2008-04-26 Ray & Angela Rogers Wedding Ceremony

WEDDING CEREMONY

AFTER THE BRIDE COMES TO THE ALTAR:

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP

"The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him."

My dear friends, in the presence of God and before these witnesses, we have come together to unite in marriage

Ray and Angela.

Marriage is a divine institution, and we are taught in the Scriptures that it is to be honored among all men. Jesus himself honored marriage by performing his first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and God has always honored marriage.

CHARGE OF VOWS

(Then the minister, speaking to the bride and groom, will say):

I require and charge you both that the vows you take this day are sacred a over words, and that your lives hereafter shall be bound together unbreakably. But the' security of your marriage will not rest in the ritual of any church, nor in the word of any minister. The security of your marriage will rest in the true purposes of your hearts, in your character, in the steadfastness of your devotion to each other and in the love of God.

CONGREGATION SEATED

DECLARATION OF INTENT

(Then in turn the minister will address the groom and the bride, and each in turn will answer)

Will you Ray, have Angela, to be your wife, will you love her, honor her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both live? If so you may answer, "I will."

(Each in turn then answers, "I will.)

PRAYER

God our Father, upon these your two children, Ray and Angela, we pray for your blessings to be with them always. Grant these moments to be so filled with divine and sacred meaning, that they may be able to look back on them through all the years to come, and know this was a good hour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SOLO SPECIAL by Joy Poole “God Bless the Broken Road”

SCRIPTURE READING BY Carie M. Holman 1 Cor. 13:4-7

WEDDING MESSAGE

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails!

7 It (love)

always protects, (defends, guards, looks after, cares for, saves from harm, shield, shelter)

always trusts, (faith, belief, conviction, confidence, reliance, dependence)

always hopes (expect, anticipate, wish, look forward to hopefulness)

always perseveres. (persist, continue, keep at it, keep on, carry on, keep trying, and stick with it)

8 Love never fails.

VOWS

(When all have arrived in the chancel the minister says)

Having chosen to declare your vows in this sacred place, may I remind you that the home existed before the church, and that the first churches met in homes? Here this day you establish a home. And though you are taught that, "a man shall forsake his father and mother and cleave to his wife," yet nevertheless, each of you brings to your marriage, background and memory, and keen appreciation for those you love, and by whose loyalty and concern you were made ready for life and life's blessings. If that has been sound and wholesome, you enter into this experience blessed. If you would unite the purposes of your hearts as you stand before me you will say after me,

"I Ray/Angela take you Angela/Ray to be my wife/husband, and before God and these witnesses I promise to be a faithful and true husband/wife."

(The bride then repeats a like vow.)

(Then the minister addressing the groom says)

Ray/Angela (2)

Do you have a ring as a symbol of this marriage?

(The groom secures the ring from the best man and in turn presents it to the minister. The minister in turn says)

Bless, O Lord, this ring that he who gives it and she who wears it may dwell in your peace.

(The minister then returns the ring to the groom and the groom in turn places it on the bride's finger saying)

With this ring and before God, I marry you. I will love you, I will cherish you, and I will not forsake you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(The minister then asks the bride and groom to join right hands, and he says),

Having taken your VOWS and the giving and receiving of the rings, by God's authority, I declare you to be husband and wife. What God has joined together, man cannot cut asunder.

PRAYER & BENEDICTION

(The prayer always contains personal elements, is devotional and always includes the following)

Grant your blessing Father, upon Ray and Angela. Teach them to live in this world according to all your high laws that they may find happiness and usefulness together. Teach them to live in kindness, in patience, in love, always in the willingness to forgive, that they may find true happiness. Teach them to live together so that when they are together their love may be to them an inspiration, and when they are apart their love may be to them as a light in the darkness. Teach them to live together so that they may have the blessings of life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A TRADITIONAL BENEDICTION:

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may he cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, and may he lift up the light of his countenance upon you and grant you peace. Amen.

RECESSIONAL