cw_reifert

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Everything posted by cw_reifert

  1. Dang, and I'm still plugging away! Oh well, only 9 more to go. Will
  2. Thanks to everyone who posted. I now have 4 more books on order, and it will be a pretty darn good selection (IMHO). Will
  3. Dang, looks like I've got about another 59 posts to go. Still plugging away. Will
  4. Just finished ordering that one at Christianbook.com Thanks again for the info. Will
  5. Thanks for the info... I'll take a look for it. For me, every little bit helps. Will
  6. I just wondered if anyone would be willing to share any books or computer programs that you might use for inspiration when you just can't come up with the wording you want to use for weddings? For me, the cd I bought from ULC, Wedding Words on cd, has been invaluable for the help it has given me. Not only that, but here's a quick list of other books that I've purchased that have helped as well for writing the ceremonies that I've officiated (2 weddings and now 1 renewal). Diane Warner's Contemporary Guide to Wedding Ceremonies The Wedding Ceremony Planner - Reverand Judith Johnson, PhD The Pastor's Wedding Manual - Jim Henry The Pastor's Guide To Weddings & Funerals - Victor D. Lehman Anyone else? Thanks, Will
  7. Just for the grins, I figured I'd post the words I used for the whole ceremony. If anyone ever needs to use part of it (or all), please feel free to edit as you see fit. Will GATHERING WORDS One of the great joys of the wedding day is the joining together of the couple’s families and friends. Carissa and Jake are filled with gratitude to each and every one of you for the loving, caring, friendship and support that you have given them throughout their lives. Being able to share their wedding day with you, surrounded by your love and support, is a treasured blessing. Knowing that your best wishes go forward with Carissa and Jake strengthens them as they embark upon their journey as husband and wife. Carissa and Jake have also asked that we take a moment to honor the memory of those loved ones who could only be here today in spirit. CHILDREN Today, Carissa and Jake are joined in their vows by their children Taylor, Colton and Lakin. For you Taylor, Colton and Lakin, something very special is happening today. In this ceremony, you three are sharing in the celebration of the happiness that is present in your family. You are being given flowers today as tokens of Carissa’s and Jake’s love for you and as a symbol of the unity of your family. Do you Taylor, Colton and Lakin promise to love, honor and cherish your family, to always be honest and truthful about who you are, and to honor and respect the truth of each member of this family? (They answer “Yes”, “I Will” or “I Do”) OPENING PRAYER Now, won’t you please join us in prayer: Heavenly Father, we are gathered here, uniting our hearts as one in support and celebration of Carissa and Jake as they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage. We ask you to bless the family created by this union As Carissa’s children Taylor and Colton, and Jake’s daughter Lakin, join with them in the creation of a new family. We ask that you guide and bless each of them in loving and honoring one another and in building and strengthening a family unit that will be a safe and nurturing haven for them all. Help them to find the balance and harmony of their individuality and their shared life. We ask that your light and grace be extended to each of them, that they may know you and welcome you in their lives each and every day. Amen. DECLARATION OF SUPPORT Carissa and Jake, today we have come together to celebrate the love you have found with each other. By being here with you, each of us is declaring our support for your decision to join together in marriage. (to guests) As families and friends, you form the community of support that surrounds both of them. Each of you, by your presence here today, is being called upon to uphold them in honoring and loving each other. Will you: Always stand beside them, never between them? Offer them your love and support, not your judgment? Encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts, and honor this marriage into which they have come to be joined today? If you will, please answer with “I will”. WEDDING VOWS Do you, Jake, of your own free will and consent, choose Carissa to be your beloved wife, and do you promise to love, honor and cherish her always? Do you, Carissa, of your own free will and consent, choose Jake to be your beloved husband, and do you promise to love, honor and cherish him always? RING EXCHANGE The wedding ring is a circle symbolizing the sun, and the earth, and the universe. It is a symbol of wholeness, perfection and peace. As you enter into the circle of your shared love, may you be blessed through your devotion to this union. May your journey as husband and wife be filled with peace, love and joy. Jake, do you take Carissa to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish from this day forward? (I Do, and place ring on finger) Carissa, do you take Jake to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish from this day forward? (I Do, and place ring on finger) FINAL BLESSING May you keep this covenant you have made. may you bless each other in your marriage, comforting each other when one needs comfort, sharing each other’s joys when one needs someone to share it, and helping each other in all your endeavors throughout your married lives together. And now, by the power vested in me by the laws of the state of Iowa, I pronounce you husband and wife
