These two weddings are suitable for couples who desire a
Christian service not drawn from any particular denomination's
doctrines. The services have definite religious content without espousing a
specific Christian theology.
Christian Wedding I
- Opening Words
- Affirmation of Marriage
- Reading From Paul's Letter to
the Colossians 3:12-14
- Declaration of Intent
- Exchange of Vows
- Blessing of the Rings
- Exchange of Rings
- Prayer
- Community Vow of Support
- Declaration of Marriage
- Presentation of the Couple
Opening Words
It is with great pleasure that we gather today to
witness the joining of two hands, and two hearts in holy matrimony.
These two people, ________ and _________, have fallen in love so deeply,
so completely, that today, they make a bond, a sacred covenant before God,
whereby their hearts, their bodies, and their souls shall be united as one in
marriage for the rest of their days.
__________ and __________’s respective families, together with their
friends, each represent a circle of love where members care for, and nurture
each other, in times of joy and in times of sorrow.
Today, _________ and _________ join their lives together to make a new
circle of love, one that overlaps with, and is made stronger by those from which
it has emerged. You have been invited here because of their special
relationship with you, to witness the creation of this sacred bond.
Affirmation of Marriage
Love between man and woman, like any other love, is a love generous in giving
and generous in receiving. It is full of laughter, compassion and rejoicing.
Love nourishes but it does not possess; in love we affirm one another and do not
dominate. To love is not to win or lose, but to help and be helped.
You can love with strength and
fortitude. You can wrap your hands around something and hold on tight: to your
relationship with another; to belief in yourself; to your dreams, safe against
any opposition that may arise.
You can also love by not holding
on—just open your hand and let go. Let go of fear, of hate, of beliefs that
harm you, of lessons learned, giving yourself the freedom to grow and find joy.
Better still, you can hold out your
open hand, and take no action at all, let love reside there. Support it; nourish
it; let it go; and let it come back.
Loving in this unrestricted yet
supportive manner conveys a great trust; trust in the other and trust in
yourself. Trust that this love will stay, trust that you two will work to
support, cherish and encourage each other. Trust that you can be strong enough
to let your paths be different, to allow distances to come between you, knowing
this freedom of spirit will draw you back together again. Love with an open hand
and consequently in giving, you shall receive.
A Reading From Paul's Letter to the
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each
other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive
as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds
them all together in perfect unity.
Declaration of Intent to Marry
The covenant of marriage is one that can be entered into only by persons who
are both legally and spiritually free to offer themselves to each other.
Therefore, in the presence of God and in the presence of all of the
witnesses here, I will ask __________ and ___________ to state their intention.
___________ and ______________, have you come here freely and without
reservation to give yourselves to each other in the holy state of matrimony?
They respond:
“Yes” or “We have.”
Exchange of Vows
__________ and __________, please face each other
and join your hands, and in so doing, join your hearts.
__________ please repeat after me:
I, _________,
take you __________,
to be my
lawfully wedded wife/husband,
to have and to
hold,
to love and to
cherish,
for better, for
worse,
for richer, for
poorer,
in sickness and
in health,
from this day
forward,
until death do
us part.
Blessing of Rings
Do we have the rings?
Lord, please bless these rings that ________
and __________ are about to
exchange. May these rings forever
remind them of their covenant with one another, as well as the circle of love
they have publicly created here today. May
their compassion and kindness for one another always be like these rings, with
no beginning and no end. May the
precious metal remind them of their precious commitment, and if either begins to
tarnish, may they joyfully undertake the sacred duty to make it shine brightly
again. May their relationship
always be like these rings, separate but close, simple but beautiful.
May these rings always belong to their hands, and their love always
belong in each other’s hearts. In the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Exchange of Rings
_____________Please look into the eyes of your
beloved, and place the ring, a symbol of your love for ____________ on his/her
hand, and say, “With this ring, I thee wed”.
Prayer
Let us pray. Lord, help
____________ and ___________ to always remember when they
first met and the strong love that
grew between them. To work that love
into practical things so nothing can divide them. May
they always speak words both kind and loving, and may their hearts be always
ready to ask forgiveness as
well as to forgive. Dear Lord, we
place their marriage into your hands. Amen.
Community Vow of Support
Now that you have heard __________ and __________
recite their marriage vows, do you, their family and friends, promise from this
day forward, to encourage them and love them, and to help guide and support them
in being steadfast in the promises they have made?” If you agree, please
say, “We do.”
Declaration of Marriage
___________ and __________, with the support of
your families and friends, by the vows you have made to one another, by the
strength of your covenant, and in the presence of God, it is my pleasure to
pronounce you “Husband and Wife.” You may seal your marriage with a kiss.
