Wedding (Chris and Katie)

BEGINNING

Parents seat and Chris returns

Come up after dad leaves for Katie

Ask to stand after flower girls

Who gives this woman to be married to this man

WELCOME/SERMON

WELCOME

Welcome family and friends. Today, we gather to join in celebrating the union of Christopher John Crawford AND Katelyn Marie Schwanke in the God given bond of marriage.

PRAYER

SERMON

Marriage is ancient promise between two people and God

One of the earliest God created

Beginning – God creates

LIGHT

HEAVENS

EARTH

PLANTS

THE STARS

SUN AND MOON

SEA CREATURES AND BIRDS

LAND CREATURES

MAN

Scripture says it was VERY GOOD

Then NOT GOOD appears first time

We think of serpent tempting Eve

No, something else

Genesis 2:18: Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

First thing that was not good was man being alone

God quickly repairs by making Eve – a helper

Sometimes in our culture, we see “helper” as a bad thing – it’s not!

Hebrews 13:6: So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

1 John 2:1: But if anyone does sin, we have a helper in the presence of the Father—Jesus Christ, the One who does what is right.

John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

What Scripture really says, is that a wife helps to serve the same purpose as God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Chris, in a sense, if you look at these verses as to what a helper does, you can almost insert Katie’s name in there for all of these:

You don’t have to be afraid, because Katie is always right and she will remind you if you forget!

Those are wise words to remember!

Ephesians 5:25: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

How does Christ love the church?

SACRAFICIALLY

PURELY

PASSIONATELY

EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH

That’s a tall order, but it’s one that is a blessing to be a part of

Rest of Eph 5, Paul teaches that marriage is a picture

Christ made a covenant with us – we accept His gift of sacrifice and love, becoming obedient and sacrificial ourselves, and we will be with Him for eternity

That promise has always been God’s plan

From the beginning, God created a foreshadowing of this promise

God used the joining of man and woman to represent Christ and church – the body of believers that He died for

So, as Chris and Katie stand here today, we are witnesses to this covenant

As witnesses, we are called here today to hold these two accountable

We must stand by them when they are challenged

Going back to the original marriage (Adam and Eve)

You’ll notice the next part of the story – the serpent does arrive

I don’t believe this is a coincidence

The enemy sees something wonderful, and want to destroy it

Katie and Chris, I do give you a warning – Satan is not happy with you!

Satan sees your promise to each other as a threat to his realm

It would be wise to expect attack

Marriage is not easy – it is wonderful, but not easy

Today begins an adventure for you both

Your partner will have the privilege of seeing you at your worst

You will likewise see them at theirs

You will each make mistakes, you will hurt each other, you will find yourselves irritated by things that are unimportant

Even the things you used to find charming...

You know what’s great about that? That is your opportunity to serve like Christ...

To show love when it is undeserved, to show kindness when it’s easier to be cruel, to sacrifice yourself when you’d rather light their hair on fire - - that is CHRIST

It is Christ because it is expression of your love for each other

AND a love for God!

Because just like our relationship with Christ, a marriage only works if it is based on:

PATIENCE

SACRIFICE

OBEDIENCE

INVESTMENT IN EACH OTHER

AND OF COURSE, LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

And so today, we celebrate this together today

Two people becoming one under our God

TO VOWS!!!

VOWS

I Christopher John Crawford - - take you Katelyn Marie Schwanke - - to be my lawfully wedded wife - - and make this covenant - - before God and these witnesses - -to be your loving and faithful husband - - to have and to hold from this day forward - - for better for worse - - for richer for poorer - - in sickness and in health - - to love and cherish - - till death do us part - - forsaking all others - - and keeping myself only for you - - according to God’s holy ordinance.

I Katelyn Marie Shwanke - - take you Christopher John Crawford - - to be my lawfully wedded husband - - and make this covenant - - before God and these witnesses - -to be your loving and faithful wife - - to have and to hold from this day forward - - for better for worse - - for richer for poorer - - in sickness and in health - - to love and cherish - - till death do us part - - forsaking all others - - and keeping myself only for you - - according to God’s holy ordinance.

RINGS

Collect and hold rings

The rings that you give each other are representative of your lasting bond. They are made of the finest metals and stones to represent the purity of your love. They are also circles which have no end, serving as a reminder that your dedication, love and commitment are also never ending.

Chris take this ring and place it on Katie’s finger:

With this ring I seal my promise - - to be your faithful and loving husband - -with God as my witness - - I give you this ring as a sign of my love - - and with all that I have - - I honor you and take you for my wife.

Katie take this ring and place it on Chris’ finger:

With this ring I seal my promise - - to be your faithful and loving wife - -with God as my witness - - I give you this ring as a sign of my love - - and with all that I have - - I honor you and take you for my husband.

ALTAR

God is a God of covenants – just like marriage is a covenant

In Joshua, Israel enters its land for the first time

Fulfilling a promise – a covenant - from God

Today, Katie and Chris perform the same sign of remembrance of their covenant

I invite their friend Emily up to read this story from Scripture

Chris and Katie would like to invite you to worship God in song

STEP AWAY UNTIL AFTER PRAYER

ANNOUNCEMENT

Now by the power invested in me by the state of Illinois and more importantly as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has joined together, let no man separate. Chris, you may kiss your bride.

KISS

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to now introduce to you the new Mr. and Mrs. Crawford!

CLOSING

Ladies and gentlemen please remain seating

The ushers will come along shortly to dismiss you

Please feel free to enter the building and enjoy cocktail hour

If you are to be in photographs, please exit and return

Thank you all for joining us and God bless!