An Order for the Solemnization of Marriage

Transcription

1 An Order for the Solemnization of Marriage (in contemporary form) When the people have assembled the service may begin with a processional hymn, such as Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation during which the bridal party shall enter the church. The persons to be married shall stand side by side, the man on the right of the woman. At the conclusion of the hymn the minister shall say, We, as a community of friends, are gathered here in God s presence, to witness the marriage of and and ask God to bless them. A prayer of approach shall be said. O God, you are the creator of all things; you made us, and you sustain us; we depend on you. For the gift of life, we praise you. For Jesus who reveals its meaning and purpose, we thank you. In the world without, and in our lives within, there is much that is confusing and contradictory. Many voices counsel us; may forces pressure us; many things tempt us. We need your light to lead us, your hand to hold us, and your love to complete us. In Jesus name we ask now for your blessing. Amen. The people shall be seated and one of more of the following lessons shall be read, Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever. And his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100 Page 1

2 Jesus said: As the father has loved me, so that I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15: 9-12 This lesson from the Gospel shall be read, Jesus said: Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one? So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Matthew 19: 4-6 An address may be given or the minister may say, By our presence here we accept responsibility for helping encouraging them in the new relationship into which they are about to enter. We are called to rejoice in their happiness, to help them when they have trouble, and to remember them in our prayers. Marriage, like our creation as men and women, owes its very existence to God. It is God s will and intention that a husband and wife should love each other throughout their life; (and that children born to them should enjoy the security of family and home). After which he shall say to the persons being married. your marriage is intended to join you for life in a relationship so intimate and personal that it will change your whole being. It offers you the hope, and indeed the promise, of a love that is true and mature. To attain such love you will have to commit yourselves to each other freely and gladly for the sake of a richer and deeper life together. Let God be your guide and helper. In place of this statement to the couple, or supplemental to it, there may be read suitable secular readings which speak of the love between man and woman. The minister shall say to the persons being married, you have made it known that you want to be joined in Christian marriage, and no one has shown any valid reason why you may not. If either of you know any lawful impediment why you should not be married you are now to declare it. Page 2

3 The people may stand. The minister shall say to the man, , will you have to be your wife? The man shall answer, I will. The minister shall say to the woman, , will you have to be your husband? The woman shall answer, I will. The minister may say to the parents or family, Who gives this woman to be married to this man? They shall answer, I/we do. The minister shall then say to the people, Let us pray for this man and woman as they make their marriage vows. Our Father as and pledge themselves to each other, help them and bless them; that their love may be pure, and their vows may be true; through Jesus Christ out Lord. Amen. The minister shall say to the man, Take by the right hand and say to her: I take you to be my wife; to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow, to grow with you in love, to be faithful to you alone, as long as we both shall live. The minister shall say to the woman, Take by the right hand and say to him: Page 3

4 I take you to be my husband; to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow, to grow with you in love, to be faithful to you alone, as long as we both shall live. A ring may be given to the minister who shall give it to the man, who, placing it on the fourth finger of the woman s left hand shall say, , I give you this ring that you may wear it as a symbol of our marriage. If the woman gives the man a ring, the ceremony shall be repeated. The minister shall say, For as much as have made this solemn covenant of marriage before God and all of us here, I declare them to be husband and wife; in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Then the minister shall pronounce this blessing, the grace of Christ attend you, the love of God surround you, the Holy Spirit keep you. Amen. The marriage vows may be sealed with a kiss. The man and woman may kneel, the people may be seated, and the minister shall say, O God, Creator of us all, we thank you for the gift of lifeand, in life, for the gift of marriage We praise you and thank you for all the joys that come to men and women through marriage, and the blessings of home and family. Today, especially, we pray for as they begin their life together as husband and wife. With them we thank you for the joy they find in each other. Help them support each other with patience, understanding and honesty. (Teach them to be wise and loving parents of any children they may have.) Look with favour, God on all our homes, defend them from every evil that may threaten Page 4

5 them, from outside or within. Let your Spirit so direct all of us that we may each look to the good of others in word and deed, and grow in grace as we advance in years; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And all shall say together the Lord s Prayer. As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we now 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but delivers us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. And now with the confidence of children before a loving parent we pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and delivers us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. A hymn may be sung such as, O God, from whom mankind derives its name Now thank we all our God O Father, all-creating O Perfect love, all human thought transcending. The minister shall dismiss the people with a blessing. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Page 5