Derek Loshe and Mallorie Hough
Notes
Transcript
For wedding ceremony--
7 bridesmaids and 7 groomsmen.
NO unity candle--but a unity cross with braids.
groom and pastor and groomsmen all come in together at same time.
bridesmaids come one by one.
ring bearer -- Jasper
flower girl is 3 years old -- cousin's daughter. They said she will follow Jasper down the aisle as they come down together.
Allison Evans is the wedding coordinator.
All at Bearcreek Farms
Amy Sprunger is the photographer.
wedding ceremony will be close family only
everyone will be invited to reception
right now ushers will dismiss row by row, and have bridal party at the back as they leave the building.
Loshe Wedding 11-26-23
Prelude music – guests are seated – starts about ½ hour before the wedding service
· Seating of grandparents Song: Be Thou My Vision (instrumental)
· Seating of mothers Song: Be Thou My Vision (same)
· Groom, pastor, and groomsmen (7 total) all come in together at one time Song: A Million Dreams (Instrumental)
· Bridesmaids enter one by one (7 total) Song: A Million Dreams (Instrumental)
· Ring bearer (Jasper) and flower girl enters together. Song: A Million Dreams (Instrumental)
*Bride and Father Song: "I Get to Love you
Welcome by the Pastor
On behalf of Derek and Mallorie and their families, we would like to welcome you as we witness them make a holy covenant of marriage before God and those gathered here.
Derek and Mallorie, you guys are here today making these vows because you met through work. Both of you either are or have been in the field of law enforcement, and Mallorie you said you met when you were a 911 dispatcher, and Derek you met when you were (and still are) a police officer. So Mallorie as a 911 dispatcher, you were able to send people like Derek on an assignment or emergency and tell him what to do—and I think those same skills apply to marriage, right? Mallorie you can dispatch Derek on a lot of marital assignments and honey do lists.
and Derek, you said this about how you met— “Even though Mallorie says “I’m never right, she has to admit that at least once she was wrong and I was right. I asked her out numerous times before she finally agreed and now look at us. I was at least right on the one big thing that matters. I will always have that win and it doesn’t hurt to share with whoever will listen to me.”
Derek, you keep telling yourself that.
In all seriousness, we believe that it is no accident you are here today. Not only did you meet through work, but God, the king of the universe has been preparing you for this day.
He is the author and designer and Creator of marriage.
Way back in the book of Genesis—we read this about Adam and Eve.
we read in Genesis 2:18—after God made Adam—he said it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
The New International Version Chapter 2
21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib x he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 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.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Prayer
—thanking God for Derek and Mallorie
—thanking God for this moment
—thanking God for marriage
—remind us—this is a worship service...”
Pledge (vows of intent)
We have 2 sets of wedding vows today. This first set of vows describe your intentions…and they remind us that your vows today—are not just to each other—but you are committing to God and these witnesses here your holy covenant of marriage.
—Derek, before God and this congregation, do you take Mallorie to be your wife, and do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and cherish her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both live. If so, say, “I do.”
—Mallorie, before God and this congregation, do you take Derek to be your husband, and do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and cherish him, and forsaking all others remain true to him as long as you both live. If so, say, “I do.”
Giving of the Bride
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Answer: “Her mother and I” or “I do”
Scripture Reading(s)
Message: Charge to the Bride and Groom (about 10 minutes)
One of the joys and privileges I had was meeting with you a few times to talk about your relationship, prepare you for a lifetime of marriage, and examine what God’s Word says about relationships.
and I appreciated how open you were to talking about your strengths and your weaknesses as a couple.
And I want to give you a special charge today from God’s Word…If you are going to have a happy, thriving, marriage…what do you need….
3 pieces of advice:
You need to be a peacemaker. Derek, you mentioned your favorite verse is Matthew 5:9
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
These are the words of Jesus—blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.
You know in law enforcement—part of your mission or your main goal is to bring peace to tough and tense situation. Not to use force—force is only used as a last resort and with the intention of bringing peace—restoring peace and order.
while marriage is not law enforcement—your mission—is to work for peace everyday in your marriage.
