|
ZION WEDDING CEREMONY
|
OPENING
STATEMENT
|
| MINISTER: |
"Dearly
Beloved: We are gathered here, in the presence of
God and of this company, that ______ and ______
may be united in holy matrimony. We are here to
celebrate and share in the glorious act that God
is about to perform - the act by which He converts
their love for one another into the holy and sacred
estate of marriage.
This
relationship is an honorable and sacred one, established
by our Creator for the welfare and happiness of
mankind, and approved by the Apostle Paul as honorable
among all men. It is designed to unite two sympathies
and hopes into one; and it rests upon the mutual
confidence and devotion of husband and wife.
May it
be in extreme thoughtfulness and reverence, and
in dependence upon divine guidance, that you enter
now into this holy relationship."
|
|
GIVING
OF THE BRIDE
|
| MINISTER:
|
"Being
assured that your love and your choice of each other
as lifelong companions are in God's will and that
you have your families' blessings. I now ask. Who
gives this woman to be married to this man?" |
| BRIDE'S
FATHER: |
"Her
mother and I do."
(Bride's
father places her hand in Groom's hand and is
seated)
|
|
DECLARATION
OF INTENTION
|
| MINISTER: |
"The
apostle Paul compared the relationship between husband
and wife to that between Christ and the church.
Marriage is a decision of two individuals to share
the same type of pure, Christian love described
by Paul."
1
Cor 13:4-8, 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, always perseveres. Love never fails....
"This
kind of love enriches each part of life and marriage
enriches love. Two lives, shared with this kind
of love, can hold more fulfillment and happiness
than either life alone."
"_____
(GROOM). are you ready to enter into this marriage
with _____ (BRIDE), believing the love you share
and your faith in each other will endure all things?"
|
| GROOM: |
"I
am." |
| MINISTER: |
"_____
(BRIDE), are you ready to enter into this marriage
with _____ (GROOM), believing the love you share
and your faith in each other will endure all things?" |
| BRIDE: |
"I
am." |
|
MARRIAGE
VOWS
|
| MINISTER: |
"_____
do you take _____ to be your wedded wife, to live
together after God's ordinance in holy matrimony?
Do you promise to love her, to honor and cherish
her, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health,
and to be to her in all things a good and faithful
husband as long as you both shall live?" |
| GROOM: |
"I
do." |
| MINISTER: |
"_____,
do you take _____ to be your wedded husband, to
live together after God's ordinance in holy matrimony?
Do you promise to love him, to honor and cherish
him, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health,
and to be to him in all things a good and faithful
wife as long as you both shall live?" |
| BRIDE: |
"I
do." |
| MINISTER
WITH GROOM REPEATING
|
"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 do
us part. According to God's holy ordinance, and
thereto I pledge thee my faith." |
| MINISTER
WITH BRIDE REPEATING |
"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
do us part. According to God's holy ordinance, and
thereto I pledge thee my faith." |
PRAYER |
| MINISTER: |
"Father
in heaven, You ordained marriage for your children,
and You gave us love. We present to You _____ and
_____, who come this day to be married. May the
covenant of love they make be blessed with true
devotion and spiritual commitment. We ask that You,
God, will give them the ability to keep the covenant
they have made. When selfishness shows itself, grant
generosity; when mistrust is a temptation, give
moral strength; when there is misunderstanding,
give patience and gentleness; if suffering becomes
a part of their lives, give them a strong faith
and an abiding love. Amen." |
EXCHANGE
OF RINGS |
| MINISTER: |
"It
is a Christian custom to exchange rings as a symbol
of love. As the rings have no end so your love should
have no end. As the rings are made of gold symbolizing
purity, so should your marriage have purity. As
often as either of you see them, you will be reminded
of this moment and the endless love you promised."
"____,
what token to you give that you will perform your
vows?" (Minister receives ring and says to
bride.)
"_____,
do you receive this ring in token of the same?"
|
| BRIDE: |
"I
do." (Groom places ring on Bride's finger.) |
| MINISTER
WITH GROOM REPEATING |
"_____,
this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my
constant faith and abiding love." |
| MINISTER: |
"_____,
what token to you give that you will perform your
vows?" (Minister receives ring and says to
groom.)
"_____,
do you receive this ring in token of the same?"
|
| GROOM:
|
"I
do." (Bride places ring on Groom's finger.) |
| MINISTER
WITH BRIDE REPEATING |
"_____,
this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my
constant faith and abiding love." |
Light
Unity Candle & Sign License |
| MINISTER: |
"The
candle represents the joining together of two individuals
to live together as one in spirit. Anthony and Amanda,
the candle yet to be lit, represents the new family
which is being created today. Anthony and Amanda
are leaving their families to make a new life together."
(Bride
& Groom light candle)
(Bride,
Groom, & Witnesses sign license)
|
PRAYER |
| MINISTER: |
"Let
us pray: O thou eternal God, who art our Father
and our Friend, as you have heard these words of
promise just spoken, may the Holy Spirit deepen
in the mind of this man and this woman the sense
of the sacred and binding power of their vows. And
as in Thy Name these words were spoken to make these
lives one, may your rich blessing be added. Give
them Your grace and guidance that they may loyally
fulfill the vows they have taken. May Your joy abide
with them always, that thus they may be a blessing
to each other, and to those about them, finding
in the blessedness of the home life on earth a sample
of the happiness of Thine eternal home. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
(Bride
and Groom join right hands.)
|
DECLARATION
OF THE MARRIAGE |
| MINISTER: |
"What
therefore God hath joined together, let no man put
asunder. Forasmuch as Anthony and Amanda have consented
together in holy matrimony, and have witnessed the
same before God and this company and have pledged
their love and loyalty to each other, and have declared
the same by the joining and the giving of rings,
I, therefore, by the authority of the state, pronounce
that they are husband and wife, in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ."
"The
Groom may now kiss the Bride."
|
PRESENTATION |
| MINISTER:
|
"I
now present to you Mr and Mrs _____ _____ _____."
|
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to the Wedding Vows Page
|
