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Entrance
Sentences of
Scripture
Statement on the
Gift of Marriage
Prayer
Declarations
of Intent
Affirmations
of the Families
Affirmations
of the Congregation
[Psalm,
Hymn, Spiritual, or Anthem]
Readings from
Scripture
Sermon
[Psalm,
Hymn, Spiritual, or Anthem]
Vows
Exchange of Rings
(or Other Symbols)
Prayer
Lord‘s Prayer
Announcement
of Marriage
Charge and Blessing
[Psalm,
Hymn, Spiritual, or Anthem]
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A
Service for General Use
The following marriage
rite is brief and may be used in a variety of settings, although a Christian
marriage service should be held in the place where the community of faith
gathers for worship.
As a service of Christian
worship, the marriage service is under the direction of the minister and the
supervision of the session.
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Entrance
As the people
gather, music appropriate to the praise of God may be offered. At the
appointed time the bride, groom, and other members of the wedding party enter
and come and stand before the minister. The families of the bride and groom
may stand with the couple.
During the
entrance of the wedding party, the people may stand and sing a psalm, hymn,
or spiritual. Or an anthem may be sung, or instrumental musicplayed.
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Sentences of Scripture
The
minister calls the people to worship, either before or after the entrance,
using one of the following, or another appropriate verse from
scripture.
1
1 John 4:16
God is love,
and those who abide in love,
abide in God,
and God abides in them.
2
Ps. 118:24
This is the day that the
Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
3
Ps. 106:1
O give thanks, for the
Lord is good.
God’s love endures forever.
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Statement on the Gift of
Marriage
The
minister says:
We gather in the presence
of God
to give thanks for the gift of marriage,
to witness the joining together of N. and N.,
to surround them with our prayers,
and to ask God‘s blessing upon them,
so that they may be strengthened for their life together
and nurtured in their love for God.
God created us male and
female,
and gave us marriage
so that husband and wife may help and comfort each other,
living faithfully together in plenty and in want,
in joy and in sorrow,
in sickness and in health,
throughout all their days.
God gave us
marriage
for the full expression of the love between a man and a woman.
In marriage a woman and a man belong to each other,
and with affection and tenderness
freely give themselves to each other.
God gave us
marriage
for the well-being of human society,
for the ordering of family life,
and for the birth and nurture of children.
God gave us marriage as a
holy mystery
in which a man and a woman are joined together,
and become one,
just as Christ is one with the church.
In marriage, husband and
wife are called to a new way of life,
created, ordered, and blessed by God.
This way of life must not be entered into carelessly,
or from selfish motives,
but responsibly, and prayerfully.
We rejoice that marriage
is given by God,
blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ,
and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, let marriage be held in honor by all.
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Prayer
The minister says:
Let us pray:
Gracious God,
you are always faithful in your love for us.
Look mercifully upon N. and N.,
who have come seeking your blessing.
Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them
so that with steadfast love
they may honor the promises they make this day,
through Jesus Christ our Savior.[791]
Amen.
The congregation may be seated.
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Declarations of Intent
The minister addresses the bride and groom
individually, using either A or B:
A
N., understanding that God has created, ordered, and
blessed the covenant of marriage,
do you affirm your desire and intention to enter this covenant?
Answer:
I do.
B
If both are baptized, the following may be
used:
N., in your baptism
you have been called to union with Christ and the church.
Do you intend to honor this calling
through the covenant of marriage?
Answer:
I do.
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Affirmations of the Families
The minister may address the families of
the bride and groom:
N., N. [Names of family members],
do you give your blessing to N. and N.,
and promise to do everything in your power to uphold them in their marriage?
The families of the bride and groom answer:
1
We (I) give our (my) blessing
and promise our (my) loving support.
Or
2
We (I) do.
The families of the bride and groom may be
seated.
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Affirmation of the Congregation
The minister may address the congregation,
saying:
Will all of you witnessing these vows
do everything in your power
to uphold N. and N. in their marriage?
Answer:
We will.
A psalm, hymn, spiritual, or anthem may be
sung.
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Reading from Scripture
The following, or a similar prayer for
illumination (pp. 90-91), may be said.
God of mercy,
your faithfulness to your covenant
frees us to live together
in the security of your powerful love.
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Amid all the changing words of our generation,
speak your eternal Word that does not change.
Then may we respond to your gracious promises
by living in faith and obedience;
through our Lord Jesus Christ.[792]
Amen.
One or more scripture passages are read
(pp. 893-902).
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Sermon
After the scriptures are read, a brief
sermon may be given.
A psalm, hymn, spiritual, or other music may follow.
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Vows
The people may stand.
The minister addresses the couple:
N. and N.,
since it is your intention to marry,
join your right hands,
and with your promises
bind yourselves to each other as husband and wife.
The bride and groom face each other and join
right hands. They in turn then make their vows to each other, using A or
B.
