A Christian Marriage Service (CC)

[HYMNS AND LITURGY AUTHORIZED BY THE WISCONSIN EV. LUTHERAN SYNOD IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP A LUTHERAN HYMNAL] LOVE YOU. [ALL TEXT USED IS TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1973, 1978, 1984, USED BY PERMISSION OF ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS] [A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE SERVICE OF SARAH AND BRANDON 6/20/2015 AT ZION EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA] WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ON PAGE 140. PLEASE RISE. [REV. JAMES SHEROD, OFFICIANT] WE BEGIN OUR WORSHIP IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME AS AN INVITED GUEST TO THE WEDDING OF CANA, AND WITH HIS GRACIOUS PRESENCE, HE BROUGHT JOY AND GLADNESS TO THOSE WHO WERE THERE. JESUS IS ALSO WITH US HERE WHO HAVE GATHERED IN HIS NAME TO CELEBRATE WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER THE MARRIAGE OF BRANDON AND SARAH. WE ARE ASSURED OF GOD'S GRACIOUS HELP AND GUIDANCE IN THESE WORDS FROM THE PSALMS: M: GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD. C: HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. M: THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE, SLOW TO ANGER, AND RICH IN LOVE; C: HE IS GOOD TO ALL. M: GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, C: AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. M: HE IS OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER. C: HE WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN TO THE END. M: MAY GOD BE GRACIOUS TO US AND BLESS US C: AND MAKE HIS FACE SHINE ON US. M: LOVING FATHER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GOODNESS IN PERMITTING US TO GATHER AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF BRANDON AND SARAH TO SHARE THEIR JOY ON THIS SPECIAL DAY. LOOK ON THEM WITH FAVOR, STRENGTHEN THEIR CONFIDENCE IN YOUR FIRM PROMISES, AND ASSURE THEM OF YOUR ABIDING LOVE. AS YOUR SON JESUS GRACED THE WEDDING OF CANA WITH HIS PRESENCE, SO MAY HE BE WITH US WHO PRAY IN HIS NAME. C: AMEN. WE CONTINUE WITH THE HYMN 603 WHICH IS ACCORDING TO THE THE TUNE OF "NETTLETON". PLEASE BE SEATED. [ALISHA SABROWSKY, MUSICIAN PLAYING INTRO TO HYMN 603: "HEAR US NOW, OUR GOD AND FATHER" [ALL SING] HEAR US NOW, OUR GOD AND FATHER; SEND YOUR SPIRIT FROM ABOVE ON THIS CHRISTIAN MAN AND WOMAN WHO HERE MAKE THEIR VOWS OF LOVE. BIND THEIR HEARTS IN TRUE DEVOTION ENDLESS AS THE SEASHORE'S SAND, BOUNDLESS AS THE DEEPEST OCEAN, BLESSED AND SEALED BY YOUR OWN HANDS. GIVE THEM JOY TO LIGHTEN SORROW; GIVE THEM HOPE TO BRIGHTEN LIFE. GO WITH THEM TO FACE THE MORROW; STAY WITH THEM IN EV'RY STRIFE. AS YOUR WORD HAS PROMISED, EVER FILL THEM WITH YOUR STRENGTH AND GRACE SO THAT EACH MAY SERVE THE OTHER TILL THEY SEE YOU FACE TO FACE. OUR FIRST LESSON FOR THIS MORNING IS FROM THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5, VERSE 21 THROUGH 33: SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST. WIVES, SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBANDS AS TO THE LORD. FOR THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HIS BODY, OF WHICH HE IS THE SAVIOR. NOW AS THE CHURCH SUBMITS TO CHRIST, SO ALSO WIVES SHOULD SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS IN EVERYTHING. