Valentines Day ceremony
Couples taking part in the ceremony and dates they were married:
• Harlen and Crystal Jinkerson, Sept. 20, 2003.
• Troy and Ruby Clark, Oct. 27, 2001.
n Dennis and Amber Griepentrog, Dec. 4, 1999.
• Chad and Amy Bennett, Oct. 9, 1999.
• Todd and Jennifer Carter, June 26, 1999.
• Randy and Terry Tackett, May 13, 1995.
• Dennis and Sandra Nelson, Sept. 20, 1986.
• Dan and Mary Lou Bunker-Langy, June 28, 1985.
• Terry and Gwen Shaker, June 8, 1985.
• Phil and Tina Volden, April 27, 1985.
• Harvey and Elaine Klassy, June 7, 1969.
MONROE - Sunday was a day to celebrate marriage and feel the love in the air as 11 couples renewed their wedding vows at the Monroe United Methodist Church.
Some of the couples who renewed their vows had been married only a few years, while others have been married much longer.
Harlen and Crystal Jinkerson were married Sept. 20, 2003. It was Harlen's idea to renew their vows.
"It's Valentine's Day," he said.
While Harlen wasn't nervous before the ceremony, Crystal laughed and said she was.
"I was nervous right away this morning," she said. "I'm more nervous now than I was before."
What made the event special for them was the fact their daughter, Haley, 5, was at the ceremony.
"She was excited about," Crystal said, as Haley smiled.
"This is a great day to celebrate love," Rev. Randy Booth said. "We celebrate our love for each other throughout the year."
Booth said the Valentine's Day ceremonies offered couples the chance to proclaim their love for one another.
"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing," he said, reading from the Bible chapter 1 Corinthians. "An now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Dan and Mary Lou Bunker-Langy, will celebrate their 25th anniversary July 28. Mary Lou wore her original wedding dress.
"Not many people can do that after 25 years," she said, jokingly.
Mary Lou admitted she was nervous about going through another ceremony, but said she looked forward to it.
Dan wasn't nervous at all.
"I'm doing because I love her," he said, with a smile, "and I need to remind her of some of those promises in the vows."
The couple married the longest was Harvey and Elaine Klassy. They were married June 7, 1969 at the former Methodist Church, which was located at 16th Street and 16th Avenue.
After 40 years, their commitment to each other and their love for one another remains as strong as it was more than 40 years ago.
"We've talked about it before and this seemed like the perfect opportunity," Elaine said.
They were just kids when they married the first time, she said.
Booth said the idea went over pretty well and people began to sign up for the renewal ceremony as soon as he announced it a few weeks ago.
The couples were able to choose their own vows. They each took turns standing in front of the church reciting the vows and finishing the brief ceremony with a kiss.
A few of the brides wiped away a tears as they recited their wedding vows, but each one smiled as they walked down the aisle after the ceremony.
"We plan to do this in six years, when Valentine's Day is on Sunday, again," Booth said.
Some of the couples who renewed their vows had been married only a few years, while others have been married much longer.
Harlen and Crystal Jinkerson were married Sept. 20, 2003. It was Harlen's idea to renew their vows.
"It's Valentine's Day," he said.
While Harlen wasn't nervous before the ceremony, Crystal laughed and said she was.
"I was nervous right away this morning," she said. "I'm more nervous now than I was before."
What made the event special for them was the fact their daughter, Haley, 5, was at the ceremony.
"She was excited about," Crystal said, as Haley smiled.
"This is a great day to celebrate love," Rev. Randy Booth said. "We celebrate our love for each other throughout the year."
Booth said the Valentine's Day ceremonies offered couples the chance to proclaim their love for one another.
"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing," he said, reading from the Bible chapter 1 Corinthians. "An now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Dan and Mary Lou Bunker-Langy, will celebrate their 25th anniversary July 28. Mary Lou wore her original wedding dress.
"Not many people can do that after 25 years," she said, jokingly.
Mary Lou admitted she was nervous about going through another ceremony, but said she looked forward to it.
Dan wasn't nervous at all.
"I'm doing because I love her," he said, with a smile, "and I need to remind her of some of those promises in the vows."
The couple married the longest was Harvey and Elaine Klassy. They were married June 7, 1969 at the former Methodist Church, which was located at 16th Street and 16th Avenue.
After 40 years, their commitment to each other and their love for one another remains as strong as it was more than 40 years ago.
"We've talked about it before and this seemed like the perfect opportunity," Elaine said.
They were just kids when they married the first time, she said.
Booth said the idea went over pretty well and people began to sign up for the renewal ceremony as soon as he announced it a few weeks ago.
The couples were able to choose their own vows. They each took turns standing in front of the church reciting the vows and finishing the brief ceremony with a kiss.
A few of the brides wiped away a tears as they recited their wedding vows, but each one smiled as they walked down the aisle after the ceremony.
"We plan to do this in six years, when Valentine's Day is on Sunday, again," Booth said.