Ephraim & Amalia Wedding

6:00 AM November 5, 2016

Processional
Lighting of the Candle on each side: Edsel &
Ellen

Bridal March: (Barnie Paul Geroy on Organ)

The congregation is requested to rise for the Brides entrance.
The Groom stands at the Ministers left side, followed by the
Best Man.
The Bride marches with her guardian on her right. They stop
about three steps before the Minister.

Giving-Away of the Bride:

It is my privilege and obligation to ask: Who has the honor of
presenting
Amalia to be married to Ephraim? Brides Guardian
[I do]
The Groom steps forward, shakes hands (or does mano*)
with the Brides guardian, and takes the guardians place. Both
Groom and Bride step closer to the Minister.

Solo of the Groom

Declaration of Purpose:
Dearly beloved, we are all gathered here in the presence of
God and of His people to join Ephraim and Amalia in the holy estate
of matrimony. Marriage is an honorable estate, instituted of God. It
signifies the mystical union that is between Christ and His Church,
which Christ adorned and sanctioned with His holy presence.
Christ wrought His first miracle during a wedding in Cana of
Galilee. He commends marriage in Scripture as honorable, therefore
no one should in any way enter into it lightly or unadvisedly, but

reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God, considering

the reasons for which marriage was ordained.
God ordained marriage for the mutual company, help, and
comfort of man and woman both in prosperity and adversity. Into
this holy estate, Ephraim and Amalia come now to be joined.

Declaration of Intent to Marry:

You, Ephraim, and you, Amalia, have come to me signifying
your desire to be formally united in marriage, and being assured
that no legal, moral, or religious barriers hinder this proper union I
ask:
Ephraim, will you have Amalia to be your lawful and wedded
wife, to live together according to the Law of God in the holy estate
of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in
sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only
to her, so long as you both shall live? [I will.]
Amalia, will you have Ephraim to be your lawful and wedded
husband, to live together according to the law of God in the holy
estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and
keep him, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep
yourself only to him, so long as you both shall live? [I will.]

Invocation:
Let us pray. Dear heavenly Father, you who has so
consecrated the estate of matrimony that it represents the spiritual
marriage and unity between Jesus Christ and His church, bless these
your servants that they may love, honor and cherish each other.
Bless them that they may live together in faithfulness and patience,
wisdom and true godliness; that their home may be a haven of
blessing and of peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Reading:

1 Peter 3:1-7 [ESV] Likewise, wives, be subject to your own

husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be
won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see
your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be
externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or
the clothing you wear 4 but let your adorning be the hidden
person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how
the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by
submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham,
calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not
fear anything that is frightening.
7

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way,

showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are
heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be
hindered.
James 1:17 [ESV] Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom
there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Wedding Message 1:
We share the happiness of Ephraim and Amalia as today, they
start their life together. May the LORD be with you, Ephraim and
Amie. But what does the Lords being with you in your marriage
mean?
When our Lord Jesus Christ began His public ministry, one of
the first things He did was to honor an invitation to a wedding. This
was in the village of Cana in Galilee, a place about seven kilometers
from Nazareth, where Jesus grew up.
Later during the reception, the host the bridegrooms family
had to deal with an embarrassing situation. They ran out of wine.
Thankfully, Jesus intervened and performed His first miracle.
He turned ordinary water into first-class wine!

What is the Word of God telling us in narrating this incident?

What difference did Christs presence make to the newlyweds in
Cana?
By His presence in that wedding in Galilee,
that He wholeheartedly approves of marriage.

Christ tells us

And on the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee;

and the mother of Jesus was there; and Jesus also was invited, and
His disciples, to the wedding. John 2:1-2 [NASB]
Marriage is not just a clever arrangement formulated by man
to preserve society although it serves the purpose as well.
Marriage, rather, is a sacred institution. It was, and is, Gods idea.
The coming of a man and a woman together to a permanent,
intimate, and exclusive relationship is Gods loving, wise and
gracious provision to solve mans loneliness. That was the purpose
of marriage for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and is the
same purpose for all men and women.
Next to communion with God Himself, marriage is Gods
answer to a man and a womans need for companionship. Marriage
is Gods precious gift.
Ephraim and Amie, today as you enter marriage, you are
receiving a precious gift from God. Treasure it. Never take each
other for granted. Always give thanks to God for the privilege of
having each other.
Later, you will have misunderstandings, conflicts, and
difficulties. And you may, at some point, both secretly wish you
never married. At times, you will be tempted to walk away from
your spouse. When thus tempted, remind yourselves that marriage
is a precious gift from God, that both of you are Gods answer to
each others needs regardless of your shortcomings. Enjoy your
marriage to the full, and always give thanks to God for each other.
Christs presence in that wedding in Galilee, moreover, 2
brought divine power to the occasion seen in the miracle of
water turning into wine.

Ephraim and Amie, just like that couple in the village of Cana,
you too need Christ and His power not only on your wedding day,
but throughout your life together. For your marriage to work, you
will need the power of Christ.

an insignificant village is the God who cares for you. Ephraim and
Amie, as you live out your marriage, remember: To Christ nothing is
too difficult to be beyond His power, and nothing is too trivial to
escape His loving concern.

Without Christs transforming power, you will not succeed in

truly becoming one. You come from two different backgrounds. You
have different habits and personalities. And as a man and a woman,
your views and reactions to certain things will differ, often, radically.

