CEDAR CITY – Couples from the congregation of Sonrise Christian Fellowship renewed their wedding vows Sunday during the church service.

Pastor Michael Cooper said he felt inspired to incorporate the renewing of vows into the service on Valentine’s Day to remind couples of the commitments they made to each other. It also fit in well to the month-long series on marriage he was teaching, which will continue the rest of the month.

Before asking all the couples to come to the front, face each other and repeat after him, Cooper spoke about marriage. He said as it is told in the Bible, Eve is created from Adam’s rib. God did not take a bone from his head or his foot, he took it from his side, near his heart. This shows that man and woman are equal, and neither is above or below the other.

Cooper said men should give their lives to their wives, and women should revere and respect their husbands. He told the congregation that marriage is not a contract, it is a covenant.

He also said married people shouldn’t try to mold their husband or wife into the perfect spouse. Instead, they should try to be the perfect spouse.

The auditorium at Canyon View High School, where the church meets, was decorated for the occasion and Cooper wore a tuxedo. He said the balloons that adorned the space were provided by Breakin’ Wind and Boomer’s Bloomers provided beautiful mementos – a small package of chocolates adorned with two silver rings.

The couples who recommitted ranged from those who had been married a short time to one couple who had been married more than 60 years and was renewing their vows for the third time.

As the men and women stood and faced each other, Cooper said that recommitting that day may have been more significant than committing on their wedding day, because they knew each other’s faults. He said he prayed their marriages would be strengthened by their participation in the service.