Jonathon and Zoe Wedding

Who Gives?

Institution of Marriage

Mark 10:6–8 CSB

But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Marriage is for the uniting of a husband and wife

In marriage the parents give up their children to be bound to another

Who gives away Zoey today?

[INVITE TO Jonathon and Zoey to the front]

Call to Worship

Family and friends, we are gathered here in the presence of God to join this man (and my little brother)—Jonathon Chadwick—and this woman—Zoua (Zoey) Lor—in holy marriage. Marriage was instituted by God himself in the beginning of man's history.

‘The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him"’ (Gen. 2:18).

In this way, God created woman that they might be bound together.

In a marriage ceremony, we believe that God consecrates the commitments that Jonathon and Zoey will make to one another today.

Thank the witnesses before God (witnesses of What God establishes)

Let’s begin by asking for God’s blessing on this time.

[PRAYER OF BLESSING]

Institution of Marriage

Christian marriage is a joyful covenanting between a man and a woman. In this covenant they proclaim, before God and witnesses, their commitment to live together in spiritual, physical, and material unity. In this covenant they acknowledge that the great love that God has shown for them enables them to love each other.

How has God loved?

When God created life upon the earth, it fell to chaos: chaos of natural forces; chaos of spiritual beings; and most importantly chaos in the human heart.

Our sinful tendency to break down what God has established threatens marriage with tensions, agony, and with broken bonds. Human commitment is fragile and human love is imperfect.

Romans 5:8 (CSB)

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s love is sacrificial. God’s love seeks order, even when there is chaos in the world and chaos in the heart of man. God’s love seeks restoration when relationships are tearing apart.

The promise of God’s love is eternal, and the love of God can bring our love to perfection.

People who marry in the Lord trust that he will lead them and graciously provide for their needs when they follow the biblical pattern of love.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (CSB)

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Marriage is a complimentary union where two people come together to be so much more than they could ever be alone.

Gen 2:12

“It is not good for man to be alone.”

In marriage a man and woman rely on each other for:

Spiritual support

Emotional support

Financial support

To raise a family

In putting his blessing on marriage, God intended that this marriage between Jonathon and Zoey would provide…

…a context where they can help and comfort each other, and find companionship.

…a setting in which they might give warm and tender expression to the desires, God gave them.

…a secure environment in which children may be born and taught to know and serve the Lord.

…and a structure that enriches society and contributes to its orderly function.

When these purposes are prayerfully pursued in union with Christ, the kingdom of God is advanced, and the blessedness of husband and wife assured.

Charge

The purposes of marriage…

is the enrichment of the lives of those who are married.

it is for the continuation of the human race.

and it is most significantly for the furthering of the Kingdom of Christ.

Therefore, let us reverently hear the charge of the scriptures regarding the duties of the husband and wife in marriage.

Ephesians 5:20–25 (CEB)

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; and submit to each other out of respect for Christ. For example, wives should submit to their husbands as if to the Lord…As for husbands, love your wives just like Christ loved the church and [sacrificed] himself for her.

Jonathon and Zoey, today you are presenting yourselves before witnesses to declare you intention of uniting your loves voluntarily and honorably for the service of God and humankind. You are making a double dedication: 1) to each other, in a lasting and indivisible union that shall endure for the remaining years o your loves, 2) and also to God, that he would make you together His instrument for accomplishing his purpose for your lives.

The achievement of this purpose will require appreciation of each others abilities and virtues, forgiveness of each other’s faults, and unfailing devotion to each other’s welfare and development.

There must be on your part a united consent to the purpose of God as he progressively reveals it to you by his Word and by his Spirit and an unhesitant acceptance of faith of the challenges that he sets before you.

I charge you, therefore, first of all to consider that your promises to each other are made in the presence of a God who remembers your pledges and who holds you responsible for performing them.

I admonish you to keep in mind that each of you is the object of Christ’s redemption and should be valued accordingly as images of the living God.

Neither should be neglected or belittled by the other. Esteem each other as God’s gift for mutual aid, comfort, and joy, and as a repository of complete confidence and trust.

I encourage you to share willingly and sympathetically your joys and worries, your successes and your struggles, and to be neither conceited by the one or depressed by the other. Whichever may prevail, cling closely to one another that defeats may be met by united strength and victories by united joy.

I charge you to make your home a place where you can have refuge from the storms of life. Let it be a haven for the weary, a source of encouragement for the discouraged, and a convincing testimony to a cynical world.

You must recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as the head of your household, ruler of your destinies, and the object of your deepest affection. As you do, he will confirm your marriage by his guidance and will overshadow it with his peace.

I charge you to love each other, to support each other, and to serve him with sincere hearts and determined wills until your mutual service for him shall be completed.

Declaration of Intent

[TURN TO FACE EACH OTHER]

Minister to the groom:

Before God and these witnesses, will you, Jonathon, take Zoey to be your wife? Will you love and comfort her, honor and keep her, and in joy and sorrow, preserve with her this bond, holy and unbroken, until the return of Christ Jesus, or as long as you both shall live?

Groom: I will.

Minister to the bride:

Before God and these witnesses, will you, Zoey, take Jonathon to be your husband? Will you love and comfort him, honor and keep him, and in joy and sorrow, preserve with him this bond, holy and unbroken, until the return of Christ Jesus, or as long as you both shall live?

Bride: I will.

Vows — invite to repeat

With your agreement, you will now proclaim your vows before God and witnesses.

Jonathon repeat after me.

Groom repeats after minister:

I Jonathon take you Zoey

to be my wife

to live as one as God established

in good times and in bad

in times of plenty and in times of need

in sickness and in health

to love and to cherish

until we are parted by death

this is my solemn vow

amen

Zoey repeat after me.

Bride repeats after minister:

I Zoey take you Jonathon

to be my husband

to live as one as God established

in good times and in bad

in times of plenty and in times of need

in sickness and in health

to love and to cherish

until we are parted by death

this is my solemn vow

amen

Rings

Please prepare your rings.

Lord, bless the rings that Jonathon and Zoey exchange today as a symbol of the covenant they have made before you today. May their covenant be as strong as the perfect covenant you have made with your people.

Groom (repeating after minister):

Zoey, this ring I give you,

in token and pledge

of my constant faith

and abiding love.

Zoey, do you receive this ring as a token of your pledge to keep this covenant and to perform these vows?

Bride: I do.

---------

Bride (repeating after minister):

Jonathon, this ring I give you,

in token and pledge

of my constant faith

and abiding love.

Jonathon, do you receive this ring as a token of your pledge to keep this covenant and to perform these vows?

Groom: I do.

Benediction

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Numbers 6:24–25 (CSB)

“May the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

Mark 10:9 (CSB)

What God has joined together [today], let no one separate.

Announcement

I count in an honor to be the first to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Jonathon and Zoey Chadwick.

You may now kiss the Bride.

PAUSE

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

Instructions

Immediate family for photos

Everyone else hang out and get drinks