Now—peace is NOT the absence of conflict. We learned in our pre-marital counseling sessions together—that if you are communicating, you will have conflict b/c you are 2 different people with 2 different opinions. that’s normal.
just to show you how different you are—I asked in a survey I gave you—how long have you been dating:
Derek — your answer 2 1/2 years.
Mallorie - 2 years and 4 months unofficially and 2 years and 2 months officially.
just based on the way you answered that question—you think and process differently—and that’s a good thing!
Your goal as peace makers is to communicate openly, honestly, to be the people God has created you to be—to embrace your differences—all for the goal of having peace that reflects God—the ultimate peace-maker. it’s not to sweep conflict under the rug or avoid it—but to embrace it—and work for peace in the midst of conflict—realizing that God is using your differences to make you more and more like Jesus.
and that word peace is a rich, full word. It means not just the absence of conflict—but everything is right—and well—and thriving—your relationship with God—your relationship with others—and your relationship with self. everything is in order. when you do that in your marriage—you will thrive—and the world will know you belong to God—you are reflecting God.
I charge you to be peacemakers acc. to God in your marriage and in this world…and you will have a healthy marriage
2. The 2nd piece of advice comes from Mallorie’s favorite verse--
7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
now—this could be bad advice for firing a gun or a WEAPON. “I will live by faith and not by sight...” that’s not what it is talking about...
This is in a passage —where the Apostle Paul talks about one day—when you and I die as believers in Jesus—we will be away from this body—be in the presence of the Lord—and get a new resurrection body. That is our ultimate hope—life with Jesus and new resurrection bodies for eternity.
and we trust this is true—by faith—not by sight.
what this passage is getting at is hope…hope is a type of faith — looking towards the future.
it is faith that the present you are walking in now—will work out based on your future hope.
and it is amazing—when you go through hard times—if you have hope—that’s what sustains you. a person can endure anything with hope—but if you don’t have hope, it’s crushing, and you will quit.
I believe that your hope as believers, our hope—is hope in Jesus Christ…that He is working out all things for your good…and God’s glory...
that one day, you will be with Jesus forever.
how does this help you now?
it helps you not be cynical as you work with people—as a minister I have to watch this too. you have hope that God is working through the hard things in people’s lives.
and it helps you—in the good, bad, and tough days of marriage—you have hope—that God is working out all things for your benefit, even the hard things.
even when you are disagreeing or life is tough—your hope is what grounds you.
When you have this Christ-centered hope—it makes all the difference and the world wants this hope.
I charge you to live by faith—not by sight—to let the hope of Jesus and what He offers shape everything about your marriage.
so peace—we said…blessed are the peacemakers
hope—we live by faith not by sight
3. the last piece of advice is love...
peace, hope, and love...
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
this is real love—defined by God.
this love has 15 descriptions—of what it is and isn’t.
and this love is your secret weapon in marriage. this is the love that enables you to be the peacemaker—and to live by hope—by faith and not by sight...
and it’s not your love powering you to do this—it is God’s love for you through Jesus.
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
God’s love is what enables you to have a healthy marriage.
The Bible says God loves us and made us to love Him and enjoy Him.
But all of us have turned our own way—we all have sinned and fall short of His glory.
and b/c of that deserve God’s perfect justice.
but God made a way for us to be forgiven by Him—and be made new and have hope.
He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live the life I failed to live
and die the death for my sin—the atoning sacrifice for my sin in my place on the cross.
He didn’t deserve it—he was perfect. I did—but He loved me..even at my worst.
and He rose 3 days later from the grave.
so if I confess my need to Jesus—that I have messed up and I need Him, and believe He can save me, I will be saved. I will have new life. Mallorie—you mentioned the song Flawless by MercyMe—as one of your favorites. That’s what happens—the cross of Jesus Christ has made you both flawless.
and this love if you realize how much God loves you through Christ…you will see He is the ultimate peacemaker
He is the one who gives you ultimate hope…Jesus lived by faith—not by sight—dying for our sins.
and Jesus’ love is patient, kind, not envying, always protecting, always hoping, delighting in the truth.
so I charge you to be peacemakers as Jesus was, for they will be children of God,
to live by faith, not by sight just like Jesus,
and to love one another as God has loved you through Jesus.
