::Marriage Vow Renewal::

Retired (Col.) Alfred Erskine Bennett and Tish Ann Bennett
6 June 2003

Welcome:

"On behalf of Alfred Erskine and Tish Ann Bennett, I welcome you to this
wonderful Marriage Vow Renewal celebration. It is good that we are here
in this place today to honor the covenant of marriage that has been
established between these two wonderful people that we have known and
loved; people who have given their time, energy and effort in serving
others. For that we are grateful! This Marriage Vow Renewal celebration
is a public recognition before all of us present, of 15 years of
marriage. Alfred, Tish, this is your special day ! We are here family and
friends- to celebrate your special day with you and witness what God has
done over these 15 years.

I like these celebrations, and I shared with Alfred and Tish and
discussed the significance this event represents, they were in full
agreement. This is a ceremony full of godly significance and meaning, and,
they felt confident that people need more of them! We need to see
marriages being celebrated, upheld, and honored in a time where
society-at-large doesn't always hold marriage in the high esteem it was
intended to be. Alfred,Tish, and I agreed that in celebrating their
special day, and honoring them for their 15 years of marriage, it will
also serve as a role-model for each one present today -- their devotion to
the commitment they made to each other as husband and wife, 15 years ago
today when their good friend, Judge Larry Victor Johnson gave them a
lifetime sentence together. Today, we extend that lifetime sentence that
was set forth by Judge Johnson. Through the highs and lows, the joys
and the challenges that each marriage brings, they will tell you that
their marriage commitment is as strong as ever,and, they are grateful to
have made that commitment to each other."

Prayer:

"Father, we are grateful today that we can come before you with
thankful hearts. We are especially grateful for Alfred and Tish, and their
15 years of marriage. We are grateful that we can witness a celebration
of the covenant of marriage, and a testimony of their love to each
other. Thank you for the gift of marriage, and all that it represents. In
Jesus' name, Amen".

Music:
Minnie Rippertons (song ) "Loving You"

At this point in the service, holding hands, Alfred and Tish stood
facing the guests, "feeling very silly". Alfred whispered to Tish, "and
how long is this darn song"? Tish whispering back,'"guess I should have
picked a shorter song".

Passage of Scripture:

'"Then the Lord God said, It is not good for man to live alone. I will make
a suitable companion to help him. So he took some soil from the ground
and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then he brought them to the
man to see what he would name them; and that is how they received their
names. So the man named all the birds and all the aniumals; but not one
of them was a suitable companion to help him."'


The Scripture contines,'"Then the Lord God made him
fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, He took out one of
the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib,
and brought her to him. Then the man said, AHHHA, At last here is one of
my own kind -- Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh.'Woman'
will be her name because she was taken out of man. That is why a man
leaves his father and mother, and is united with his wife, and they become
one flesh."' (Genesis 2:18-24) Alfred, Tish, there are several important truths that I want us to look at in this passage. First, marriage was in the mind of God before it was
in ours. It was God's idea, not man's. It was in the heart of God to
establish a relationship that would be above all Earthly
relationships. Above our friendships, and yes, even our own families. His
design was to bring a man and a woman together to mirror His love to
each other -- spirit, soul and body. He designed marriage to be the most
fulfilling of all earthly relationships, where mutual joy and fulfillment
would be known. In this covenantal union, there is to be freedom to
express one's self and receive expression from one's mate. A
relationship that would grow deeper, higher, wider, and sweeter, as the days
and years go by. A mature love known as husband and wife.

A second truth discovered in this passage is that God, in His wisdom, took a rib
from Adam to form the woman. He did not take a bone from Adam's foot that
would symbolize the woman as being lower in status to the man, nor did
God take part of Adam's skull to form the woman that would symbolize her
dominance over man. No, God, in His eternal wisdom, chose to remove a rib
from Adam's SIDE that symbolizes man and woman's equality before God, and
to each other. God made for Adam, a helpmate, someone who would come along
side and walk with him fulfilling God's plan for their lives. God made
for the woman a protector and provider -- someone to help with her
innermost needs.

Alfred, Tish, that is what God has designed for your marriage and what you
have known these 15 years.Walking side by side, loving each other,
supporting each other, helping each other, provding, and lets not
forget, Praying for each other!


In the New Testament,the Apostle Paul tells us in what has become as the
Love chapter- I Corinthians Ch.13 -'"Love is patient, love is kind, it is
not jealous nor conceited nor proud; love is not happy with evil, but is
happy with the truth. Love never gives up; Love never fails."'

My prayer , our prayer is this will continue to be your response to each
other in all you do. Continue to look to God's Holy Word for guidance,
and His leadership in the direction He has for you.

As we prepare for the Renewal of the Vows,
let us remember these admonitions from Scripture."

Renewal of Vows:

"Alfred (Tish), will you continue to affirm your covenant of marriage
that was established 15 years ago to your wife (husband) ? (Response: "I do").
Will you continue to serve her (him) and be committed to her (his)
happiness and fulfillment as a person, and affirm her (his) value before
God and man" ? (This is where Tish had the Chaplin worried: She said "um
m m ,ah h h h ,oh ,w e l l ,ah,ok ,I do". Response:"I do"), at which
point the Chaplin and the entire room burst into laughter.


"Will you continue to be faithful to your promise to love, cherish, trust,
and honor her (him) in sickness and in health, in adversity and
prosperity, and to be true and loyal to her (him) so long as you both
shall live" ? (Response: "I do")

Upon the confession of your Renewal Of Vows before God and all
present, we affirm you both in your marriage covenant and pray for many, many
more happy years of marriage together.

Sir,You may kiss your bride !"

Presentation:

" Ladies and gentelman, I have the honor of presenting to you our
honeymoon couple of 15 years, Alfred Erskine, and Tish Ann Bennett."

Music: "You're Still The One":

Reception:

"Ladies and gentelman, this concludes our Wedding Vow Renewal ceremony.
You are welcome to come by and congratulate the Bennetts, as well as
partake of the refreshments on our side tables. God bless you and thank
you for coming".

Service was cunducted by :
Chaplain, Randy Robison, Capt. U.S. Army

Bride's escort down the isle:
Mr. Les Stotler

Standing up with the bride:
Mrs. Marge Bennett

Standing up for the groom:
Mr.Robert J. Bennett

Refreshments were coordinated with the combined help of :
Mrs. Gloria R.Dean R.N. /Tish's boss
Ms. Marlene Sample / Friend to the bride
Mrs. Nancy Alford & Husband / Friend to the bride
Ms Claudia Jardine / Friend to the bride & groom
Staff to Wellness Center where bride sometimes shows up for work .

"And without the help and co operation of the Command Staff
of the DeWitt Army Community Hospital @ Fort Belvoir, Va, this day would
not have been the success that it was. God Bless you all.

Col. Alfred & Tish Bennett."