Wedding Ceremony (2)

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

(Response)

The congregation may be seated

A wise man once said:

Proverbs 30:

Proverbs 30:18–19 HCSB

Three things are beyond me; four I can’t understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.

We are gathered here today to witness the exchanging of vows between Joseph Wesley Traywick and Martha Louise Huggins. It is fitting that this wedding takes place in a church, because marriage is an institution ordained by God Himself. No one except God could have thought of anything as wonderful as marriage. It was God himself who placed that first man and woman together in the garden to love one another, to complete one another, and to provide that unique companionship found in the marriage union.

In God’s love letter to humanity, God tells us the duties and responsibilities of each marriage partner whereby they might have the blessing of God on thier home.

Joey to you God gives a wonderful and difficult assignment:

Ephesians 5:

Ephesians 5:25–29 HCSB

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,

Martha God says to you,

Ephesians 5:

Ephesians 5:22–24 HCSB

Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.

As your lives are put together today in the legal and Christian manner, I pray that it is just the beginning of God taking two hearts and making them into one heart, which ought never to be broken, except by death.

Now you have declared to me in private that there is nothing according to the laws of God or the laws of this state that would keep you from becoming husband and wife. you have made known to your family and friends gathered here today that your intentions of giving yourselves to each other as long as you both shall live. Now will you face each other and join right hands as you exchange your wedding vows.

Joey Traywick will you take Martha whom you hold by the hand as your lawful wedded wife?

Will you love her tenderly, comfort her in times of sorrow, keep her in times of prosperity or poverty, in sickness and in Health? Will you cherish her and keep her close to your side and to your heart as long as you both shall live?

(GROOM ANSWERS)

Martha Huggins will you take Joey whom you hold by the hand, as your lawful wedded husband? Will you love him tenderly, comfort him in times of sorrow, keep him in times of prosperity or poverty, in sickness or in health? Will you honor him, and keep him close to your side and close to your heart as long as you both shall live?

(BRIDE ANSWERS)

Now each of you brings a ring as a sign and token of your love for each other.

(THE MAID OF HONOR AND BEST MAN SHOULD PLACE THE RINGS IN THE PASTORS HAND, I WILL HOLD OUT THE RINGS TO THE GROOM.)

Joey please take your ring and place it on the third finger of Martha’s left hand. Hold it there for a moment, look deep into her eyes and into her heart, and repeat these words after me:

(Pastor pauses at the end of each line)

“May this ring

Be a reminder

To you and to me

Of the love and devotion

I now Pledge

this day to you”

Now Martha please take your ring and place it on the third finger of Joey’s left hand. Hold it there for a moment, look into his eyes and into his heart and repeat these words after me:

May this ring

Be a reminder

To you and to me

of the Love and devotion

I now pledge

this day to you”

I pray these rings mark the purity, the value, and the constancy of true wedded love. Let them be now and for the rest of your lives a twofold seal of the vows you have taken here before your family and friends and the covenant promise you have made with God.

(untiy candle here/ or song)

“Our Father in Heaven we ask you to bless Joey and Martha as they join hands together to climb the hill of life. May their blessings be doubled as two share them together rather than each alone. May the inevitable hardships of life be made bearable they bear them together instead of each other alone.

Father I pray that they would remember you and that You must be the center of this marriage for ti to be blessed. May Christ dwell at the center of this home that is hereby established today.

As Joey and Martha grow closer to Christ may they grow closer to one another than they ever felt possible. We pray this prayer in Jesus’ name AMEN”

Joey and Martha upon your solemn vows that you have made here today, and upon your sacred pledge to love one another for the rest of your lives, in accordance with the laws of God and of the laws of the state of Alabama, it gives me great delight to pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. and what God has joined together let no man put asunder.

YOU MAY NOW KISS YOUR BRIDE

The couple faces the congregation

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN MAY I PRESENT TO YOU MR. AND MRS. JOEY TRAYWICK

Recessional

The bride and the groom would like for you to stay for the reception and celebrate with them in the fellowship hall.

you are dismissed