Opening Statement
Greetings in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
____ & _____, this is a special event in which the two of you
declare before God that you have chosen each other.
This is an occasion which is both solemn, as we reflect on the seriousness of your decision, and festive, as we share your joy.
We are witnessing an important event in your lives.
This wedding is based on the relationship which you share, and on the covenant you are about to make.
We ask God’s blessings on this covenant as we affirm your love for each other.
Charge to the Couple
_____ & _____, I call to your attention the seriousness
of the decision which you have made and the covenant you are about to
declare.
Be very clear that your marriage
is dependent upon your willingness to be faithful to each other and
faithful to the covenant you are making before God.
Unfaithfulness in either is a betrayal of your covenant.
Constant and continuous
obedience to your vow will result in a marriage which will be blessed,
a home which will be a place of peace, and a relationship in which you
both grow in love.
Declaration of Consent
_____, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony?
Will you love her, comfort her,
honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others,
keep you only unto her, so long as you both shall live?
[Answer: I will.]
_____, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony?
Will you love him, comfort him,
honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others,
keep you only unto him, so long as you both shall live? [Answer: I
will.]
Scripture Lesson
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or boastful; it
is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in
the right. Love bears all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
I Corinthians 13: 4-8
Exchange of Vows
I, _____, take thee, _____ to be my wedded 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, till death
us do part.
I, _____, take thee, _____ to be
my wedded 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, till death us do part.
Presentation of Rings
The wedding ring becomes an enduring symbol of the promises which have
been made. Your wedding rings will be a reminder to both of you of the
vows you have shared today and a witness to all the world of your
commitment in marriage. Your rings are a never ending circle which
symbolizes your eternal love for each other. As a symbol of your love
for and commitment to _____, place the ring on her hand. As a symbol of
your love for and commitment to _____, place the ring on his hand.
Wedding Prayer
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the moment that brings
_____ & _____ together in marriage. We recognize with thanksgiving
the journeys that have brought them to this time, and we celebrate with
them the hopes they hold for their life together. We ask your blessings
upon them, to sustain them through the difficult and uncertain times
that come to every relationship. We pray that thay may continue to find
in each other resources which will nurture their marriage. May they
continue to grow together and may their love for one another deepen
with the passing years. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Blessings
Go into the world and fulfill your lives. Hold fast your
ideals. Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one
another that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other
continue to mature. May your life together be a source of strength and
inspiration to your family, your friends, and the world around you.
Declaration of Marriage
In consideration of the vows you have exchanged and your
expression of love for each other, I now declare you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
*[May NOT be reproduced or otherwise copied or used without expressed written permission of
AWC.]
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