call salvation, to the world.

How does the woman reflect the image of God to the world?

Genesis 2:18 NASB95

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

When God created the woman to be a helper, He is creating the woman to bear that aspect of His image.

And there is a nuance to this term of a power or strength that corresponds to a man’s power or strength.

In other words, the strength of a woman is in her ability to help the man be strong. To help him be all he can be, just like God helps us to be all he created us to be. Just like God helps us to be strong.

The term helper is used of God in Psalm 33:20

The term also means one who “fills in the gaps.”

In fact, Jesus literally calls the Holy Spirit our helper 4 times in John’s Gospel. The Holy Spirit helps us when we are lacking, or void.

Just like the wife is called to help the husband where he is lacking and helps bring completeness to his life.

Women have been uniquely gifted by God to see our blind spots and help us overcome them.

Where we are weak, she is strong.

When we fall short, she shores it up.

When we stumble, she picks us up.

So Jordyn, you were created to be a helper to Dawson just like God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are a helper to us. Are you willing to accept that role that God has for you?

Good, because behind every good man, is a better woman.

How does the man reflect the Image of God to the world?

By being the headship covering over her.

This is where we turn to Ephesians 5:23

Ephesians 5:23 NASB95

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, who did God call for?

It says the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

This highlights the responsibility and privilege we have before God for the care and management of our family and homes.

As head you are to be her shield and protector, just like God is our shield and protector.

It is the God-given role of the husband to lead the family as the head, just like Jesus leads the church as its head.

It’s not a control question, but a question of protection and sacrifice.

Male headship addresses a kind of leadership which serves the needs of others in a self-giving way.

So Dawson, are you willing to take on the challenge of fighting for your family? Of being the head and protective covering over your wife and someday kids?

This leads us to the 2nd greatest purpose of a Biblical marriage.

Purpose 2: Marriage Is A Reflection Of Jesus Christ And The Church

This is the greatest purpose of why God established the marriage relationship.

As you heard earlier in Ephesians 5, Paul quotes the passage from Genesis 2:24, and then says that this mystery is great, but that he is speaking in reference to Christ and the church.

In other words, the great mystery is that biblical marriage is a picture of Jesus’ love for the church and of the church’s rightful response to Jesus’ love.

I’m going to make this point as simply as I can. I’ll take Genesis 2:24 from Jesus’ perspective as the husband and the church’s response to Jesus as the bride. Then I’ll provide some practical application of actual husband to wife.

A man shall leave his father and mother. Jesus left His Heavenly Father to come down to earth.

Shall be joined to His wife. Jesus pursues us and wants us to be in a relationship with Him.

They shall become one flesh. Shall become means we aren’t already. It’s a reminder that we are starting separated from Him, but He desires to become united to us. Just like a bride starts separated from the groom, but the groom desires to be with the bride.

Unfortunately, there is something that stands in the way of our being together with Jesus.

And this is a very important point to understand. It’s why Paul uses the analogy of a husband and wife in connection to Christ and the church.

Sin is a barrier that keeps us from being able to be in a relationship with Jesus.

And actually, as the Bible describes this, sin is a debt owed by which we have become slaves until we can pay off that debt. And in our analogy, that is the bride price.

The problem is, there is no way that we can set ourselves free. We can’t pay our own bride price. We cannot do enough to pay off that sin debt.

So, in order for Jesus to become united with us, He had to set us free from our sin debt. He was willing to pay that bride price.

Mark 10:45 tells us that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Jesus’s death on the cross was the ransom He paid in order for us to be set free from our sin debt.

It was the bride price He was willing to pay because He loved us so much and wanted to be in a relationship with us.

And if we, by faith, accept His payment for us, the separation barrier is removed and we can become united to Him spiritually.

Now, the challenge, then, that Paul sets forth for husbands in Ephesians 5:25-28 is that we love our wives in the same way that Christ loved the church.

In addition to being a servant leader, providing for and protecting her, and sacrificing and giving up your life for her, Paul gives 3 other quick metaphors.

To sanctify her - to set apart as special or sacred.

Just like Jesus chose us as special, Dawson, will you set Jordyn apart from all others to be your specially chosen partner?

And part of setting her apart as special is honoring, encouraging, and speaking words of blessing over her.

Remind her of the promises in God’s Word and His faithfulness in all circumstances.

Present her having no wrinkles - means no signs of age...worry lines...

Just like Jesus will present us wrinkle free, Dawson you need to strive to help Jordyn be wrinkle free.

Don’t do things that will cause her to worry.

Blameless: Without blemish - The absence of something amiss that would disqualify it from being used for sacrifice.

Don’t hold her faults against her.

Don’t point out those things that would “disqualify” her in someone’s eyes.

Remember, neither of you are created better than the other, just different. Don’t hold those differences against her.

When you do these things, you are modeling Christ’s love for the church.

Finally, let’s see if I can bring out the final connection of what Ephesians tells us is the bride’s submission to her husband, which in actuality is our response to Jesus’ love for us.

Just like Jesus left Heaven to pursue us, so we leave our earthly relationships to pursue Jesus.

