Carla's Wedding

Introduction

(Adam)

Good afternoon. You may be seated. On behalf of Christopher and Carla and their families, Lt. Amanda and I welcome to this sacred and joyous ceremony. Christopher and Carla want to welcome you all and at the same time thank you for being in attendance here today to help them celebrate.

I now ask who gives this woman to be married to this man?

If there is anyone here who objects to these two being married, speak now or forever hold your peace.

(Amanda)

We are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which has been sanctioned and blessed by Jesus Christ, and declared in Scripture to be honourable among all men.

Our charge for you comes from 1 Corinthians 13, also known as the love chapter.

(Adam)

Paul’s message to the people of the church was simple: love is the superior way. Many of you have gone on journeys. Maybe some of you like to hike or climb mountains. But if you do enjoy climbing or hiking, it is difficult. When you climb, you take along gear and items that allow you to make your journey to a point and then return home. Many climbers keep track of the tallest peaks they’ve ascended and take photos of themselves at the summit.

(Amanda)

There are many mountains in the world to climb. They are all different and they present unique challenges. But each of them possess one similarity - a summit. It is at that point that the challenges of the journey become visible to the climber when they look out from the summit. We can compare that to what Paul is sharing here about love. Paul was trying to get his listeners to understand that love is the superior way and it is the summit from which everything else is viewed.

(Adam)

Love stands above everything else. Paul says it is above words, gongs and cymbals (which symbolize music), knowing the future, and even faith that can move mountains. It is greater than all your donations and personal sacrifice. Paul challenges us to consider how our love is to viewed by others. When others look to your marriage, be confident that they see love demonstrated as patient, kind, not boastful, unselfish, and all the other things Paul uses to describe it.

(Amanda)

Some people look at the summit of a mountain and think, “I’ll never make it there.” Christopher and Carla, what you declare today in this ceremony is that you in fact are confident you can make it there and you want others to join you. There will be times when the act of loving each other is challenging. But know that you are not alone, you have a Heavenly partner on your climb.

God is a great mountain climbing partner. He already paved a way to the summit for us in His Son, who revealed what love looks like in practice. He showed us and He showed you what it means to love patiently, kindly, and with endurance. Look to Him when the journey is tough.

(Adam)

But, the point of a mountain top climb isn’t the climb itself. Most climbers never go alone, and when they return, they find someone else to ascend the next summit with. We charge you today to make the journey of your marriage be a reminder to all who see it, of how love never fails. Let them see a marriage that encourages others to come along the same type of journey. In your marriage, declare not just that you have love, but that the purpose of your marriage is to love as God does.

Amen.

Declaration of Intent -

(Adam)

Marriage is a sacred ceremony. It embodies the most intimate display of sacrifice, as each person commits to forsaking everything else for the person they stand with now. We will now ask each of you to make this declaration.

Carla, will you take Christopher to be your husband, to live according to God’s ordinance in holy matrimony? Will you love him, comfort, honour and sustain him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? If so, say I DO.

(Amanda)

Christopher, will you take Carla to be your wife, to live according to God’s ordinance in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort, honour and sustain her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? If so, say I DO.

The Declaration

(Adam)

Carla, repeat after me:

I, Carla, take you Christopher

to be my lawful wedded 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 to cherish, till death us do part.

(Amanda)

Christopher, repeat after me:

I, Christopher, take you Carla

to be my lawful wedded 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 to cherish, till death us do part.

Exchange of Rings

(Adam)

____________, would you please so kind and hand us the rings. The circular shape of these rings symbolize that love has no beginning and no end.

(Amanda)

They resemble the character of God himself, who is love, and who has no beginning and no end. Let it resemble the sacrificial love required for building and sustaining a strong marriage.

(Adam)

Carla, repeat after me.

Christopher, I give you this ring

as a symbol of my love and my commitment.

With this ring, I thee wed.

(Amanda)

Christopher, repeat after me.

Carla, I give you this ring

as a symbol of my love and my commitment.

With this ring, I thee wed.

Unity Candle

(Adam)

At this time, Carla and Christopher will move to the table to light their unity candle.

(Amanda)

The unity candle symbolizes that two lives have become one in the sight of God.

(Adam)

I will invite Major Linda Yeck to the table at this time as we move to the lighting of the unity candle.

Blessing Prayer

(Major Linda)

Announcement of Marriage

(Major Linda)

Ladies and gentlemen, by the power vested in me by God and the state, I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

It is my honor to introduce to you for the first time:

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Carla Schweich.

Adam : One note, at the end of the ceremony, after the wedding party has entered the foyer outside the chapel, you are free on your own to head into the foyer to congratulate them and the head to the gym for a reception.