MOTHERS Escorted to front to light Unity Candles (Groom's parents seated, Bride's return to escort her down the aisle)

MINISTER and GROOM (about two paces apart) ENTER from a side door and both are in the same step as paced by the minister As they approach the altar area, turn left and face the congregation and the direction from which the bride will enter.

Minister: Will everyone please stand

Welcome: Groom and Bride want to thank you for coming and sharing this special day with them. You are witnesses to one of the happiest moments in their lives. Their desire is that you share in their happiness and celebrate with them the covenant they are declaring this day before you and God. In this ceremony they are publicly announcing the love and commitment they have for one another.

We desire, our Father, to acknowledge you in all our ways, that you might direct our steps. Especially, do we need you in the happier times of our life. Graciously regard your servants who come before you, Lord to assume the mutual obligations involved in marriage. May they walk not heedlessly, but in your fear, in the solemn step which they are about to take. Assure them and us of your presence; and let the beauty of you, the Lord our God be upon us in the rite we celebrate. We humbly ask it for Jesus' sake. Amen. Please be seated.

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness the joining together of this man and this woman in holy matrimony. The sacred relationship of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ ordained marriage by His presence and first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. The apostle Paul chose marriage to symbolize the union between Christ and His church, and holy Scripture commends marriage to be honored among all people. The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for mutual joy; for the help and comfort given to one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but soberly, deliberately, and in reverent fear before God.

Into this holy union, Groom and Bride come to be joined.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

We are called to place God first in our lives. Any time we fail or refuse to do so we experience alienation, not only from Him but from each other. Nevertheless, our Heavenly Father never forsakes his children in this relationship of marriage, which is so holy and acceptable to Him. He is always present with his full blessing.

Groom and Bride, your marriage is not only a private relationship, it

is also the concern of society, the Church, and God. In His presence,

and in the presence of this company, I ask that these promises be made public.

Groom, will you receive Bride to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's holy ordinance of Matrimony? Will you love and comfort her, honor and support her, in times of joy and trial, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for as long as you both shall live? (I will)

Bride will you receive Groom to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's holy ordinance of Matrimony? Will you love and comfort him, honor and support him, in times of joy and trial, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for as long as you both shall live? (I will)

Will the parents of Groom and Bride please stand.

In the past you have known and loved your son and daughter as individual persons. Now they desire to be joined together in matrimony. Will you give them your blessing as they now commit themselves to one another? And while respecting the priority of this new relationship, will you nonetheless assure them of your continuing love, good wishes, and prayers, and will you do all that you can to encourage and affirm them as they join their lives together? (We will)

I would ask the persons here assembled, the family and friends of Groom and Bride, speaking on behalf of the Church and society, do you recognize and affirm the commitment which they are making to one another this day? Will you assure them of your good wishes and good will, and will you add your prayers for the health and blessedness of their marriage? If so, will you please indicate by standing. Your promises are supported by God's promise. Let no man destroy what God unites!

Let us pray as the Lord has directed us (lead in the Lord's Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Please be seated.

(The Minister leads the way to the altar.)

Groom and Bride, as you start your new life together I want to share with you what the Apostle John saw as the most important event during Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples.

John 13:3-17: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. The Gospel of the Lord.

Jesus had gathered in the upper room with His disciples and was facing the cross. He knew that he would be leaving them. Even as he faced his own death he was concerned that they would understand several important concepts as his followers. The upper room marked many transitions.

Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king. He was executed as a criminal, but reentered Jerusalem as a Conquerer of death and the grave. The disciples entered the upper room as selfish men, following Jesus for worldly gain; they ieft as servants. Groom and Bride, you have entered this sanctuary as single peopie; you will leave as one, servants one to another. Always let your love of the Savior, not the circumstances of life, dictate your love one for another. Sometimes you may feel that you are right and your spouse is wrong. As a servant, one to another, you will have to make an extra effort in resolving the difference. As hard as that may seem, it is important to learn this concept. Through it happiness will become a regular commodity in your marriage. Groom and Bride, learn to be a servant to one another. As servants to one another you will become one. One other change in the upper room: the disciples entered as servants and left as friends of God. Groom and Bride, you have entered this sanctuary as friends; you wiil leave as family.