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER TO MAKE HER HOLY, CLEANSING HER BY THE WASHING WITH WATER THROUGH THE WORD, AND TO PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF AS A RADIENT CHURCH, WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE OR ANY OTHER BLEMISH, BUT HOLY AND BLAMELESS. IN THIS SAME WAY, HUSBANDS OUGHT TO LOVE THEIR WIVES AS THEIR OWN BODIES. HE WHO LOVES HIS WIFE LOVES HIMSELF. AFTER ALL, NO ONE EVER HATED HIS OWN BODY, BUT HE FEEDS AND CARES FOR IT, JUST AS CHRIST DOES THE CHURCH - FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY. FOR THIS REASON A MAN WILL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE UNITED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH. THIS IS A PROFOUND MYSTERY - BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. HOWEVER, EACH ONE OF YOU ALSO MUST LOVE HIS WIFE AS HE LOVES HIMSELF, AND THE WIFE MUST RESPECT HER HUSBAND. OUR SECOND READING FOR THIS MORNING IS FROM THE EPISTLE OF THE FIRST CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 13, VERSES 4 THROUGH 7 AND VERSE 13: LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND. IT DOES NOT ENVY, IT DOES NOT BOAST, IT IS NOT PROUD. IT IS NOT RUDE, 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. AND NOW THESE THREE REMAIN: FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. AND OUR LAST READING THIS MORNING IS ALSO THE BASIS OF OUR SERMON. IT'S FROM LAMENTATIONS, CHAPTER 3, VERSES 22 THROUGH 26: BECAUSE OF THE LORD'S GREAT LOVE WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, FOR HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. I SAY TO MYSELF, "THE LORD IS MY PORTION; THEREFORE I WILL WAIT FOR HIM." THE LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS IN HIM, TO THE ONE WHO SEEKS HIM. IT IS GOOD TO WAIT QUIETLY FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. [MARRIAGE RITE] DEAR FRIENDS: WHEN GOD IN LOVE CREATED THE WORLD, HE MADE MAN AND WOMAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND BONDED THEM TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE. THROUGH THIS BLESSED UNION OF HUSBAND AND WIFE, GOD ESTABLISHED THE FAMILY, PROVIDED FOR THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF CHILDREN, AND FOSTERED THE PEACE AND STABILITY OF SOCIETY. GOD INTENDED MARRIAGE TO BRING LOVING COMPANIONSHIP TO THE PEOPLE OF HIS WORLD. BUT BECAUSE OF SIN, THE JOY OF MARRIAGE WAS SOON OVERCAST WITH SORROW, AND THE HARMONY OF FAMILY LIFE WAS SHATTERED BY STRIFE. OUT OF LOVE GOD SENT HIS SON JESUS TO DIE ON THE CROSS TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF ALL PEOPLE. EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS RECEIVES FORGIVENESS AND IS ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND JOY. GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU IS BOUNDLESS. HE COMMANDS YOU, IN RESPONSE TO HIS LOVE, TO LOVE EACH OTHER. LOVE IS FORGIVING AND ENDURING. LOVE SHOWS ITSELF IN TRUTH AND FAITHFULNESS, IN THOUGHTFULNESS AND UNDERSTANDING, IN PATIENCE AND KINDNESS. MARRIAGE FURNISHES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THIS LOVE INTO PRACTICE. THE PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IS THE INTIMATE UNION OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH, WHICH THE APOSTLE PAUL DEPICTS IN EPHESIANS 5. AFTER URGING BELIEVERS TO "SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST," HE MAKES THIS APPLICATION FOR CHRISTIAN SPOUSES. "WIVES, SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBANDS AS TO THE LORD. FOR THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH ... HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER." IT IS REVERENCE FOR CHRIST ON THE PART OF HUSBAND AND WIFE THAT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE. YOU HAVE COME HERE TO BE UNITED IN MARRIAGE, WHCIH CONSISTS IN YOUR MUTUAL CONSENT, SINCERELY AND FREELY GIVEN. YOU ARE NOW INVITED TO DECLARE THIS INTENT IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THESE WITNESSES. MINISTER: BRANDON, WILL YOU TAKE SARAH TO BE YOUR WIFE? WILL YOU BE GUIDED BY THE COUNSEL AND DIRECTION GOD HAS GIVEN IN HIS WORD AND LOVE YOUR WIFE AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH? WILL YOU BE FAITHFUL TO HER, CHERISH HER, SUPPORT HER, AND HELP HER IN SICKNESS, AND IN HEALTH AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE? IF SO, ANSWER, "I WILL." BRANDON: I WILL. MINISTER: SARAH, WILL YOU TAKE BRANDON