Sermon Central
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Wedding Ceremony: Joe And Alisha Series
Contributed by Tom Papez on Jun 1, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: A wedding between two church members whom I have known for a long time.
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:
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.
