Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…

Philippians 2:1-11

Grace, peace & mercy are yours in the Triune God. Amen.

Lyn & Thomas, what a marvellous day! Can you believe it – that it’s been 25 years? How much has changed in that time? How much feels so much the same? Do you still feel like the idealistic young couple of 1994, clad in a spiffing suit and a beautiful 90s style grand silk gown, surrounded by those you love as you declared your love and commitment to each other? Does it feel that long ago?

Well, in case you need a bit more help to get in that 1994’s mindset, I thought I’d remind you of a few things going on that year.

• Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.
• Yahoo and Amazon both got their start in the burgeoning technical world.
• People started singing “I’ll be there for you” as the TV show Friends started its long run.
• In the movie world, we learned quite a few things in 1994…The Lion King taught us “Hakuna Matata” (apparently it means no worries for the rest of our days); we learned that life is like a box of chocolates with Forrest Gump; and apparently 1994 had a lot to do with weddings…with at least Four Weddings and a Funeral…though I’m hoping your own wedding was memorable for different reasons than the weddings in that film!

So there you go – that was 25 years…where does that time go?

I expect as you look back over the last 25 years of married life, you might have noticed a few changes…and I’m not just talking about a few wrinkles or grey hairs. I expect as you look back over the years you will have noticed how your love has changed and matured over that time too – from the heady days of courtship, to the early years of adjusting to married life. How love has changed as you’ve had to face the challenges of life, to how your love changed as you family grew with Natasha entering your lives.

There is no doubt that love for each other does change…and as it has changed, it has grown and matured. And perhaps in doing so, you start to understand even better that greater love, that love that was spoken of in your marriage ceremony 25 years ago, that love spoken of in those same bible readings again today.

Today, as back then, you are encouraged with Paul’s words to the Philippians – to take comfort in being united in God’s great love. Today, as then, you are reminded that every day his love is helping you to be “likeminded, having the same love, being of one spirit and one mind”.

Today, as he has over the last 25 years, God pours his love on you, helping you both to avoid doing things out of “selfish ambition or vain conceit”. His love has helped and continues to help you to look out not for your own interest, but for the interest of each other, and the interest of others.

He has done this for you both over the last 25 years, and he will continue to unite you both in his love for years to come.

It is this great love that we give thanks for today, acknowledging the many blessings that God has given you both, and calling on God to continue to guide and bless you throughout your lives together.

And now may the peace of God, which passes all human understanding, guard our hearts and minds in true faith, until life everlasting. Amen.