When I was planning our wedding I really struggled with having scripture reading.
It was really important to me to have a ceremony that was centered around the gospel,
so logically you would have scripture reading.
BUT,
I didn't want someone to get up and read 1 Corinthians 13 and have it be the same boring old reading that every other person has at their wedding, that is read in a very monotone voice and nobody really pays attention to it anyway!
I wanted it to incorporate so much more of what Marriage and Love Biblically looks like!
So when I was sitting at work one day the perfect solution came to me!
My Aunt Kimmy is a phenomenal writer. (you can check her blog out here)
She has a way with words that make them sing.
She puts words and phrases together in such a way that they move you to tears.
So I sent her a text asking her if I gave her a list of scripture verses
if she would put together a reading for me.
I had it planned so that the moment I hit the end of the aisle with my dad,
and as my saxophonist was still playing "The Wedding Song" by Kenny G,
to start my whole wedding ceremony off with this wonderful piece that my aunt put together.
Marriage
By: Kimberly Jenkins
Love
is like an eternal river that flows straight from your heart, if your
heart be filled with the love of Christ; the everlasting well of live.
As
your pledge to one another, forever. Forever may you pledge in
righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. To pledge
faithfulness as you both seek to acknowledge and grow in the Lord.
(Colossians 3:12-27)
And
as this man breaks reign from his Father and Mother to take hold and
grow roots deep with his young wife, the two shall become one. They
shall grow into one. Therefore, what God has ordained let no man
separate. (Mark 10:6-9)
As
the woman submits to the man, she submits as unto her Lord. She is all
giving, unselfishly loving and trusting in him completely. (Ephesians
5:22)
And
as the years find her aged with silver may her children arise and call
her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. (Proverbs 31:28)
And
the man shall love her unselfishly, just as Christ loved the Church and
gave Himself up for her. He gives it all to make her holy, cleansing
her by the washing of water through the word. To be presented to her
without blemish, stain or wrinkle. To come to her holy and blameless,
and as the years find him aged with silver may he find that he has
always loved her just as he has loved himself. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Just
as a young sapling came from a seed, the years move on, it grows strong
and bears much fruit if the roots are reaching deep into the rich
earth. It’s branches stretch towards the heavens. The leaves sing
praises as they dance in the wind and the tree never forgets from whence
it came.
And
as a family we pledge to pray that you, being rooted and established in
love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wind
and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled to the measure of all
the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17)
Your
marriage is like that of the young sapling. The years will move on and
your love will grow strong and bear much fruit if you nurture it and
take care of it, if you plant yourselves into the rich soil of his
living, breathing word. And as you rise up to sing praises to the Son,
may you never forget from whence you came.
I
am the vine; you are the branches if a man remains in me and I in him,
he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
I don't really remember much about our wedding at all,
After getting all of 2 hours of sleep,
(that was a long night of sleeplessness, I finally gave up at 4 am, got up, made myself 2-3 cups of coffee, and wrote both of my parents letters)
being completely exhausted & STARVING by 2:00,
And all the nerves and emotions that go with getting married,
BUT, I'm pretty sure that if I did remember anything
This would one of my most favorite things about our wedding ceremony!
It worked in perfectly
(I remember this from the rehearsal)
with the score of The Wedding March,
and the man that sang "Long song" by Third day filled in at the last minute to read it,
and He such a dynamic speaker that it turned out better than I could have hoped!
Awe I am humbled...thank you!
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