CHRISTIAN MARRIAGEby

DONALD R. FRAMPTON

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ST. CHARLES AVENUE P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

1545 State StreetNew Orleans, Louisiana • 70118

(504) 897-0101

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Contents

Order of Worship

Call to Worship ........................................................................ 1

Greeting ................................................................................... 1

Prayer ...................................................................................... 1 Charge to the Couple ............................................................... 1

Declaration of Intention .......................................................... 2

AffirmationofFamily ............................................................. 2

AffirmationofCongregation ................................................... 2 Presentation ............................................................................. 2

Scripture .................................................................................. 2

Sermon .................................................................................... 3

Vows ........................................................................................ 3

Exchange of Rings .................................................................. 3

Pastoral Prayer ......................................................................... 4

Lord’s Prayer ........................................................................... 6

AnnouncementofMarriage .................................................... 6

Charge and Blessing ................................................................ 6

Possible Wedding Scriptures .......................................................... 7

ORDER OF WORSHIPMARRIAGE SERVICE

CALL TO WORSHIP

GREETING

Friends, we are gathered together in the presence of God to witness the joining together of ________________and ________________in holy marriage.

God created all people in his image and established the covenant of marriage for their wellbeing and joy. Just as God lives in relationship with us, we are likewise called to live in relationship with one another. Marriage is one such way of living into sacred relationship. With his presence and power Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and in his sacrificial love gave us the example for love that is self-giving.

______________ and _____________ have come this day to give themselves to one another in the holy covenant of marriage.

PRAYER

God of all peoples, you are the true light illumining everyone. You show us the way, the truth, and the life. You love us even when we are disobedient. You sustain us with your Holy Spirit. We rejoice in your life in the midst of our lives. We praise you for your presence with us, and especially in this act of solemn covenant; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHARGE TO THE COUPLE

Before God and this congregation, I ask you to affirm your willingness to enter this covenant of marriage and to share all the joys and sorrows of this new relationship, whatever the future may hold.

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DECLARATION OF INTENTION

__________________, understanding that God created, ordered, and blessed the covenant of marriage, do you affirm your desire and intention to enter this covenant?

I do. ____________________, understanding that God created, ordered, and blessed the covenant of marriage, do you affirm your desire and intention to enter this covenant?

I do.

AFFIRMATION OF FAMILY

Do the members of the families who are present give your blessing to _____________ and _____________, and promise to do everything in your power to support and uphold their marriage?

We will. AFFIRMATION OF CONGREGATION

Will the rest of you witnessing these vows promise to do everything in your power to support and uphold ___________________ and __________________ in their marriage? We will.

PRESENTATION

Who presents this woman to be married to this man? Her mother/family and I (We) do. SCRIPTURE

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SERMON (optional)

VOWS __________________, I give myself to you to be your husband. I promise to love and support you in the covenant of marriage, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live. __________________, I give myself to you to be your wife. I promise to love and support you in the covenant of marriage, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

Gracious God, by these symbols of covenant promise, remind _________________and _________________ of your encircling love and unending faithfulness, that in all their life together, they may know joy and peace. Amen.

While putting on rings, each says to the other: This ring I give you as a sign of our constant faith and abiding love, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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PASTORAL PRAYER

Eternal God,Creator and preserver of all life,author of salvation, and giver of all grace:look with favor upon the world you have made and redeemed, and especially upon_____________and______________.

Give them wisdom and devotionin their common life,that each may be to the othera strength in need,a counselor in trouble,a comfort in sorrow,and a companion in joy.

Grant that their willsmay be so knit together in your will,and their spirits in your Spirit,that they may grow in love and peacewith you and each otherall the days of their life.

Give them grace,when they hurt each other,to recognize and confess their fault,and to seek each other’s forgivenessand yours.

Make their life togethera sign of Christ’s loveto this sinful and broken world,that unity may overcome estrangement,forgiveness heal guilt,and joy conquer despair.

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[Give them, if it is your will,the gift of children,and the wisdom to bring them upto know you, to love you,and to serve you.]

Grant that all who witnessed these vows todaymay find their lives strengthened,and that all who are marriedmay depart with their own promises renewed.

Grant that the bonds by which all your childrenare united to one anothermay be so transformed by your Spiritthat your peace and justice may fill the earth,through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.--- or ---

Eternal God,without your grace no promise is sure.Strengthen_________________and________with patience, kindness, gentleness,and all other gifts of your Spirit,so that they may fulfill the vows they have made.Keep them faithful to each other and to you.Fill them with such love and joythat they may build a home of peace and welcome.Guide them by your Wordto serve you all their days.

Help us all, O God,to do your will in each of our homes and lives.Enrich us with your graceso that, supporting one another,we may serve those in need

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and hasten the coming of peace, love, and justice on earth,through Jesus Christ our Lord.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be 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 debts,as we forgive our debtors;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,and the power and the glory, forever.

Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE

Before God and in the presence of this congregation,___________and_______________, have made their solemn vows to each other.They have confirmed their promises by the joining hands and by the giving and receiving of rings.

Therefore, I proclaim that they are now married.

Blessed be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever.

Those whom God has joined together let no one separate.

CHARGE AND BLESSING

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POSSIBLE WEDDING SCRIPTURES

Old TestamentGenesis 1:26-31 HumankindcreatedintheimageofGodGenesis 2:18-24 BoneofmybonesandfleshofmyfleshRuth 1:16-17 Where you go, I will goSongofSolomon8:6-7 SetmeasasealuponyourheartProverbs 3:3-6 Trust the Lord with all your heartPsalm8 MortalscrownedwithgloryPsalm46 The Lord is our refuge and strengthPsalm67 MayGodbegracioustousPsalm117 Great is God’s steadfast lovePsalm139 TheLordknitustogetherinthewombPsalm147:7-11 TheLordlovesthosewhofearhimIsaiah 54:5-8 YourMakerisyourhusbandJeremiah29:11-14 The Lord has plans for youJeremiah31:31-34 TheLordwillmakeanewcovenantEcclesiastes 3:1-8 Foreverythingthereisaseason…atimetoloveEcclesiastes4:9-12 Two are better than oneLamentations3:21-26 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

New TestamentMatt19:3-6 Nolongertwo,butonefleshMark10:6-9 What God has joined, let no one separateJohn 2:1-11 The wedding at CanaJohn 4:7-11 Living waterJohn 15:5-12, 16-17 Jesus, the true vineRomans8:35,37-39 NothingcanseparateusfromtheloveofGodRomans12:9-18 Alivingsacrifice…letlovebegenuineI Corinthians 13 Faith,hopeandlove…greatestisloveEphesians3:14-19 RemainrootedandgroundedinlovePhilippians1:9-11 ThatyourlovemayoverflowmoreandmorePhilippians 4:4-8 Do not worry about anythingPhilippians 2:1-2 MakemyjoycompleteColossians 3:12-17 Clothe yourselves with loveI John 4:7-12 Letusloveoneanother….GodisloveRevelation19:1,5-9 RejoicingatthemarriageoftheLamb