Greeting – Al

• "We are gathered here today on this most happy occasion to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. 
• On behalf of Josh and Christina, who have invited us here today to witness their joining in holy matrimony and in the sight and presence of God, I welcome you."

Address to Guests – Al

• Of the world's three great institutions – the home, the church, and the state – the home is the oldest and most sacred. 

• God himself was the originator of marriage when he said,
•  "For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall be one flesh."

• Hernan, do you give this woman to be married to this man?
• Hernan replies, “I do.”

• In the consummation of the first marriage, the woman whom God made as a helper for man was not taken from his head to rule over him,
• nor from his feet to be trampled by him,
• but from his side that she might be his equal,
• from under his arm that she might receive his protection,
• and from near his heart that she might own and command his love.

• We learn from the Scripture that Jesus honored a marriage festival with His presence and chose the occasion to begin his miracles. 
• And the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul chose the symbol of husband and wife as an emblem of the union that binds together Christ and his church.

Address to Bride & Groom – Al

• Josh, you are about to take upon yourself a pure resolve, a solemn vow, involving eternal responsibility. 
• The woman of your choice is now to become the partner of your life, the coheir of your possessions, the queen of your home. 
• In no other way could she so manifest her love for you. 
• With you will she now abide, to share with you the joys and sorrows of life, and for you will she live.

• Christina, you are also to assume a solemn vow involving eternal responsibility. 
• He whom you are about to wed will look to you for solace in the hour of trial. 
• Your smile should be his brightest day,
• your voice his sweetest music,
• your industry his greatest wealth,
• your economy his safest steward,
• your lips his faithful counselor,
• and your prayers his most able advocate at heaven's court.

Declaration of Intention – Al

• Josh, will you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of marriage? 
• Will you love her,
• comfort her,
• honor and keep her,
• in sickness and in health,
• and, forsaking all others,
• be faithful to her and to grow in all that God intends?  Josh – "I do"

• Christina, will you take this man to be your husband, to live together in the covenant of marriage? 
• Will you love him,
• comfort him,
• honor and keep him,
• in sickness and in health,
• and, forsaking all others,
• be faithful to him and to grow in all that God intends?  (Christina – "I do")

Vows - Al

• Christina and Josh, as you stand in the presence of God, having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, you now declare to this company of witnesses your pledge of faith, each to the other. 
• Be assured that if these solemn vows are kept intact, as God's Word demands,
• and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father,
• God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it and will establish your home in peace.

• Josh, please repeat after me: 
• I, Josh, in the presence of God,
• take you Christina to be my wife
• through tears and laughter,
• sickness and health, work and play. 
• I will respect, trust, help and care for you. 
• All that I am I give to you
• and all that I have I share with you. 
• Whatever the future holds, I will stand by you
• and will love you faithfully, constantly and prayerfully,
• now and forever.

• Christina, please repeat after me: 
• I, Christina, in the presence of God,
• take you Josh to be my husband
• through tears and laughter,
• sickness and health, work and play. 
• I will respect, trust, help and care for you. 
• All that I am I give to you
• and all that I have I share with you. 
• Whatever the future holds, I will stand by you
• and will love you faithfully, constantly and prayerfully,
• now and forever.

Exchange of Rings – Al

• Josh and Christina have chosen to give each other rings as tokens in evidence of their marriage vows.
• The wedding ring is made of precious and enduring metal, and thus fittingly represents the ties that bind husband and wife. 
• The ring, an endless circle until broken by some outside force, is a symbol of the unbroken union that will continue and only be broken by death.

• Let us pray.  "Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide in your peace, and continue in your favor, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."

• Josh, take this ring and place it on Christina’s third finger. 
• Please repeat after me: 
• In token and pledge
• of our constant faith and abiding love,
• 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.

• Christina, take this ring and place it on Josh’s third finger. 
• Please repeat after me: 
• In token and pledge
• of our constant faith and abiding love,
• 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. 

Communion – Al

• Holy Communion is one of the pivotal institutions in the New Testament. 
• It is a celebration of the redeeming death of Jesus and a joyful praise of life through the resurrection of Christ.
• At the Last Supper, Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me." 
• Paul instructed the church, "Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 
• The Lord’s Supper is recognition of the promise that the future messianic banquet will take place when Jesus takes the cup and drinks it anew in the Kingdom of God.

• Christina and Josh will now partake in communion as a symbol and recognition of the coming marriage between the Lord and His church, the body of Christ.[1]

• An ancient custom is the breaking of the glass after the couple has drank out of it.  It represents two things: 
• first, no one else but the couple will ever drink from this glass,
• and second, the number of broken pieces is a hope for happy years together.[2]

Declaration of Marriage – Al

• Now that Christina and Josh have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving and receiving of rings,
• I announce to you that they are husband and wife in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Blessing of Marriage – Al

• Because of Christina and Josh’s mutual consent of love in response to the Spirit, and because of this ceremony, the call of the Spirit is discerned and confirmed by the community present here this morning, along with the authority of Jesus in your individual lives and together as a couple.
• Christina and Josh I bless your marriage and my continual prayer will be that your marriage will be filled with God’s grace, mercy, and peace.

Kiss – Christina and Josh – YIPPEE!!

• Josh, you may now kiss your wife.

Introduce couple – Al

• Ladies and Gentlemen:  it is my privilege to introduce to Mr. and Mrs. Josh and Christina Benz

Dismissal Blessing – Al

• Please bow your heads as I pray, “May God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless, preserve and keep you;
• May the Lord graciously look upon you with his favor, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and love so that you may live together in this life and that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. 
• Amen.”

Wedding Party Recessional

Instructions to the guests – Al

• Christina and Josh would like to thank you all for coming to witness their marriage and would also like to invite everyone to stay for a reception.
• You will have the opportunity to BRIEFLY congratulate Josh and Christina as you enter the reception hall just above us.
• We would like to begin the reception as soon as possible because Josh and Christina do have a specific departure time today.
• The ushers will dismiss you by rows!
• Thank you again for coming and sharing in this joyous event.

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[1]  Al serves the bread and juice to Christina and Josh.

[2]  Wrap and break glass.