Caron J. Rice

Family, friends and Honored Guests,

Welcome aboard the AP Voyager Cruiseship, let's set sail. We have been called together in the presence of God and these witnesses to unite Patricia Johnson and Anthony Steward in Holy marriage.

Voyage at Dawn

for Patricia Johnson and Anthony Steward

Family, friends and Honored Guests, welcome aboard the Voyager cruise ship (AP Steward) let’s set sail

We have been called together in the presence of God and these witnesses to unite

Patricia Johnson and Anthony Steward in holy marriage.

This union be it legal is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities.

This evening you two are embarking upon a voyage across the restless seas of life. The water today is calm but soon within minutes, days and months, the winds will blow harder, and the waves will curl higher.

As you plow through the deep you’ll pass over the watery graves of millions of sunken ships and marriages that were overcome by the bellows, smashed by the rocks and confused in the storms of life by defective compasses.

This evening, I give you a compass of love that will work. It has two points and if you both keep these points aligned, you will surely and safely arrive at your destination of Love, Peace and Joy.

The two compass points are two simple instructions based on this verse of scripture located in 1 John 1:7, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son cleanses us from our sin The first needle of direction is this, (1) walk with the master!! The (2) The second compass point, work on the marriage.

one of these, without the other is as useless in your union as one of you without the other,…. but both of them aligned in both of your lives will provide accurate navigation, even in the wildest typhoons. Walk with the master and work on the marriage.

I can give you this golden compass, with such confidence because it is built on a foundation of Gods word, 1 John, 1:7, comes straight from the Lord himself who said in this verse “if we walk in the light of His presence, we will have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin”.

Now, if this voyage this ship that we are launching this evening, on the sea of matrimony is the fellowship of 1 John 1:7, Jesus Christ will be the captain and the relationship will be a godly partnership, and not a godless battleship.

The Bible teaches us to let our hearts be knit together in love, there will be times when it will seem easier to quit than to knit, but it’s not! just keep on knitting your hearts together, committing yourselves to Christ, submitting yourselves to each other, omitting the black curse of bad habits from your voyage, and emitting the fruit of the Spirit, (let it shine) in your life.

1 Corinthians 13 ESV

Love is patient and kind love does not envy a boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with truth.

Patricia Johnson and Anthony Vernon Steward will now share their vow

*(Vows)*

Do you Patricia A. Johnson take this man Anthony V. Steward to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you Anthony V. Steward take this woman Patricia A. Johnson to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

The wedding ring is a fitting symbol of these vows in two ways. The shape of the ring reminds us that marriage is a never ending relationship which grows ever sweeter through the ever encircling years. and the go gives us a lesson about the glory and the purity of the voyage.

Patricia Ann Johnson and Anthony Vernon Steward will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

Anthony Stewart will you please place the ring on Patricia‘s finger and repeat after me “with this ring I Do wed with love and joy to the grace of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit Patricia Johnson will you place the ring on Anthony’s finger and repeat after me “with this ring I Do wed with love and joy, through the grace of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.

Now, upon your mutual promise, made in the presence of God, and these witnesses, and according to the authority invested in me by American Marriage Ministries as Minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the State of Michigan, I now pronounce you husband and wife.