Wedding: Morganna Pogue & Josh Robertson

Saturday, September 10, 2022

cue Cayley (stand by me)

and then Jeremy and Morganna’s Mom,

groomsmen & Regan (rings)

and then the bridesmaids and flowergirl.

WELCOME

This is a joyous occasion,

For Josh & Morganna

And for their families and friends

As we come together to celebrate

One of the deepest of human relationships.

This celebration marks for them

A new state in the process of becoming;

Of self-realization for each of them,

And now for both together;

One that began in childhood

And will continue as each of them grows

And their love deepens.

It is for them a covenant of becoming

And a continuing celebration of God’s gift of love and life.

Life is like a tapestry in the process of being woven.

Out of this tangled world,

Where beautiful and patterns of life

Are often difficult to discern

These two have been drawn together

By their love for each other.

The joining of their lives brings into being a new creation.

Henceforth, their lives will be woven in one design.

The joys and sorrows,

The disappointments and achievements of one

Will support and be supported by those of the other.

The design will not come easily.

It must be woven with deep love and great care,

And each of them must sacrifice some freedom to the relationship.

But the greater freedom

Which comes with the sharing of love

Increases the possibilities for variety and richness

In the tapestry of life together.

On behalf of Morganna & Josh

Let me say that they are thrilled that you are here.

Let’s take a moment - take a deep breath - and maybe one more?

to acknowledge God’s presence here with us on this beautiful day.

INVOCATION

Thank you, God, for the strong bond of love between Josh & Morganna.

Thank you for this wedding ceremony with family, friends and loved ones.

Bless these next moments as we bear witness to this couple

and the gift they are to one another and to those gathered here today. Amen.

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT

Josh & Morganna,

Is it true that you come to be married of your own accord?

Yes

With whom do you come,

And whose blessing accompanies you?

I come with my parents

And the blessing of my families and friends.

[Andrea to all those gathered]

Do you, the friends and family

of Morganna & Josh,

give your blessing to them,

and do you promise, in good times and bad,

to do everything in your power to support them in their marriage?

If so, say, “We do.”

“We do!”

[You may be seated.]

[Josh & Morganna move to one side, Andrea to the other]

CHARGE -

It is a privilege to be here with you on this day. Thank you for inviting me to participate in this sacred occasion.

One of the things a minister usually offers during a wedding ceremony is a charge. A challenge. or a word of encouragement as you enter into this next chapter. And so I have one for you today.

Choose one another.

It sounds obvious. But our tendency as humans is to drift towards certainty or cynicism. To view the world through a lens of scarcity. And to grow impatient and even become unkind towards the people we love the most.

And so, I have a three part challenge for you today. (And for all of you. Not just the married people, or those in long term relationships. These challenges apply to marriage for sure, but they work with all human relationships… parents, children, friends, coworkers, neighbours. People.

So you all can listen in - and Josh & Morganna, I’m going to challenge you to choose one another.

Choose one another.

It sounds obvious.

But that’s the challenge.

And on a day like today where you are promising your love and faithfulness to one another, it would be really easy to gloss over the unknowns that the two of you will face. Joys yes, but also sorrows. Wonderful surprises, but also those moments of deep heartbreak and humanity that we can’t plan for but that are part of the human experience.

Today, you’re not promising to choose one another when it’s convenient. Or when it doesn’t cost you anything. You’re covenanting together today to keep choosing one another. And that’s beautiful thing.

I know that you know how beautiful and varied this can be because you have talked about the people in your lives who have modelled this for you. Some of those role models are here with you today.

And of course, you’ve also likely seen things (or will see things) that you don’t want to replicate in your life together.

But relationships, like tapestries are unique… so you get to pay attention to the great role models and to the cautionary tales - but you don’t get to copy and paste someone else’s marriage nor do you get to “opt out” automatically from patterns and habits and personalities!

And so the challenge is: Choose one another.

Again, it sounds obvious.

But our tendency as humans is to drift towards certainty or cynicism.

To view the world through a lens of scarcity and self-interest.

And to grow impatient and even become unkind towards the people we say we love the most.