Presentation of the Married Couple
Ladies and gentleman, it is my great honor and
privilege to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and
Mrs._____________________!
Christian Wedding II
- Presentation of the Couple
- Call to Worship
- Opening Prayer
- Reading From Paul's Letter to
the Romans 12:1-3, 9-13
- Affirmation of Marriage
- Exchange of Vows (two
formats)
- Blessing and Exchange of Rings
- Unity Candle
- Closing Prayer
- Declaration of Marriage
Presentation of the Couple
Doubly blessed is the couple which comes to the marriage altar with the
approval and blessings of their families and friends. Who has the honor of
presenting this man and woman to be married this day?
Parents respond: “We do.”
Call To Worship
Dear friends and family, with great affection for ___ and ___ we have
gathered together to witness and bless their union in marriage. To this sacred
moment they bring the fullness of their hearts as a treasure and a gift from God
to share with one another. They bring the dreams which bind them together in an
eternal commitment. They bring their gifts and talents, their unique
personalities and spirits, which God will unite together into one being as they
build their life together. We rejoice with them in thankfulness to the Lord for
creating this union of hearts, built on friendship, respect and love.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, ___ and ___ are now about to vow their unending loyalty to
each other. We ask you to accept the shared treasure of their life together,
which they now create and offer to You. Grant them everything they need, that
they may increase in their knowledge of You throughout their life together. In
the name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture Reading Romans 12:1-3, 9-13
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of
worship. do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the
grace given me I say to every one of you. Do not think of yourself more highly
than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance
with the measure of faith God has given you. Love must be sincere. Hate what is
evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor
one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer. share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Affirmation of Marriage
As you stand together in God's presence, remember that love and loyalty alone
will serve as the foundations of a happy and enduring home. If the solemn vows
which you are about to make are kept permanently, and if you steadfastly seek to
do the will of your Heavenly Father, your life will be full of peace and joy,
and the home which you are establishing will abide through every change.
____ and ____, this covenant is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression
of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each other, and as you
commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness, and
yet with a deep sense of joy; with the deep conviction that you are committing
yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and
caring love.
Exchange of Vows
Repetitive Version
I, ____, take you ____ to be my
wedded (wife/husband),
and in the presence of these
witnesses
I vow I will do everything in my
power
to make my love for you a growing
part of my life.
I will strengthen it from day to day
and week to week
with my best resources.
I will stand by you in sickness or in
health,
in poverty or in wealth,
and will you shun all others and keep
myself to you alone
as long as we both shall live.
Responsive Version
____, do you take ____ to be your wedded (wife/husband), and in the presence
of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make
your love for (her/him) a growing part of your life? Will you continue to
strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will
you stand by (her/him) in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, and
will you shun all others and keep yourself to (her/him) alone as long as you
both shall live?
Exchange of Rings
Father, bless these rings which ____ and ____ have set apart to be visible
signs of the inward and spiritual bond which unites their hearts. This circle
will now seal the vows of their marriage and will symbolize the purity and
endlessness of their love. As they give and receive these rings, may they
testify to the world of the covenant made between them here.
_____, please repeat after me as you place the ring on _____‘s finger.
_____, receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my trust, my respect and my
love for you.
Unity Candle
The two outside candles have been lighted to represent both your lives in
this moment. They are two distinct lights, each capable of going their separate
ways. As you join now in marriage, there is a merging of these two lights into
one light. This is what the Lord meant when He said, "On this account a man
shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall be
one flesh." From now on your thoughts shall be for each other rather than your
individual selves.
Your plans shall be mutual, your joys and sorrows shall be shared alike. As
you each take a candle and together light the center one, you will extinguish
your own candles, thus letting the center candle represent the union of your
lives into one flesh. As this one light cannot be divided, neither shall your
lives be divided but a united testimony in a Christian home. May the radiance of
this one light be a testimony of your unity in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer
May the love of God be above you to overshadow you, beneath you to uphold
you, before you to guide you, behind you to protect you, close beside you and
within you to make you able for all things, and to reward your faithfulness with
the joy and peace which the world cannot give -- neither can it take away.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom be glory now and evermore. Amen
Declaration of Marriage
Because ____ and ____ have desired each other in marriage, and have witnessed
this before God and our gathering, affirming their acceptance of the
responsibilities of such a union, and have pledged their love and faith to each
other, sealing their vows in the giving and receiving of rings, I do proclaim
that they are husband and wife in the sight of God and man. Let all people here
and everywhere recognize and respect this holy union, now and forever. You
may kiss your bride.
|
Non-denominational Christian
