Blessings on the Unionfor the wedding ceremony ofAmanda Leigh Howerton

andNathan William Fox

January 6, 2007Daytona Beach Florida

Readers (standing from left to right) Darshan Mehta ~ Swati Mehta ~ Jon Swanson ~ Michelle Rindos ~ Rick Katz ~ Amy Katz ~ Donna Cordner ~ Brent Groce

Rick

Amy We acknowledge the Unity of all within the sovereignty of God, expressing our appreciation for this wine, symbol and aid of our rejoicing.

Seventh Blessing

Jon For where two or three are gathered together in my name,

Michelle

there am I in the midst of them.Matthew 18:20

Darshan

Swati The higher consciousness is infinite. This world is infinite. That which comes from the infinite is also infinite. When infinite is subtracted from the infinite, what remains is also infinite.

Donna From one central belief, comes all Quaker faith -- we are all children of God and carry within us the essence of God; The Light within. Each and every one of us has this Light within, this Divine, this Sacred. We hold you both, Nathan & Mandy, in the Light, that you may be guided by it, that your way together may be lighted by that of God.

Brent As Quakers we have no doctrine, only the Light. Our way in the world is guided by the Light as embodied in our spiritual testimonies, which we offer to you.

Rick

Amy We acknowledge the Unity of all within the sovereignty of God, realizing that each separate moment and every distinct object points to and shares in this oneness.

First Blessing

Jon Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear. It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

Michelle

Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.And everything you do must be done with love.

1 Corinthians 13:8,11-13, 16:14

Rick

Amy We acknowledge the Unity of all within the sovereignty of God, recognizing and appreciating the blessing of being human.

Second Blessing

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Donna You are examples of the Light of truth and integrity as individuals and as a couple. Your example helps us all to see that we can live lives of truth and integrity despite our differences and the struggles to make our way in the world.

Brent May you continue to always speak the truth of your hearts, and to follow your own true path, despite the difficulties and challenges. Never forget that love illuminates truth, even in the darkest of times, and integrity is the truest of guides in this world.

Jon Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Michelle

And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15

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Darshan

Swati May our thoughts and resolve be one. May our hearts become one. May our consciousness become one. May we become the embodiment of truth, beauty, and divinity.

Rick

Amy May rejoicing resound throughout the world as the homeless are given homes, persecution and oppression cease, and all people learn to live in peace with each other and in harmony with their environment.

Fourth Blessing

Swati We wish happiness upon all; we wish that all may be free from suffering and sorrow. May all be well-wishers of fortune, and not inflict suffering upon anyone.

Darshan

Jon Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.

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Michelle

Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 2:3-7, 4:13

Rick

Amy We acknowledge the Unity of all within the sovereignty of God, realizing the special gift of awareness that permits us to perceive this unity and the wonder we experience as a man and a woman joined to live together.

Third Blessing

Jon You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly.

Michelle

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:16-19

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Donna We hearten you to continue to nurture equality and support within the marriage -- whether it means compromise or simply listening. You have fostered an amazing community of family, friends and acquaintances who will continue to love and nurture you.

Brent This community will enrich both your lives and your marriage; encouraging a life of diversity and adventure, supporting intimacy and respect, and propelling you into service through both intellect and action. Your love and joy are intermingled with those around you.

Rick

Amy From the Divine, source of all energy, we call forth an abundance of love to envelop this couple. May they be for each other lovers and friends, and may their love partake of the same innocence, purity, and sense of discovery that we imagine the first couple to have experienced.

Fifth Blessing

Jon Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.

Michelle

It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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Rick

Amy We acknowledge the Unity of all within the sovereignty of God, and we highlight today joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, delight and cheer, love and harmony, peace and companionship. May we all witness the day when the dominant sounds through the world will be these sounds of happiness, the voices of lovers, the sounds of feasting and singing. Praised is love; blessed be this marriage. May the bride and bridegroom rejoice together.

Sixth Blessing

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Jon Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Michelle

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

Donna May you have enough quiet in your life that you experience daily the love of the Divine and of each other. May you live your life free enough from the stress and distractions of the world that you may have time to tend to your own dreams and the dreams of each other. We all bear responsibility for peace; not as a burden of guilt, but as a belief that people deserve to be free, to be happy, and to live without fear. Be peaceful with yourself and one another.

Brent Allow peace to flow from your relationship out into the world, as an example of what is possible. Be protective of each other’s peace and that will remind you to respect and defend the peace in the rest of the world.The Light is at the heart of existence and at the center of your life together. May you dwell always in a place of understanding and shared compassion, but when that fails, we wish you the miracle of a new day, a short memory and a good laugh.

Swati Oh Lord! Please protect both of us. Please keep us well. Together, we strive to illumine each other’s work. May our efforts be enlightening and divine, and may we never have negativity for one another. Peace be to oneself, to each other, and to the world.

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Darshan

Citations

Christian Blessings ~ New Testament verses from the King James Version and the New Living Translation: Matthew 18:20 KJV; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13:11-13, 16:14 NLT; Philippians 2:3-7 NLT, 4:4-7, 4:13 KJV; Colossians 3:12-19 NLT.

Jewish Blessings ~ "Sheva Berakhot" (Seven Blessings) in Hebrew; English interpretation from The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant.

Hindu Blessings ~ Vedic mantras inspired by Reverend Pandurang Shastri Athavale; Sanskrit and English interpretations by Prathana Preethi.

Quaker Blessings ~ "The Light Within", written by Donna Cordner and Brent Groce, inspired by Quaker Faith and Practice by Britain Yearly Meeting.

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