CHRISTIAN CEREMONY #17
GREAT BLESSING
PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE
Who gives this woman to be married to this man? / I do. / Her mother and I do.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
TO GUESTS
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, signifying to us the mystical union between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all people, and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but discreetly, soberly and in the reverential fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.
TO THE COUPLE
Also, I require and charge you both that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony you do now confess it. For be it well assured that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God’s Word does allow, their marriage is not lawful.
PLEDGE
_(Groom)_ , will you have this woman to your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto her, so long as you both shall live? / I will.
_(Bride)_ , will you have this man to your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto him, so long as you both shall live? / I will.
_(Bride)_ , please pass your bouquet to your Maid of Honour?
Face each other and join hands.
VOWS
_(Groom)_ , please repeat after me your vows to your bride?
I, _(Groom)_ ,
take you, _(Bride)_
to be my wedded 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,
till death us do part,
according to God’s plan for my life,
and thereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
_(Bride)_ , please repeat after me your vows to your groom?
I, _(Bride)_ ,
take you, _(Groom)_ ,
to be my wedded 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,
till death us do part,
according to God’s plan for my life,
and thereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
RINGS
May I have the rings please?
As you place your ring on _(Bride)_ ‘s finger, please repeat after me your commitment to _(Bride)_ ?
With this ring
I thee wed:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
As you place your ring on _(Groom)_’s finger, please repeat after me your commitment to _(Groom)_ ?
With this ring
I thee wed:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Bless, O Lord, this ring, that he/she that gives it and she/he who wears it may abide in your peace and continue in your favour, unto their life’s end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LET US PRAY
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy 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 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life, send your blessing upon these your servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in your Name, that they, living faithfully together, may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them whereof the rings given and received are a token and pledge, and may they ever remain in love and peace together, living according to your laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.
DECLARATION
Forasmuch as _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their faithfulness, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of rings, and by joining hands; by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Province of Ontario as a minister of the gospel, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
KISS
BENEDICTION
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord look upon you mercifully and fill you with all spiritual blessing and strength that you may so live together in this life, that you may be a source of great blessing to each other and to the world that we share. Amen.
DOCUMENTS
INTRODUCTION
It is my delight to introduce to you Mr. And Mrs. ——- .
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