Renewal Of Marriage Vows For Mark and Valari Hartmann- 6/21/2025

Begin with Music:

Processional:

Welcome: On behalf of Mark and Valari Hartmann I want to welcome all of you to this special ceremony. This happy occasion, the renewal of their marriage covenant vows that were first made on March 21st, 2020, is a special opportunity for us to be among Mark and Valari’s family and friends as we celebrate the renewal of this union. It is appropriate to seek the LORD’s presence as we gather on this special occasion.

Prayer: Father, You have said in your word, “It is not good that man should be alone”; therefore, You provide for us the institution of marriage and You bless this special union which is a covenant which is entered into before witnesses.

Gracious LORD it is with great joy that we all join together this afternoon as Mark and Val renew their vows before you and these witnesses who have gathered. We ask that you would be present here in a special way as Mark and Valari renew their vows and that we would sense your presence among us in a special way on this occasion. We thank you for this as we pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Congregation of Witnesses May be Seated:

Recently in one of our Sunday services we considered Joshua 24 where Joshua and the nation of Israel renewed their covenant before the LORD. At the end of that covenant renewal Joshua says, “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (14-15)

At this point in Joshua’s life he is very old when he renews this covenant. He does not hesitate to confirm his oath again before the LORD. He has seen God be faithful to fulfill every promise that He has made to His people. As he speaks to the people he exhorts them all to spend some time reflecting on the faithfulness of God and also upon their own sinfulness and need for repentance as they renew this covenant.

Similarly, we too are here to consider God’s faithfulness even in the face of our own sin and unbelief. We have not always honored the LORD and obeyed His Word. We have not always worshiped Him and turned away from all of the idols that are in our lives and in our hearts. Therefore, it is appropriate as we begin this renewal service that each of us who are witnesses of this renewal should begin by humbling ourselves before the LORD, repenting of our sin, and preparing our hearts to receive His grace.

As we do this let us consider James’ words in James 4:1-10,

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Prayer of repentance and acknowledgment of God: The LORD’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed by your name;

your kingdom come;

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Declaration of Intent:

• Mark Hartmann, understanding that this is God’s instruction to you regarding how you are to love Valari, as the Holy Spirit empowers you, do you recommit yourself to love her in this way? Do you promise to love and uphold her and to join with her in making a home that shall endure in love and in peace? Do you reaffirm your commitment to a deeper union with her whereby you shall both know joy and fulfillment of love? Do you renew your pledge to complete faithfulness through all the changing seasons of life? Do you now, of your own free will, give yourself completely to Valari to lover her in body, mind, and soul that you shall be hers alone as long as you both shall live?

  • Mark says: I do

• Valarie Hartmann, understanding that this is God’s instruction to you regarding how you are to love Mark, as the Holy Spirit empowers you, do you recommit yourself to love him in this way? Do you promise to love and uphold him and to join with him in making a home that shall endure in love and in peace? Do you reaffirm your commitment to a deeper union with him whereby you shall both know joy and fulfillment of love? Do you renew your pledge to complete faithfulness through all the changing seasons of life? Do you now, of your own free will, give yourself completely to Mark to lover him in body, mind, and soul that you shall be his alone as long as you both shall live?

  • Varari says: I do

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-18

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Renewal Homily:

In these Scriptures we were told to make mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience the regular practice in our lives every dayt. Each day we are to put these virtues on like a garment and then not take them off regardless of the occasion. These virtues are bound together by our love and they are the external expressions of the love that we have for each other. They are the virtues that allow us to live together in harmony and peace.

Colossians 3:13 told us that we are to ‘...bear with one another, and forgive one another…’. Forgiveness is the key virtue in keeping your marriage healthy. In Psalm 32 we are told that God forgives our sins, our transgressions, and our iniquities. Forgiveness speaks of the removal of the burden of these things which are crushing us. God removes these burdens and frees us from the weight and entanglement of sins so that we can run the race that is marked out for us.

Therefore, as God has done this for you as you can do the same for each other in this marriage. I give you this charge from Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Ephesians 5:22-33)

Forgiving and bearing with one another keeps the heart from growing cold. It frees us from bitterness and allows us to love each other regardless of the faults that we see in each other. It allows us to lay aside the weight of our sin and run with endurance the race marked out for us in our marriages.

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” These words are not only for you Mark and Valari, but these words are for all of us who are here today as witnesses of this covenant renewal. Love is not something that comes from outside of us. Love is an overflow of the gospel, the Word of Christ, that is received in our hearts and minds with faith.

Love is a fruit of the Spirit. All of the virtues of love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, gentleness, humility, and peace flow naturally out of the presence of the Holy Spirit applying the Word of God in our lives. As we yield to Him in faith, He lives His life through us. As we depend on Him, these virtues actually become part of our own spirit and it produces the godly fruit of holiness and righteousness in our life.

In this marriage you have the opportunity to live together for many years. Your love has already been matured since March 21st, 2020. Since then your expectations have been confronted with reality and they have had to be adjusted. Through it all you continue to persevere by looking to Christ and His Word for grace. In your flesh you are flawed and weak, but His Spirit will continue to make your love for each other vibrant and strong.

Renewal of Vows:

Mark and Valari, think back to that day, March 21st, 2020, when you first pledged your love and commitment to each other. Your love was young and strong. You had grand dreams as you looked into the future. Since then you have faced challenges, troubles, and things that tested your faith. Yet, you stand here before us today giving a public testimony of your continuing love for God and each other.

Therefore, today as you renew your vows you can make these vows with confidence. Over the last five years your love has been refined and strengthened. You are more mature and your faith in God continues to grow strong. He is with us today as you make these vows to each other before these witnesses and is here to affirm the presence of His Spirit in this marriage and help you fulfill these vows.

Vow: Mark (taking Valari’s hand) repeat after me,

“I renew now the vows I made when we became husband and wife. I, Mark Hartmann, take you Valari Hartmann 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.”

Vow: Valari holding Mark’s right hand repeat after me,

I renew now the vows I made when we became husband and wife. I, Valari Hartmann, take you Mark Hartmann to be my husband, 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.”

Lighting of the unity candle:

Communion: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Taking of the Bread: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

Taking of the wine: “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

Music:

Prayer of Dedication:

Father, we look to you as the source for every good thing in our life. Some years ago you looked down as these two pledged their love and commitment to one anther. You have watched and participated as theikr love has grown and as their journey through life has continued. We look to you now for continued and renewed blessings on them. Renew their spirits and love for each other. I ask that the fruit of the Spirit would be evident in hteir lives. Give them a love which is beyond their ability- a love which comes from You. Give them Your peace and confidence that you are present in a powerful way in this marriage. Give them the ability to be gracious to one another. Grant them the gift of faithfulness. Give them gentleness and self-control. Bring great joy into this marriage in any circumstance. Allow them to love each other as you have loved them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Presentation: Mark Hartmann and Valari Hartmann have renewed their vows to one another and have sealed their commitment through prayer and the giving and receiving of communion. Now I present them to you. Will you commit yourselves, as witnesses of this special occasion, to the Word of God and to prayer? Stand in a symbol of that commitment.

Mark and Valari may kiss each other at this point and then go together out of the sanctuary to greet their guests.