The
Marriage Service
Enter
Hymn
God is
love, and those who live in love live in God
and God
lives in them.
1 John
4.16
Opening
Prayer
Preface
[read out by the Minister]
We have
come together in the presence of God, to witness the marriage of N and
N, to ask his blessing on them, and to share in their joy. Our Lord
Jesus Christ was himself a guest at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and
through his Spirit he is with us now.
The Bible
teaches us that marriage is a gift of God in creation and a means of his
grace, a holy mystery 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 throughout their lives, they shall be united in that love as Christ
is united with his Church.
Marriage is
given, that husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living
faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy. It is
given, that with delight and tenderness they may know each other in love,
and, through the joy of their bodily union, may strengthen the union of
their hearts and lives. It is given as the foundation of family life in
which children may be born and nurtured in accordance with God’s will,
to his praise and glory.
In marriage
husband and wife belong to one another, and they begin a new life together
in the community. It is a way of life that all should honour; and it must
not be undertaken carelessly, lightly, or selfishly, but reverently,
responsibly, and after serious thought.
This is the
way of life, created and hallowed by God, that N and N are
now to begin. They will each give their consent to the other; they will
join hands and exchange solemn vows, and in token of this they will (each)
give and receive a ring.
Therefore,
on this their wedding day we pray with them, that, strengthened and guided
by God, they may fulfil his purpose for the whole of their earthly life
together.
The
Declarations
The
minister says to the congregation
First, I am
required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may
not lawfully marry, to declare it now.
The
minister says to the couple
The vows
you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge
of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you
knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.
The
minister says to the bridegroom
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 both shall live?
He
answers
I will.
The
minister says to the bride
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?
She
answers
I will.
The
minister says to the congregation
Will you,
the families and friends of N and N, support and uphold them
in their marriage now and in the years to come?
All
We will.
¶
The Marriage
The
bride and bridegroom face each other.
The
bridegroom takes the bride’s right hand in his, 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,
till
death us do part; according to God’s holy law.
In the
presence of God I make this vow.
They
loose hands.
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,
till
death us do part; according to God’s holy law.
In the
presence of God I make this vow.
The
Giving of Rings
The
minister receives the rings, and 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 vow and
covenant which they have made this day through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
Amen.
The
bridegroom places the ring on the fourth finger of the bride’s left hand
and, holding it there, 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.
They
loose hands and the bride places a ring on the fourth finger of the
bridegroom’s left hand and, holding it there, 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.
The
Proclamation
The
minister addresses the people
In the
presence of God, and before this congregation, N
and N have
given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have
declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and
receiving of rings. I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife.
The
minister joins their right hands together and says
Those whom
God has joined together let no one put asunder.
The
Blessing of the Marriage
Hymn
Readings
Sermon
Prayers
Hymn
Registration
of the Marriage
Exit
Some material included in this service is copyright: ©
The Archbishops' Council 2000
