1. Welcome
2. Hymn/song
The Minister says:
We meet together in the presence of God
to witness the marriage of A and C.
to ask God's blessing upon them.
to surround them with our prayers
and to share their joy.
3. Confession
Let us pray:
Gracious God, your generous love surrounds us,
and everything we enjoy comes from you.
We confess our ingratitude for your goodness
and our selfishness in the use of your gifts.
Forgive and renew us,
and fill us with your Spirit
that in true thankfulness
we may bear witness to your love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
4. The Purpose of Marriage
The Minister says:
Marriage is a gift of God.
blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ
and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
God has given us marriage
So that the love of man and woman
should be fulfilled
in the whole of their life together.
It is God's intention that husband and wife
should create and find in marriage
life long unity
of heart, body and mind,
of comfort and companionship,
of enrichment and encouragement,
and of tenderness and trust.
In all this we receive the help of the Holy Spirit.
God has given us marriage
as the foundation of family life.
(into which children may be born and nurtured, and)
in which all may know the security
of love and care,
and grow towards maturity.
Such marriage enriches others,
and strengthens human society.
It is God's intention that marriage
should be honoured as a way of life.
No one should enter into it lightly, or selfishly,
for it involves the giving of one person
wholeheartedly to another.
The self-giving love of Christ is our example:
for he loved his people and gave himself for them.
A and C are now to share this way of life
which God has created and in Christ has blessed.
Today we pray that the Holy Spirit
will guide and strengthen them
that they may fulfil God's purposes
for the rest of their lives.
5. The Legal Declarations
The Minister says to the couple:
A and C, I ask you now to make the declaration
which the law requires.
The man says in the presence of the Authorized Person (or the Registrar) and two witnesses, as required by law:
I do solemnly declare
that I know not of any lawful impediment
why I, AB, may not be joined in matrimony to CD.
OR
I declare
that I know of no legal reason
why I, AB, may not be joined in marriage to CD.
The woman says, in the presence of the same persons, as required by law:
I do solemnly declare
that I know not of any lawful impediment
why I, CD, may not be joined in matrimony to AB.
OR
I declare
that I know of no legal reason
why I, CD, may not be joined in marriage to AB.
6. The Promises of Intent
The Minister says to the bridegroom:
A, are you willing to give yourself to C in Christian marriage?
He answers: I am.
The Minister says to the bridegroom:
Will you love her, comfort and honour her,
be her companion through all the joys and
sorrows of life, and be faithful to her
as long as you both shall live?
He answers:
With God's help, I will.
The Minister says to the bride:
C, are you willing to give yourself to A in Christian marriage?
She answers: I am.
The Minister says to the bride:
Will you love him, comfort and honour him,
be his companion through all the joys and
sorrows of life, and be faithful to him
as long as you both shall live?
She answers:
With God's help, I will.
THE MARRIAGE
7. Affirmation
All stand. The Minister may say to the people:
I ask you, the families and friends of A and C:
Will you do all in your power
to support and encourage them in their marriage?
The people answer:
With God's help, we will.
8. Presentation for Marriage
If the bride and bridegroom have sponsors
presenting them for marriage,
the Minister may say:
Who presents C to be married to A?
The bride's sponsor replies: I do.
The Minister says:
Who presents A to be married to C?
The bridegroom's sponsor replies: I do.
9. Prayer
The Minister says:
O God, as you have brought A and C together
in love and trust,
enable them through the power of your Holy Spirit
to make and keep their vows,
through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
10. The Vows
The bridegroom takes the bride's right hand in his, and says:
I call upon these persons here present
to witness that l, AB,
do take thee, CD,
to be my lawful wedded wife.
OR
I, AB, take you, CD,
to be my wedded wife.
For better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
from this day forward,
until we are parted by death;
and this is my solemn vow.
They loose hands.
The bride takes the bridegroom's right hand in hers, and says:
I call upon these persons here present
to witness that I, CD,
do take thee, AB,
to be my lawful wedded husband.
OR
I, CD, take you, AB,
to be my wedded husband.