A
The man says:
I, N., take you, N., to be my wife;
and I promise,
before God and these witnesses,
to be your loving and faithful husband;
in plenty and in want;
in joy and in sorrow;
in sickness and in health;
as long as we both shall live.
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The woman says:
I, N., take you, N., to be my husband;
and I promise,
before God and these witnesses,
to be your loving and faithful wife;
in plenty and in want;
in joy and in sorrow;
in sickness and in health;
as long as we both shall live.
B
The man says:
Before God and these witnesses,
I, N., take you, N., to be my wife,
and I promise to love you,
and to be faithful to you,
as long as we both shall live.
The woman says:
Before God and these
witnesses
I, N., take you, N., to be my husband,
and I promise to love you,
and to be faithful to you,
as long as we both shall live.
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Exchange of Rings (or Other Symbols)
If rings are to be exchanged, the minister
may say to the couple:
What do you bring as the sign of your promise?
When the rings are presented, the minister
may say the following prayer.
By your blessing, O God,
may these rings be to N. and N.
symbols of unending love and faithfulness,
reminding them of the covenant they have made this day,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.[793]
Amen.
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The bride and groom exchange rings using A
or B or other appropriate words. The traditional trinitarian formula should
be omitted for both the bride and groom if one of the marriage partners is
not a professing Christian.
A
The one giving the ring says:
N., I give you this ring as a sign of our covenant,
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
The one receiving the ring says:
I receive this ring as a sign of our covenant,
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
B
As each ring is given, the one giving the
ring says:
This ring I give
you,
as a sign of our constant faith
and abiding love,
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
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Prayer
The couple
may kneel.
One of the
following prayers, or a similar prayer, is said:
Let us pray:
1
Eternal God,
Creator and preserver of all life,
author of salvation, and giver of all grace:
look with favor upon the world you have made and redeemed,
and especially upon N. and N.
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Give them wisdom and
devotion
in their common life,
that each may be to the other
a strength in need,
a counselor in perplexity,
a comfort in sorrow,
and a companion in joy.
Grant that their
wills
may be so knit together in your will,
and their spirits in your Spirit,
that they may grow in love and peace
with you and each other
all the days of their life.
Give them the
grace,
when they hurt each other,
to recognize and confess their fault,
and to seek each other’s forgiveness
and yours.
Make their life
together
a sign of Christ‘s love
to this sinful and broken world,
that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy conquer despair.
Give them such
fulfillment of their mutual love
that they may reach out in concern for others.
[Give to them, if it is
your will,
the gift of children,
and the wisdom to bring them up
to know you,
to love you,
and to serve you.]
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Grant that all who have
witnessed these vows today
may find their lives strengthened,
and that all who are married
may depart with their own promises renewed.
Enrich with your
grace
all husbands and wives, parents and children,
that, loving and supporting one another,
they may serve those in need
and be a sign of your kingdom.
Grant that the bonds by
which all your children
are united to one another
may be so transformed by your Spirit
that your peace and justice may fill the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.[794]
Amen.
2
Eternal God,
without your grace no promise is sure.
Strengthen N. and N.
with patience, kindness, gentleness,
and all other gifts of your Spirit,
so that they may fulfill the vows they have made.
Keep them faithful to each other and to you.
Fill them with such love and joy
that they may build a home of peace and welcome.
Guide them by your Word
to serve you all their days.
Help us all, O God,
to do your will in each of our homes and lives.
Enrich us with your grace
so that, supporting one another,
we may serve those in need
and hasten the coming of peace, love, and justice on earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.[795]
Amen.
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Lord’s Prayer
The
minister invites all present to sing or say the Lord‘s Prayer.
As our Savior Christ has
taught us, we are bold to say:
All pray
together.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and
the glory are yours
now and forever.Amen.
or
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,
forever.Amen.
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Announcement of Marriage
The
minister addresses the congregation:
Before God
and in the presence of this congregation,
N. and N. have made their solemn vows to each other.
They have confirmed their promises by the joining of hands
[and by the giving and receiving of rings].
Therefore, I proclaim that they are now husband and wife.
Blessed be the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever.
The minister
joins the couple’s right hands.
The
congregation may join the minister saying:
Those whom God has
joined together
let no one separate.
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Charge and Blessing
Charge to the Couple
The
minister addresses the couple, using one of the following:
1
See Col. 3:12-14
As God‘s own,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, and patience,
forgiving each other
as the Lord has forgiven you,
and crown all these things with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
2
Col. 3:17
Whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God through him.
Blessing
The
minister gives God’s blessing to the couple and the congregation, using one
of the following:
1
See Num. 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and
keep you.
The Lord be kind and gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you peace.
Amen.
2
The grace of Christ
attend you,
the love of God surround you,
the Holy Spirit keep you,
that you may live in faith,
abound in hope,
and grow in love,
both now and forevermore.
Amen.
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A psalm, hymn,
spiritual, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be played, as the
wedding party leaves.
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