  8. Saturday night I officiated a 25th Anniversary Renewal-of-Wedding vows. I figured I'd post it here, and anyone who might need to use part of it is welcome to it. Best Wishes, Will WELCOME (read by daughter) I’d like to thank all of you, family and good friends, who have taken the time today to join my mom and dad with this celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary and the renewal of their marriage vows. Not only are we here to wish them continued happiness in their future life together, we’re also here to celebrate the love that my parents have for each other as well as the love that each of you has given them throughout their lives together. Thank you again for coming, and for supporting them. GATHERING WORDS Deb and Kurt, today is your wedding anniversary and your celebration. Many years ago, on February 14th, you took upon yourselves the responsibility of married life. This afternoon we gather here to renew your marriage vows and to re-affirm with happiness a new era in your life. Happiness in marriage isn’t something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, “I love you”. It is at no time taking the other for granted. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives; it is standing together facing the world. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is not expecting perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding, and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not having married the right partner; it is being the right partner. It is discovering that your love for one another at its best will never lose sight of or be blotted out by the common place experiences of life. And it is remembering that remaining devoted, confident and hopeful in one another are the secret ingredients which will help you to remain two very happy people, richer for your oneness. Both of you believe in marriage and in the fullness of the husband and wife relationship and you know that a deep bond unites you both together. I have seen that your relationship is as important to you as life itself. Today’s re-commitment should encourage you both to continue that dedication to each other so that you can look forward to a settled and contented future. And now Deb and Kurt’s daughter, Jessica, is going to read a poem in dedication to her parents. POEM They said we'd never make it, But now we've come this far. Today we celebrate our love And honor who we are. We had a hard beginning, Adults before our time. But growing up together made Our deepest roots entwine. You are my life, my love, my hope, My friend, my world, my song, The mirror of my unseen heart, The place where I belong. And as our one life passes, Through love we live for two: A cornucopia of joy That we this day renew. VOWS Deb and Kurt, please face each other and join hands. You are different people today than you were twenty-five years ago. Twenty-five years from now, you will be different still. Yet, you are once again about to make promises which are meant to last a lifetime. Kurt, will you keep Deb as your wife, will you continue to love her and only her? Will you promise to bring breakfast in bed to Deb as often as you can? Response: I WILL. Deb, will you keep Kurt as your Husband, will you continue to love him and only him? Will you also promise to bring breakfast in bed to Kurt as often as you can? Response: I WILL. RING EXCHANGE The wedding ring is a circle symbolizing the sun, the earth, and the universe. It is a symbol of wholeness, perfection and peace. As you re-enter into the circle of your shared love, may you be blessed through your devotion to this union. May your continued journey as husband and wife be filled with peace, love and joy. Kurt, as you place this ring on Deb’s finger, please repeat after me: I, Kurt, promise to continue to love, cherish and protect my wife… to provide for her in health and sickness… to be true to her… and cleave to her until death do us part… I renew my vow to take you, Deb, for my wedded wife. Deb, as you place this ring on Kurt’s finger, please repeat after me: I, Deb, promise to continue to love and honor my husband… to be true and faithful to him… and cleave to him until death do us part… I renew my vow to take you, Kurt, for my wedded husband. I do, by the virtue of authority vested in me, sanction your desire to reaffirm your wedding vows.
  9. Actually, the wedding was Friday night and it went very well (even with me being very nervous at the start, and with my knees shaking a bit - lol). I did end up using Heavenly Father, and it went over well with the bride's JW Mother and Sister. If anyone wants me to post the whole ceremony I used (done in about 7 minutes) I can do that as well. Thanks, Will P.S. Trying to post a picture as an attachment. If that doesn't work, I'll save it to my webserver and post an image. In the pic, the bride is standing with her two children from a previous marriage, and the groom is holding his daughter from his previous marriage as well.
  10. I'm downloading it now, but had to use an FTP program to get it to work. Will
  11. P.S. I'm all ready thinking of not starting off the prayer with Beloved God, or starting off with Lord.
  12. I'm going to be officiating a wedding next Friday (March 9th), and 2 members of the bride's family (mother and one sister) are Jehova's Witnesses. Even though I've tried to read what I can find about JW's, I'm hoping a few of you might have an idea of what is okay and what isn't. The following is the Opening Prayer that I plan on using. If any of you have any idea on something I might need to change, please do let me know (I just want to make sure that I won't say anything that will upset one of them). Beloved God, we are gathered here, uniting our hearts as one in support and celebration of Carissa and Jake as they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage. We ask you to bless the family created by this union As Carissa’s children Taylor and Colton and Jake's child Lakin join with them in the creation of a new family. We ask that you guide and bless each of them in loving and honoring one another and in building and strengthening a family unit that will be a safe and nurturing haven for them all. Help them to find the balance and harmony of their individuality and their shared life. We ask that your light and grace be extended to each of them, that they may know you and welcome you in their lives each and every day. Thanks, Will
  13. Well, looking through my book "World Religions made easy", what I'm seeing is that if she follows her religion very closely there won't be a party. The ones that stand out in the book (listed under 'unusual practices'): 1. Blood transfusions are refused 2. The cross should not be used as a symbol 3. They refuse to vote in political elections, salute the flag or sing the Star Spangled Banner 4. They do not celebrate Christmas or birthdays 5. They refuse to serve in the armed forces Now, my sister-in-law is also a Jehovah's Witness. I can remember celebrating her birthday several times, and last Christmas she accepted a gift card from me and money from my parents. If one of her children needed a blood transfusion to live, I'm betting she'd do it. How closely do they follow the religion? Will