For better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
from this day forward,
until we are parted by death;
and this is my solemn vow.
They loose hands.
11. The Giving of the Ring(s)
The Minister receives the ring(s), then says:
Eternal God,
bless these rings/this ring,
as symbols/a symbol of the love and trust
between A and C. Amen.
EITHER
The giver places the ring on the ring finger
of the other's hand, and says:
I give you this ring
as a sign of our marriage.
With my body I honour you,
all that I am I give to you,
and all that I have I share with you,
within the love of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
OR
If only one ring is given,
the following words may be said by the recipient:
I receive this ring
as a sign of our marriage.
With my body I honour you,
all that I am I give to you,
and all that I have I share with you,
within the love of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
OR
After the rings/ring have/has been given and received, the couple say together:
With these rings/this ring
we pledge ourselves to each other,
in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
12. The Proclamation of the Marriage
The Minister joins the right hands of the husband and wife.
The Minister addresses the congregation:
Before God and in the presence of us all,
A and C have bound themselves to each other
in the covenant of Christian marriage.
They have exchanged vows, joined their hands,
and given and received rings/a ring.
I therefore proclaim
that they are now husband and wife.
Those whom God has joined together.
let no one separate.
13. The Blessing of the Marriage
The people remain standing.
The husband and wife may kneel.
The minister may lay hands upon the heads
of the husband and wife.
A and C,
the blessing of God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.
May God be your protection and your wisdom,
your guide and your peace.
your joy, your comfort, and your eternal rest: Amen.
14. Hymn/song
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
15. All sit.
One or more passages of scripture is read.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a,13
Love is patient and kind. Love envies no one, is never boastful, never conceited, never rude; love is never selfish, never quick to take offence. Love keeps no score of wrongs, takes no delight in the sins of others, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, its endurance. Love will never come to an end. There are three things that last for ever: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of the three is love.
1 John 4: 7-12, 15-17
My dear friends, let us love one another, because the source of love is God. Everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God, but the unloving know nothing of God, for God is love. This is how he showed his love among us: he sent his only son into the world that we might have life through him. This is what love really is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sins. If God thus loved us my dear friends, we ought also to love one another. God has never been seen by anyone, but if we love one another, he himself dwells in us; his love is brought to perfection within us. If
anyone acknowledges that Jesus is God's Son, God dwells in him and he in God. Thus we have come to know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love; he who dwells in love is dwelling in God, and God in him.
Mark 10: 6-9
Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: 'in the beginning, at the creation,
"God made them male and female." 'That is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is united to his wife, and the two become one flesh." It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no one must separate.'
John 15 :9-12
Jesus said: 'As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Dwell in my love. If you heed my commands, you will dwell in my love, as I have heeded my Father's commands and dwell in his love. I have spoken thus to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.'
16. The Address
17. Hymn/song (optional)
18. Prayers of the people
God of grace, source of all love,
bless A and C by your Holy Spirit
that they may live together
in love and faithfulness
to the end of their lives.
Enrich their friendship,
that each may be for the other
a companion in joy and a comforter in sorrow.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Make them patient, gentle, and forgiving,
that their marriage may reflect
Christ's love for all people.
Enable them to make their home
a place of security and trust,
and to serve Christ in their neighbour.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
May we, who have witnessed these vows today,
be strengthened in our lives together,
and be signs of your love in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
19. The Lord's Prayer
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 deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
20. If Holy Communion is to be celebrated,
then that Section follows here.
THANKSGIVING
21. All stand.
Praise God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
creator of all things, giver of life and love.
Praise God, source of joy and celebration,
pleasure and delight, love and friendship.
Praise God in Jesus Christ, whose life and death
reveal to us the glory of self-giving love.
Praise God the Holy Spirit, our helper and guide
into the way of perfect love.
Praise God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
22. The Final Blessing
The Minister says:
God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith,
and guide you in truth and love.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine on you
and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with kindness
and give you peace.
Amen.
23. The Marriage Registers are then signed.
The
Methodist Worship Book
Copyright © 1999 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
