Marriage Is A Competition

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Wedding service

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Welcome

Family, friends, gate crashers,
I want to FINALLY welcome you to the marriage of Jason and Katie. We’ve postponed long enough thanks to Covid, deciding who was going to propose to whom, so I will politely ask you to silence your cell phones and small children.
My name is Eric Spaulding and it’s my pleasure to welcome everyone to Hoover Park on this gorgeous day and to celebrate the love these two have for each other.
How are you guys feeling?
All the hard work is over, it’s almost time to relax and enjoy, but before we get to celebrating, will you all please pray with me?

Blessing

Will you please bow your heads and join me in a moment of prayer?
Heavenly Father, we are all gathered here today to celebrate with Jason and Katie as they finally join their lives together in your sight. What a wonderful day it is - to see friends and family here to be witness to such a powerful moment in their lives, their children’s lives, and their family’s lives.
Lord, each of us has reason to thank you for bringing Katie and Jason into our lives, and without them, none of us would be who we are today.
I ask that you remain hand in hand with them as they grow in their marriage and that you bless them as they exchange their wedding vows and their rings.
Keep our hearts open today and let us welcome your Holy Spirit amongst us.
And in one voice, all his children say,
Amen

Marriage Is A Competition

Alright, before we get to the I do’s and dances, and of course, That Old Fashioned I ordered - thank you bartender, we need to talk about this marriage thing.
Now, I am not going to claim that I’m an expert in marriage. My lovely wife has given me more lessons on how I’m wrong than I would care to admit to. But what I would say, is that I am a student of marriage and I have learned one important thing that I think you both will be able to agree with and remember.
Marriage is a competition. Let me say that again. Marriage is a competition. And, since you are both Ohio State Alumni, you know very well that there are winners and losers in competition.
Thankfully, you Buckeyes are far more familiar with winning.
Marriage is not a competition WITH each other, it’s a competition FOR each other.
Let me say that again, It is NOT a competition WITH each other, it’s a competition FOR each other.

Competing For Each Other

A quarterback is not going to win the game on his own. He needs defense, he needs receivers - and frankly, he needs someone in his ear telling him what to do. So let me give you the simple one first.
In this analogy, God is the coach.
the question is, who are you?
You both already know the kinds of challenges you have to face living together, having kids, managing schedules - and you know how stressful it can be. There’s really no reason to throw up platitudes about how magical and wonderful it’s going to be.
Marriage is practice - everyday you get up and you do it again and again. Somedays you’re going to be the one putting up the stats, other days, you’re going to be the one who needs to be carried off by your teammate.
These challenges are going to either make your stronger as a team by pulling your together to face the challenge, or drive you apart. Choose to pull together.
We’re meant to work together as a team and we’re better when we work as a team. That struggle between us makes us stronger together when we keep our focus on our opponents. We push each other to be better.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 LEB
Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will help up his companion. But pity the one who falls and there is no one to help him up. Also if two lie together, they can keep each other warm. But how can one person be warm? Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him. A threefold cord is not easily broken!

A Threefold Cord

A threefold cord is not easily broken,. When you two come together to fight for each other, God is there with you. He stands intertwined in your marriage. He makes your team strong - even at your weakest points.
Your opponent is going to be the world around you. As soon as you think you’ve got it made, a new struggle is going to come up.
work is going to call
someone is going to get sick
one of you will say something that hurts the other
The struggle will make your marriage stronger if you let it. Diamonds are made under pressure. Gold is purified through heat. And teams grow strong when they play to win.

Winners Keep Score

And Winners keep score.
Don’t be ashamed to talk about your wins. Celebrate them. Because they become the fuel for those days that you need reminders of why you keep fighting for each other and for your marriage.
Proverbs 3:3–4 LEB
May loyal love and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart. And you shall find favor and good sense in the eyes of God and humankind.

Declaration of Intent

And now, Jason, do you take Katie of your own free will as your lawfully wedded wife to love, protect, and defend as long as you both shall live? If so, say, I do.
Jason: I Do
And Katie, do you take Jason of your own free will as your lawfully wedding husband to love, protect, and defend as long as you both shall live? If so, say, I do.
Katie: I do

Vows

Jason, do you take Katie to be my lawfully wedded wife? Placing her above all others, before all others, and to stand true and unmovable in your support and love for her through good times and bad.
If so say, I will
Katie, do you take Jason to be my lawfully wedded husband? Placing him above all others, before all others, and to stand true and unmovable in your support and love for him through good times and bad.
If so say, I will

Ring Exchange

A ring is an outward symbol letting all others know that you have committed your lives to one another. Its unbroken ends represent the unity you two make with no begging and no end. The precious metals they are made from should remind you of how precious your marriage is to one another and how you as a couple bring value to your children, your family, and your friends.
When you look at the rings on your hands, be reminded of your commitment and the love you have for one another.
Jason, as you place this ring on Katie’s finger, please repeat after me:
With this ring / I seal my promise / to be your faithful and loving husband / with God as my witness.
Katie, as your place this ring on Jason’s finger, please repeat after me:
With this ring / I seal my promise / to be your faithful and loving wife / with God as my witness.

Pronouncement

Jason and Katie, you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other.
You’ve given and received rings as a symbol of your promises.
And now, in the sight of God, and the presence of these witnesses and the power vested in my by the State of Ohio, I now pronounce you, husband and wife.
You may kiss your bride!

Closing Statement

Will you please stand and join me in congratulating, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Roeder!
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