Jesus said to the servants, Fill these jars with water. They
filled them to the brim, and then he told them, Now draw some
water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast. John 2:78 [TEV]

Ephraim and Amie, beginning today you will be sharing the

same house, the same room, and the same bed. Adjusting to living
together will not be easy. You have come together not just to coexist, but to become one. For you to truly become one in heart,
mind and purpose, you will need no less than a miracle; you will
need divine intervention. On your own alone, you cannot truly love
the other dearer than your own life. Only the divine power and
grace of Christ could transform you both making you truly
unselfish, truly caring and truly loving.

In order to give direct instructions to the servants, Jesus had

to be where the servants were in the kitchen. He, the great
teacher and special guest during the occasion had made His way to
be with those who were working behind the scenes.

In helping the host family out of their predicament, 3 Jesus

also showed that He lovingly cares for people. In first century
Palestine, wedding festivities lasted anywhere from three full days
to one full week or longer. In those days, to run out of wine in the
middle of the wedding festivity was a social disaster. The incident
would expose the family to ridicule in the community, making them
the butt of jokes and sly remarks.
But in Cana, Christ intervened and supplied what was badly
needed. In doing so, He bailed the family out of social
embarrassment.
Ephraim and Amie, as you start life together, you have the
assurance that Christ Jesus our Lord cares for you just as He cared
for those newlyweds in Cana. He knows your needs and will provide
for you as you trust in Him.
Christ, the Creator of the universe, Controller of nations, King
of kings, and Lord of lords who cared enough to save from
embarrassment an unnamed newlywed from an ordinary family in

Ephraim and Amie, Christs presence will not just be in your

living room. He will also be moving into your kitchen and into your
laundry area. Every aspect of your life together will be Christs
concern your public life and your private life as well.
This brings us to the final truth the presence of Christ in that
wedding in Cana indicates. The incident teaches us, finally, that 4
Jesus Christ our Lord wants our marriages to be instruments
for His glory.
This beginning of miracles, did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested forth his glory and his disciples believed on him. John
2:11 [KJV]
Why did Jesus turn ordinary water into good wine? He did it to
answer a need. He concerned Himself with the need because He
cared for people. He cared because He was Gods Chosen who came
to die so that men and women may be reconciled with God. He did
what He did so that everyone would know who He was. He
performed the miracle in Cana to manifest His glory. Jesus, in
other words, wanted everyone to see that He was the Son of God
who became man that He was the Creator of heaven and earth
living among men.

Christ did what He did in that wedding so that men may

believe in Him, and honor and praise Him. What He did was
intended to elicit faith, trust and confidence in Him.
Christs presence in a wedding in Cana of Galilee tells us that
He approves of marriage; that His power is needed to make
marriage work; that all of life is His concern; and that He wants our
marriages to bring honor to Him.
Ephraim and Amie, may the presence of Christ our Lord be
with you as you live together from this day on. May you experience
His divine power as He performs the miracle of making the two of
you become one. May the Lord provide for all your needs. And may
your marriage be like the couples in Cana of Galilee a means for
Christ to be revealed to those around you. May your life together
bring honor and praise to Jesus Christ our Lord.
What is addressed to Ephraim and Amie is also addressed to
all of you who are married all of you husbands and wives who are
here today. For those who are not yet married, may you too
experience the presence, provision and power of Christ. May your
life, whether you are married or not, reveal His glory.
May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you in your marriage,
Ephraim and Amie.

Message to Couple by an elder Pastor:

Charge to
Sponsors:

Couples

Family

and

Principal

Saying of Promises to Each Other:

Marriage Vows & Ring Ceremony: (Couple
Standing)
Groom first: I, (name), take you (name), to be my wedded
(wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day on, for better, or
for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love

and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part,

according to Gods holy Law; and I give you my sincere promise.
In token and pledge of the vow made between us, with this
ring I marry you, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit.

Veil and Cord Ceremony: (Couple Sitting)

I ask Rommel and Sally to join us and to lay a veil over you
to clothe you together. The veil symbolizes the wifes willing
submission to her husband. He is the head of this new family. It also
symbolizes the husbands protection over his wife. He is now her
defender.
I invite Jerry and Loida to place a cord over you. This cord
symbolizes infinity, the unending love binding husband and wife,
total love now pledged to each other, like a strong cord that shall
never be broken.

The Giving of the Bible:

The Bible is a precious gift from God. The Word of God is the
firm and sure foundation for the home. As the husband gives the
Bible to his wife, he pledges that the Word of God will be the guide,
authority and foundation stone of their marriage.

Signing of the Marriage Contract: (Couple

Sitting)
Removal of the Veil and Cord
Lighting of the Unity Candle
The lighting together of one candle at the center and
extinguishing of the other two candles symbolize the two formerly
separate lives of Ephraim and Amie now joined together as one
flesh, united and indivisible before God and before man.

Prayer for the Couple: (Couple Kneeling)

Benediction:
The LORD bless you, and keep you: The LORD make His face
shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: The LORD lift up His
countenance upon you, and give you peace. [Numbers 6:24-26]

Pronouncement:
I request that the couple stand and face the audience. Since
Ephraim and Amie have consented to come together in holy
matrimony before God and this congregation, pledging their sincere
promises to each other, by virtue of the authority vested upon me
by the Church and by the Republic of the Philippines under Family
Code Article 7 Paragraph 2 and Office of the Civil Registrar General
(OCRG) Administrative Order #1 Series of 2007, I now pronounce
you husband and wife in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Those whom God has joined together let no man separate.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to
the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and
power, both now and ever, Amen. [Jude 24]

Presentation of the Newly Wed:

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with much pleasure that I now
introduce to you, Mr. & Mrs. Ephraim (Amalia) Tayson

Kiss the Bride:

You may now kiss your bride.

Additional Info
* Mano an act of respect for the elderly done by taking the elders right hand
and touching it to ones forehead.