Our Ceremony Wordings/Order of Worship
GREETING
(Pastor to people):
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man, Bradley MiddleName LastName, and this woman, Lindsey MiddleName LastName, in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and signifying unto us the mystical union that exists between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence in Cana of Galilee. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined.
DECLARATION OF INTENTION
Brad and Lindsey, I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God,
Before whom the secrets of all hearts are disclosed, that, having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, you do now declare before this company your pledge of faith, each to the other.
Be well assured that if these solemn vows are kept holy, as God's Word demands, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.
I charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that love and loyalty are required, as well as a faith in God, to be the foundation of a happy home. If the solemn vows you are about to make are kept faithfully,
And if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, your life will be full of joy, and the home you are establishing will abide in peace. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.
(Pastor to Brad):
Brad, will you have Lindsey 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 only to her so long as you both shall live?
Brad: I will.
(Pastor to Lindsey):
Lindsey, will you have Brad 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 only to him so long as you both shall live?
Lindsey: I will.
PRESENTATION
Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
Richard: “I (We) do” or “her mother and I do” or whatever the dad may want to say.
The presenter(s) may then be seated.
THE MARRIAGE
The Blessing of the Hands, read by Pastor
Lindsey and Brad, please take a hold of one another’s hands, so that you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend: young and strong and full of love for you. These hands are holding yours on the day that you pledge to commit yourselves to one another for today, tomorrow and for the rest of your lives.
These hands have a history, patterned with the life lead before your union. The experiences of these hands are the ones that shaped the person you fell in love with, and now these hands will join with yours to build a new future.
These hands will be right beside yours, working long and hard for the new life ahead, as you laugh, and as you cry; as you share your secrets and your dreams. These hands will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you; they will hold you in times of health and prosperity, and in times of illness and fear. Countless times, these are the hands that will wipe your tears from your eyes, both tears of joy and tears of sorrow.
These hands will hold your family together as one, through good times and bad. These hands will provide strength, encouragement and inspiration.
And finally, these hands will grow old with you and will be a testament to your vows to one another. Years from now, even marred by wrinkles and scars and age, your hands will constantly be reaching out to one another, quietly, with the same tenderness and compassion as they do today.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
The woman and man face each other, joining hands. The pastor may prompt them, line by line.
(Brad):
I, Brad, take you, Lindsey,
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,
according to God's holy ordinance;
and thereto I pledge you my faith.
(Lindsey):
I, Lindsey, take you, Brad,
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,
according to God's holy ordinance;
and thereto I pledge you my faith.
BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS
(The pastor, taking the rings, may say)
“The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and woman in holy matrimony, through the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Prayer:
Bless, 0 Lord, the giving and the receiving of these rings. May they who wear them abide in your peace, and continue in your favor; And Father, may these rings be a symbol of their commitment and love one for the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prompted, line by line, by the pastor):
Lindsey, Brad,
In token and pledge In token and pledge
of our constant faith of our constant faith
and abiding love, and abiding love,
with this ring I thee wed, with this ring I thee wed,
in the name of the Father, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Amen.
Rob:
Brad, please take the engagement ring.
This ring is the symbol of promise and intention. Now, the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled.
Please place this ring on Lindsey’s finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage.
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
The wife and husband join hands. The pastor may place a hand on or wrap a stole around their joined hands. The couple may turn and face the congregation.
(Pastor to people):
Forasmuch as Brad and Lindsey have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and have pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands and by giving and receiving rings; I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. Amen.
Unity candle or solo *optional* - we choose a reading, done by Brady and his wife Ginna – A Beautiful Life Together “Reflection on Marriage for the Bride and Groom”
A Beautiful Life Together
"Reflections on Marriage for the Bride and Groom" – read by Ginna and Brady
Let love be your shelter, for at times the world is a noisy and confusing place.
So make a home that is a haven, a peaceful place where you can listen to your hearts and savor the comfortable closeness you share.
No matter how busy your days may be, make time for yourselves. Hold hands. Unwind. Surprise each other. Find little chances every day to show you’re grateful to be partners, to be friends, to be married.
Life is not perfect. You will make mistakes. But each time you meet life’s challenges together, you will grow wiser, stronger and surer of your love.
Cherish your yesterdays. They are irreplaceable souvenirs of your journey through life. Make memories that will bring smiles and sighs whenever you look back.
Look forward, too. Dream together. Plan together. Make promises to keep. Believe in your tomorrows, because tomorrows are what forever is made of.
To make love last, put each other first. That is the way to make a beautiful life together, the kind of life you both deserve so very much.
BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE
The husband and wife may kneel, as the pastor prays:
O eternal God, creator and preserver of us all, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life:
Send your blessing upon Brad and Lindsey,
whom we bless in your name; that they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together and live according to your laws.
Look graciously upon them, that they may love, honor, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and a place of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
(The husband and wife may continue to kneel, as all pray the Lord's Prayer.)
SENDING FORTH - DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING *
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord graciously with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and love that you may so live together in this life that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen.
(The couple may greet each other with a kiss and be greeted by the pastor, after which greetings may be exchanged through the congregation.)
INTRODUCE THEM AS HUSBAND AND WIFE: Friends and family I now introduce to you, MR AND MRS BRAD LASTNAME.