TO BE YOUR HUSBAND? WILL YOU BE GUIDED BY THE COUNSEL AND DIRECTION GOD HAS GIVEN IN HIS WORD AND SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND AS THE CHURCH SUBMITS TO CHRIST? WILL YOU BE FAITHFUL TO HIM, CHERISH HIM, SUPPORT HIM, AND HELP HIM IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE? IF SO, ANSWER, "I WILL." SARAH: I WILL. M: JOIN YOUR RIGHT HANDS AND MAKE YOUR PROMISES TO EACH OTHER: [THE GROOM AND BRIDE SAY IN TURN:] I, BRANDON TIMOTHY GIERACH, "I, BRANDON TIMOTHY GIERACH," IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THESE WITNESSES, "IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THESE WITNESSES," TAKE YOU, SARAH ELIZABETH SHEROD, "TAKE YOU, SARAH ELIZABETH SHEROD," TO BE MY WIFE. "TO BE MY WIFE." I PROMISE TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU "I PROMISE TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU" AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE. "AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE." I, SARAH ELIZABETH SHEROD, "I, SARAH ELIZABETH SHEROD," IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THESE WITNESSES, "IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THESE WITNESSES," TAKE YOU, BRANDON TIMOTHY GIERACH, "TAKE YOU, BRANDON TIMOTHY GIERACH," TO BE MY HUSBAND. "TO BE MY HUSBAND". I PROMISE TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU "I PROMISE TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU" AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE. "AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE." [EXCHANGE OF RINGS] [PREPARING TO EXCHANGE RINGS CONTINUES WITH THE WEDDING PARTY ASSISTING] M: EXCHANGE RINGS AS A SYMBOL OF THE LIFELONG COMMITMENT AND ABIDING LOVE WHICH YOU AS HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE PROMISED EACH OTHER. [THE GROOM AND BRIDE SAY IN TURN:] M: SARAH, RECEIVE THIS RING - B: "SARAH, RECEIVE THIS RING AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. B: "AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS." [BRANDON PLACES HIS RING ON SARAH'S FINGER] M: BRANDON, RECEIVE THIS RING AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. S: "BRANDON, RECEIVE THIS RING AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS." [SARAH PLACES HER RING ON BRANDON'S FINGER] M: BY THEIR PROMISES, BRANDON AND SARAH HAVE BOUND THEMSELVES TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE BEFORE GOD AND THESE WITNESSES. I DECLARE THAT THEY ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THOSE WHOM GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO ONE SEPARATE. [MARRIAGE BLESSING] M: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESERVE YOU IN FAITHFULNESS, AND STRENGTHEN YOU IN LOVE, AND GUIDE YOU TO LIFE'S END. WE CONTINUE WITH THE SINGING OF HYMN ... OH YES, THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY - [THE SERMON MESSAGE] DEAR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND ESPECIALLY BRANDON AND SARAH: GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. HERE WE HAVE WORDS FROM A FAITHFUL PROPHET OF GOD WHO LIVED IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME. THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WITNESSED THAT GOD'S PEOPLE WERE UNFAITHFUL TO GOD, TURNING AWAY FROM HIM. THE ONE WHO HAD CALLED THEM TO BE HIS OWN CHOSEN PEOPLE AND HAD REVEALED HIMSELF TO THEM OVER AND OVER AND SAVED THEM FROM THEIR ENEMIES. SO NOW IN JEREMIAH'S TIME, GOD GAVE THEM OVER INTO THE HANDS OF THEIR ENEMIES, THE BABYLONIANS, AND JERUSALEM, THE CITY THAT GOD HAD CHOSEN, OUT OF ALL THE CITIES IN THE WORLD, TO BUILD HIS TEMPLE. THE CITY WHERE HE HAD SAID: I WILL DWELL AMONG YOU FOREVER IF ONLY YOU WILL FOLLOW ME. GOD LET THAT CITY BE TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE BABYLONIANS. AND GOD'S WRATH HAD BOILED OVER AND GOD LET THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TURNED