We're so excited to start featuring full wedding ceremonies! There are as many wedding ceremonies as there are couples, and we hope to be able to share a variety of them with you, from civil ceremonies to religious ones, ones that are conventional and those that aren't... Today, Nicole and Morgan's marriage celebration...

SEE THE FULL FEATURE OF NICOLE AND MORGAN'S LODI WEDDING RIGHT HERE.

The Marriage Ceremony of Morgan and Nicole

Processional
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, performed by Vitamin String Quartet

Welcome
On behalf of Morgan and Nicole I welcome you and thank you for coming to share with them in this beautiful and joy-filled day! I don't think it was by chance that one of Jesus' first miracles was performed at a Wedding! To Jesus, a wedding symbolized a lot more than just a religious ceremony. It was a picture of life - of old things becoming new, of separate things becoming one - it symbolized what Jesus was all about.

When I read this story of Jesus, I see this interesting interaction take place. You see, Jesus' agenda at this wedding wasn't to "fix the people." He didn't lecture the wedding party or preach to the guests. Jesus' agenda was simple - He wanted to "be with the people and celebrate."

Too often we give off the idea that marriage is like an extended therapy session where one person either heroically vows to repair the other's brokenness or just simply settles to put up with their faults. That's a fraudulent version of what Jesus intends for us...

The Bible actually tells us that we are the bride and Jesus is the bride-groom. If that's true, then this marriage thing is a lot less like a counseling session and a lot more like a road trip with your best friend. To me and my bride - the driving is as much a part of the adventure as the destination is (partly because I get lost 90% of the time).

In marriage - the destination and goal is being together on the journey.

It's about two broken people coming together not to fix one another, but to be present with and committed to one another while Jesus does the fixing.

We are gathered here today to celebrate two best friends embarking on a life-long road trip together. A beautiful adventure that only gets better...

Who gives Nicole to be married to Morgan?

Prayer
(Morgan and Nicole turn to face each other.)

You may now be seated.

Personal Reflections
Coming from a brother, it is very hard to not be critical about every boy that comes close to your sister. I think it's the way God created us. Just the fact that I am doing this today says that I have come a long way from slamming the door on each boy who would come to our house and ask to see you. And although I have watched you closely, as a brother should do, I can honestly say I see the love and joy that you cause and bring out in Nicole - and for that I am grateful. I am grateful that you love Jesus, you want to be a faithful husband and you care for my sister by serving her.

Nicole, I am proud of the woman you have become and are becoming. I am so blessed to see your heart and life change as you are being shaped by Jesus and am so joyful you have found the one who you want to spend your life with!

Biblical Charge
Morgan and Nicole, the Bible paints a vivid picture of your roles as husband and wife. You have the opportunity and responsibility of mirroring and modeling Jesus to one another in this relationship.

Morgan, the Bible says the husband is the head of the wife just as Jesus is the head of the Church, His body.

You are to lead your bride in the way that Jesus leads you. Morgan, this position implies authority - but not the type of authority that demands and pulls but rather the authority that serves and guides. Your position as the head is only as effective as your alignment with Jesus. Your call is to operate as the head - being the one who leads, who protects, who provides, who repents, who initiates and who gives direction in all things.

It is also clear that Jesus loved the Church by giving up Himself for Her: Morgan - You are to constantly give up your rights and wants to better serve and love Nicole. Day by day you are charged to reflect the love of Jesus by making small, moment by moment sacrifices. Your position as the head is best exercised when you put the needs of Nicole before yours and give up the things you imagine you deserve to better serve and love Nicole.

Nicole, the Bible also says that the wife is to submit to her husband just as the church submits to Jesus.

God has placed Morgan as your covering to love and lead you. Nicole, just as we, the Church, gladly submit to Jesus in His direction, provision and care; so you are called to willingly submit to Morgan as he seeks to serve and love you. Your submission is not a blind following but a sincere trust and bending of your will to His leading. It is the ongoing position of surrendering your desire to take control and humbling yourself out of your love for Jesus.

Just as God calls the husband to love, so He also calls the wife to respect. Nicole, just as you are built up and filled by being loved, so is Morgan built up and filled by having your respect. Giving that Morgan is pursuing Jesus - your respect to him is based out of love and honor, not fear or mandate. Always strive to be thankful in your attitude, encouraging in your words and affirming in your actions - speak the truth in love and build up not break down.

As I can testify, marriage is not only one of the best revealers of your heart but is also one of the best ways to model the Gospel! Your joy and love will increase in proportion to your alignment to Jesus - seek to please Jesus and you will find yourself pleased!

Personal Vows
Morgan and Nicole have chosen to read one another their own personal vows...

(Morgan and Nicole read personal vows)

- Officiant: Morgan do you receive Nicole to be your wife, to have and hold from this day forth, through all the changing experiences of life?
- Morgan: I do.
- Officiant: Nicole do you receive Morgan to be your husband, to have and hold from this day forth, through all the changing experiences of life?
- Nicole: I do.

Ring Ceremony
May we have the rings.

These rings are made special because of the commitment it displays, not because of the metals it contains. It is meant to remind you always of your covenant before and between God and one another.

Morgan will you place the ring on Nicole's finger and repeat after me...
Nicole, I give this ring to you
as a sign that I choose you
and as a reminder that I will always love you.
Though I will fail and fall,
May this ring stand as a reminder,
That I will stay faithful
as Jesus has been faithful to us.

Nicole, will you place the ring on Morgan's finger and repeat after me...
Morgan, I give this ring to you
as a sign that I choose you
and as a reminder that I will always love you.
Though I will fail and fall,
May this ring stand as a reminder,
That I will stay faithful
as Jesus has been faithful to us.

Foot Washing Ceremony
As we close the ceremony, Morgan and Nicole have chosen to wash one another's feet as a sign of their love and service to one another...

Let's read the story of Jesus from the Scriptures:

John 13:2-5 (NIV)
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

There is a mountain of meaning behind this action. The feet of those twelve men were caked with the dust of daily travels. The job of washing feet was reserved for the slave of the home. Yet, in striking fashion, Jesus - the one who spoke galaxies into existence - dons the towel of a poor slave and wipes the muddied feet of his friends. What a display of love - a love that would bend as low as necessary to lift up, a love that would enter into the mess so it could make things once again clean. This is what Jesus not only does for us, but calls us to do for one another - love by serving and humbling ourselves.

As Morgan and Nicole enter into this new relationship, this action is more than a symbol. It is a vow to always remain in a humble position - to lift up the other, even at great cost to itself. It is a reminder to love and serve like Jesus has so greatly loved and served us - even and especially in the messes.

Prayer

Pronouncement and Kiss
Having committed yourselves to each other in love and sealing these vows by the giving and receiving of rings, I, by the authority of this State and by the higher authority of God's Word, pronounce you husband and wife! Morgan you may now kiss my sister!

It is my privilege to be the first to congratulate and introduce you to your family and friends as Mr. and Mrs. Morgan and Nicole Quiroz!

Recessional
"The Best Day of My Life" by American Authors

SEE THE FULL FEATURE OF NICOLE AND MORGAN'S LODI WEDDING RIGHT HERE.