Order Of Service
Welcome to the marriage of
Samuel Harms & Amy Hancock Weoley Hill United Reformed Church Saturday 24th October 2015
Please stand for the Bride
Bridal party procession to ‘A Thousand years’ by Christina Perri. Performed by Timothy Harms on cello & Jonathan Girling on piano
The words that accompany this music can be found at the back of the order of service. Whilst it is not being sung, we chose it because of the words, and wanted you to be able to appreciate them too.
The Welcome Service conducted by Rev. Alan Rogers & Rev. Ruth Maxey
Opening Prayer
In Christ Alone by Stuart Townsendd
In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My comforter, my all in all, Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones he came to save: Til on that cross, as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied, For every sin on him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground his body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave he rose again And as he stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am his and he is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from his hand: Til he returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Copyright 2001 Thankyou Music
How can I keep from singing your praise by Chris Tomlin
There is an endless song Echoes in my soul I hear the music ring And though the storms may come I am holding on To the rock I cling Chorus: How can I keep from singing your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is your love How can I keep from shouting your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart want to sing I will lift my eyes In the darkest night For I know my saviour lives And I will walk with you Knowing you’ll see me through And sing the songs you give Chorus I can sing in the troubled times Sing when I win I can sing when I lose my step And fall down again I can sing ‘cause you pick me up Sing ‘cause you’re there I can sing ‘cause you hear me, Lord When I call to you in prayer I can sing with my last breath Sing for I know That I’ll sing with the angels And the saints around the throne Chorus Copyright 2006 Thankyou Music
I can only imagine by Mercy Me I can only imagine What it will be like When I walk by your side I can only imagine what my eyes will see When your face is before me I can only imagine Chorus: Surrounded by your glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for you Jesus Or in awe of you be still Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine I can only imagine I can only imagine when that day comes And I find myself standing in the Sun I can only imagine when all I will do Is forever, forever worship you. I can only imagine Chorus X2 I can only imagine When all I will do Is forever, forever worship you I can only imagine Bart Mill of MercyMe Copyright 2001, 2002 Simpleville music
Prayers of Confession
Purpose of Marriage
Reading : Read by Myrtle Rogers Colossians 3:12-16 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
The Declarations
The minister then says to the congregation: Will you, the families and friends of Amy and Sam, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come? All: We will.
Vows The Giving of Rings The Proclamation The Marriage Blessing
The Signing of the Register Music by Timothy Harms and Jonathan Girling (No photos are allowed during the actual signing of the register)
Hymn: Be thou my vision
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight; Be thou my dignity, thou my delight; Thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower: Raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Readings
Poem: Do you realise what you’ve just said? By Sally Foster-Fulton Read by Dorothy Sturman Do you realise what you’ve just said? ‘I give myself to you’that’s big stuff. From now on, this person standing beside you is you. And every decision you make from now on – every wish, every hope, every desire- is not just yours. God knows, the only way that this can work is if both of you want what is best for the other one- first and foremost- deep down at your core. That kind of mutual adoration will take you far. It will take you to a new place entirely, open doors to feelings you’ve never had… because when you want everything for somebody else, and they want that for you, you are adding love to faith and hope, and when you walk the road looking out for each other, its easier to find middle ground. Do you realise what you’ve just said? ‘I give myself to you’ that’s big stuff: I give you all the things deep down that make me me…. I hand over my dreams, my big ideas and little hopes. I place them into your hands for safekeeping. I trust you with all the fears and insecurities nobody else knows about because I have tried so hard to keep them hidden, but no longer…. I will share them with you.
I will entrust you with my very soul, because we have promised today to protect each other and guard those secret, sacred places. I have discovered that you are able to take even those difficult parts of me, graft them gently into the whole of me and see beauty… not that you don’t see the flaws, but you have embraced them as part of loving me.
Do you realise what you’ve just said? ‘I give myself to you’ –that’s big stuff. Because you are taking a stand today: Here is my solid foundation- I will go out from this place for the rest of my life. God has given us each other- to have and to hold from this day forward. Amy and Sam, you are for each other solid ground: ‘where you go, I go’. This is what you said when you said ‘I give myself to you’. That’s big stuff.
Mark 10:6-9 Read by Rebecca Kemal
“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Sermon
Prayers by Rev. Emily Reynolds
God of justice by Tim Hugues God of justice, saviour to all, Came to rescue the weak and the poor, Choose to serve and not be served, Jesus, you have called us, Freely we’ve received, Now freely we will give, Chorus We must go, live to feed the hungry, Stand beside the broken, We must go, stepping forward keep us from just singing Move us into action, We must go, To act justly everyday Loving mercy in every way Walking humbly before you God,
You have shown us, what you require Freely we’ve received, Now freely we will give, Chorus Fill us up, and send us out, Fill us up, and send us out Fill us up, and send us out Lord 2004 Thankyou Music
Blessing
Recession of the bride & groom
If you wish to take photos during the service please do not use flash photograph Bio-degradable confetti can be used but not in the Church. There will be tea and cake after the service, so please join us in the hall.
Thousand years’ by Christina Perri Heart beats fast Colours and promises How to be brave? How can I love when I’m afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone, All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow. One step closer [Chorus] I have died every day waiting for you Darling, don’t be afraid I have loved you For a thousand years I’ll love you for a thousand more Time stands still Beauty in all she is I will be brave I will not let anything take away What’s standing in front of me Every breath Every hour has come to this One step closer
[Chorus:] And all along I believed I would find you Time has brought your heart to me I have loved you for a thousand years I’ll love you for a thousand more One step closer One step closer [Chorus:] And all along I believed I would find you Time has brought your heart to me I have loved you for a thousand years I’ll love you for a thousand more
© 2011 EMI Blackwood Music Inc., 12:06 publishing, Miss Perri Lane Publishing and Summit Base Camp Film Music
Maid of honour: Abigail Crabtree Bridesmaids: Emily Whitehead Lol Wood Madeleine Taggart- Smith Hannah Gray Best Men: Timothy Harms George Wood Peter Shuker Ushers: Dave Gray Thomas Maxey Sam Gray Worship Band: Andy Whitehead Julian Harms Terry Koh Nicky Koh Jon Samuel
Church License Number: CCL no 591109