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IN THE BEGINNING

It is good for us to gather here today in the quietness and beauty of this place.  *groom* and *bride*, now it is your opportunity to breathe easy and to enjoy this very special time together.  Jesus made a promise that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He would be there with us.  That means He is here with us at this very moment, taking part in this celebration of love.

PRAYER

Marriage is a divine appointment started by our loving heavenly Father in the Garden of Eden thousands of years ago.  Bible tells us that as each day of creation transpired, God would look and say, "It is good."  As the days went by, God created the water and dry land, the plants, the stars, the animals, and then the first man, Adam.  God said that all that He had created was good, but when He looked at man's loneliness, He said, "It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make a mate for him."  God had not forgotten Eve. He simply wanted to let Adam experience life alone so he could understand the significance of the relationship he would share with Eve.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

God created woman from man.  Not from his head so that she should rule over him, nor from his feet that she should be his slave, but from his side that she might be his companion -- from beneath his arm that she might have his protection and from near his heart that she might have his love.

In the same way *bride* and *groom*, you two are tailor made for each other.  You have taken the time to be sure that the one standing next to you is the perfect mate, the one you will share the rest of your life, and it is good, it is very good.

 CHARGE

The Word of God has much to say about marriage and the husband-wife relationship.  If more people would take the time to read this best seller, they would find the answer to their marriage problems.

The Bible instructs husbands to love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her...in the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their bodies.  He who loves his wife, loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated his own body, but feeds and cares for it just as Christ does His Church.

*groom*, you are to lead the home as Christ leads the church...with a selfless love... loving *bride* more than you love yourself... loving her enough to die for her.  (It was not the nails that held Christ to the cross, it was His great love for us)

You have chosen *bride* from among all other women to be your wife.  For this reason, you are charged in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to be true to her as long as you both shall live.

The Bible also tells us that a wife's beauty does not come from style of hair, make-up, jewelry or fine clothes, Instead it should be beauty of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and loving spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

*bride* you have chosen *groom* from among all other men to be your husband.  For this reason, you are charged in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to be true to him for as long as you both shall live.  Guard well the integrity of his name, which from this day forward, you shall wear as your own.  In forsaking all others, devote yourself to being a supportive and loving wife for as long as you both shall live.

*groom* and *bride*, it is our desire that your marriage be filled with many years of joy, laughter, growth, and fulfilled dreams.  With Christ's help, we desire that you would model for us what a marriage and family has the potential of becoming.

I DO'S

PRAYER

VOWS

RINGS

PRONOUNCEMENT:

By the authority vested in me as a minister of the gospel  I do pronounce you husband and wife.  "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE

INTRO OF MR/MRS