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Please stand.
welcome.
We meet together in the presence of God to witness the marriage of Nathaniel and Joanne, to ask God's blessing upon them, to support them with our prayers and to share their joy.
Let us pray.
Gracious God, your generous love surrounds us, and everything we enjoy comes from you. We confess our ingratitude for your goodness and our selfishness in using your gifts. Forgive and renew us, and fill us with your Spirit that in true thankfulness we may bear witness to your love ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Nathaniel and Joanne, with your families and friends, we thank God on this day for the gift of marriage.
It is the will of God that, in marriage, husband and wife should experience a life-long unity of heart, body and mind ; comfort and companionship ; enrichment and encouragment ; tenderness and trust.
It is the will of God that marriage should be honoured as a way of life, in which we may know the security of love and care, and grow towards maturity. Through such marriage, children may be nurtured, family life strengthened, and human society enriched.
No one should enter into this lightly or selfishly, for marriage involves the giving of a man and a woman woleheartedly to each other. Christ in his self-giving comes to our help, for he loves us and gave himself for us.
Nathaniel and Joanne, you are now to share this way of life which God has created and, in Christ, has blessed. Today we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen you that you may fulfil God's purposes for the rest of your lives.
Nathaniel and Joanne are now to make the declarations which the law requires.
Are you, Nathaniel Simon Reed, free lawfully to marry Joanne Frances Rodgers ?
I am
Are you, Joanne Frances Rodgers, free lawfully to marry Nathaniel Simon Reed ?
I am
You have made the declarations required by law. I ask you now to affirm, in the presence of us all, your intention to marry each other.
Nathaniel, are you willing to give yourself in marriage to Joanne ?
I am
Will you love her, comfort and honour her, be her companion through all the joys and sorrows of life, and be faithful to her as long as you both shall live ?
With God's help, I will
Joanne, are you willing to give yourself in marriage to Nathaniel ?
I am
Will you love him, comfort and honour him, be his companion through all the joys and sorrows of life, and be faithful to him as long as you both shall live ?
With God's help, I will
I ask you, the families and friends of Nathaniel and Joanne : will you do all in your power to support and encourage them in their marriage ?
With God's help, we will
Who presents Joanne to be married to Nathaniel ?
Alec Rodgers steps forward.
I do
Gracious God, as you have brought Nathaniel and Joanne together in love and trust, enable them through the power of your Holy Spirit to make and keep their vows ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Nathaniel takes Joanne's right hand in his.
I, Nathaniel Simon Reed, take you, Joanne Frances Rodgers, to be my wedded wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward , until we are parted by death ; and this is my solemn vow.
Joanne takes Nathaniel's right hand in hers.
I, Joanne Frances Rodgers, take you, Nathaniel Simon Reed, to be my wedded husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward , until we are parted by death ; and this is my solemn vow.
The Minister receives from the Best Man the two wedding rings into his book.
Eternal God, bless these rings that they may be symbols of the love and trust between nathaniel and Joanne. Amen.
Nathaniel places Joanne's ring on her finger.
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.
Joanne places Nathaniel's ring on his finger.
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 Minister joins the right hands of Nathaniel and Joanne, and wraps his stole around their hands.
Nathaniel and Joanne, God so join you together that none shall ever part you.
Before God and in the presense of us all, Nathaniel and Joanne have exchanged vows, joined their hands, and given and received rings, binding themselves to each other in the covenant of marriage.
I therefore proclaim that they are now husband and wife.
Nathaniel and Joanne, the blessing of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. May God be your protection and your wisdom, your gudie and your peace, your joy, your comfort, and your eternal rest. Amen.
May we, who have witness these vows today, be signs of your love in the world ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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