Jonathan & Leslie's Wedding Ceremony

Introduction

Good morning everyone! Here we are all together taking a break out of our normal routines of daily life to witness an incredibly special moment in the lives of Jonathan and Leslie. What an honor it is to share in this once-in-a-lifetime moment with them. With excitement for your future life together, you chose to have myself, a Pastor, lead you in this ceremony to show everyone that marriage is more than a social agreement recognized by the government. You are telling everyone here that you understand the spiritual dimension of marriage.

Your future life together begins today. Your hopes and dreams are being built on your life as husband and wife. A unified family. For that reason, you stand before me to be joined in the bond of marriage and thus privileged to enjoy all the spiritual, physical and, emotional benefits that are part of that union. Though two individuals, husband and wife will be as one, supporting each other, laughing with one another, serving each other and sharing in all of life’s joys and hardships.

Spiritual Admonishment

A marriage has always been a joyous occasion. Because God intended marriage to bring blessing and joy to your lives, let us invite Him here as you make your covenant before Him and these guests.

Invocation

Heavenly Father, You are the source of love. Please honor us today with a deep sense of Your presence during this ceremony. Through this time, which celebrates Your gift of love, deepen within each of us the level of our loving, both for those who are close to us as well as strangers who need our help. I pray especially for Your guidance and anointing on these two who come here at this most significant point in their lives. Stay close to them as they pledge before You their love, commitment, and faithfulness. Let their words mean as much to them as they do to You, Father. For everyone who has come to show our support and love, give them a full measure of Your joy as we share in their celebration. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Address to the Bride and Groom

Jonathan, the Scriptures say to the husband, “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wife, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives.” (Ephesians 5:25-28)

And Leslie, the Scriptures say to the wife: “Wives, understand and support your husband in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22-24)

And to you both, the Scriptures say: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

Marriage was instituted by God himself, and he performed the first marriage. When a man and a woman have chosen each other and have come to that moment when they sincerely and publicly join in the covenant for life, they lay down on the altar a holy sacrifice to God and to each other. The union into which you are now about to enter is the closest and most tender into which human beings can come. It is a union founded upon mutual experience and affection and, to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is a union in the Lord. Marriage is God’s institution, intended for the happiness and welfare of humankind.

The Scriptures further say: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

A union embodying such ideals is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God. Into such a union you come now to be joined.

Declaration of Intent

Jonathan, do you take Leslie to be your wife in the union of holy marriage? To laugh with her in times of joy? To comfort her in times of sorrow and illness? To share your innermost being? To be her closest friend?

(I do)

Leslie, do you take Jonathan to be your husband in the sacred union of holy marriage? To laugh with him in times of joy? To comfort him in times of sorrow and illness? To share your innermost being? To be his closest friend?

(I do)

Exchanging of Rings/Vows

Jonathan and Leslie have chosen to exchange marriage rings. May this beautiful token and pledge symbolize the purity and never-ending love you have for one another. Wear them as a constant reminder of these vows and this message.

Jonathan, will you please make your vows to Leslie by repeating after me?

(Groom repeats as he puts the ring on the bride’s finger)

Leslie, / on this day / and for the rest of my life / this is the meaning / of my love for you: With the Lord’s help / I promise to be patient / and kind with you / never jealous / to have a humble heart / to honor and respect you / to place your needs before my own / to be slow to anger / and quick to forgive / to uphold your faith / and rejoice in truth / to bear all things with you / supporting you in all you do / to hope with you / and to endure with you / in faithfulness / until death parts us.

And now, Leslie, will you please make your vows to Jonathan by repeating after me?

(Bride repeats as she puts the ring on the groom’s finger)

Jonathan, / on this day / and for the rest of my life / this is the meaning / of my love for you: With the Lord’s help / I promise to be patient / and kind with you / never jealous / to have a humble heart / to honor and respect you / to place your needs before my own / to be slow to anger / and quick to forgive / to uphold your faith / and rejoice in truth / to bear all things with you / supporting you in all you do / to hope with you / and to endure with you / in faithfulness / until death parts us.

Unity Box

The individuals who stand before us have become one. They have separated themselves from their respective families and have formed a single new home.

Benediction

And now, let us pray a prayer of benediction, coming from Numbers 6:24-26

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

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

Declaration of Marriage

Now that Jonathan and Leslie have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, by the authority given to me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I now pronounce you husband and wife. “Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:6)

Jonathan, you may kiss your bride!

Presentation of Husband and Wife

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, it is my honor to present to you Jonathan and Leslie Pogue!