| Special Valentine Day Service |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by David Charlton |
|
On Valentine's day we celebrate love and the endearing relationships that are so vital to our lives. As Christians, we should celebrate God's unconditional love and seek to love others with that same type of love. In this way, we will be doing our part to strengthen our relationships with others. Romans 12:18 states, "If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peacebly with all." In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus states, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." As stated earlier, we should do our part to maintain strong relationships by loving others with the same type of love God has for us. This year, Valentine's day falls on a Sunday. For this reason we are having special valentine's day services on February 14, 2010. At both the 9AM and 11AM services, we will invite everyone present to participate in the taking of three vows. The first vow will be a redeication of marriage vows. The second vow will be between parents and children. The third one will be a friendsheip vow. The vows are written below. Please read these vows and take them seriously. They will help us as we endeavor to obey the great commandment to love God and neighbor. Thank you and God bless. Rededication of Marriage Vows Husbands to wives I, Name, continue to take you, Name, to be my wife,
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow taken in front of Almighty God.
Wives to husbands I, Name, continue to take you, Name, to be my wife,
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow taken in front of Almighty God.
Parent/child vows Children to parents I (Your name) make a solemn vow to God and my parents that I will love and respect my parents in accordance with Scripture. The fifth commandment says that we should honor our fathers and mothers. As a young child, I will honor my parents by learning from them and obeying them. As an adult child, I will honor my parents by respecting them, listening to them and taking care of them when they are elderly. I will do all of this with God’s help. Parents to children I (Your name) make a solemn vow to God and my children that I will love and raise my children in accordance with Scripture. As a parent of young children, I will nurture them in Christ’s holy church. Through my words and deeds, I will introduce them to Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit use me to bring them into a relationship with Jesus. I will also lovingly discipline them while continuing to demonstrate God’s unconditional love. As a parent of adult children, I will respect them while continuing to love them. I will do all of this with God’s help. Friendship Vows I (your name) make a solemn vow to God and my friends that I will love my friends in accordance with Scripture. I will have the same loyalty that Jonathan and David had for each other. I will have the same concern and compassion that Naomi and Ruth had for each other. I will encourage my friends the same way Barnabas encouraged Paul. I will endeavor to be there for my friends and help them as much as I can. I will do all of this with God’s help.
|
