WEDDING CEREMONY: JOE ASHLOCK & ALISHA WEDEL
PRELUDE
Music Track by Justin
WEDDING PROCESSIONAL
(Bridal Attendant to Bullpen Area)
Usher Walk in with Parents with Honor
2 Groomsmen, 2 Men of Honor & Pastor Enter
Groom with Mom
Bridegroom #4, #3, #2, #1
Maid of Honor
Ring Bearer
Flower Girl
Bride & Father & Grandfather
THE GIVING OF THE BRIDE
Just as God gave Eve to Adam, who gives away this woman for holy matrimony? I Do.
Then give hand to Joe and sits down.
SPOKEN WITH ATTENTION (PASTOR’S GREETING)
Marriage is not a casual event, nor is it simply a private affair between two people. Marriage is to be entered into responsibly and prayerfully. This marriage brings together two individuals, two families, two lives becoming one. It is then, in the midst of a troubled and broken society, a sign of hope, and ultimately, commitment before the Lord and you fine people.
On behalf of the families of Joe & Alisha, I thank you for coming today to witness this blessed occasion: the uniting of Joe & Alisha in Holy Matrimony.
You May Be Seated
SCRIPTURE READING
For today’s scripture reading, we turn to the book of Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8a:
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love.
And today, we celebrate "a time to love" by vowing before friends and family not just "now" but "forever." See, the Lord said it is not good for man to be alone. So the Lord caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and brought her to the man.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man!” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
And I would like to add that I believe the rib came from here, because that’s closest to the heart. And we gather today to see two hearts join into one.
Today is a day to build up, to laugh, to embrace, to dance, and to sew together. I guess, you could say, that God's plan, from the very beginning of the entire world, is perfect.
OPENING PRAYER
Let Us Open in Prayer.
WEDDING MESSAGE
Joe & Alisha, today has become a holiday, a holiday God created that will be celebrated every year for the rest of your life. This is not just a personal holiday, nor a national holiday, but a world holiday. It will be celebrated wherever you are as waiters sing “Happy Anniversary” or when your children throw surprise parties for you.
What you are celebrating on your anniversary is the second most important decision you have ever made next to accepting Christ as your personal savior. It is a decision that lasts a lifetime and which will affect every other decision you will ever make. The decision is the giving of your life to the one you love.
Some people ask the question, “Why would two people knowingly enter the presence of God, call together their friends and family, spend all sorts of money, and surrender their life to someone else?” The answer, I believe, is love.
PERSONAL MESSAGE
Alisha, is is true that one night, you went from eating salads to having a (let me read this so I say it right) "fat kid movie night?" I was told that you bought some boxes of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, a whole tube of cheesecake, whip cream, and had an event to remember. I have also learned that you are a collector of "fine art." And one of those "fine art" pieces is a framed picture of a stick figure holding a bunny rabbit. Your friends also told me that your life is now dramatically different than it was three years ago, and acknowledge what a Godly young, perfect, housewife you have become. Without knowing it, you were called a Proverbs 31 woman, greatly to be praised.
Joe is it true that you and Corri convinced Jamie that he was adopted from a toad family because he had different color hair? I also heard that you drove your siblings to an abandoned "civil war looking" house in the middle of nowhere, only to think you saw footprints emerge in the sand and high tail it out there in an extremely fast doughnut. Joe, is it also true that you were challenged to attend church from some wild youth pastor who severely challenged your manhood and wouldn't take no for an answer.
There is something else that is true about Joe, and that he put off college to help pay the bills out of respect for his Mom and love for his siblings. And its that same type of love that he carries with him into this marriage. Joe, I love you.
EXCHANGE OF THE VOWS:
It is now time for the vows you have chosen for each other.
VOWS FROM JOE TO ALISHA (JOIN HANDS)
I Joe take Alisha
to be my lawfully wedded wife
to have and to hold from this day forward
for better, or for worse,
for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health
to love and to cherish,
as we become one in spirit,
one in mind,
one in affection,
and above all things, one in Christ,
'til Christ calls me home.
VOWS FROM ALISHA TO JOE (JOIN HANDS)
I Alisha take Joe
to be my lawfully wedded husband
to have and to hold from this day forward
for better, or for worse,
for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health
to love and to cherish,
as we become one in spirit,
one in mind,
one in affection,
and above all things, one in Christ,
'til Christ calls me home.
VOWS FROM JONATHON AND CONNOR:
Response from Connor & Jonathon: WE DO.
Response from Joe & Alisha: WE DO
EXCHANGE OF THE TRANSFORMER NECKLACES:
I have to say that this is one of the more unusual events I have ever experienced during a wedding, but it is the unveiling of the transformer necklace exchange. Jonathon and Connor, you two young men are boldly going were few men have gone before: brotherhood. And let me be the first to tell you, that there may be some Decepticons out there ready to attack the love you two may gain for each other.
So your mother and father will present to you these necklaces. With them, along with the Lord and your obedience to your parents, I, as God as my witness, officially TRANSFORM you from friends…into brothers.
Mom and Dad, you may present them with medallions at this time.
EXCHANGE OF THE RINGS:
The Wedding Ring is a symbol of marriage in at least two ways:
The purity of the gold symbolized the purity of your love for each other
And the unending circle symbolized the unending vows that you have taken.
Joe, will you give the ring and repeat after me:
Alisha, with this ring, I pledge my life and love to you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Alisha, will you give the ring and repeat after me:
Joe with this ring, I pledge my life and love to you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER OF BENEDICTION:
Friends and family, would you please rise for this prayer of benediction (indicate audience to rise)?
Father, our Creator and Savior, as you gladdened the marriage at Cana in Galilee by the presence of your Son, so by Your presence now bring joy to this marriage. We ask that you look in favor upon Joe and Alisha with favor and grant that their marriage here be sanctified and steadfast until we may celebrate with You, the marriage feast which has no end. Amen.
NUPTIAL KISS: You may now kiss the bride.
DECLARATION OF MATRIMONY:
I AM HONORED TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME…
JOE AND ALISHA ASHLOCK
THE WEDDING OF
JOE ASHLOCK
&
ALISHA WEDEL
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012