CHRISTIAN CEREMONY #11
LIFE CHANGING EFFECTS
PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Father: I do. / Her mother and I do.
OPENING REMARKS TO GUESTS
_(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_ stand before you today to exchange their marriage vows. None among you has shown any just cause why they may not be married, nor have they themselves declared any impediment. If anyone here present, can show just cause why you may not lawfully be married, I charge you now to declare it. For the marriage covenant must be made in a spirit of honesty and openness.
_(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_ are honored to have you as their guests and are pleased that you have come to share these happy and sacred moments with them.
REMARKS TO THE COUPLE
_(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_ , on behalf of your family and friends here assembled may I affirm our love for you and our pleasure over your intended marriage. Our minds are filled with memories of previous association with you and our hearts are already joyful over the prospect of you sharing life together. We thank God for the gift of life and love He has granted to you and voice our confidence that as you allow Him, God will join with you in the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams for married life.
INVOCATION PRAYER
Lord, life comes from You and love originates with You. You are aware of the events of our lives and even now You are conscious of this significant event in the lives of _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ . Even as You blessed the marriage in Cana by Jesus presence and participation, so also, by Your Spirit, be present with us. Enhance all that we seek to do and place Your seal of love and approval upon the union that is about to be formed between _(Bride)__ and _(Groom)_ . This we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE PLEDGE
_(Groom)_ , will you have _(Bride)_ to be your wife to live together according to God’s plan in the God-honored state of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health: and forsaking all others remain faithful to her as long as you both shall live? / Answer: I will.
_(Bride)_ , will you have _(Groom)_ to be your wife/husband to live together according to God’s plan in the God-honored state of marriage? Will you love her/him, comfort her/him, honor and keep her/him in sickness and in health: and forsaking all others remain faithful to her/him as long as you both shall live? / Answer: I will.
THE WORD OF GOD
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Ps. 37:4)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)
As the Father have loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (Jn. 15:9)
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. (I Cor. 13:4-8 LB)
PASTORAL GUIDANCE TO COUPLE
The marriage vows you are about to make and the union you are seeking will introduce you to the most intimate and tender of all human experiences. To people of faith in God, the relationship of marriage is a sacred bond which will be discovered and maintained only to the degree to which those involved will seek to know and follow the foundational principles as set out in God’s Word. To undertake a marriage that is founded upon such ideals demands of each of you a deep faith in and devotion to God and an abiding and unconditional commitment of love to one another.
SERMONETTE
As you this day make public you vows, and as in the coming years you seek to keep these solemn vows, may you discover and be committed to the will of God your Heavenly Father. In so doing you will find joy in life and your home will be blessed with peace.
PRE-VOW PRAYER
Let us pray for _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ as they exchange their marriage vows.
Father, in the next few moments in the lives of this couple before us will have life changing effects upon them. They are just now about to register with You their charted course and commit themselves to one another in its attainment. Be here in these moments to seal their vows, and be with them in the years to come for their fulfillment.
VOWS
_(Bride)_ , please give your bouquet to you Maid of Honour?
Face each other and join hands.
_(Groom)_ , please repeat your vows after me to _(Bride)_ ?
Knowing in my heart
that God has brought you into my life
to be my constant friend,
my faithful partner in life,
and my one true love.
I promise to love you
without reservation,
honor and respect you,
provide for your needs as best I can,
protect you from harm,
comfort you in times of distress,
grow with you
in mind and spirit,
always be open
and honest with you,
and cherish you
for as long as we both shall live.
_(Bride)_ , please repeat your vows after me to _(Groom)_ ?
Knowing in my heart
that God has brought you into my life
to be my constant friend,
my faithful partner in life,
and my one true love.
I promise to love you
without reservation,
honor and respect you,
provide for your needs as best I can,
protect you from harm,
comfort you in times of distress,
grow with you
in mind and spirit,
always be open
and honest with you,
and cherish you
for as long as we both shall live…
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
May I have the rings please?
Our lives are marked by many symbols, not the least of which is the wedding band. In the same way a legal seal marks the authenticity of a document, so also the rings you give and receive today serve to mark, seal and declare in a visual way the spiritual and unseen commitments you have exchanged in this joyfully solemn hour. In that your rings have no beginning and no end, may that endlessness symbolize also the character of your mutual trust.
_(Groom)_ , as you place your ring on your bride’s finger, please repeat your commitment to _(Bride)_ , after me?
This ring I give you
represents the unending love
which I pledge to you.
It represents my intention
to honor you with my body
and to share all my life with you.
May it at all times
visibly serve to remind you
of my solemn vows to you
on this day of our marriage.
_(Bride)_ , as you place your ring on your groom’s finger, please repeat your commitment to _(Groom)_ , after me?
This ring I give you
is an expression of,
and a pledge of
my constant faith
and abiding love.
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
In that you _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ have made these solemn promises of marriage before God and these witnesses, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Province of Ontario as an ordained minister of the gospel, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I declare that you are husband and wife.
KISS
PRAYER FOR THE COUPLE
Our Father, may Your divine favor crown this union and the married life of this couple with all temporal and spiritual blessings. Grant to them, we pray, a measure of faith that will enable them to invite You to share in the joys , the success, the failures, the relaxed and the stressful times of their marriage. Give to them a hope which will make them strong and light which will keep them growing in love and joy. Grant to them the ability to share ideas and feelings, dreams and disappointments in such a way as to avoid the hurt of harsh words or the silence of unspoken thoughts. Enable them to establish a happy home that will allow them to see the humorous side of life, yet find contentment and peace in its serious realities. Impart to them, we pray, an awareness that people are more important than things, that respect in your sight is more important than respect in the sight of the world, and that it is love that builds a home not wood and stone. These things I ask in the strong name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
BENEDICTION
As you walk down life’s path together, may the Father of all mercy, who has called you by His grace to this holy relationship of marriage, bind you together in a love that is true, a faithfulness that is lasting, and may He grant to you His blessing. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SIGNING OF THE REGISTER
SPECIAL MUSIC
PRESENTATION OF THE COUPLE
It give me great delight to introduce to you Mr. And Mrs. ——- .
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