Wedding: Creighton - Taylor

Aaron Creighton and Taylor Perkins

ENTRANCE

GREETING

Pastor to people:

Friends, we are gathered together in the sight of God to witness and bless the joining together of Aaron and Taylor in Christian marriage.

The covenant of marriage was established by God, who created us male and female for each other.

With his presence and power Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and in his sacrificial love gave us the example for the love of husband and wife.

Aaron and Taylor come to give themselves to one another in this holy covenant.

Pastor to the persons who are to marry:

I charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that love and loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a happy home.

If the solemn vows you are about to make are kept faithfully, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, your life will be full of joy, and the home you are establishing will abide in peace.

No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.

PASTOR TO THE WOMAN:

Taylor, will you have Aaron to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

Woman: I will.

PASTOR TO THE MAN:

Aaron, will you have Taylor to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

Man: I will

RESPONSE OF THE FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE

PASTOR TO FATHER:

Who presents this woman to be married to this man?

Presenter(s): I (We) do

The marriage of Taylor and Aaron unites their families, they ask for your blessing. Do you who represent their families rejoice in their union and pray God's blessing upon them?

ALL: We do.

Family may be seated.

PASTOR TO PEOPLE:

Will all of you, by God's grace, do everything in your power to uphold and care for these two persons in their marriage?

People: We will.

PRAYER *

Let us pray. God of all peoples, you are the true light illumining everyone. You show us the way, the truth, and the life. You love us even when we are disobedient. You sustain us with your Holy Spirit. We rejoice in your life in the midst of our lives. We praise you for your presence with us, and especially in this act of solemn covenant; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A moment of happiness, you and I sitting on the verandah, apparently two, but one in soul, you and I. We feel the flowing water of life here, you and I, with the garden's beauty and the birds singing. The stars will be watching us, and we will show them what it is to be a thin crescent moon. You and I unselfed, will be together, indifferent to idle speculation, you and I. The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar as we laugh together, you and I. In one form upon this earth, and in another form in a timeless sweet land.

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

A moment of happiness, you and I sitting on the verandah, apparently two, but one in soul, you and I. We feel the flowing water of life here, you and I, with the garden's beauty and the birds singing. The stars will be watching us, and we will show them what it is to be a thin crescent moon. You and I unselfed, will be together, indifferent to idle speculation, you and I. The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar as we laugh together, you and I. In one form upon this earth, and in another form in a timeless sweet land.

Song of Solomon 8:6–7 NIV

6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Solomon 8:6–8 The Message

6 Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. 7 Flood waters can’t drown love, torrents of rain can’t put it out. Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold— it’s not to be found in the marketplace. 8 My brothers used to worry about me: “Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her?

Song of Solomon 8:6–7 NIV

6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Sol 8:6-7

Song of 8:6-8

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Taylor, you are beautiful…but we expected that… Aaron, you clean up good!

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

It’s a good thing, because this is a very special day.

I remember when we first met, several months ago now how you both shared how easy it was to fall in love… it was like you were each made for each other. I hope you both see this as a gift from God.... God’s way of setting the stage for your life, giving you someone easy to fall in love with.

But a life of love doesn’t come easy. You remember that feeling you had when you first saw each other a moment ago… Aaron you probably wanted to cry… and Taylor you were blown away that he was moved that way.

This may come as a shock to you both, but there will come a time this week, maybe next week, when you don’t feel that way. She’s going to come in and you hardly look up… he’s going to come in and your first thought is, go take a shower.

That feeling you have when you walked in… wow… God’s way of wiring us to commit to one another

That’s why I want to talk about love.... not the awe I love you sort of love but real love… biblical love is about much more than a feeling or an emotion.

But love… biblical love is about much more than a feeling or an emotion.

Real love, the passage from the song of solomon uses 3 hebrew words for love that when combined give us a healthy understanding of the sort of love God desires for a husband and wife.

First, the one used in the passage I just read.... A-habah… deep affection… heart ache… mind and heart consumed by the lover…a commitment

Read it again....

Song of Solomon 8:6–7 NIV

6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

“Rayah” - best friend… soul mate

“Dode” - it’s the physical love you share… in marriage all three of these come together… as one flesh as Jesus discussed.

All three of these work together spiritually… supernaturally. These 3

Pay attention to all three of these flames… invest in all three of these… we were created to share these three

Love you see is a profoundly spiritual experience. That the three flames of love are intended to burn together… and as they do, you will experience a fire that is unquenchable in this life.

SERMON OR OTHER WITNESS TO CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

INTERCESSORY PRAYER *

Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all life, Author of salvation, Giver of all grace:

Bless and sanctify with your Holy Spirit

Aaron and Taylor, who come now to join in marriage.

Grant that they may give their vows to each other in the strength of your steadfast love.

Enable them to grow in love and peace with you and with one another all their days, that they may reach out in concern and service to the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The woman and man face each other, joining hands. The pastor may prompt them, line by line.

MAN TO WOMAN:

In the name of God,

I, Aaron, take you, Taylor, to be my 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, until we are parted by death.

This is my solemn vow.

WOMAN TO MAN:

In the name of God,

I, Taylor, take you, Aaron, to be my 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, until we are parted by death.

This is my solemn vow.

E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

The pastor, taking the rings, may say one of the following:

These rings are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to us the union between Jesus Christ and his Church.

These rings are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of Aaron and Taylor in holy marriage.

The pastor may bless the giving of rings or other symbols of the marriage:

Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may live in your peace and continue in your favor all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

While placing the ring on the third finger of the recipient's left hand:

MAN TO WOMAN:

Taylor, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow,

and with all that I am,

and all that I have, I honor you;

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

WOMAN TO MAN:

Aaron, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow,

and with all that I am,

and all that I have, I honor you;

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The wife and husband join hands. The pastor may place a hand on their joined hands.

PASTOR TO COUPLE:

You have declared your consent and vows before God and this congregation.

May God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace.

The couple may turn and face the congregation.

PASTOR TO PEOPLE:

Now that Aaron and Taylor have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving and receiving of rings,

I announce to you that they are husband and wife; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Amen.

Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in making us a covenant people through our Savior Jesus Christ and for consecrating in his name the marriage covenant of Aaron and Taylor.

we give you thanks for your tender love in making us a covenant people through our Savior Jesus Christ and for consecrating in his name the marriage covenant of Aaron and Taylor.

Grant that their love for each other may reflect the love of Christ for us and grow from strength to strength as they faithfully serve you in the world.

Defend them from every enemy.

Lead them into all peace.

Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their heads.

Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their lives and in their deaths.

Finally, by your grace, bring them and all of us to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:

The pastor may raise hands.

PASTOR TO COUPLE:

God the Eternal keep you in love with each other, so that the peace of Christ may abide in your home.

Go to serve God and your neighbor in all that you do.

PASTOR TO PEOPLE:

Bear witness to the love of God in this world, so that those to whom love is a stranger will find in you generous friends.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Aaron, you may kiss your bride.

Family, friends, it gives me great pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Creighton.

Wedding: Creighton - Taylor

DECLARATION OF INTENTION

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

READING

Scripture reading

THE MARRIAGE

EXCHANGE OF VOWS

READING

BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS

BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE *

BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE *

THE LORD'S PRAYER

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING *