Timothy Allen Florian

Welcome friends, family, and loved ones.

Let us begin in prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are awesome! We acknowledge your presence today and welcome you completely to this joyous event. Thank you for getting us here safely and ensuring that these people who love Dee and Steve could be present. Let this ceremony show our respect to you and be blessed completely by you. In your Son Jesus’s name, Amen.

We are gathered here for an incredibly happy occasion, to join Dee Cortazzo and Steve Cunha in holy matrimony.

But first, we would like to recognize the Cortazzo Family who is here to celebrate with Dee and Steve. It means so much to Dee that you are here for this special occasion.

Let us take a moment to remember and honor Dee’s late husband Chris Cortazzo, who they lost 11 years ago, at way too young an age. (PAUSE)

OK…I feel like we should have someone throw out the ceremonial first pitch, because softball was such an integral part to bringing Steve and Dee together. Steve was a thoughtful and reserved softball coach and dad who rooted for his daughter at Gannon University softball games. Dee was a “spirited” fan and mom who rooted for her daughter…also on the softball team at Gannon. Steve and Dee became friends. And through some very tough times they eventually grew to love one another deeply…which bring us to this day when the two shall become one in marriage.

Steve and Dee

While marriage will bring its own challenges and triumphs, let this day be a reminder of what your love has already accomplished, as well as the possibilities for your partnership as you grow together for years to come.

Marriage is a sacred covenant, a binding agreement under God that symbolizes the union between a man and a woman. Marriage creates a covenant of commitment, love, fidelity, and God’s design for partnership.

Let us begin with these words from the Holy Bible, which are traditionally used during wedding ceremonies. From the apostle Paul to the Corinthians:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

While preparing for this ceremony, Dee told me about a song that is special to her. It’s called “The Blessing” and it’s performed by Elevation Worship.

The beginning of the lyrics come from the Holy Bible, the book of Numbers, chapter 6, verses 22-26, written by Moses to the Israelites. This chapter is about a personal vow which was to be as binding as a written contract. I think this is an apropos way to lead into Dee and Steve’s vows.

In this part of the writing of Numbers, Moses is quoting God who gave Moses specific directions to pass on to his family as a guide for blessing the Israelites.

“The Blessing” goes like this:

The Lord bless you

And keep you

Make His face shine upon you

And be gracious to you

The Lord turn His

Face toward you

And give you peace

Amen

May His favor be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family and your children

And their children, and their children

May His presence go before you

And behind you, and beside you

All around you, and within you

He is with you, He is with you

In the morning, in the evening

In your coming, and your going

In your weeping, and rejoicing

He is for you, He is for you

Amen

Using this selection from Numbers, all of us here today are asking God to bless Dee and Steve in these five ways:

1) to provide His favor and protection

2) to be pleased with them

3) to be merciful and compassionate with them

4) to give them His approval…and

5) to give them peace.

*(Vows)*

Let us now pray for Steve and Dee as they make their marriage vows.

Father, as Steve and Dee pledge themselves to each other, help them and bless them that their love may be pure, and their vows may be true. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Dee (pause) do you take Steve, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself only unto him for as long as you both shall live? *(Wait for Confirmation)*

Steve (pause) do you take Dee, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself only unto her for as long as you both shall live? *(Wait for Confirmation)*

*(Ring Exchange)*

Dee and Steve will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

Dee – please repeat after me: "Steve, I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my commitment to you."

Steve – please repeat after me: “Dee, I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my commitment to you.”

May Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are building together. May you know and conduct the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you both all the days of your lives and fill you with His joy. Amen.

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Steve, you may kiss your bride!

Ladies and gentlemen: Mr. and Mrs. Cunha