The Marriage Service

1. Introduction

We have come together in the presence of God to witness the marriage of ……………and …………………., to ask his blessing on them and to rejoice with them Our Lord Jesus Christ was himself at the marriage in Cana of Galilee and he defiantly is with us in this place.

Marriage is a gift of God and a means of grace, in which man and woman become one flesh. It is God’s purpose that, as husband and wife give themselves to each other in love, they shall grow together and be united in that love, as Christ is united with his church.

The union of husband and wife in heart, mind and body is given for their mutual comfort and help in prosperity and adversity. It is given that they may know each other in love with delight and tenderness in acts of love. It is given that they may have children and bring them up in the knowledge and love of the Lord.

In marriage husband and wife are linked to one another’s’ families and they begin a new life together in the community. This is the way of life that all should reverence and none should lightly undertake. Those who mare called by God to this holy state, should continue in mutual fidelity and love.

Into this way of life ………..and ……… come now to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married you may now declare it.

N and N, I charge you both, as you will answer before God who is the judge of all, that if either of you knows any reason why you may not be united in marriage lawfully in accordance with God’s word, you must declare it now.

2. The Lord be with you

     And also with you

3. Let us Pray

4.         Heavenly Father,

            You have taught us through your son

            That love is the fulfilling of the law:

            Grant that your Holy Spirit may lead

Your servants N. and N

            In the way of eternal life

And that they may continue together

            In your love

Until their lives end

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

5. The Marriage.

6. The Priest asks the Bridegroom for his consent

N, will you take N to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you live?

Answer  I will

7. The Priest asks the Bride for his consent

N, will you take N to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

Answer  I will

8.  The Priest asks

            Who gives N to be married to N?

            Answer  I do

9. The Vow

10.        The Bridegroom takes the bride’s right hand and says:

            I, N, take you, N

            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

and to honour in the Lord

till death us do part

according to God’s holy law;

and this is my solemn vow.

11.  They loose hands and the bride takes the bridegroom’s right hand in hers and says:

                        I, N, take you, N

                        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

and to honour in the Lord

till death us do part

according to God’s holy law

and this is my solemn vow.

12.  They loose hands. The Priest receives the ring(s). He says:

Heavenly Father, by your blessing let these rings be to N and N a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, to remind them of the vows and covenant which they have made this day; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

13.    The Bridegroom places the ring on the forth finger of he bride’s left hand and     holding on the left hand of the bride and says:

N, 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.

14.  The Bride places the ring on the forth finger of he bridegroom’s left hand and holding on the left hand of the bride and says:

N, 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.

15.  The Bride and the bridegroom kneel whilst the congregation remains standing. The Priest says:

Eternal God, Creator and preserver of all

Giver of spiritual grace and author of everlasting life;

Send your blessing upon N and N

Whom we bless in your name

That living faithfully together

They may fulfill the vows and covenant they have made

Of which the rings given and received

Are a token and pledge

And may ever remain

In perfect love and peace together

And live according to your laws

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

16.        Now that N and N have given their consent and made their  vows to each other before God and this congregation, with the joining of hands and receiving of rings, in the Name of God I now declare that they are husband and wife.

17.        The Priest joins their right hands together and says:

            Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

18.        The Priest blesses them

            God the Father

God the Son,

God the Holy Spirit

bless, preserve and keep you;

the Lord pour upon you the riches of his grace                                                    

that you may faithfully live together

and receive the blessing of eternal life.

Amen.

19         Priest:               Blessed are you heavenly Father.

                                    You give joy to bridegroom and bride

            Priest:               Blessed are you, Lord Jesus Christ

                                    You have brought new life to humankind

            Priest:               Blessed are you, Holy Spirit of God

                                    You bring us together in love.

            Priest:               Blessed be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

                                    One God, to be praised for ever.

20.        Singing while the Bride and the bridegroom sit.

21.        One or more readings may be taken from the following: Gen.1:26-28, 31a; Eph.3:4-end or Eph.5:21-end, 1Cor. 13, Col. 3:12-17, Mark 10:2-9, or John 2:1-11 or any other scripture the couple would choose.

22.        The readings to be followed by the sermon from the person chosen for the occasion.

23.        The Thanksgiving following the tradition of the church where the wedding is taking place accompanied by the singing.

The Nuptial Blessing

24.        The Priest, standing before the couple, gives the Nuptial Blessing as follows:

                        Almighty God,

                        you send your Holy Spirit

                        to be the life and light of your people,

open the hearts of these your children

to the riches of his grace

that they may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit

in love joy and peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Heavenly Father,

maker of all things,

you enable us to share in your work of creation

bless N and N in the gift and care of children,

that their home may be a place of love,

            Security, and truth,

and their children grow up

to know and love you in your Son

 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

who shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home:

reign in the home of these your servants N and N

as Lord and King;

give them grace to minister to others

as you have ministered to men

and grant that by deed and word

they may be witnesses of your saving love

to those among whom they live

for the sake of your holy Name. Amen.

25         The Priest blesses the couple and the people

26.        The signing of the Register to be followed by the Recession guided by the clergy of the church where the wedding is taking place.