Friends and Family, we are gathered here as the people of God to witness the
marriage of Pamela Ann Rizzuto Booth and Jeffrey Ward Aylor.
We come to share in their joy and to ask God to bless them. Marriage is a
gift of God, sealed by a sacred covenant. God gives human love. And
through that love, husband and wife come to know each other with mutual care
and companionship.
And God gives joy. And through that joy, wife and husband may share their
new life with others.
With our love and prayers, we support Pam and Jeff as they now freely give
themselves to each other.
Pam and Jeff, your marriage is intended to join you for life in a relationship so intimate and personal that it will change your whole being. God offers you the hope, and the promise, of a love that is true and mature.
In all of life's many twists and turns, whatever paths your lives have taken up to this point, God has been in control, and I know without a doubt that He has brought us to this place, to this union, this afternoon.
So now Jeff I ask you, will you have Pam to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, and comfort her, and honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
If so, answer, "I Will"
And now Pam I ask you, will you have Jeff to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, and comfort him, and honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
If so, answer, "I Will"
And now Mike, it's your turn, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
Pam and Jeff will you please turn and face each other?
Let's Pray
You know sometimes it takes us a while for us to find that one right person that the Lord has in mind for us. Pam and Jeff, you've both through a lot in your lives. Through some joy, through heartache and and heartbreak. But now you feel like you've finally found the one Right person the Lord had in mind for you from the very beginning... Soulmates. And I know that though you each and your families represent separate lives that God has now brought together joining your separate paths into one. And this union doesn't just affect the two of you, but your families and especially Michael and Joshua and Anna as today you begin a new family together. And this new beginning is what we're all here to CELEBRATE with you.
Pam and Jeff, I'm so proud of the both of you... for agreeing and wanting to commit yourselves to this marriage, and for setting a wonderful example for your children and the rest of your family and friends.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says,
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep
warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three
strands is not quickly broken."
Lot's of things I like about that passage. One thing that really stood out in my mind about you two. The passage says that if one falls down, his FRIEND can help him up. Something that has been so special to me through all of our counseling seesions and our time together and something that many here this afternoon probably also know is that you two were and will always be Friends first and Husband and Wife second. Marriages don't always happen that way. But I think it's one thing in your relationship that will just make a world of difference.
Through all the hard times and adversity that you two have been through in your lives. You know what it means to pick your friend up.
But I'd like for you also to remember that you two don't have to stand
alone. That scripture passage says that a cord of THREE strands is not
easily broken.
You know we can do a lot of things on our own, but if want to do them right
we need God involved.
And that's probably what I'm most proud of the two of you for...
You're asking the Lord to be involved... in this wedding ceremony, and in
your marriage and in your family from the very beginning.
Jeff and Pam, now is the time, in the witness of these people, when you can express your vows of love and devotion to each other.
So Jeff, will you repeat after me,
I, Jeff, take you, Pam, as a gift from God, to be my wife, through tears and
laughter, sickness and health, work and play, to love and to cherish until
we're separated by death, this is my promise.
And Pam, will you repeat after me,
I, Pam, take you, Jeff, as a gift from God, to be my wife, through tears and
laughter, sickness and health, work and play, to love and to cherish until
we're separated by death, this is my promise.
From 1 Corinthians Chapter 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.
Love never fails.
And now listen, And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
That's a wonderful love. And having this kind of love for each other, you've chosen to exchange rings as a sign and seal of the vows you're making to each other today. May I have the rings?
The exchanging of rings is a wonderful symbolic part of this ceremony. Even though the rings are small, they have great importance.
First of all, they're made of gold, the most precious of metals. Which symbolizes that love is not cheap. In fact, many times, true love will cost us dearly.
Secondly, they're formed into the shape of a circle, a continuous, unbroken line. Which symbolizes that your love should never end.
As you wear these rings, whether together, or separate from each other, they'll be constant reminders of these promises that you're making today.
Jeff, Please take Pam's ring and place it on the third finger of her left hand, and repeat after me this promise, "With this ring I seal my promise, to be your faithful and loving husband."
And Pam, will you please take Jeff's ring and place it on the third finger of his left hand, and repeat after me this promise, "With this ring I seal my promise, to be your faithful and loving wife."
Let's ask the Lord again to bless these two.
Jeff and Pam, you've come together and set a wonderful example before this group of family and friends, and you've expressed your desire to become husband and wife, you've shown your love and affection by joining hands, you've made vows of love and devotion to each other and you've sealed these vows by the giving and receiving of rings.
And so now by the power vested in me by the state of Ohio and as a minister of the Gospel of Christ Jesus I now pronounce that you are Husband and Wife may God Bless you and keep you and give you His peace.
Pam and Jeff, You have committed yourselves to each other in this joyous and sacred covenant. Become one. Fulfill your promises. Love and serve God, honor Christ and each other, and rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Friends and Family,
By their promises, made before us today, Pamela Ann Rizzuto Booth and
Jeffrey Ward Aylor have united themselves as husband and wife in sacred
covenant. What God has joined together, let no man separate.
Jeff you may now kiss your bride.
I'd like to finish today by praying the prayer that Jesus prayed.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Friends and Family, I'm honored to be the first to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Jeff and Pam Aylor.
As Mitch and Greg come back up front to dismiss each row, Jeff and Pam want to make sure that you all are welcome to come and be a part of the reception that will follow over at the pavilion.