Recessional
(Pastor to people):
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man, Bradley MiddleName LastName, and this woman, Lindsey MiddleName LastName, in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and signifying unto us the mystical union that exists between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence in Cana of Galilee. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined.
DECLARATION OF INTENTION
Brad and Lindsey, I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God,
Before whom the secrets of all hearts are disclosed, that, having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, you do now declare before this company your pledge of faith, each to the other.
Be well assured that if these solemn vows are kept holy, as God's Word demands, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.
I charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that love and loyalty are required, as well as a faith in God, to be the foundation of a happy home. If the solemn vows you are about to make are kept faithfully,
And if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, your life will be full of joy, and the home you are establishing will abide in peace. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.
(Pastor to Brad):
Brad, will you have Lindsey 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 only to her so long as you both shall live?
Brad: I will.
(Pastor to Lindsey):
Lindsey, will you have Brad 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 only to him so long as you both shall live?
Lindsey: I will.
PRESENTATION
Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
Richard: “I (We) do” or “her mother and I do” or whatever the dad may want to say.
The presenter(s) may then be seated.
THE MARRIAGE
The Blessing of the Hands, read by Pastor
Lindsey and Brad, please take a hold of one another’s hands, so that you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend: young and strong and full of love for you. These hands are holding yours on the day that you pledge to commit yourselves to one another for today, tomorrow and for the rest of your lives.
These hands have a history, patterned with the life lead before your union. The experiences of these hands are the ones that shaped the person you fell in love with, and now these hands will join with yours to build a new future.
These hands will be right beside yours, working long and hard for the new life ahead, as you laugh, and as you cry; as you share your secrets and your dreams. These hands will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you; they will hold you in times of health and prosperity, and in times of illness and fear. Countless times, these are the hands that will wipe your tears from your eyes, both tears of joy and tears of sorrow.
These hands will hold your family together as one, through good times and bad. These hands will provide strength, encouragement and inspiration.
And finally, these hands will grow old with you and will be a testament to your vows to one another. Years from now, even marred by wrinkles and scars and age, your hands will constantly be reaching out to one another, quietly, with the same tenderness and compassion as they do today.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
The woman and man face each other, joining hands. The pastor may prompt them, line by line.
(Brad):
I, Brad, take you, Lindsey,
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,
according to God's holy ordinance;
and thereto I pledge you my faith.
(Lindsey):
I, Lindsey, take you, Brad,
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,
according to God's holy ordinance;
and thereto I pledge you my faith.
BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS
(The pastor, taking the rings, may say)
“The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and woman in holy matrimony, through the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Prayer:
Bless, 0 Lord, the giving and the receiving of these rings. May they who wear them abide in your peace, and continue in your favor; And Father, may these rings be a symbol of their commitment and love one for the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prompted, line by line, by the pastor):
Lindsey, Brad,
In token and pledge In token and pledge
of our constant faith of our constant faith
and abiding love, and abiding love,
with this ring I thee wed, with this ring I thee wed,
in the name of the Father, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Amen.
Rob:
Brad, please take the engagement ring.
This ring is the symbol of promise and intention. Now, the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled.
Please place this ring on Lindsey’s finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage.
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
The wife and husband join hands. The pastor may place a hand on or wrap a stole around their joined hands. The couple may turn and face the congregation.
(Pastor to people):
Forasmuch as Brad and Lindsey have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and have pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands and by giving and receiving rings; I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. Amen.
Unity candle or solo *optional* - we choose a reading, done by Brady and his wife Ginna – A Beautiful Life Together “Reflection on Marriage for the Bride and Groom”
A Beautiful Life Together
"Reflections on Marriage for the Bride and Groom" – read by Ginna and Brady
Let love be your shelter, for at times the world is a noisy and confusing place.
So make a home that is a haven, a peaceful place where you can listen to your hearts and savor the comfortable closeness you share.
No matter how busy your days may be, make time for yourselves. Hold hands. Unwind. Surprise each other. Find little chances every day to show you’re grateful to be partners, to be friends, to be married.
Life is not perfect. You will make mistakes. But each time you meet life’s challenges together, you will grow wiser, stronger and surer of your love.
Cherish your yesterdays. They are irreplaceable souvenirs of your journey through life. Make memories that will bring smiles and sighs whenever you look back.
Look forward, too. Dream together. Plan together. Make promises to keep. Believe in your tomorrows, because tomorrows are what forever is made of.
To make love last, put each other first. That is the way to make a beautiful life together, the kind of life you both deserve so very much.
BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE
The husband and wife may kneel, as the pastor prays:
O eternal God, creator and preserver of us all, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life:
Send your blessing upon Brad and Lindsey,
whom we bless in your name; that they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together and live according to your laws.
Look graciously upon them, that they may love, honor, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and a place of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
(The husband and wife may continue to kneel, as all pray the Lord's Prayer.)
SENDING FORTH - DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING *
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord graciously with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and love that you may so live together in this life that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen.
(The couple may greet each other with a kiss and be greeted by the pastor, after which greetings may be exchanged through the congregation.)
INTRODUCE THEM AS HUSBAND AND WIFE: Friends and family I now introduce to you, MR AND MRS BRAD LASTNAME.
Recessional