So I offer you three ways in which you can choose one another:

Choose curiosity (over certainty & cynicism)…it takes a lifetime to discover another person.

Choose generosity (over scarcity & self-interest)… differences aren’t necessarily problems.

Choose kindness (over indifference & impatience)

Love that approaches the other with curiosity and generosity and kindness… well, that kind of love is ultimately found in the Divine. And we see what God is like most clearly in the person of Jesus.

So, along the way, if you need to see what love in action looks like? You can look to these people gathered here with you. And you can look to God, in whose presence we are gathered today.

To close this charge, here is the reading you two chose - and it beatifully echoes this idea of choosing one another. Today. And all the days ahead.

READING

Remember [today], for it is the beginning of always.

A promise.

Like a reward for persisting through life [thus far] alone.

A belief in each other and the possibility of love.

A decision to ignore, simply rise above the pain of the past.

A covenant, which at once binds two souls and yet severs prior ties.

A celebration of the chance taken and the challenge that lies ahead.

For two will always be stronger than one,

like a team braced against the tempest civil world.

And love will always be the guiding force in our lives.

For [today] is a mere formality.

Only an announcement to the world of feelings long held.

And love will always be the guiding force in your lives.earts.   

[from One Tree Hill]

[Andrea move centre, bridge and groom face each other]

DECLARATION OF INTENT

If, therefore, it is your desire to be united in this holy bond, will you signify that fact by joining your hands?

[couple turns to face each other, bride gives bouquet to maid of honour]

Do you, Josh Robertson

Take this woman whose hand you now hold,

To be your wife;

And do you solemnly promise

Before God and these witnesses

To LOVE, CHERISH,

HONOUR and PROTECT her;

And, forsaking all others,

Be faithful to her

As long as you both shall live?

Josh: I do.

Do you, Morganna Pogue,

Take this man whose hand you now hold,

To be your husband;

And do you solemnly promise

Before God and these witnesses

To LOVE, CHERISH

HONOUR and PROTECT him;

And, forsaking all others,

Be faithful to him

As long as you both shall life? Morganna: I do.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS

[own vows] - Andrea to have copy of Morganna’s in her pocket/notes

Morganna first

Josh second

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

[Pastor to Couple:]

Josh & Morganna,

what symbol do you bring as a pledge

of the sincerity of your vows?

Both: A ring.

[Pastor to Josh]

You may now place the ring on your bride’s finger.

[Pastor to Morganna]

You may not place the ring on your groom’s finger.

[repeat after me:]

May this ring be a sign to all

of my lifelong love and loyalty.

SIGNING of the REGISTRY

[Cayley to play music]

[Alexander & Arizona to come and sign]

[bridge & groom centre - Andrea stay to the side]

PRONOUNCEMENT

Since Morganna & Josh have pledged

their faith in love and to each other

as witnessed before God

and these assembled guests,

and have sealed their solemn marital vows

by the giving and receiving of rings,

acting in the authority vested in me

as a minister of the gospel

and by the laws of this province,

I pronounce that they are husband and wife together,

in the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Those that God has joined together,

let no one separate.

KISS

PRAYER

God of grace and source of all love,

we pray for Josh & Morganna

that they may live together in love and faithfulness

to the end of their lives.

Enrich their friendship,

that each may be for the other

a companion in joy and a comforter in sorrow.

By your grace, sustain Morganna & Josh

through the love and support which surround them now.

Fill them with your love,

that they may remain open-hearted, courageous and strong.

Give them understanding and a generosity of spirit,

patience and delight with each other,

forbearance and friendship.

Enable them to make their home

a place of welcome and belonging,

that their life together may be a source of strength to others.

Grant that they may go forward from this day

delighting in their love,

abounding in forgiveness and hope.

May others see in them a symbol of your love

from which nothing can separate us

and which nothing can overcome.

Be with them now and remain with them forever.

INTRODUCTION of the COUPLE

Now it is my happy privilege

to introduce to you for the first time,

the married couple: Josh & Morganna Robertson!

RECESSIONAL

ANNOUNCEMENT

Family to follow for some special family photos

For the non-family guests, the doors will open at 5pm at the reception