Jordyn, are you ready and willing to leave your earthly relationships to pursue this one flesh relationship with Dawson?

Just like Jesus asks us to commit our lives to Him, so we respond by saying yes, “I will commit my life to you. I willingly place my life into your hands.”

Jordyn, are you ready to commit your life to be under Dawson’s covering, care, protection, and service?

Just like Jesus died on the cross so we could be forgiven and become one with Him, so we agree to die to our old life and pursue a new life with Him exclusively for Him.

Jordyn, are you willing to pursue a new life exclusively for and with Dawson?

And in Eph 5:33, Paul gives us one final summary statement: Husbands love your wives and wives respect your husbands.

The question to ask ourselves at any given moment is: For Dawson: would Jesus treat the church the way you’re treating Jordyn?

Or for Jordyn: Would you treat Jesus the way you’re treating Dawson?

Vows

Based upon their positive responses to my exhortations, Dawson and Jordyn are now going to say their vows to each other.

Traditional vows

Dawson, take your bride’s hands in yours and turn towards each other.

Dawson, do you accept this bride as a gift from God to treat with love and respect all the days of your life?

I do.

Now repeat after me.

I, Dawson, take you Jordyn, 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, and will be a faithful husband till God separates us by death.

Jordyn, do you accept this groom as a gift from God to treat with love and respect all the days of your life?

I do.

Great, now repeat after me.

I, Jordyn, take you, Dawson, 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, honor, and cherish, and will be a faithful wife till God separates us by death.

Unity Sand / Communion / Father’s Blessing

The pouring of the unity sand is a visual symbolic act of each leaving their respective homes and coming together as two individuals into one new interdependent mix representing the idea of one flesh.

Jordyn and Dawson will also be taking their first communion together as a married couple. Thus reinforcing the fact that this marriage is first under Christ as head and a reflection of His love for us and our response in submission to that love, and secondly their commitment to allow their marriage to reflect that truth to the world.

Right after communion we will have the Father’s prayer of blessing over the couple and then Jordan and Dawson will sign the marriage certificate.

While we do all of this, we will have a special number sung.

Exchange Of Rings

Now, we are going to do the exchanging of rings. We read in Scripture that whenever a covenant was made between two parties, whether between fellow man or between God and man, a token was given or an item was traded as a reminder of that.

Dawson, what token do you offer Jordyn that you will faithfully fulfill your marriage vows?

A ring

Good. This ring is the token of your marriage covenant. It is made of precious and enduring metal, and thus fittingly represents the lasting and imperishable ties that bind husband and wife. The ring, an endless circle is the emblem of eternity, a symbol of the unbroken “union” that should continue until broken by death.

Dawson, take this ring and place it upon the ring finger of the left hand of your bride, let it be the seal of your fidelity and affection, and a memorial of this sacred service. Now repeat after me:

With this ring and in the presence of these witnesses, I wed you, and give you my love and devotion so long as we both shall live.

Jordyn, what token do you give as evidence that you will keep your marriage vows?

A ring

Excellent, Jordyn, take the ring and place it upon the same finger of the groom, let it too be the seal of your fidelity and affection, and a memorial of this sacred service. Now repeat after me:

With this ring and in the presence of these witnesses, I wed you, and give you my love and devotion so long as we both shall live.

Special Music:

Jazz’s group: Congregation to sing along.

Charge to the Guests

I exhort you, family and friends of Dawson and Jordyn, as fellow witnesses to the joining together of these two lives, to rejoice with them, to weep with them, and give guidance to them. And I pray that when within your power you will strive to encourage and support these two in their lives as a married couple. If you agree, please say, “I Will.”

Final Charge to the Couple

Now turn towards me and join hands. Let me speak to your hearts. I charge you both as you hope for happiness in your married life, to be true to these vows you have made to each other. With your marriage, from this day, you begin life anew, with larger responsibilities.

Dawson, guard well this your bride who now commits herself into your keeping, and strive so to live in the Lord that no word or deed of yours shall cloud her brow with grief, or dim her eyes with tears.

Jordyn, it will be your part to strive to retain by your virtues the heart you have won by your graces.

And now to you both, I would say: Let not your voices lose the tender tones of affection nor your eyes forget the tender ray with which they shone in courtship’s day. And, greatest of all, let God be enthroned above all else at all times.

Closing Prayer

Pronouncement of Marriage

As Dawson and Jordyn, in the presence of God and you all here, have agreed together to be married, have given and pledged their faith to each other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring and joining hands: I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man separate.

Kiss

You may kiss the bride.

House Keeping

After the wedding party leaves, the ushers will dismiss you row by row and hand out bubbles.

There will be a receiving line in the fellowship hall in the back for bride, groom, and parents. After going through the receiving line, please go outside and get ready to blow bubbles and cheer as Jordyn and Dawson enter the bus for the reception.

The reception will be in Dimock at TnT Inflatables. Go and hang out and fellowship with coffee and refreshments until the wedding party arrives.

Declaration

And now, allow me the privilege to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson and Jordyn Watts.

Recessional