I've asked Guillermo Powell's of his notes, who was performing Ivan's and Tania wedding August 11, 2013. I was encouraged by a wise council that came from his experience and God's word. Here's his script:
"Charge to the Bride and Groom
You both have travelled through this road called LIFE to find each other. In fact, in your case the road for Ivan started in Santa Fe, Argentina and took you through New York state, and Texas; and for Tania it started in DEEDICHI, Ukraine, to meet, in all places, in Bellingham, WA. Each comes with family backgrounds that are unique, different cultures, different personalities and experiences which have made you who you are today – and you obviously like each other!
This road does not stop here; on the contrary, it becomes much more exciting now, it is wider and deeper, fuller and robust… because now you will walk it TOGETHER. It has been this way from the beginning of times.
Ivan and Tania, understand that when God said I will make him a ‘helper’, he did not mean a ‘servant’ for the man, How do I know that? Because the same Hebrew word is used several times in the OT for God himself. But in addition, we cannot stay just with that word; it says ‘helper fit for him’ or ‘suitable for him’. The Spanish version says: ‘ayuda idónea’; the in Russian says: SOTVAREM YEMU POMOUSHNIZU
The idea is a “helper opposite to him, ‘the counterpart’. Two people complementing each other. That’s why in chapter one, the story line shows that Adam, did not find among the animals a suitable helper, it was only when the woman was created that God told THEM, together to rule and have dominion over the earth; A TRUE PARTNER.
Not a partnership where ‘this half is mine and this other half is yours’, not a 50/50 partnership, but one of 100/100; a partnership where you Ivan bring ALL of you and you Tania bring ALL of you, to become a greater UNITY.
God’s ideal established in the garden, was marred by sin, but is restored in Jesus Christ. The gospel brings to us, first harmony with God through the forgiveness of sins, and it also brings us the hope of harmony with one another. The best picture of that harmony can be found in marriage (it is also unfortunately the best place to show our weaknesses and sinfulness). And that is why it is so important that you both have already a personal relationship with Christ; in Him you are made holy; in Him you are forgiven; in Him you have hope; in Him you have purpose.
As a life time commitment, marriage is designed by God as a covenant relationship which each of you enters voluntarily and He seals. Mark records the words of Jesus reminding his disciples what the OT said, in chapter 10:6 6 “At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ [then Jesus ADDS these words as an explanation and interpretation of God’s intent] So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
The marriage covenant you are entering into requires that you acknowledge certain things. Five quick things - This is not an exhaustive list…
1. Accept the fact that you are marrying another human being, with his/her strengths and weaknesses, virtues and faults, good hair days and bad… Accepting the humanness of the other person means learning to FORGIVE. The two most important phrases in a marriage – besides I love you – are ‘I am sorry’ and ‘I forgive you’. Practice them and you will have a long and blessed marriage.
You both have travelled through this road called LIFE to find each other. In fact, in your case the road for Ivan started in Santa Fe, Argentina and took you through New York state, and Texas; and for Tania it started in DEEDICHI, Ukraine, to meet, in all places, in Bellingham, WA. Each comes with family backgrounds that are unique, different cultures, different personalities and experiences which have made you who you are today – and you obviously like each other!
This road does not stop here; on the contrary, it becomes much more exciting now, it is wider and deeper, fuller and robust… because now you will walk it TOGETHER. It has been this way from the beginning of times.
- God made the sexes to be mutually complementary. He designed marriage so that a man and a woman would give each other what the other was lacking.In Gen 2:18, Moses records that God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (and Ivan says: AMEN) Much has been said about this verse, so I won’t pretend to say anything novel, but because it is one of the first things mentioned regarding two human beings together, it must be important!
- God designed marriage for the GOOD of people. There is great fulfillment when a marriage follows God’s instructions.
Ivan and Tania, understand that when God said I will make him a ‘helper’, he did not mean a ‘servant’ for the man, How do I know that? Because the same Hebrew word is used several times in the OT for God himself. But in addition, we cannot stay just with that word; it says ‘helper fit for him’ or ‘suitable for him’. The Spanish version says: ‘ayuda idónea’; the in Russian says: SOTVAREM YEMU POMOUSHNIZU
The idea is a “helper opposite to him, ‘the counterpart’. Two people complementing each other. That’s why in chapter one, the story line shows that Adam, did not find among the animals a suitable helper, it was only when the woman was created that God told THEM, together to rule and have dominion over the earth; A TRUE PARTNER.
Not a partnership where ‘this half is mine and this other half is yours’, not a 50/50 partnership, but one of 100/100; a partnership where you Ivan bring ALL of you and you Tania bring ALL of you, to become a greater UNITY.
God’s ideal established in the garden, was marred by sin, but is restored in Jesus Christ. The gospel brings to us, first harmony with God through the forgiveness of sins, and it also brings us the hope of harmony with one another. The best picture of that harmony can be found in marriage (it is also unfortunately the best place to show our weaknesses and sinfulness). And that is why it is so important that you both have already a personal relationship with Christ; in Him you are made holy; in Him you are forgiven; in Him you have hope; in Him you have purpose.
As a life time commitment, marriage is designed by God as a covenant relationship which each of you enters voluntarily and He seals. Mark records the words of Jesus reminding his disciples what the OT said, in chapter 10:6 6 “At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ [then Jesus ADDS these words as an explanation and interpretation of God’s intent] So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
The marriage covenant you are entering into requires that you acknowledge certain things. Five quick things - This is not an exhaustive list…
1. Accept the fact that you are marrying another human being, with his/her strengths and weaknesses, virtues and faults, good hair days and bad… Accepting the humanness of the other person means learning to FORGIVE. The two most important phrases in a marriage – besides I love you – are ‘I am sorry’ and ‘I forgive you’. Practice them and you will have a long and blessed marriage.
