16 November 2024

Entrance of Wedding Party

Introduction, Officiant, Katherine Ewald Olson

Declaration of Intention

Prayer

First Reading, Kristen Champion-Terrell

"Blessing for a Marriage" by James Dillet Freeman

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another – not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness.

A mountain needs a valley to be complete;

the valley does not make the mountain less, but more;

and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it.

So let it be with you and you.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.

May you want one another, but not out of lack.

May you entice one another, but not compel one another.

May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.

May you succeed in all important ways with one another,

and not fail in the little graces.

May you look for things to praise, often say, “I love you!”

and take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery, which is the awareness of one another’s presence — no more physical than spiritual,

warm and near when you are side by side,

and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.

May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.

May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

Second Reading, Treva Barker

From I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg

I like you and I know why.

I like you because you are a good person to like.

I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s

special

And you remember it a long, long time.

You say, “Remember when you told me something special?”

And both of us remember

When I think something is important

you think it’s important too

We have good ideas

When I say something funny, you laugh

I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too

Hah-hah!

I like you because if you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one

If I find four, I give you two

If we only find three, we keep on looking

Sometimes we have good luck, and sometimes we don’t

And I like you because when I am feeling sad

You don’t always cheer me up right away

Sometimes it is better to be sad

I like you because I don’t know why but

Everything that happens is nicer with you

I can’t remember when I didn’t like you

It must have been lonesome then

I like you because because because

I forget why I like you but I do.”

Third Reading, Emily Hogue

"The Confirmation" by Edwin Muir

Yes, yours, my love, is the right human face.

I in my mind had waited for this long,

Seeing the false and searching for the true,

Then found you as a traveller finds a place

Of welcome suddenly amid the wrong

Valleys and rocks and twisting roads. But you,

What shall I call you? A fountain in a waste,

A well of water in a country dry,

Or anything that's honest and good, an eye

That makes the whole world seem bright. Your open heart,

Simple with giving, gives the primal deed,

The first good world, the blossom, the blowing seed,

The hearth, the steadfast land, the wandering sea.

Not beautiful or rare in every part.

But like yourself, as they were meant to be.

Fourth reading, Layne Craig

"Scaffolding" by Seamus Heaney

Masons, when they start upon a building,

Are careful to test out the scaffolding;

Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,

Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

And yet all this comes down when the job’s done

Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be

Old bridges breaking between you and me

Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall

Confident that we have built our wall.

Remarks

Vows

Giving of Rings

Acclamation

Blessing

“Marriage” by Mary Weston Fordham

The die is cast, come weal, come woe,

Two lives are joined together,

For better or for worse, the link

Which naught but death can sever.

The die is cast, come grief, come joy

Come richer, or come poorer,

If love but binds the mystic tie,

Blest is the bridal hour.

Introduction of the Couple

Exit

A Note of Thanks

Dear Family & Friends,

We are so grateful for your presence here today. It truly means the world to us to celebrate this special occasion with all of you. We have been so fortunate to have you all in our lives and very much appreciate the love and support you have given us. We hope you enjoy the festivities tonight, and we look forward to giving you all a big hug!

Love,

Crystal + Phil

Q + A

Any questions about our wedding? Just ask!