Marriage of Toby Clifford McClure & Amy Beth Hooker

(Procession) (Procession of the Bride) – “All Rise.”

Beloved Family and Friends, on behalf of the bride and groom and their families, I want to welcome you and thank you for coming as we are gathered here together to honor God and give Him thanks for Amy and Toby as they begin a life together.

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

(Prayer) – “You may be seated.”

(Message)

In the book of Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 21, the apostle Paul gives this command: “Submit to one another in the fear of Christ,” is the only true foundation of every harmonious and healthy marriage. Mutuality of submission is the profound yet simple rule of thumb from which Paul springboards into his individual instructions to wife and husband. Submission epitomizes the character of the person who is truly Spirit-filled. The reason submitting to one another is so essential is because it is an imitation of the loving act of the relationship of Christ and His Church. The wife patterns herself after the Church and the husband after Christ.

Amy, this man is to be your husband and your head as ordained by God. Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ in everything, you should be to Toby. To submit means to actively, deliberately, lovingly and intelligently devote to Toby’s noble aspirations and ambitions. To make this more clear, Paul says it this way in Colossians 3.18, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” That is to say, submit to Toby with first devotion unto God, purity of life and a deep respect for him as your husband. Peter says it this way, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands…”

Amy, your real beauty, your real attractiveness is godliness. Therefore, in order for you to do what is proper in this marriage, to submit to Toby; you must first submit to God, trust God and cast yourself on Him as your Savior. Then and only then can you be a proper wife to Toby. If you trust in God, then your true strength will be supportive to Toby in submission to him through gentleness and quietness of spirit and you will be precious to God and precious to Toby.

Toby, this woman is to be your wife as ordained by God. Therefore, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her, so you should do for Amy. Such love begins with the understanding and attitude of submission to Amy. Again, Paul began with the command, “Submit one to another in the fear of Christ.” This is a voluntary lovingly sacrifice and service unto your wife. Your pattern, Jesus, said this, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” It is significant that you are not commanded to lead, but to love!

Toby, you must understand that love is a command. That is, love is not a feeling you fall into or an involuntary attraction that just happened to you. Authentic love involves a deliberate, voluntary commitment to sacrifice of ourselves to the one we love. Paul states it this way in 1 Corinthians 13 – “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails!”

Toby, this command to love Amy begins with leaving your father and mother and joining yourself with Amy. Your greatest care, your highest concern is to Amy. This works out practically in that friends and family never come before Amy, nor never take her place. It is so much so, that you cleave to her. It is literally to be glued to. She is as your own flesh; two becoming one. Your care and consideration is to her as your own flesh.

Amy & Toby, mutual submission is the goal in your relationship one to another. Christ and the Church is your pattern. In the fear of God is your method with love as your motive. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

(Vows & Rings)

Toby

"Since it is your desire to be united in this holy bond, please join your right hand and repeat your vows one to the other."

Toby, in taking the woman you hold by the right hand to be your lawful and wedded wife, before God and the witnesses present you must promise to love her, to honor and cherish her in that relation, and leaving all others cleave only unto her, and be to her in all things a true and faithful husband so long as you both shall live. Do you so promise?

Answer: I do

Do you Toby give this ring to Amy as a token of your love for her and as a symbol of your commitment to the keeping of that which God commands of you towards her?

Answer, I do

Then repeat after me. Amy, with this ring I thee wed, and by the grace of God, I pledge my life to you as long as we both shall live.

Amy

Amy, in taking the man you hold by the right hand to be your lawful and wedded husband, before God and the witnesses present you must promise to love him, to honor and cherish him in that relation, and be to him in all things a true and faithful wife so long as you both shall live. Do you so promise?

Answer, I do

Do you Amy give this ring to Toby as a token of your love for him and as a symbol of your commitment to the keeping of which God commands of you towards him?

Answer, I do

Then repeat after me. Toby, with this ring I thee wed, and by the grace of God, I pledge my life to you as long as we both shall live.

(Pronouncement)

Having then pledged your love to one another, and having sealed your solemn marital vows by giving and receiving a ring, acting in the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Louisiana, in the presence of God and these assembled witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

(Presentation of Couple) – All Rise!

I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Toby Clifford McClure

(Recession)

The Bride and Groom will be pleased to receive your congratulations at the reception in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you