2. Do not neglect your spiritual life – Both individually and as a couple. Wisdom, knowledge of one another, patience, love, and understanding… are nurtured by the life giving juices of a close relationship with your Lord.
You Ivan have a responsibility to guard, and protect this marriage. You will not be able to do it on your own.
Tania, you have a responsibility to guard and protect the home, particularly as the Lord gives you children. You will not be able to do it on your own.
You Ivan have a responsibility to guard, and protect this marriage. You will not be able to do it on your own.
Tania, you have a responsibility to guard and protect the home, particularly as the Lord gives you children. You will not be able to do it on your own.
3. Love in its purest form is giving! Listen to the description of love in 1 Cor 13:4-8 “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.”
- Practice the positive attributes mentioned here, they are ‘other focused’.
- Quench; determine to eliminate the negative attributes and you will grow in your love for one another.
- Practice the positive attributes mentioned here, they are ‘other focused’.
- Quench; determine to eliminate the negative attributes and you will grow in your love for one another.
4. Humbly learn and live your God given roles in the marriage. You will now become one, and as two people made one, you will be a picture of Christ and the church. I know, this is a mystery, Paul says it as well.
- Tania, as you learn to fulfill the equal yet submissive role as a wife to Ivan, you will represent to the world, what the church is to be to Christ. - Ivan, as you learn to fulfill the equal yet loving role as head of this marriage, you will represent to the world, how Christ sacrificially loves the church. - In the measure you both do, you will be fulfilled in your relationship.
5. Becoming ‘one flesh’ is much more than the sexual intimacy that God so wondrously allows us to have, it involves every aspect of our lives. No more his and hers checking account; no more his and her interests; no more this is mine and that is yours… you are now one. The expression of that oneness will be a process of your entire lives.
Let me finish with this. You have chosen as your special verse Rev. 21:5 where God declares, “I am making everything new!” This picture that we see at the end of Revelation where God is seated on the throne and explaining to John what the new heavens and new earth is all about, is something we are all looking forward to. Don’t make the aim and goal of your lives this earthly time. Instead recognize that the gospel message that you both have heard and believed promises a much better, perfect, glorious future, when the reality of the perfect marriage, that of Christ and his bride, the Church, will be ours.
Let me finish with this. You have chosen as your special verse Rev. 21:5 where God declares, “I am making everything new!” This picture that we see at the end of Revelation where God is seated on the throne and explaining to John what the new heavens and new earth is all about, is something we are all looking forward to. Don’t make the aim and goal of your lives this earthly time. Instead recognize that the gospel message that you both have heard and believed promises a much better, perfect, glorious future, when the reality of the perfect marriage, that of Christ and his bride, the Church, will be ours.
If I may extrapolate also, this is a new beginning for you as well; you are leaving behind singleness, and God is making you into something new – two becoming one – behind are successes and failures, good times and bad times that each of you has experienced separately. Now is a new beginning, begin this new life with Christ as the center; with heaven as your destination; with love, service and forgiveness as your path. May God bless this marriage! Que Dios bendiga este matrimonio!
DA BLAHOSLOVICH GASPOD ETOTT BRACK...
As the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith in Jesus Christ and love for one another. You are now a new family, IVAN, though you left your parents’ house a long time ago, you are now cleaving to your wife. TANIA, you and Ivan are now a new family.
PRAYER: Our God and Father, creator and sustainer of the universe, and of our lives. Today you have witnessed this man and this woman commit and covenant with each other to live in the blessed state of matrimony which you designed for our good. You created joy and celebration, bridegroom and bride, pleasure and delight. We recognize, Lord, that our fallen nature creates discord, and it is only in following your counsel that we find true joy and fulfillment. Today we present Ivan and Tania as your son and daughter, asking your protection and blessing over this union, may you guard their hearts and their minds from evil, may your grace and mercy, your love, your peace engulf their lives as they begin this new walk together. Give them wisdom and patience, give them understanding and grace. May your joy be in their hearts, may your Word nurture their souls, may your Holy Spirit guide them, strengthen them, so that whatever challenges you allow them to face, our victory will be theirs. And now in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we bless Ivan and Tania, as they begin their new journey together. Now to Him who is able to keep them from stumbling and to present them blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. AMEN"
DA BLAHOSLOVICH GASPOD ETOTT BRACK...
As the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith in Jesus Christ and love for one another. You are now a new family, IVAN, though you left your parents’ house a long time ago, you are now cleaving to your wife. TANIA, you and Ivan are now a new family.
PRAYER: Our God and Father, creator and sustainer of the universe, and of our lives. Today you have witnessed this man and this woman commit and covenant with each other to live in the blessed state of matrimony which you designed for our good. You created joy and celebration, bridegroom and bride, pleasure and delight. We recognize, Lord, that our fallen nature creates discord, and it is only in following your counsel that we find true joy and fulfillment. Today we present Ivan and Tania as your son and daughter, asking your protection and blessing over this union, may you guard their hearts and their minds from evil, may your grace and mercy, your love, your peace engulf their lives as they begin this new walk together. Give them wisdom and patience, give them understanding and grace. May your joy be in their hearts, may your Word nurture their souls, may your Holy Spirit guide them, strengthen them, so that whatever challenges you allow them to face, our victory will be theirs. And now in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we bless Ivan and Tania, as they begin their new journey together. Now to Him who is able to keep them from stumbling and to present them blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. AMEN"
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