Shane Gerlach

PROCESSIONAL-

INVOCATION

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.

Electric Word life; it means forever and that’s a mighty long time; but I’m here to tell you…

…there’s something else….

The Spiritual union of marriage that Tim and Kristi have invited us to be a part of.

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

As you bear witness to this ceremony remember that peace, love and understanding are the foundation of a happy and enduring home.

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials. With full understanding of this, Kristi and Tim have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.

Who gives the bride in marriage? (WE DO)

Does she come with her family blessing? (YES SHE DOES)

BLESSING

In acknowledgment of this holy purpose, and of the power of this occasion, let us pray.

Dear God, One who gives us the longing for love and the capability of loving, we give thanks to You for Kristi and Tim, for their open hearts and willing spirits, and for the love that they embody here in our presence.

Be with them on this joyous occasion as two become one, and be with us, their witnesses, as we rejoice in what is said and witnessed here. Amen.

Please be seated

SONG-Kent

DECLARATION OF INTENT

Kristi, will you take Tim to be your husband? Will you love, honor and cherish him now and forevermore? YES I WILL

Do you promise to hold Tim’s hand, look him in the eyes, and listen to his hopes, dreams and thoughts? YES I DO

Do you promise to always laugh with him, comfort him in times of need, and accept his family as your own? YES I DO

Tim, will you take Kristi to be your wife? will you love her, honor and cherish her now and forevermore? I WILL

Do you promise to hold Kristi’s hand, listen to her needs and do the little things that brighten her day? YES I DO

Do you promise to laugh with her, comfort her in times of need, and accept her family as your own? YES I DO

MESSAGE

Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two amazing people who believe in the power of love.

You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing in front of everyone, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who means anything to you. So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others. Why?

Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier - our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know that what John, Paul, George and Ringo taught us is true…all you need is love

That's why you both are standing here. Love.

That's why you all are here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of who we are.

All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are sheets of empty canvas and unturned sheets of clay, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that leave us so unsatisfied, so dissatisfied - and others that are exciting and full of adventure...they tell us where, they take us there…they stay with us.

And that brings us all right here, right now. Tim and Kristi’s love brings us all here. Where we take time to stop, collaborate and listen, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

I'm here - we're all here - because we want those moments for you. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't always happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story.

It's not one moment - not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you" for the first time, moving in together, getting engaged - but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making a carb free dinner together, spending holidays with your families, nudging one another to see whose turn it is to get up with the dogs…everyday moments that fuse together into one big experience.

An experience so powerful that words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love - it's meant to be felt, not described.

But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways - and even though love can look different from one person to the next - we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.

You two fell in love by chance, by a whim, but you're here today because you're making a choice.

You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter.

You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."

VOWS-

I, Tim, take you, Kristi, to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship, and love today, tomorrow and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there.

I, Kristi take you Tim to be my beloved husband, to have and to hold you, to challenge you, to respect your individuality, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in good times and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.

.

RING EXCHANGE

As you Tim, place this ring on Kristi's finger, please repeat after me:

I give you this ring to wear with love and joy.

As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.

I chose you to be my wife this day and forevermore.

As you Kristi place this ring on Tim’s finger, please repeat after me:

I give you this ring to wear with love and joy.

As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.

I chose you to be my husband this day and forevermore.

SONG/POURING OF SAND

BLESSING

The commitment you two have made to each other today is deeper than the vows we heard. It is a personal commitment to a lifelong partnership, it is an agreement based on the trust that you both will support and nurture each other just as much at the end of your lives, as you do today. It is love that will allow the relationship to thrive through good times and bad. It is love that will accompany everything you do as individuals and as husband and wife!

PRONOUNCEMENT

By the power vested in me by AMERICAN MARRIAGE MINISTRIES and the state of Iowa, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Tim, you may now kiss your Bride.

RECESSIONAL