The Marriage Ceremony by Richard C Nickels Note: I was thrilled when my youngest daughter Amanda asked me to perform her wedding ceremony, at the same place where 33 years ago, Shirley and I were married. I was pretty nervous back then, but this time I was all smiles! Here is the text of the marriage ceremony I performed on June 19, 2005.— Richard C. Nickels Shirley and Richard Nickels

My Daughter's Marriage Ceremony

We are here today to celebrate the marriage of Mark Allen Byrd and Amanda Ruth Nickels. We want to encourage them as they begin a new life together. We want to ask God to bind and bless them as they become one flesh. As parents, relatives, and friends, we offer our unconditional support that this marriage, unlike so many others today, will be "as long as they both shall live," and filled with all the happiness and joy that the Almighty God intends them to have.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.... And God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth.... So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.... And God saw every thing that He had made, and behold, it was very good.... And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet [fitting] for him." Genesis 1:1, 26-28, 31, 2:18.
"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh," Genesis 2:23-24.

Yes, the Creator God made the marriage relationship between a man a woman, and it is very good. God created marriage for a man and a woman. The exclusive sexual relationship within a godly marriage is good. "Marriage," the Apostle Paul said, "is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled ..." Hebrews 13:4.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is a strong advocate for lifelong, faithful marriages. "Have ye not read," He said, "that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female ...For this cause shall a man cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder," Matthew 19:4-6. Marriage is for life. This marriage is for keeps.

The role of a godly husband and godly wife is a glorious thing. I urge you both, Mark and Amanda, to strive to attain to the highest possible fulfillment of your roles as husband and wife.

Proverbs 31 describes the ideal virtuous woman. Indirectly, it also describes a godly man, because behind every man of God is a virtuous woman. "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.... Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.... Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom: and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.... a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised," Proverbs 31:10-12, 23, 25-30. Love begets love. Mark and Amanda, may your love grow, and abide continually.

And what is love like? Love suffers long, is kind, envies not, is not rash, is not puffed up, is unselfish, is not easily provoked, doesn't think evil. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13).

This is how happy marriages were designed to work: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and He is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing," Ephesians 5:22-25. Marriage is not a 50-50 proposition. Each person must work at it 100% for their marriage to succeed.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it ....So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself ....let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and wife see that she reverence [respect] her husband," verses 25, 28, 33.

Marriage is for life. "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord," 1 Corinthians 7:39.

God designed marriage, a divine institution, to be a life-long relationship of love.

Now, before we enter into a covenant with God to bind this marriage for life, I would like to say a few personal things. Mark: I am proud to be your father-in-law. You are a kind and good man. Take care of my precious daughter. Be a man! God puts on your shoulders the responsibility to be the leader of this family. Do it well, with His help. I know you will succeed. Amanda: Love your husband, support him in every way. You are the type of person who never gives up. Go with God; you always have my total love and support. Both of you: should God bless you with children, train them up in the ways of the Lord, to be good citizens of this nation and of God's kingdom.

Mark Allen Byrd, do you solemnly affirm that you will take Amanda Ruth Nickels as your lawful wedded wife, to love her and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, as long as you both shall live?

Amanda Ruth Nickels, do you solemnly affirm that you will take Mark Allen Byrd as your lawful wedded husband, to love him and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, as long as you both shall live?

And now, we will ask God to bind this marriage in a covenant for life (kneeling and prayer, followed by the exchanging of rings).

Inasmuch as Mark and Amanda have made these vows before God and these witnesses, and as they come together in one flesh, their marriage is binding for life before God. You may kiss the bride (pause). Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Mark Byrd!

TSS

July - August 2005 The Sabbath Sentinel