WEDDING OF NANCY and TED
Saturday, March 29th ,1975
Pagan Wood, Ohio
Dr. Rick Rickards, Humanist minister, officiating

It has been said that there are no two snowflakes in the world which are exactly alike and this is probably true.  It is a fact that no two moments of time are ever the same.  Each is unique and precious to the individual.  On special occasions, intense with pleasure and fulfillment, we find ourselves wishing that we could "stop the clock" if only for a little while and enjoy the moment longer.  The poet has said…

"There is beauty in the simpleness of stealing
  For a moment which is fleeting and sublime,
  The sweetness of reciprocated feeling
  And the thoughts that end the agony of time…"

There are many people in the world who believe that marriages are made in heaven, and there are many others who believe that marriages are made on earth.  There are those who believe that they have an eternity ahead of them, and there are others who do not expect immortality.  Some of us are of the opinion that life on Earth is all too brief and, therefore, "the place to be happy is here, and the time to be happy is now and the way to be happy is to make others so."  While thinking on the subject of Time we should recall the words from Omar Khayyam…

"One moment in Annilhilations waste
  One moment of the well of life to taste:
  The stars are setting and the caravan
  Starts for the Dawn of Nothing - Oh, make haste!"

Today we shall try to make the time stand still for two people.  We shall fix the events of this day their minds and in our minds, so vividly that they can relive it, re-enact it and rejoice in it over and over again.

Nancy and Ted wish to be married.  They have decided that it is in every way better to live together than it is to live apart.  They love one another and they are proud to tell the whole world of their love. We are about to witness their marriage ceremony and I will now call on them to perform it for each other.

Dr. Rickards: Ted and Nancy, have you both decided that you wish to share your lives, your joys and your sorrows together and always treat each other with kindness and respect?

Together:  Yes, we have decided.

Dr. Rickards: Ted, will you ask Nancy to be your wife?

Ted:   Nancy, will you accept this ring as a token of love and a symbol of unity?  Will you be my wife?

Nancy:  I will.  (Accepts ring)

Ted:   I promise by all that I hold to be true that I will always love, honor and cherish you.

Nancy:  Ted, will you accept this ring as a token of love and a symbol of unity?  Will you be my husband?

Ted:   I will.  (Accepts ring)

Nancy:  I promise by all that I hold to be true that I will always love, honor and cherish you,

Dr. Rickards: Mr. and Mrs., by your own words and actions, you are now husband and wife.  May you both enjoy happiness and fulfillment now and in the years to come.

  "For the secret of enjoying life is living…
   and the limit to our happiness is time."

(Embrace)

WEDDING OF NANCY and TED
Saturday, March 29th ,1975
Pagan Wood, Ohio
Dr. Rick Rickards, Humanist minister, officiating

It has been said that there are no two snowflakes in the world which are exactly alike and this is probably true.  It is a fact that no two moments of time are ever the same.  Each is unique and precious to the individual.  On special occasions, intense with pleasure and fulfillment, we find ourselves wishing that we could "stop the clock" if only for a little while and enjoy the moment longer.  The poet has said…

"There is beauty in the simpleness of stealing
  For a moment which is fleeting and sublime,
  The sweetness of reciprocated feeling
  And the thoughts that end the agony of time…"

There are many people in the world who believe that marriages are made in heaven, and there are many others who believe that marriages are made on earth.  There are those who believe that they have an eternity ahead of them, and there are others who do not expect immortality.  Some of us are of the opinion that life on Earth is all too brief and, therefore, "the place to be happy is here, and the time to be happy is now and the way to be happy is to make others so."  While thinking on the subject of Time we should recall the words from Omar Khayyam…

"One moment in Annilhilations waste
  One moment of the well of life to taste:
  The stars are setting and the caravan
  Starts for the Dawn of Nothing - Oh, make haste!"

Today we shall try to make the time stand still for two people.  We shall fix the events of this day their minds and in our minds, so vividly that they can relive it, re-enact it and rejoice in it over and over again.

Nancy and Ted wish to be married.  They have decided that it is in every way better to live together than it is to live apart.  They love one another and they are proud to tell the whole world of their love. We are about to witness their marriage ceremony and I will now call on them to perform it for each other.

Dr. Rickards: Ted and Nancy, have you both decided that you wish to share your lives, your joys and your sorrows together and always treat each other with kindness and respect?

Together:  Yes, we have decided.

Dr. Rickards: Ted, will you ask Nancy to be your wife?

Ted:   Nancy, will you accept this ring as a token of love and a symbol of unity?  Will you be my wife?

Nancy:  I will.  (Accepts ring)

Ted:   I promise by all that I hold to be true that I will always love, honor and cherish you.

Nancy:  Ted, will you accept this ring as a token of love and a symbol of unity?  Will you be my husband?

Ted:   I will.  (Accepts ring)

Nancy:  I promise by all that I hold to be true that I will always love, honor and cherish you,

Dr. Rickards: Mr. and Mrs., by your own words and actions, you are now husband and wife.  May you both enjoy happiness and fulfillment now and in the years to come.

  "For the secret of enjoying life is living…
   and the limit to our happiness is time."

(Embrace)

Dr. Rickards: This the 20th century.  Times have changed, attitudes have changed and customs have changed, but one thing has remained constant.  Men and women are still the same.  They are still the same as they were tens of thousands of years ago.

They love each other and they need each other.  This is basic.  Together they can coexist and dream and build and re-create a world of their own making.  They can be free and equally independent - yet bound in a partnership of mutual trust.  Marriage is a magnificent experience and a challenge of character and intellect.  It presents an infinite variety of opportunities to share happiness and inspiration.

In the words of the poet:

We find more pleasure
Not to take but give . . .
For life is love
And everyone should live.

Milt and Randi, do you both wish to share your lives together as man and wife?

Milt and Randi: We do.

Dr. Rickards: Milt and Randi, according to all the ideals which you hold to be true, do you solemnly declare that you will always care for each other and treat one another with kindness and respect?

Milt and Randi: We do.

Dr. Rickards: You are now man and wife.  May you have a lifetime of happiness and success.