Gathering in God's Name
'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you
"God is love, and those whom in love live in God, and God in them"
I John 4.I6
'We have come together in the presence of God to witness the marriage Simon and Elizabeth, and to ask God's blessing on them as we share their joy.
'Marriage is a gift of God our creator. It is a symbol of God's unending love for his people and of the union between Christ and his Church. Christ loved his bride the Church, and gave himself for her
As he called Simon and Elizabeth to marriage, so he draws their differing gifts and hopes into a unity of love and service.
Scripture teaches that marriage is a lifelong partnership uniting a woman and a man in heart, mind and body. In the joy of their union, husband and wife, enrich and respond to each other, growing in tenderness and understanding.
Through marriage a new family is formed, where, children may be born
and grow in secure and loving care. Marriage is therefore to be honoured by all. No one should enter it lightly or selfishly,
but responsibly and joyfully, with mutual respect and the promise to be faithful.
So let us pray with Elizabeth and Simon as they prepare to exchange their solemn vows:
Blessed are you, Loving God, your Spirit binds us together.
Crown our lives with your goodness; sustain us all our days with your love.
Bless them with wisdom and pleasure. Be their friend and companion in joy, their comfort in need and in sorrow. And when this life is ended welcome them into your presence, there with all your people to praise your holy name.
Blessed be God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as in the beginning, so now, and forever. Amen.
The Wedding
The Consent
Simon will you give yourself to Elizabeth, to be her husband, to live with her according to God's word? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her so long as you both shall five?
I Will.
Elizabeth, will you give yourself to Simon, to be his wife, to live with him according to God's word? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him so long as you both shall live?
I will.
Families and friends, you are witnesses to these vows. Will you do everything in your power to uphold Elizabeth and Simon, in their marriage?
We will.
The priest asks:
Who brings Elizabeth to be married to Simon?
Response:
We do.
The Exchange of Promises
I, Simon, in the presence of God,
take you, Elizabeth, to be my wife
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
so long as we both shall live.
All this I vow and promise.
I, Elizabeth, in the presence of God,
take you, Simon, to be my husband;
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
so long as we both shall live.
All this I vow and promise.
The Exchange of Rings
God of steadfast love, by your blessing,
let these rings be for Simon and Elizabeth
a symbol of their love and faithfulness
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Giving of the Ring
I give you this ring as a symbol of our marriage.
With all that I am and all that I have
I honour you, in the name of God. Amen.
The Receiving of the Ring
I receive this ring
as a symbol of your love and faithfulness
to the end of our days.
May God enable us to grow in love together.
The Minister joins their hands and declares to the people:
Before God and in the presence of us all,
Simon and Elizabeth have joined hands
and made their solemn vows,
promising life?long faithfulness to each other,
In the name of God,
I declare them to be husband and wife.
What God has joined together,
let no one separate.
The couple may say
God of tenderness and strength
you have brought our paths together
and led us to this day;
go with us now as we travel through good times
through trouble, through change,
Bless our home, our partings and our meetings.
Make us worthy of one another's best
and tender with one another's dreams. Amen
The minister adds a blessing for Me couple
God the Father lovingly enfold you. God the Son grace your home and table God the Holy Spirit crown you with joy and peace. The Lord bless you and keep you with Me. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
I Corinthians I3 Amanda Whiteley
After each reading the reader may say.. Hear the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.
An address appropriate to the occasion is delivered
The Prayers of the People
For grace to live well
Faithful God, giver of all good things, give Elizabeth and Simon wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their life together.
May they dwell together in love and peace all the days of their life, seeking one another's welfare, bearing one another's burdens, and sharing one another's joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for the families of the couple.
Gracious Lord, Ness the parents and families of Elizabeth and Simon that they may grow in love and friendship. Grant that, as they have witnessed these vows today, they may find their lives enriched and strengthened and their loyalties confirmed. Amen.
Almighty God, you have promised to, hear our prayers. Grant that what we have asked in faith we may by Vow receive through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Accept our prayers, loving God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray,
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 broad. 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.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ:
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance on you, and give you peace. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ Amen.
The signing of the Register