Let’s pray.
Would you turn and face each other, and Derek, would you repeat after me first.
Vows (this is the most important part of the service)
In the presence of God
and these witnesses,
and through a holy covenant /
I, Derek,
joyfully receive you Mallorie,
as God’s perfect gift for me /
to have and to hold
from this day forward /
for better or for worse /
for richer or for poorer /
in sickness and in health /
to love, honor and cherish,
until we are parted by death. /
or Jesus comes for his Church.
And with the help of God
I pledge to you my faithfulness.
This is my vow to you.
Mallorie, repeat after me:
In the presence of God
and these witnesses,
and through a holy covenant /
I, Mallorie
joyfully receive you Derek,
as God’s perfect gift for me /
to have and to hold
from this day forward /
for better or for worse /
for richer or for poorer /
in sickness and in health /
to love, honor and cherish,
until we are parted by death. /
or Jesus comes for his Church.
And with the help of God
I pledge to you my faithfulness.
This is my vow to you.
Giving of Rings
You have decided to seal your vows by the giving and receiving of rings. Rings are a sacred symbol, signaling to others that you are in an exclusive commitment to your beloved (just as God is with you). The precious metal from which they are forged reminds you of the precious possession you have in marriage (just as God gave you). The infinite circle they form remind you that your new relationship is never to end and be broken except by death or the Lord comes back for his church.
Derek, take your ring for Mallorie, and as you begin to put the ring on her finger, please repeat after me.
Mallorie, I give you this ring
as a constant reminder
of my abiding love and commitment.
Mallorie, take your ring for Derek, and as you begin to put the ring on her finger, please repeat after me.
Derek, I give you this ring
as a constant reminder
of my abiding love and commitment
Song & Unity Cross with Braids
In a moment, as a symbol of your marital unity, you will be braiding together 3 strands.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
NIV
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
The Cord of 3 strands symbolize the joining of one man and one woman together in one marriage, with Jesus at the center into a marriage relationship. One strand symbolizes Derek, another Mallorie, and the 3rd in the middle Jesus Christ.
These 3 strands show that as you both pursue Jesus—you grow closer in intimacy together. As you weave your life around Jesus Christ, he weaves you together in the best intimacy possibly in him…together…as one flesh as God designed.
In addition, during this time, you and your families will be pouring glass beads into this container. These glass beads were picked out by both you and all your kids—and they represent all your lives together---The beads will be eventually sent away and the glass will be blown into a beautiful vase—symbolizing that not only are husband and wife coming together to make something new—but your families are coming together to form a new family.
These glass beads on their own are beautiful, but combined together form something new and beautiful, a new family that is to be cherished, loved, and protected.
so let’s take a moment right now, and have you guys braid these strands together, and then after that’s done, kids are invited forward to help them with putting the glass beads in.
Song: Shania Twain “This Moment on”/ “You’re Still the One...”
Prayer
Pronouncement
And now, Derek and Mallorie, having heard your vows to each other before God and these witnesses, I do, by virtue of the authority vested in me, as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in accordance with the laws of God and the state of Indiana, I pronounce you husband and wife. You are no longer two, but one, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. What God has joined together, let no man separate.
Kiss
Derek, you may now kiss your bride.
Presentation of the couple
It is now my pleasure to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs Derek and Mallorie Loshe
Recessional
Final instructions:
Please stay seated.
A few instructions:
I want to dismiss the parents first—parents of bride and groom are free to go and congratulate Derek and Mallorie.
For the rest, we ask that you remain and stay seated. Derek and Mallorie will enter and dismiss row by row and you will have the opportunity to congratulate the happy couple as you leave the building.
And then you are invited to the reception, immediately next door.
Thanks for coming!