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

ILLUSTRATION-Two oxen pulling a wagon, when they learn to pull as a team they can pull twice as much of a load compared to their individual efforts. It isn't simply being tied together pulling the same load, but learning to pull together as a team. If you choose to be servant to one another, you will become a team capable of overcoming adversity and the many different challenges of life.

The ceremony of marriage in which you come to be united is the first and oldest ceremony in all the world, celebrated in the beginning in the presence of God himself. Marriage is a gift of God, given to comfort the sorrows of life and magnify its joys.

Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of hearts, the union of two lives as one. Your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the state nor by the seal on your wedding certificate, but by the strength of your love and by the power of your faith in each other and in God.

You can have this kind of home if you continue to recognize God as the source of romance, love, and affection. These are His gifts. Build your home on a spiritual foundation. With God, you will have everything; without Him, you will have nothing.

Now, will you please face each other and join hands and, to each other, express your vows of love and devotion

Groom, will you repeat this vow to Bride saying after me:

I Groom receive you Bride / to be my wedded wife / to have and to hold / from this day forward / to be with you in times of suffering / and in times of joy / in times of poverty / and in times of wealth / in times of sickness / and in times of good health / to love and cherish / for as long as I shall live / according to God's gracious will / In all this I pledge you my faithfulness.

Bride, will you repeat this vow to Groom saying after me:

I Bride receive you Groom / to be my wedded husband / to have and to hold / from this day forward / as long as I shall live / to be with you in times of joy and suffering / and wealth and poverty / in times of sickness / and in times of good health / to love and honor you / according to God's gracious will / In all this I pledge you my faithfulness.

The New Testament reveals that happiness comes from putting the other first, rather than oneself:

"Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord." "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." "Let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband" (from Ephesians 5).

Having this kind of love in your hearts, you have chosen to seal your vows.

Groom, what token do you give that you will faithfully seal these vows? (A ring) (Bride hands her bouquet to Maid of honor Best man and Maid of Honor already have rings.)

As you place this ring upon her finger it represents the gift of your love and it shall remind you of your abiding love for each other, and it will testify to the world that you belong to the woman you love.

Groom, 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.

Bride, what token do you give that you will faithfully seal these

vows? (A ring)

As you place this ring upon his finger it represents the gift of your love and it shall remind you of your abiding love for each other, and it will testify to the world that you belong to the man you love.

Bride, 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.

Bless, O Lord, these rings that are given and received as a token and pledge, that they may abide in your peace, and continue in your favor, unto their life's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

The two outside candles have been lit to represent your lives to this moment. They are two distinct lights, each capable of going its separate way. To bring joy and radiance into your home, there must be the merging of these two flames into one.

From this time onward may your thoughts be for each other rather than for your individual selves; may your plans be mutual, your joys and sorrows shared.

As you each take a candle and together light the center one, you will extinguish your own candles, thus have the center candle represent the union of your two lives into one flesh. As this center light cannot be divided, let not your lives be divided, but instead be the united testimony of a Christian home, as Christ gives you light.

Groom and Bride face each other and repeat together after me. "Wherever you go I will go / wherever you stay I will stay / your people shall be my people / your God shall be my God."

(Pianist will be playing a solo song during the lighting of the Unity Candle)

Will the congregation please stand, and let our hearts be joined in

prayer.

O Eternal God, without Your grace no promise is sure. Strengthen Groom and Bride with the gift of Your Spirit, so that they may fulfill the vows they have taken. Look mercifully upon them, that they may love, honor, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end, Amen.

Please be seated.

For as much as this man, Groom, and this woman, Bride, have consented together in holy wedlock, and have united by the grace of God, and having taken their vows, and declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands before us all. I pronounce that they are husband and wife, In the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

What God has joined together, let no man separate.

You may kiss your bride.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord look upon you with His favor, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may so love together in this life, that in the world to come you will have life everlasting through Jesus Christ, Amen.

(Groom and Bride turn around to the congregation.)

Ladies and Gentlemen of this congregation, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. And Mrs. Groom.

Bride receives her bridal bouquet from the Maid of Honor, holding it in her right hand, turns and faces Groom and puts her left hand through his right arm. The bride and groom go down the aisle.

Bride and Groom; The Maid of Honor and Best Man; The Bridesmaids and Groomsmen; Minister