Good afternoon, my name is Tim and I am the leader of a Christian community called the Bridge, that Leah is a part of. I have been invited to read a wedding telegram to you. You might find it helpful to close your eyes and listen to the words.
From Father God, heavenly father, Creator of the world (stop). To Leah and Steve. (stop)
To Leah and some of you here my name is Father God, Jesus Son of God and Holy Spirit, the Helper; to others of you here I may be less well known or even not known at all.
Later on today you will hear speeches from the Groom, the Bride’s father, and the Best Man and I’m grateful to Leah and Steve for allowing my telegram to be read out to you. The fact that I’m here and part of this day is especially important to Leah, and I appreciate the love and generosity to Leah that Steve has shown in allowing me to do this.
In the original creation I made each human with an inbuilt desire and need to experience love, family, friendship and community. Marriage is one way to experience this and so Leah and Steve now leave their father and mother, and in marriage become one -no longer two individuals, but forming a new unity. And that is what I see before me today.
As I look at this very special couple on such an amazing day I want to express something of the importance of this day to me. I have watched over these two people since before they were born, and over the years, through the good times and the bad. They would both say that they have very different experiences of my watching over them, from no consciousness at all to specific times of guidance and support. All of their life’s experiences so far have brought them to this point in their lives. And I am so happy to see them make these promises to each other.
It has been a real pleasure to get to know Leah even better during the last ten years or so as she has rediscovered her faith and belief in me. Steve, I hope to get to know you better in the future but be assured I won’t impose myself on you.
One of the things that I especially cherish about today is how through their creative talents they have made this day so special and unique so that it expresses something of their personality and life together. The dresses and suits, the flowers, the music, the food, the choice of venue, the people here. All these things say a lot about who Leah and Steve are. In a strange way, all these things speak of me too. I give creative and beautiful things to you, and I am full of joy when you share these gifts with each other.
I will be with you every step of this journey of marriage that you now walk. You have made promises to each other, to love unconditionally and with total acceptance, which I can help you to keep. You have offered each other a freedom to live a deeper reality and to be more of who you are meant to be.
Whilst I’ll never force my way into your marriage my blessing upon it will be that;
I will help so that memories do not provide shelter for grievances against each other.
I will shield your hearts from hatred or judgement.
You will hear me in your times of laughter
You will know me in your tears.
In times of doubt and uncertainty I will lift you up
In times of conflict I will be that still small voice of peace.
I will be a roaring noise when you face injustice.
I will be an uncomfortable challenge when you are unjust to others.
But through all of that my promise to you on this fantastic day is that wherever you go,…….I will go with you.
Wherever you go,……. I will be with you.