|
United Methodist Church Wedding Ceremony
OPENING REMARKS
Pastor: Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight
of God, an in the presence of these witnesses, to join together Teresa
and John in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted
of God, and signifying unto us the mystical union which 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.
CHARGE
TO THE COUPLE
Pastor: 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 inviolate,
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.
THE
DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
Pastor: _____, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife,
to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love
her,
comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and
forsaking all other keep thee only unto her so long as ye both
shall live?
I will.
Pastor: _____, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband,
to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love
him,
comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and
forsaking all other keep thee only unto him so long as ye both
shall live?
I will.
PRESENTATION
OF THE BRIDE
Pastor: Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
Bride’s Father/Dad: Her mother and I.
THE
VOWS
Pastor: _____, repeat after me: I, _____, take thee, _____, 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 thee my faith.
Pastor: _____, repeat after me: I, _____, take thee, _____,
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 thee my faith.
THE
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
Pastor: The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of
an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting
of
this man and
this woman in holy matrimony, through the Church of Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Pastor: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings,
that they who wear them may abide in thy peace, and continue
in thy favor;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Groom Repeats: In token and pledge of our constant faith
and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed, in the name
of the
Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit. Amen.
Bride Repeats: In token and pledge of our constant faith
and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed, in the name
of the
Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit. Amen.
THE
SCRIPTURE READING – 1st Corinthians 13: 1-13
If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not
love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. If
I have the
gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if
I have a faith
that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body
to the
flames,
but
have not love, I am nothing. Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
no
record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always
perseveres.
Love
never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will
cease; where
there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is
knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy
in
part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
Now these
three
remain; faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these
is love.
THE
UNITY CANDLE (Optional)
THE
DECLARATION
Pastor: Forasmuch as _____ & _____ have consented together in holy
wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and
this company, and thereto 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.
THE
PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray together. O Eternal God, creator
and preserver of all, giver of all spiritual grace,
the author
of everlasting
live: Send thy blessing upon this man and this woman,
whom we bless in
thy 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 thy laws. Look
graciously
upon them,
that they may love, honor and cherish each other,
and so live together
in thy
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. THE
LORD’S PRAYER
Entire Congregation: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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, for ever. Amen.
{Hymn:
The Wedding Prayer} (Optional)
THE
BLESSING
Pastor: May God, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit bless, preserve and keep you; the
Lord graciously with his favor 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
KISS
Pastor: _____, you may kiss your bride. {Smooch!}
THE
INTRODUCTION
It is with great honor and pleasure, that at
this moment I introduce to you, Mr. & Mrs. _____ ______! |