Sam and Bab's Wedding

Procession

Mothers light candle

Cousin and Rovilla —> lights candle

CJ and Shari —> lights candle, CJ joins Sam on stage

Sponsors x 3

Ring bearer

Bible bearer

Flower girls

Groomsmen walk Bridesmaids

Brad and Babs

Introduction

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

Brad: Her Mother and I

Samuel you may receive your bride.

Dearly beloved family and friends, we have gathered together this day in the sight of God and these witnesses, to celebrate the union of Samuel Ka’imilani Gonzalez to his lovely bride, Abbygayle Leilani Baker, in God’s Holy Institution of Marriage.

Samuel and Abbygayle are grateful for all of your love, support, and encouragement as we join in this sacred and joyful time, as they commit to one another before God. We are so thankful to God today for Samuel and Abbygayle, and for this most blessed occasion, as these two become one, and tie the cords of love together.

Let us bow our heads as our brother CJ Johnson leads us in an openning prayer.

CJ’s Prayer

Message

We were all created by our Creator God for companionship, for fellowship, for relationships with one another. In the beginning Adam was created first and God looked on Adam’s condition, as the only human on earth, and said, “it is not good for man to be alone” and so he made Eve and designed the greatest of companionships the most holy of fellowships, the highest of relationships - the marriage relationship.

Today Samuel and Abbygayle have asked that I give this message from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 which is a passage written by the wise King Solomon to illustrate the benefits and beauty of companionship. He writes,

“9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—

a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

In this chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon is setting up a contrast. In the verses that come right before our text today, he paints the picture of this man who has no family and no friends - who labors and toils to amass a great wealth. And this man is miserable. He is never satisfied and he has no purpose. He has no one to work for and no one to enjoy the fruits of his labor with him. As God said in the beginning, it is not good for man to be alone.

Which brings us to our text, where Solomon contrast’s this lonely miserable man with the wisdom and the benefits of companionship. In verse 9, he makes the point that companionship is better than solitude because you have someone to enjoy life with, to enjoy the fruits of your work.

Solomon then gives three more examples of why we need companionship - why relationships are wise and good. You can be there to pick the other up when one of you falls - there is help that comes with companionship. You can be there to keep each other warm when it gets cold at night - there is comfort that comes companionship. And lastly, you can fight together when under attack - there is protection that comes with companionship.

Solomon then concludes his lesson with an illustration - if you take a single rope and pull at it from both sides, eventually it will fray and break. But if you take three ropes and weave them together in a cord, it is strong enough withstand incredible tension - a threefold cord is not easily broken.

Samuel, Abbygayle, God has given you much wisdom in His word here today. The pressures of your life will be incredibly strong - pulling at each of you this way and that. The evil one will attack your holy union with great effort, seeking to destroy the greatest representation of God’s love for His people - the marriage. And your own sin can erode away at the commitment you are about to make to each other. But, a threefold cord is not easily broken.

If one of you falls physically, emotionally, spiritually be there to pick him up - tend to her wounds - care for him - help her to stand. May your embrace forever be a refuge from the cold, a rest from weariness and a sanctuary of your love. And may you stand watch over each other and over your marriage, never letting your guard down, always seeking to protect this holy union from attacks that come from within and without.

Bind yourselves together, like an interwoven cord.

Bind yourselves together, not as two separate individuals coexisting, but as two persons intertwining your lives, and your dreams, and your gifts, and your desires, and your joys so that the two of you become one.

Bind yourselves together with an unending commitment to being united with the bond of faithful love and the heart of humble sacrifice.

Lastly, bind yourselves together by being anchored together to Christ. Think of Solomon’s illustration, a threefold cord isn’t much use if it is not anchored to something, and if it is not holding on to something solid. Jesus is the sure and steady anchor who will keep you from drifting and from shipwreck. He is the rock who withstands the storm. He is the Good Shepherd who will lead you two and guide you. He is the Sun, who, if He is in the center of your lives and your marriage, will perfectly align all the orbits of everything in your life with perfect harmony. Bind yourselves together to Him

Vows

Now, this is a covenant ceremony where two people are coven-an-ting together, committing to each other and at this time you will make covenant promises to one another. Each of you has written personal vows to each other, which you will read now beginning with Abbygayle and then Samuel. After you have made your vows you will signify your union with the tying of a threefold cord. Please turn to each other and recite your vows.

Babs:

Do you promise to always be open and honest with Samuel, and cherish him as your husband for as long as you both shall live? I do

Sam:

Do you promise to always be open and honest with Samuel, and cherish him as your wife for as long as you both shall live? I do

Do you promise to always be open and honest with Samuel, and cherish him as your husband for as long as you both shall live?

Do you, Samuel, promise to be a loving friend and partner in marriage, to talk and to listen, to trust and to appreciate, to respect and to cherish Abbygayle’s uniqueness? Do you promise to support, comfort, and strengthen her through life’s joys and sorrows? Do you promise to share hopes and dreams as you build your lives together, and to grow with Abbygayle in mind? Will you strive to build a home that is compassionate, full of respect and honor, filled with peace, happiness, and love? Do you promise to always be open and honest with Abbygayle, and cherish her for as long as you both shall live?

Exchange of Rings

To symbolize their unending covenant love to each other Sam and Abbygayle will now exchange wedding rings.

Abbygayle place the ring on Samuel’s finger and repeat after me … “with this ring, I marry you today my husband, it is a symbol of my faithfulness to you and unending love for you”

Samuel place the ring on Abbygayle’s finger and repeat after me … “with this ring, I marry you today my wife, it is a symbol of my faithfulness to you and unending love for you”

And to symbolize their union together Samuel and Abbygayle will now light the unity candle

Blessing and Pronouncement

Samuel and Abbygayle, May the good Lord grant that your lives be filled with His love, your home to be filled with His peace, and your hearts filled with the hope of Heaven’s eternal joy as you share your life together as man and wife. What God has joined together let no man or woman separate!

Dear Family and friends, I now present to you Samuel and Abbygayle Baker-Gonzalez…. Samuel you make kiss your bride!

Reception Announcement

We will now be preparing for the reception dinner, if you would please all depart to through the side yard to the front yard, the bridal party will be there to greet you. If there are some who would like to serve the bride and groom by staying behind and assisting the set up.