THE WEDDING OF JOHN CLARK AND CHERIE ATKINSON
1. MUSICAL PRELUDE
MOZART CONCERTO
FÜR ELISE
2. WEDDING PROCESSION
JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING
3. GATHERING WORDS
WE HAVE COME TOGETHER, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, TO WITNESS THE MARRIAGE OF JOHN CLARK AND CHERIE ATKINSON AND TO ASK GOD TO BLESS THEM. BY OUR PRESENCE HERE, WE ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP AND ENCOURAGE THEM IN THE NEW RELATIONSHIP INTO WHICH THEY ARE ABOUT TO ENTER. IT IS AN OCCASION THAT IS BOTH SOLEMN, AS WE REFLECT ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR DECISION, AND FESTIVE, AS WE SHARE THEIR JOY. YET, FOR THEIR LOVE TO FIND A RESPONSIBLE AND PERMANENT PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY, THEY HAVE ASKED US TO BE PRESENT TODAY TO WITNESS THEIR COMMITMENT IN EXCHANGE OF A RING, THEY WOULD HAVE US SHARE THE JOY OF THEIR LOVE. THEY WOULD COMMIT THEMSELVES PUBLICLY TO WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND INWARDLY.
4. OPENING PRAYER
LORD, MAKE US INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR PEACE;
WHERE THERE IS HATRED, LET US SOW LOVE;
WHERE THERE IS INJURY, PARDON;
WHERE THERE IS DOUBT, FAITH;
WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR, HOPE;
WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, LIGHT;
WHERE THERE IS SADNESS, JOY;
GRANT THAT WE MAY NOT SO MUCH SEEK TO BE CONSOLED, AS TO CONSOLE.
TO BE LOVED, AS TO LOVE.
TO BE UNDERSTOOD, AS TO UNDERSTAND.
FOR IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE;
IT IS IN PARDONING THAT WE ARE PARDONED;
AND IT IS DYING THAT WE ARE BORN TO ETERNAL LIGHT.
5. MUSIC
AMAZING GRACE
6. DECLARATION OF CONSENT
JOHN(CHERIE), DO YOU TAKE THIS WOMAN(MAN)TO BE YOUR WIFE(HUSBAND), AND DO YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO HER(HIM)IN ALL LOVE AND HONOR, IN ALL DUTY AND SERVICE, IN ALL FAITH AND TENDERNESS, TO LIVE WITH HER(HIM), AND CHERISH HER(HIM) FROM THIS DAY FORWARD IN THE HOLY BONDS OF MARRIAGE?
7. PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE
Q: WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN TO BE MARRIED TO THIS MAN?
A: HER MOTHER AND I DO.
8. SCRIPTURE
I CORINTHIANS 13
9. MUSIC
SIMPLE GIFTS
10. EXCHANGE OF VOWS
I, JOHN(CHERIE), TAKE YOU, CHERIE(JOHN),TO BE MY WEDDED
WIFE(HUSBAND), TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE,
FOR RICHER, FOR POORER, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH,
TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH, AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE,
AND TO YOU I PLEDGE MY FAITH.
11. BLESSING AND PRESENTATION OF RINGS
THE RING IS A SYMBOL OF UNITY IN WHICH YOUR TWO LIVES ARE NOW
JOINED IN AN UNBROKEN CIRCLE, IN WHICH, WHEREVER YOU GO,
YOU WILL RETURN TO ONE ANOTHER.
MAY THESE RINGS REMIND YOU ALWAYS OF THE VOWS
YOU HAVE TAKEN HERE TODAY...
WEAR THIS RING AS A TOKEN OF MY LOVE AND AFFECTION.
12. PRONOUNCEMENT
NOW YOU WILL FEEL NO RAIN, FOR EACH OF YOU WILL BE SHELTER TO THE OTHER.
NOW YOU WILL FEEL NO COLD, FOR EACH OF YOU WILL BE WARMTH TO THE OTHER.
NOW THERE IS NO LONELINESS FOR YOU.
NOW THERE IS NO MORE LONELINESS,
NOW YOU ARE TWO PERSONS, BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE LIFE BEFORE YOU.
GO NOW TO YOUR DWELLING PLACE TO ENTER INTO THE DAYS OF YOUR TOGETHERNESS.
AND MAY YOUR DAYS BE GOOD, AND LONG UPON THE EARTH.
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU HUSBAND AND WIFE
13. RECESSIONAL
ODE TO JOY
A lot has happened to us since that day, good things and bad, but I've never been sorry that I've spent the last 12 years with John, and I can't imagine anyone else who I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. In a way, it's like our wedding was yesterday, but at the same time it's hard to remember what my life was like before that, as if we have been together forever. We always joke, "And they said it wouldn't last," but honestly, no one ever told us that. I think we're pretty fortunate to have each other!
