Sunday, June 24, 2007
4:00 PM
Sausalito, California
The Wedding Ceremony
Welcome & Greeting
Friends and family members, this is a day of new beginnings. Linda Goins and James Tinsley have traveled many roads on their own, but today they join hands and hearts to travel a new road together.
As Linda and James look back over their past journeys, certain truths come into focus. One is that any journey has its share of wrong turns, missed directions, and frustrating cul-de-sacs. But these miscues are not without forgiveness for those who are in love nor those who see every day as an opportunity to become wiser. Another truth is that the journey is just as important as the destination. In our hurried and harried lives, we tend to see life blurred and unclear. But for you who are attentive and taking a precious moment out of your busy lives to see and hear, there are timeless treasures to be discovered along the way. You have taken time to finally notice each other after 41 years ago when you went to your high school prom together in Detroit. You are now “legal teenagers” on your first date! And finally another truth is that no matter where our journey takes us, as persons of faith we never walk alone.
Linda and James, as you begin your new journey, I remind you of the forgiveness you have received, the wisdom you have gained, the attentiveness you have learned and the companionship with God you have enjoyed. May these insights from the past guide you in the future as you begin this new journey today.
Let us pray.
Creator God, when we stop long enough to notice, we become powerfully aware of your handiwork in this beautiful setting when the blue sky meets the blue water. Though the heavens are always singing your praise, we are sometimes too busy to listen. But we are listening today, O Lord, especially as we come to celebrate the uniting in marriage of Linda and James. Bless them as they express in these moments their deepest desire to live in covenant with each other as husband and wife for a lifetime. May the scenic beauty of this place reflect the beauty of the life they are about to share. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Declaration of Intent
Linda and James, in the presence of God and your family and friends, I ask you to declare your intention to enter into covenant with each other through the grace of Jesus Christ.
James, will you have Linda to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
James: “I will.”
Linda, will you have James to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Linda: “I will.”
Words to the Couple—Something More
Today, Linda and James, each of you leaves behind a long and good adult life. You are already someone—James, an accomplished musician and Linda who has had a long career with UPS. You are already connected to many communities, ideas and places. But now you will become something more. You will expand, not minimize, your personal universe. You will add the universe of another to yours. Both will be larger—and both will out of necessity be smaller.
As you marry today, your worlds are intersecting while some parts of your worlds are left to themselves. There are circles of friends within circles of acquaintances within circles of associates. And when you bring together the things James own and the things that Linda own, there may be couches that need to be abandoned. There may be too many lamps, too many pictures, too many dishes that need to be sorted out. You will learn the art of subtraction, consolidation and forced decision-making to create a new home.
These new skills may be necessary emotionally as well as physically. Surely you will leave some things behind as you enter this new union. And at the same time, you will be adding new things together. You now live for the other, just as you have been living for God. When we live for God, we know that it requires undivided attention to love him. Marriage is like that too. James will require Linda’s attention and devotion. Linda will require James’ attention and devotion even when it comes down to choosing between his trumpet and his wife. A good marriage is always to choose each other over anything else in this world.
When you bring your two households together in one place, there may not be enough room for all the physical things. But you will soon discover that there is always room for the depth of your self to share itself to the depth of the other. You will never run out of space to fill each other’s lives with your histories, adventures, stories that you have brought to this marriage from the past as well as the new ones you will be creating together. Isn’t it amazing that just when you thought you have already lived life fully, that God is blessing you with more room so that you will have a new life together! God will be with you as you continue to add something more to your life.
This reminds me of the number of times when Jesus fed the thousands of people with so little—a few loaves of bread and fish. The disciples were worried that there wouldn’t be enough. Their baskets were empty. But after everyone has eaten and the disciples went out into the crowd to collect the leftovers, there were many baskets full. When you trust God with your marriage, you’ll never have to worry about whether there will be enough. There is sufficient room in your lives to fill all your new experiences of love and companionship for years to come.
It’s time to begin creating your new home together—all the memories will find their appropriate places, all your furniture will create welcoming places for all who will fellowship with you and there will still be room for you to fill your home with new memories that will come because of the love you have for one another. Get ready. A new home is coming—and it is yours.
Exchange of Vows
James: Linda, we have come together later in our lives.
I wish it could have been earlier, much earlier.
But today, as I become your husband,
I thank God for bringing us together.
And I promise to make up for lost time
By loving you with all my heart and soul.
I promise not to sweat the small stuff,
To not be set in my ways,
To get out of my ruts,
To live life earnestly and passionately.
I promise, as your husband, to be your friend
And companion for all of our days.
Linda: James, we have come together later in our lives.
I wish it could have been earlier, much earlier.
But today, as I become your wife,
I thank God for bringing us together.
And I promise to make up for lost time
By loving you with all my heart and soul.
I promise not to sweat the small stuff,
To not be set in my ways,
To get out of my ruts,
To live life earnestly and passionately.
I promise, as your wife, to be your friend
And companion for all of our days.
Exchange of Rings & Things
For many centuries, a wedding ring has been a symbol of a pledge that those who give a ring intend to live up to the vows and promises made at the time of marriage. A ring is a visible sign of an inward grace that signifies the giver and receiver becoming one in holy marriage through the church of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray. O Lord, enable Linda and James to be aware of this sacred moment when they receive evidence of their pledge of love and loyalty to one another. May they know your peace and your favor as they begin their new life together, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“As a sign of my sincere love for you,
I give you this ring.
Wear it in the knowledge hat I cherish you
With all my heart and will.
With God’s help, I will live up to my promises
I make to you today.”
Wedding Prayer
Dear God, from the beginning you set about to right the lonely heart. When you created man you said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” In the same way, you have brought together James and Linda that two hearts alone would be alone no more. You have led them from the excitement of pinning a corsage on Linda for their high school prom many years ago to the joy of companionship as lovers to this place where they have committed themselves to a lifetime of togetherness. We pray for your blessing on this couple. We lift them up to you. We rejoice with them that you have done a wonderful thing. Give them a rich and happy life together in the Bay Area. Help them not to take for granted the love to which you have blessed them. Teach them to hold these moments as precious gifts. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Presentation of the Couple
Linda and James, you both came to this ceremony today because of the love that you share. With sincerity you have made sacred promises to each other in the presence of your family, close friends, and your God. James, your love of music will always fill your new home with beautiful sounds of jubilation. Linda, the inner peace that you possess and commitment to complete your life with James will always strive for harmony and peace.
It is now my joy as a Minister of the Christian Gospel to declare you to be joined in holy marriage as husband and wife. United in this special way, face the future together with hope, assured of God’s love for you always.
In this out door setting as your marriage to one another is witnessed by God’s creation, we praise God from Psalm 150:
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
Praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals;
Praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
It is with praise to our mighty God and my joy and honor to introduce to you for the very first time, “James and Linda Goins Tinsley!”
(Permission to kiss)
Officiant: Rev. Donald Ng