Cheri Moon and Sterling Allan Wedding Ceremony

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Moon & Allan Wedding Ceremony

May 22, 1999

(Bride and Groom have come forward)

Reverend Randy Jarvis, Christian Disciples International:

"We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the power, worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Cheri and Sterling in marriage.

"Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, may they speak now or forever hold their peace."

(pause)

(the bride is escorted forward by her father)

Randy's Preface remarks regarding marriage:

"Cheri and Sterling, one of the greatest blessings of life is to have someone with whom we can share our life together in love in the sacred covenant of marriage under God:

-- to nourish and protect an ever-growing bond of unity under his providence,

-- to share a bond of intimacy in every regard,

-- to raise a family in righteousness unto the Lord,

-- to serve and sustain one another in His service,

-- to overcome life's challenges together through faith in Christ,

-- to respect each other's agency to make choices,

-- to encourage one another in your godly pursuits,

-- to forgive one another for missteps and seek the healing balm of mercy,

-- to learn from one another,

-- to value each other's differences,

-- and, in fine, to learn to work together so that your diversity becomes a synergism of unity in love through the grace of God.

"Cheri, you have chosen Sterling, and Sterling, you have Chosen Cheri to be the one with whom you will be joined in this sacred bond. Today we are gathered together to recognize this union publicly and to solemnize this union before God, to exchange vows, and to offer our blessing of encouragement as you now commence your lives together as Husband and Wife."

Vows

Sterling David Allan, do you take Cheri Collett Moon to be your Wife? ("I do")

By the grace of God, and in His sight and in the presence of His angels, do you covenant to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and cleaving only unto her? ("I do")

Cheri Collett Moon, do you take Sterling David Allan to be your Husband? ("I do")

By the grace of God, and in His sight and in the presence of His angels, do you covenant to love, honor, cherish and nourish him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him? ("I do")

Randy:

"As an authorized minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, serving as his representative, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, I now publicly declare you to be man and wife."

"Do you have rings to exchange?"

(Kyme comes forward with rings)

Repeated Vows & Wedding Rings

Randy:

"Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual commitment and the unending circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage."

"Please repeat after me:"

(Groom) By the grace of God, and in His sight

and in the presence of His angels and these witnesses,

I Sterling David Allan, take thee, Cheri Collett Moon

to be my Wife;

to have and to hold,

in sickness and in health,

for richer or for poorer;

and I promise my love to you forevermore.

(Bride) By the grace of God, and in His sight

and in the presence of His angels and these witnesses,

I Cheri Collett Moon, take thee, Sterling David Allan,

to be my Husband;

to have and to hold,

in sickness and in health,

for richer or for poorer,

and I promise my love to you forevermore.

Randy

"You may now kiss the bride."

"I believe Sterling has a song he would like to sing for Cheri."

(Sterling and Cheri go to piano)

(After song, they return to the front)

Extemporaneous expressions by Randy regarding marriage. (sample)

(2-5 minutes)

Sterling and Cheri, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.

Corinthians

"A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments. But it also is a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love 1 hope you pursue in your marriage:

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind;

charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things."

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out."

Moroni's words are likewise relevant here:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7:48.)

If you love someone, you will be loyal to them, to seek the best for them, you will always believe in them, and will always stand your ground to nourish and defend them."

PRAYER

(expressing such sentiments as:)

Dear Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with great happiness for Cheri and Sterling on this their wedding day, as they have come before you pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense or jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, best friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may they find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray and walk beside Cheri and Sterling throughout all of their lives together. May the events of this day be consecrated unto thee for righteousness sake. We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen.

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