Service #1

 

Welcoming Words

 

Officiant:  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.  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.

 

(Optional) Passing of the Peace

 

We ask our honored guests assembled here to take a moment to exchange a greeting of peace.  (Guests turn to each other and say, “Peace be with you” and “And also with you.”

 

(Optional) Honoring those not present

At this time, we would also like to honor those who could not be with us today.  We offer a special remembrance of ______________________.  Although they are not here with us physically, we feel blessed they are with us in spirit on this beautiful day.  We bow in silence to honor their memory.  (Pause for a few moments.)

 

Biblical Reading

1 Corinthians 13

Love.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.   Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 

  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

(Optional) Officiant’s Address

 

(Officiant gives a homily on marriage, and talks about special characteristics of the couple.  May include the following reading.)

 

From The Art Of Marriage

by William A Petersen

 

A good marriage must be created.

In the marriage, the little things are the big things.

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once each day,

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is having a mutual sense of values and objectives.

It is standing together and facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each person can grow.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right person

It is being the right partner.

 

Declaration of Intent to Marry

 

Officiant:  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.”

 

Traditional Vows

 

Officiant:  __________ and __________, please face each other and join your hands, and in so doing, join your hearts.

 

(To Groom) Please repeat after me:

I, _________, take you __________, to be my lawfully wedded wife,

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.

 

(To Bride) Please repeat after me:

I, ___________, take you __________, to be my lawfully wedded 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

 

Officiant:  Do we have the rings? 

 

Officiant:  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.   Amen

 

Exchange of Rings

 

(Officiant says to Groom)  Please look into the eyes of your beloved, and place the ring, a symbol of your love for ____________ on her hand, and say, “With this ring, I thee wed”.  The Groom does this.

 

(To Bride) Please look into_________’s eyes, and place the ring on his hand, and repeat after me, “With this ring, I thee wed”.

The Bride does this. 

 

Community Vow of Support

 

(Officiant speaks to guests) 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.”

 

(Wait for response.)

 

Pronouncement

 

___________ 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.

 

Marriage Blessing

 

We will close with a final blessing for your marriage:

 

Apachee Wedding Blessing

Officiant: We close with a final blessing for your marriage:

Now you will feel no rain,

For each of you will be shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold,

For each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness,

For each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,

But there is only one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,

To enter into the days of your togetherness.

And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Amen.

 

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.___________________!

 

Recessional

 

Bride and Groom first, then Officiant, then wedding party in reverse order of processional.