THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE FOR
(this is the order usually used at St. John's. Please feel free to discuss any changes with the Pastor)
THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE FOR
(this is the order usually used at St. John's. Please feel free to
discuss any changes with the Pastor)
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PROCESSIONAL
THE INVOCATION AND INVITATION
In the name of the Father and of the †Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We are gathered here in the sight of God and of His
church to witness and bless the joining together of this man and of this
woman in holy marriage. This is an honorable estate, which God Himself has
instituted and blessed, and by which He gives us a picture of the very communion
of Christ and His bride, the church. God has both established and sanctified
marriage and has promised to bless therein all who love
and trust in Him and who seek to give Him their faithful worship and
service, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended
by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in
prosperity and adversity, and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of
children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore
marriage is not to be entered into inadvisedly or lightly, but reverently,
deliberately, and in accordance with the purpose for which it was instituted by
God.
FAMILY BLESSING
Will you, the members of the ___________________
and ___________________ families,
support, encourage, and pray for ___________________and
___________________
in their marriage, remembering at all times that God
wants them to live in obedience to His holy ordinance until death parts them? If
so. then answer “we will.”
We will.
The OLD TESTAMENT Lesson
The EPISTLE Lesson
THE HOLY GOSPEL
THE WEDDING MESSAGE
DECLARATION OF INTENT
___________________ will
you have this woman to be your wife, to live with her in holy marriage according
to the Word of God? Will you love her. comfort her, honor her, support her, and
keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others. be husband to her
as long as you both shall live?
I will
___________________ will
you have this man to be your husband, to live with him in holy marriage
according to the Word of God? Will
you love him, comfort him, honor him, support him
and keep him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be wife
to him as long as you both shall live?
I will.
THE WEDDING VOWS
(the groom, taking the right hand of the bride and facing
her, says after the pastor)
I, ___________________ in
the presence of God and these witnesses, take you, ___________________ 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, until death parts us, and I pledge you my
faithfulness.
I, ___________________, in
the presence of God and these witnesses, take you, ___________________ 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, until death parts
us, and I pledge you my faithfulness.
THE EXCHANGE OF RINGS
(the bride and groom exchange rings, saying)
Receive this ring as a pledge and token of wedded love and
faithfulness.
Grant Your blessing, O Lord, to Your servants ___________________ and ___________________ that
they may be ever mindful of their solemn pledge and, trusting in Your mercy,
abound evermore in love all their days through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE
Now that ___________________ and ___________________
have consented together in holy marriage, have given themselves to each other by
their solemn pledges, and have declared the same before
God and these witnesses, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the
name of the Father and of the the †Son and of the Holy Spirit. What
God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Amen.
The almighty and gracious God abundantly grant you His favor and
sanctify and bless you with the blessing given
our first parents in paradise that you may please Him in both body and soul and
live together in holy love until your
life’s end Amen.
THE PRAYERS
(the bride and groom kneel)
Let us pray Almighty, everlasting God, our heavenly Father, grant
that by Your blessing ___________________
and ___________________
may live together according to Your Word and promise.
Strengthen them in faithfulness and love toward each other. Sustain and
defend them in all trial and temptation. Help them to live in faith toward You
in the communion of Your holy Church
and in loving service to each other that they may ever enjoy Your heavenly
blessing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed 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 and
the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
THE BENEDICTION
The eternal God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant you His
Holy Spirit, be with you, and richly bless you now and forever. Amen.
THE RECESSIONAL
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