ENTRANCE

GATHERING
While the people gather, instrumental or vocal music may be offered. During the entrance of the wedding party, there may be instrumental music, or a hymn, a psalm, a canticle, or an anthem.

GREETING
Pastor to people:
Friends, we are gathered together in the sight of God to witness and bless the joining together of Name and Name in Christian marriage.
The covenant of marriage was established by God, who created us male and female for each other.
With his presence and power Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and in his sacrificial love gave us the example for the love of husband and wife Name and Name come to give themselves to one another in this holy covenant.

DECLARATION OF INTENTION

DECLARATION BY THE MAN AND THE WOMAN
Pastor to the persons who are to marry:
I ask you now, in the presence of God and these people, to declare your intention to enter into union with one another through the grace of Jesus Christ, who calls you into union with himself as acknowledged in your baptism.
Pastor to the woman:
Name, will you have Name to be your husband, to live together in holly marriage? Will you love him, conform him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Woman: I will.
Pastor to the man:
Name, will you have Name to be your wife, to live together in holly marriage? Will you love him, conform him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Man: I will.

RESPONSE OF THE FAMILIES AND PEOPLE
Pastor to people:
The marriage of Name and Name unites their families and creates a new one. They ask for your blessing.
Parents or other representatives of the families may respond:
We rejoice in your union, and pray God's blessing upon you.
Pastor to people:
Will all of you, by God's grace, do everything in your power to uphold and care for these two persons in their marriage?
People: We will.

SCRIPTURE

HOMILY

THE MARRIAGE

EXCHANGE OF VOWS
The woman and man face each other, joining hands.
Man to woman:
In the name of God, I Name take you. Name, 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, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
Woman to man:
In the name of God, I Name take you. Name, 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, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS
The pastor may say:
These rings (symbols) are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to us the union between Jesus Christ and his church.
The pastor may bless the giving of rings or other symbols of the marriage:
Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings (symbols), that they who wear them may live in your peace and continue in your favor all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The giver(s) may say to the recipient(s):
Name, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor your; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
The wife and husband joining hands. The pastor may place a hand on, or wrap a stole around, their joined hands.
Pastor to husband and wife:
You have declared your consent and vows before God and this congregation. May God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace.
Pastor to people:
Now that Name and Name have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, (and the giving and receiving of rings,) I announce to you that they are husband and wife; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.
Amen.

BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE
The husband and wife may kneel, as the pastor prays:
O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of Christian marriage that in it is represented the covenant between Christ and his church. Send therefore your blessing upon Name and Name, that they may surely keep their marriage covenant, and so grow in love and godliness together that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SENDING FORTH

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING
Pastor to wife and husband:
God the Eternal keep you in love with each other, so that the peace of Christ may abide in your home. Go to serve God and your neighbor in all that you do.
Pastor to people:
Bear witness to the love of God in this world, so that those to whom love is a stranger will find in you generous friends. The grade of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  Amen.

THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
The couple and pastor(s) may greet each other, after which greetings may be exchanged through the congregation.

GOING FORTH