Many of you know that Becky and I are away this week (and don’t worry, this was posted ahead of time). We are in Paris celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. Such joy! Much could be said and will be said, but as we remember October 16, 1977, we remember especially words spoken.
He may have used an older version of the Worship Book, but the Reverend Kim Warner’s words would have been something like this:
We gather in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage, to witness the joining together of Bill and Becky, to surround them with our prayers, and to ask God’s blessing upon them, so that they may be strengthened for their life together and nurtured in their love for God.
God created us male and female, and gave us marriage so that husband and wife may help and comfort each other, living faithfully together in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, throughout all their days.
God gave us marriage for the full expression of the love between a man and a woman. In marriage a woman and a man belong to each other, and with affection and tenderness freely give themselves to each other.
God gave us marriage for the well being of human society, for the ordering of family life, and for the nurture of children.
God gave us marriage as a holy mystery in which a man and a woman are joined together, and become one, just as Christ is one with the church.
In marriage, husband and wife are called to a new way of life, created, ordered, and blessed by God. This way of life must not be entered into carelessly, or from selfish motives, but responsibly, and prayerfully.
We rejoice that marriage is given by God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, let marriage be held in honor by all.
Later on in the service I said:
I, Bill, take you, Becky, to be my wife; and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.
And then Becky said:
I, Becky, take you, Bill, to be my husband; and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.
Promises kept. Thank you, Becky. And thanks be to God.
Psalm 16:5-6:
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Katharine and Ryan, Lena and Ada
Christopher, and Katie, Caleb, Esther, Gideon, and Baby On the Way
Alanna and Jonathan, Baby Theodore on the way