James and Jessica Wedding

5:30 I stand- signals the beginning of the wedding.

Please stand to honor the bride

You may be seated.

Dearest family and friends. We come together this evening to celebrate the union of James Park and Jessica Terrones in the sacred and holy union of marriage. James and jessica have invited us all to bear witness to their union and their vows, before God, in order that we may today, celebrate with them and tomorrow and the future remind them of the promises made to one another and to God.

Let us enter into this time with joyful hearts and with prayer: Please bow your heads and pray with me. Heavenly father, we thank you for James and Jessica and the decision they have made to commit to one another in this time. Though we are full of celebratory hearts today, we come before you sober-minded, knowing that without your help and blessing, no union can stand. So Lord today, we ask for that blessing upon this marriage and their lives. Would you help these 2 separate people become one. Guide them and lead them in your will. We ask you, Lord to be in every aspect of their lives. Would you bless their relationship, their home, their finances, their family, their children (some day) and their futures. We honor you Jesus with this day and acknowledge our need for you in this time. In your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Charge- Jessica and James, here is the day you have waited for. The day you have prayed for and the day that changes your life forever. As you enter in to this new life, I have some thoughts and admonitions for you. In particular, I want to share 3 truths with you regarding your marriage that I hope will serve you well.

1. “Christ must be the central figure in your relationship.” As you hear this, it is probably easy to conjure up ideas of prayer time together and bible study together. Those things are important, and I urge you to do them, but that’s not what I mean entirely today. When I say Christ must be central, I speak more of walking out the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus together daily.

For instance, as Jesus stated in . Do onto others as you would have them do onto you. Always be thinking, what can I do today that would bless my spouse? If it would be blessing for you, it would probably be one for them as well. Get in the habit of trying to “outbless each other” In doing so, you will reap a harvest of enduring love.

Jesus also taught us to forgive one another and not to allow any bitterness to enter our hearts. This one thing has sealed and protected more marriages than anything else: that the couple establishes a pattern of forgiveness. Please do not confuse forgiveness with dismissiveness. It is right and valuable to let the other know the offense and to together work through it, but at the end of it, to forgive it as you have been forgiven by the Lord. Not to bring up again later as ammunition or to prove a point but to truly hold no offense against the other any longer. This can only be done by prayer, through love, and with the Help of the Holy Spirit. It is hard, but worthy of your attention.

2. You cannot do this alone… So often in our lives, we can believe that we need to figure things out on our own or deal with struggle by ourselves. Especially in Marriage, in can become a significant temptation to isolate yourselves from community when struggle and hardship comes. The lie is that you have to manage it and you have to have it figured out now, after all, you are now married. You are a “super adult” That thought is just that, a lie. Lies bind you and trap you, but the truth shall set you free. So I speak these truths to you and over you right now.

First truth is this: You don’t have to be perfect at this marriage thing. You will make mistakes. You will struggle. You have never done this before. Give yourself and most importantly each other grace as you grow into the married couple you long to be.

Second truth: Everyone you look at ,that you think has a perfect marriage, actually struggles too. If they are doing well, it is because they have simply remained together in their struggle and have allowed the challenge of life together to grow them into the coupe they now are. Don’t compare yourselves to them, as it will rob you of joy, but rather emulate them knowing they have much to teach you.

Finally, Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of maturity and strength. As you look out at the witnesses today, you see people who love you. You see people who will support you, and you see a vast amount of wisdom and help at your disposal. If it gets hard, and it will, reach out. Don’t do it alone. God has provided you a family, friends and a church to help carry the load.

3. Today is the symbolic “I do” everyday moving forward is the real “ I do” So many people stand at an altar these days and say those words, I do. And though they mean them in the moment and have great intentions, the weight and power of those words do not carry on into the next days, weeks, months and years. The real and truest “I do” is in the moments when life is real. When you are tired, cranky and don’t “feel” like being a good spouse. The real I do is when someone else pays you attention, but you choose to ignore it. When it may be harder to go home than to go out, when it may seem like everything is falling apart, but you choose love, forgiveness, and faithfulness. That is the real I do. Let your I do be every single day for the rest of your lives. You will look back and be glad you did! You will leave a legacy for your children, your spiritual children and many generations of what a marriage can be!

Now before I scare you away with too much sobermindedness, let me speak of the love you two share.

I have seen you both grow in this relationship for some time now. You are both wildly different and it is true what they say “ opposites do attract” but what amazes me is how your strengths and weaknesses align so well. Only a creator as wise as God could fit 2 totally different people together and yet they become a complete package when they are with eachother.

James, you bring to this marriage an old soul that is so ready to right at any given time. Unwavering in truth and principle. You will be a great head of the household and Jessica and your children are going to be blessed by you.

Jessica, you bring a sensitivity and a passion to everything in your relationship. Don’t be afraid to challenge James’s sensibilities sometimes with adventure and romance.

Together, you will conquer many challenges and will live a life worth living.

Are you ready to enter into that life now?!

Vows- James please take your bride’s hand.

James, do you promise before God and these witnesses to love Jessica with your everything for the rest of your life. To forsake any other that may seek after your attention, to remain faithful to her and her alone, whether you find yourselves in poverty or wealth. Whether healthy or sick as long as you both are living. If so please say “I do”

Jessica, do you promise before God and these witnesses to love James with your everything for the rest of your life. To forsake any other that may seek after your attention, to remain faithful to him and him alone, whether you find yourselves in poverty or wealth. Whether healthy or sick as long as you both are living. If so please say “I do”

James please get the ring- repeat after me “Jessica, with this ring I marry you”

Put the ring on

Jessica, please get his ring- repeat after me “ James, with this ring I marry you”

Put the ring on

Now that you have exchanged vows before God and rings as a sign of this wedding covenant, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.

James, you may kiss your bride!

Ladies and gentlemen it is my extreme honor to be the first to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Park!

Recessional.

Please join the wedding party for the reception immediately following. Thanks and God bless you all!