Demonstration of Devotion

PROCESSIONAL

Please Rise!

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Family and friends; we are gathered here today at the invitation of ____________ & ____________to join with them in one of the most solemn & meaningful events of their lives. Every experience they’ve ever had, everything they’ve ever done, everything they’ve ever learned has brought them to this moment, here and now standing before God and this company as witnesses to take each other as husband and wife.

God established the sacred relationship of marriage in creation. That at the beginning the creator made us male and female and said "for this cause man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24) We are also taught in scripture that marriage is to be honored among all people.

You may be seated!

THE GIVING OF THE BRIDE

Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?

DECLERATION OF CONCENT

GROOM: ____________do you now leave your father and mother to establish your own home with ____________as her husband, to receive her as your wife, to make a home where she will be loved and cared for as long as God grants her life? If so answer, "I do"

BRIDE: ____________do you now leave your father and mother to establish your own home with ____________as his wife, to receive him as your husband, to make a home where he will be loved and cared for as long as God grants him life? If so answer, "I do"

FAMILY: Do you promise to encourage ____________and ____________in their marriage, to present an example of love and devotion for them to emulate, and to help them build a strong stable home for themselves and their family? If so answer, "We do"

EXHORTATION TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM

____________and ____________, today is a day of beginnings. Today you begin a journey as husband and wife. The stage is set, everything is ready, and optimism abounds, so let the journey begin! For the two of you this is a time of excitement, a time of awe and wonder, and maybe even a time of some uneasy apprehension.

Today we live in a society where real commitment is the most highly prized commodity and those who have experienced it know how gratifying and rewarding it is to receive such loyalty. God also loves commitment, for without a doubt He is the most committed one of all!

As you being your new lives together as husband and wife consider this insight from scripture; I’ll be reading this evening from the book of Ruth…

“But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.“Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)

In these two short verses Ruth tells her mother-in-law her level of commitment to her, the same type and level of commitment is required of each of you if you desire to have an abundant and God honoring marriage.

• I’ll never leave you and I won’t turn away from you – we are committed to a lifelong marriage

• I’ll go where you go, and I’ll stay where you stay – we are committed to live together as husband and wife

• Your people