Micah and Jaylah's Wedding

Jaylah and Micah Wedding

(Colin begin piano as guests are arriving)

1. Prelude – Colin Playing Piano while wedding party enters

Mom’s

Bride’s maids

Flower girls

2. Bride processional

3. Presentation of the bride

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

John says “Her mother and I do.”

4. Call to Worship – Genesis 2:18-25 - 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.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.”

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

“You may be seated”

5. The Charge

Micah and Jaylah, The vows you are about to exchange, and the promises you are about to make to each other are being done in the presence of God and all these witnesses whom you have invited. Your marriage is to be a testimony to the world of the unique love shared between Christ and His Church. As you enter into this covenant and partnership together, do so with Christ at the center of it all. God in His kindness loved, pursued, and forgave you through His, Son, Jesus Christ. In a similar way, pursue each other, choose to love each other, repent often, forgive always, and be gracious. “And whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

6. The consent

Micah, do you take Jaylah to be your lawfully wedded 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 to cherish, until death do you part?

I do.

Jaylah, do you take Micah to be your lawfully 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, until death do you part?

I do.

7. Prayer

Our gracious God, and King, we gather on this solemn occasion to give you glory, and to thank you for Jaylah and Micah. We ask your blessing upon this day, and on their lives. Will you encourage them, fill them with your joy, knit them together in your love, and point us all to the truth of your Word today. In Jesus name, Amen

8. Homily –

Jaylah, this is for you!

Two antennas met, fell in love and eventually got married.

The wedding ceremony wasn’t much but the reception was excellent.

I cannot even begin to express to all of you, and to you, Micah and Jaylah, what this means to me, not only to witness my first born son, and my soon to be daughter-in-law come together in marriage, but to have the privilege of officiating this union. So I’m thankful, and I’m honored, and overjoyed both as your dad, Micah, and as your pastor. And I know I speak for Callie, for John and Danielle, for Jessica and Josh, all of your siblings, your extended family and church family. We are so, so, so, proud of you both.

There is much I could say about Jaylah and Micah, about their personalities, their gifts, the blessing that they are to all who know them…But I know it is their desire that this day to give glory to Christ, their King and Lord.

Because It’s really about His love, His joy, His gift of grace, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will be the glue that alone allows this marriage not only to stay together, but to thrive with intentionality to the glory of God until only death parts them.

Micah and Jaylah, I know that you love each other very much, and that love will undoubtedly increase. I truly believe this with all my heart. But that love will also inevitably be challenged. Too many marriages begin with a false expectation and misunderstanding of what love really is. But you, by the grace of God, have come to know the greatest love in all the world, the love of God in Christ. It is that very love that Jesus spoke of in John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. This sacrificial, others-centered, requiring-nothing-in-return kind of love is the key to your success both as married people, and as individuals who will pursue a variety of passions and callings in your life.

Allow me to elaborate on this for just a moment.

Scripture teaches us that Marriage is a picture of the Gospel, the Good news of Jesus Christ.

Like the Gospel, marriage is also good news. It is good because it was God’s design. It is a gift given from God for human flourishing, and it is not a curse or a burden.

God created male and female, with distinct and unique gifts, roles, equipping, and innate desires that beautifully complement one another in marriage. And THIS is very good.

Marriage is good in that God has provided a perfect environment in which love can be shared, guarded and reciprocated with passion, commitment, and faithfulness, and it can be done at a level that is unique only to the two who have joined their lives together in marriage.

In Ephesians 5:31 we read “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”

Micah, no one else gets the kind of love, protection, and sacrifice you’ve been called to show to Jaylah. And Jaylah, not a man on earth get’s the respect, love, and honor that you’ve been called to show to Micah. By choosing to guard this unique relationship, to be truthful, and faithful to each other through the years, you will become a testimony of the Gospel.

Marriage also pictures the Gospel in the roles that God has given to man and wife. In the Gospel we see Christ as the servant leader, humbly laying down his life for the Church, and the Church willingly submitting herself to Christ as head.

In Ephesians 5:22 we read these famous and often misunderstood words... Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

So, husband and wife are each called to fill roles that complete the whole picture that God is painting.

The husband is to be the loving head that models Christ’s sacrificial and humble love, and the wife is to be submissive only to her husband in the same way that the Church is submissive to Christ. This is not coercion or forced obedience, as skeptics often point out. It is a willingness to follow her husband’s loving leadership.

These two roles ARE the roles which God has given, and not only do they complement one another, but they actually work.

Micah, your role as the head of your wife is a gift and high calling that should keep you humbled before God. Headship means leadership of a singular unit, not authoritarianism. Headship means that you will give an account and be held responsible for the welfare of your bride, and your future children. Because your headship is a picture of Christ, then lead with Christlike love. Jaylah will not always be easy to love, though I’m sure that’s hard to believe today, but love is a choice and an action. The words you choose have the power to cleanse and purify her. So choose God’s Word to fill your heart, so that you might wash her with His Words. Love her, pursue her, and be willing to die for her.

Jaylah, your role as submissive helper is not one of inferiority. Even the Holy Spirit of God is called the Helper of the Church, so you’re in good company in this role.

Submitting to Micah’s loving leadership will not always be easy, partially because of his stubbornness, and partially because of your own sin. But in as much as you look to Christ, and seek to model the nature of the Church, God will enable you for this. Submission is a matter of honoring headship. Submission does not mean being afraid to think for yourself, and letting Micah think for you. You have gifts from God that Micah needs, and He has gifts that you will need. Your humble submission will inspire Micah’s humble leadership, and together the two of you will show forth the beauty of Christ’s relationship to the Church.

Finally, marriage pictures the Gospel every time you choose to love the imperfect person you married.

Colossians 3:12 - 14 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

The key to wedded bliss is remembering who you are in Christ and choosing to see each other through His eyes. Grievances are normal, and they will come. You will need each other’s kindness, compassion, gentleness and patience. In those moments, remember Christ and put on His love. Always return to each other. Like Christ, never leave nor forsake the other. As he has chosen you by His grace, so also continue to choose each other over yourselves and over all others.

9. Vows

It’s now time for you to share your written vows…

Traditional vows - repeat after me...

I, Micah, take you, Jaylah (Pause) to be my lawfully wedded wife (Pause), to have and to hold from this day forward (Pause),for better, for worse, (Pause) for richer, for poorer, (Pause) in sickness and in health, (Pause) until death does us part. (Pause) I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

I, Jaylah, take you, Micah (Pause) to be my lawfully wedded husband (Pause), to have and to hold from this day forward (Pause), for better, for worse, (Pause) for richer, for poorer, (Pause) in sickness and in health, (Pause) until death does us part. (Pause) I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

Let’s exchange the rings...

10. Ring vows –

- Micah, place the ring on Jaylah’s finger and repeat after me…

With this ring I thee wed

And with all my worldly goods I thee endow,

in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

- Jaylah, place the ring on Micah’s finger and repeat after me…

With this ring I thee wed

And with all my worldly goods I thee endow,

in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

12. Pronouncement

Forasmuch as Micah and Jaylah have consented together in holy matrimony, and have pledged their love and loyalty to each other, and have declared the same by the joining and the giving of rings, by the power vested in me, and as witnessed by friends and family, I now pronounce you husband and wife. “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

13. You may kiss the bride (Step aside for photo)

14. Introduction – Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs., Micah and Jaylah Littlefield!