AWAY FROM HIM TO WORSHIP IDOLS AND THEIR OWN DESIRES BE CARRIED AWAY INTO CAPTIVITY AND DESTROYED. BUT THIS IS NOT MERE HISTORY, AS YOU KNOW BRANDON, A HISTORY MAJOR, AND BILL AND OTHERS WHO LOVE HISTORY. FOR HISTORY, UNFORTUNATELY, REPEATS ITSELF. AND WE KNOW THAT THE WRITER TO THE HEBREWS WROTE: "SEE TO IT THAT YOU DO NOT REFUSE HIM WHO SPEAKS. IF THEY DID NOT ESCAPE WHEN THEY REFUSED HIM WHO WARNED THEM ON EARTH, HOW MUCH LESS WILL WE, IF WE TURN AWAY FROM HIM WHO WARNS US FROM HEAVEN?" THESE WORDS ARE TRUE FOR YOU, BRANDON AND SARAH, NO LESS THAN ALL OF US WHO ARE GATHERED HERE THIS MORNING. THE LORD WILL JUDGE THOSE, WHO REJECT HIM AND TURN AWAY FROM HIS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS, WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO HIM. AND ON THE LAST DAY HE WILL SAY TO THEM, "DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO ARE CURSED, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS." AND YET IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE DESTRUCTION THAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE TEXT THAT WE HAVE FOR TODAY, WE SEE SURPRISING WORD OF COMFORT FROM GOD. THE MESSAGE IS SO SHOCKING THAT JEREMIAH REVERSES THE NORMAL WORD ORDER OF THE HEBREW. PUTS A NOUN PHRASE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SENTENCE WHICH IS VERY STRANGE. AND HE SAYS, "THE COVENANT LOVE OF THE LORD." THE COVENANT LOVE OF THE LORD - BECAUSE OF THIS WE ARE NOT UTTERLY CONSUMED. [SINGS] "LOVE. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE." THAT'S WHAT THE BEATLES WROTE. RIGHT? BUT WHAT KIND OF LOVE DO WE REALLY NEED? YOU'RE STARTING OUT ON A NEW LIFE TOGETHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE. BUT IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS BASED MERELY ON PHYSICAL OUTWARD ATTRACTION, I DOUBT VERY MUCH IT WILL SURVIVE. GOD'S LOVE IS MORE THAN OUTWARD APPEARANCE. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE IS TRUE IF YOU DEFINE IT AS THE FAITHFUL COVENANT LOVE OF GOD. THE COVENANT LOVE OF THE LORD GOD WRITTEN IN THE NIV WITH CAPITAL LETTERS TO DISTINGUISH IT AS THE SPECIAL FAITHFUL COVENANT GOD. HE'S THE ONE WHO REVEALED HIMSELF TO MOSES ON MT. SINAI AS HE PASSED BEFORE HIM SAYING "The LORD, The LORD, THE COMPASSIONATE AND GRACIOUS GOD, SLOW TO ANGER, ABOUNDING IN LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS, MAINTAINING LOVE TO THOUSANDS OF GENERATIONS, AND FORGIVING WICKEDNESS, REBELLION AND SIN." [EXODUS 34:6-7] BRANDON AND SARAH: IN YOUR LIFE, THE BILLS WILL PILE UP. YOU'LL EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES IN RAISING YOUR CHILDREN. ONE OR BOTH OF YOU MAY BECOME VERY ILL OR SICK. AND TROUBLES MOUNT UP IN LIFE. WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN THOSE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, OR THOSE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS HIT? OR WHEN YOU HAVE TROUBLE FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER? REMEMBER THE WORDS OF OUR TEXT TODAY: "IT IS BECAUSE OF THE FAITHFUL COVENANT LOVE OF GOD THAT WE ARE NOT UTTERLY CONSUMED." AFTER ALL, JEREMIAH EXPLAINS IN LAMENTATIONS CHAPTER 3, VERSE 39: "WHY SHOULD ANYONE COMPLAIN WHEN PUNISHED FOR THEIR SINS?" WE KNOW, WE ALL KNOW, HOW SINFUL WE ARE. WE'RE SINFUL IN OUR THOUGHTS, IN OUR WORDS, IN OUR DEEDS. AND THE SINFULNESS WILL BE ALL THE CLEARER TO YOU AS YOU LIVE TOGETHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. BUT IN SPITE OF OUR SINFULNESS, GOD LOVES US. AND JEREMIAH JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FAITHFUL COVENANT GOD'S LOVE THAT IS NEW TO US EVERY MORNING, COULDN'T HELP BUT EXCLAIM: "GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!" AND THE WORD THAT HE USES TO DESCRIBE 'NEW' IS LIKE: A NEW THING, OR A NEW HOUSE, OR A BRAND NEW SONG OF PRAISE. WE CAN GET UP EVERY MORNING AND EXCLAIM WITH