Historical Posts

Winland’s 25th Anniversary Vow Renewal

Shall we begin with a prayer?

Our God And our Father, hallowed be your name. We come before You now thankful for your blessings and the wonderful occasion that has brought us together.

We pray that you will bless us this day as we gather to renew the wedding vows of Steven and Pam.

We are thankful that so many of their family and friends are able to be here to witness this ceremony and to share in their joy.

We pray that these proceedings will have Your blessings and that all we do this day and every day will bring You honor and glory.

In the name of Jesus we pray.

Amen

Steven and Pam have reached a milestone not many reach anymore, 25 years of marriage.

When I was first asked to do this ceremony the thought that flashed through my mind was how we can schedule the counseling sessions I insist upon before I will have a part in any wedding. Then I started laughing to myself. This is a renewal of the vows made 25 years ago.

Friends, we have come here today to celebrate love by the renewal of the vows of Steven and Pam.

We see it in the faces of Steve and Pam who stand before us, but we experience it in our own hearts as well. It is a love which kindles our souls with hope and which is our true home, our true meeting place.

Steven and Pam, there are no ties on earth sweeter than those you formed 25 years ago. There are no vows on earth more solemn than those you made.

A wedding is a happy occasion.

It is filled with good humor and a sense of well being. It is a wonderful expression of love.

But the days of your marriage are not always be filled with the happiness and joy of that day.

As you have lived it out, you found your relationship has moods and seasons, low times as well as high. From time to time the delightful spirit of that day was not with you.

“For better or worse” is a reality all marriages must face. When difficulties come, you will have to reach for something deeper in yourselves – for the love that is stronger than even the love which you have that day.

For while it is love that has brought you there that day, it was love in its infancy. For after you have lived together many years, walking side by side down the path that leads through time – laughing together, sorrowing together, planning and dreaming together – you will know the depths of love.

I want you to remember that your love is a progression.

There is an old Chinese proverb that says, ”The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” For you Steven and Pam, your wedding day was an exquisite and beautiful first step. With it you passed through a portal that lead you many places, including ones you could not imagine.

Wherever it took you there were surprises – for this is a mark of a loving relationship.

Above all, in the days and years that lie ahead; remember that love is what matters. Love will prevail.

The apostle Paul spoke of this love and it’s characteristics in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

Steve: repeat after me:

Pam, you have changed since we first married. I have changed, and the world around us has changed most of all. But one thing has not changed.

25 years ago, I promised to love you, to give of my best to you, to cherish and keep you no matter what else happened.

I have not always lived up to my best intentions – but I have always loved you. I still love you. I love you more now than I did then – because I know you better now. And I’ve matured: the sharp edges of youth have mellowed, increasing my capacity for, and my pleasure in love.

We’ve moved, we’ve had successes and setbacks we’ve weathered a good many storms.

What really mattered was our love.

The one constant in our lives has grown stronger – and I thank you now for the joy you’ve given me during these 25 years together.

It is with a glad heart that I renew my original wedding vows. I still promise to love you, honor you, cherish and keep you. I continue to want you, for better or worse, for richer or poorer.

Whatever the future may hold for us, we will always have our love. It is enough.

Pam: repeat after me:

Steve, You have also changed since we first married. I have changed, and the world around us has changed most of all. But one thing has not changed.

25 years ago, I promised to love you, to give of my best to you, to cherish and keep you no matter what else happened.

I have not always lived up to my best intentions but I have always loved you. I still love you. I love you more now than I did then – because I know you better now. And I’ve matured: the sharp edges of youth have mellowed, increasing my capacity for, and my pleasure in love.

We’ve moved, we’ve had successes and setbacks we’ve weathered a good many storms.

What really mattered was our love.

The one constant in our lives has grown stronger – and I thank you now for the joy you’ve given me during these 25 years together.

It is with a glad heart that I renew my original wedding vows. I still promise to love you, honor you, cherish and keep you. I continue to want you, for better or worse, for richer or poorer.

Whatever the future may hold for us, we will always have our love. It is enough.

Shall we go again to God in prayer?

Almighty God, our heavenly father.

We approach Your magnificent throne in awe of your majesty, power and love. We recognize You as the source of all that is good in life. We thank you for giving us life and sustaining us each day with Your blessings.

We are thankful that not only have You meet our needs in the physical and spiritual realms but you also have made provision for our happiness, We rejoice in the fact that you have given us the church to allow us to properly express our love to You and Your Son. We likewise rejoice in that You have given us the institution of marriage so that we can properly express the great love between a man and a woman.

Dear Lord we pray that You will now look down upon Steven and Pam and the union they are reaffirming today. Father, bless them with much happiness, strengthen them in times of adversity and always keep them in Your care.

May their love for You and for one another grow and abound.

In the name of Jesus we pray.

Amen