Michael Laurence Johnson

Dearly beloved and honored guests,

We ae gathered together here to join Nora and Coree in the spiritual union of marriage.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Coree and Nora asked me to say a few words about their love story. Coree and Nora found each other through service in Alcoholics Anonymous. Their relationship grew through shared interests of art, music and films.

I spoke to both of them individual and uncovered the details of their first meeting. They met at an AA meeting in Los Gatos that Coree was chairing. Nora announced that she had 60 days. Coree took one look knew that she was someone special. So he invited her out for a photo shoot. Coree

READINGS

Coree and Nora asked for a couple of pieces to be read. At this time, I would like Chuckie Snyder to come up.

VOW EXCHANGE

Coree and Nora wrote their own vows

DECLARATION OF INTENT

Officiant: Nora and Coree, do you pledge to help each other to develop your hearts and minds, cultivating compassion, generosity, ethics, patience, enthusiasm, concentration and wisdom as you age and undergo the various ups and downs of life and to transform them into the path of love, compassion, joy and equanimity?

Bride/Groom: "We do."

Officiant: Recognizing that the external conditions in life will not always be smooth and that internally your own minds and emotions will sometimes get stuck in negativity, do you pledge to see all these circumstances as a challenge to help you grow, to open your hearts, to accept yourselves, and each other; and to generate compassion for others who are suffering?

Bride/Groom: "We do."

Officiant: Understanding that just as we are a mystery to ourselves, each other person is also a mystery to us, do you pledge to seek to understand yourselves, each other, and all living beings, to examine your own minds continually and to regard all the mysteries of life with curiosity and joy?

Bride/Groom: "We do."

Officiant: Do you pledge to preserve and enrich your affection for each other, and to share it with all beings? To take the loving feelings you have for one another and your vision of each other's potential and inner beauty as an example and rather than spiraling inwards and becoming self-absorbed, to radiate this love outwards to all beings?

Bride/Groom: "We do."

RING EXCHANGE

I want to invite Rebecca and Elizabeth Hogan up to perform the Hawaiian Ti Leaf ceremony.

Officiant

Coree and Nora will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and fidelity.

The couple asked me to read the Cherokee wedding blessing:

We honor Mother Earth and ask for this marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons.

We honor fire and ask that this union be warm and glowing with love in your hearts.

We honor wind and ask that you both sail through life safe and calm as in your parents' arms. We honor water to clean and soothe your relationship — that it may never thirst for love.

With all theforces of the universe, we pray for harmony as you both grow forever young together

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of California I now pronounce you married! You may now kiss!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present for the first time, the newlyweds!