JEREMIAH: "GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!" BECAUSE IN SPITE OF OUR DAILY SINS, GOD WASHES THEM OVER WITH HIS FORGIVENESS. LIKE NEW FALLEN SNOW ON THE GROUND, HE COVERS OVER OUR SINS WITH HIS ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE WELCOMES US INTO HIS LOVING ARMS REASSURING US THAT WE ARE HIS BELOVED CHILDREN. AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN THROUGH THE BLOOD JESUS SHED ON THE CROSS TO COVER OVER OUR SINS. AND BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US, WE NOW LOVE HIM. AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER. AND WE CAN FORGIVE EACH OTHER AS HE FORGAVE US. HOW DID GOD FORGIVE US? WHEN WE WERE REBELLIOUS SINNERS AGAINST GOD, GOING OUR OWN WAY, GOD SENT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO LOVE US TO DIE FOR OUR SINS. WHILE WE WERE STILL LIVING A LIFE OF REBELLION AGAINST GOD, WHILE WE WERE CHRIST'S ENEMIES, HE RECONCILED US TO HIM THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON. HE FORGAVE THE DEBT OF OUR SINS. HE COVERED IT COMPLETELY. AND HE DIDN'T WAIT FOR US TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP. GOD CAME TO US. AND THAT WILL BE THE LOVE THAT HE SHOWED US. IT WILL GLUE YOUR MARRIAGE TOGETHER. WHEN YOUR PARTNER SINS, THE POWER TO FORGIVE AND FORGET AS GOD DOES WON'T COME FROM YOUR OWN WILL. YOU CAN'T PSYCH YOURSELF INTO DOING IT. IT COMES FROM REMEMBERING HOW MUCH GOD HAS FORGIVEN US. YOU'LL HAVE GREAT TIMES IN YOUR MARRIAGE, AS ALL MARRIAGES DO. BUT YOU'LL ALSO HAVE DISCOURAGING TIMES. AND IN THOSE DISCOURAGING TIMES, WE, LIKE JEREMIAH, NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES TO PRAISE GOD ALSO DURING THOSE TIMES. HE SAYS: "MY SOUL SAYS, 'The LORD is MY PORTION, THEREFORE I WILL WAIT FOR HIM.' " WHEN GOD DIVIDED OUT THE LAND OF CANAAN, AS THEY WERE ENTERING IN, THE HIGH PRIEST AARON AND HIS FAMILY, DIDN'T RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE WITH THE OTHER ISRAELITES. BUT THE LORD REMINDED HIM: "I AM YOUR PORTION." NO MATTER HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE THE LORD DEIGNS TO GIVE TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE HERE ON THIS EARTH AS YOU LIVE TOGETHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE, YOU KNOW THAT the LORD is YOUR PORTION. AND HE, IN HIS GREAT WISDOM WILL GIVE YOU WHAT HE KNOWS YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT BECAUSE HE LOVES US AND HE SUPPLIES FOR OUR NEEDS AS A FATHER SUPPLIES HIS CHILDREN'S NEEDS. BECAUSE the LORD is YOUR PORTION YOU CAN WAIT FOR HIM AND TRUST IN HIM. HE SAYS: CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETIES ON ME, BECAUSE I CARE FOR YOU. The LORD is MY PORTION, THEREFORE I WILL WAIT FOR HIM. OUR TEXT ENDS WITH THE WORDS: "The LORD is GOOD TO THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS IN HIM, TO THE ONE WHO SEEKS HIM; IT IS GOOD TO WAIT QUIETLY FOR THE SALVATION OF the LORD." WHETHER THAT SALVATION IS FROM DELIVERANCE FROM AN EARTHLY TRIAL THAT HITS YOU, OR WHETHER IT IS THAT FINAL DELIVERANCE WHEN THE LORD BREAKS THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND TAKES US TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER IN HEAVEN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SALVATION OF OUR LORD. AS OUR WEAK BODIES FALL AWAY, AS GOD GIVES US GLORIFIED RESURRECTION BODIES FIT FOR ETERNAL LIFE, THEN THE TRUE SONS OF GOD WILL BE REVEALED. HIS HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, ALL BELIEVERS, WILL BE REVEALED AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, WITHOUT ANY SPOT OR WRINKLE OR BLEMISH. HOLY AND BLAMELESS, ADORNED WITH THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. MEANWHILE, WE EAGERLY SEEK THE LORD. WE SEEK HIM BY TURNING TO HIS SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY READING GOD'S WORD. AS WE, LIKE THE BEREANS, EAGERLY EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY TO SEE IF WHAT PAUL SAID WAS TRUE. SO WE ALSO, DAILY TURN TO GOD'S WORD FOR STRENGTH AND COMFORT. AND AS WE DO SO WE'RE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS WITH EVER-INCREASING GLORY, WHICH COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO IS THE SPIRIT. MAY YOUR MARRIAGE BE BLESSED, BLESSED TO BE STRENGTHENED BY GOD'S WORD. THE FAITHFUL COVENANT LORD WHO HAS PROMISED TO BE WITH YOU AND REASSURE YOU OF HIS GREAT LOVE. AND MAY YOU ALWAYS KEEP TOGETHER IN THE TRUE FAITH TO THE END. AMEN. THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, "COME!" LET HIM WHO HEARS SAY, "COME!" WHOEVER IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME; AND WHOEVER WISHES, LET HIM TAKE THE FREE GIFT OF THE WATER OF (ETERNAL) LIFE. [REVELATION 22:17] AMEN. WE CONTINUE WITH THE SINGING OF HYMN 467. [INTRO PLAYING FOR "THE MIND OF CHRIST MY SAVIOR" - HYMN 467 AND THE CONGREGATION JOINS IN SINGING] MAY THE MIND OF CHRIST MY SAVIOR LIVE IN ME FROM DAY TO DAY, BY HIS LOVE AND POW'R INSPIRING ALL I DO OR SAY. MAY THE WORD OF GOD DWELL RICHLY IN MY HEART FROM HOUR TO HOUR. SO THAT ALL MAY SEE I TRIUMPH ONLY THROUGH HIS POW'R. MAY THE PEACE OF GOD MY FATHER RULE MY LIFE IN EV'RY THING, THAT I MAY BE CALM TO COMFORT SICK AND SORROWING. MAY THE LOVE OF JESUS FILL ME AS THE WATERS FILL THE SEA, HIM EXALTING, SELF ABASING - THIS IS VICTORY! MAY I RUN THE RACE BEFORE ME, STRONG AND BRAVE TO FACE THE FOE, LOOKING ONLY UNTO JESUS AS I ONWARD GO. MAY HIS SPIRIT LIVE WITHIN ME AS I SEEK THE LOST TO WIN, AND MAY THEY FORGET THE CHANNEL, SEEING ONLY HIM. LET US RISE FOR PRAYER. ETERNAL GOD, SOURCE OF LOVE, HELP BRANDON AND SARAH TO FULFILL THE PROMISES THAT THEY HAVE MADE HERE TODAY AND TO REFLECT YOUR STEADFAST LOVE IN THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER. GIVE THEM KINDNESS AND PATIENCE, AFFECTION AND UNDERSTANDING, HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT. USE THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SUPPORT THEM IN DIFFICULT DAYS, THAT THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER MAY CONTINUE TO GROW AS LONG AS THEY LIVE. GRACIOUS FATHER, IN YOUR GOODNESS YOU BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER INTO FAMILIES AND ENRICH THEIR LIVES WITH ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. RENEW THE LOVE OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, THAT THEY MAY STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER ON THE WAY THAT LEADS TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN. WE CONTINUE BY PRAYING THE LORD'S PRAYER, THE MODERN VERSION, FOUND ON PAGE 143 ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. OUT FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD. FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN. [THE BLESSING] M: THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. THE LORD LOOK UPON YOU WITH FAVOR AND GIVE YOU HIS PEACE. C: AMEN. WE CONTINUE WITH THE LAST HYMN HYMN NUMBER 334. [INTRO TO "PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW" - HYMN 334] PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW; PRAISE HIM, ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW; PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAV'NLY HOST; PRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST! AMEN. AMEN. THE CONGREGATION MAY BE SEATED. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE BRIDE AND GROOM REQUEST THAT YOU REMAIN SEATED UNTIL THEY USHER YOU OUT. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE DIRECTIONS TO THE RECEPTION IN THE NARTHEX BY THE GUEST BOOK. SO YOU CAN USE THOSE TO GET THERE. AND NOW, I PRESENT TO YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME: MR. AND MRS. BRANDON GIERACH! [APPLAUSE] [THE RECESSIONAL] [MR. AND MRS. BRANDON GIERACH WALKING DOWN THE AISLE]