The Marriage Service

	THE INTRODUCTION

1	Stand
The bride and bridegroom stand before the priest.
THIS SENTENCE may be used.

God is love, and those who live in love live in
God and God lives in them. 1 John 4.16

2 	The priest may say

             	The Lord be with you
      	All   	and also with you.

3 	Priest 	God our Father,
You have taught us through your Son
that love is the fulfilling of the law.
Grant to your servants
that, loving one another,
they may continue in your love
until their lives' end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

4 	Sit
	One or more READINGS may be used (see section 22).
	If there are two or three readings, A PSALM (see section 23)
	or A HYMN may be sung between them.

5 	A SERMON may be preached.

THE MARRIAGE

6	The bride and bridegroom stand before the priest, and the 
priest says

We have come together in the presence of God, to witness the marriage of N and N, to ask his blessing on them, and to share in their joy. Our Lord Jesus Christ was himself a guest at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and through his Spirit he is with us now.

The Scriptures teach us that marriage is a gift of God in creation and a means of his grace, a holy mystery in which man and woman become one flesh. It is God's purpose that, as husband and wife give themselves to each other in love throughout their lives, they shall be united in that love as Christ is united with his Church.
Marriage is given, that husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy. It is given, that with delight and tenderness they may know each other in love, and, through the joy of their bodily union, may strengthen the union of their hearts and lives. It is given, that they may have children and be blessed in caring for them and bringing them up in accordance with God's will, to his praise and glory.

In marriage husband and wife belong to one another, and they begin a new life together in the community. It is a way of life that all should honour, and it must not be undertaken carelessly, lightly, or selfishly, but reverently, responsibly, and after serious thought.

This is the way of life, created and hallowed by God, that N and N are now to begin. They will each give their consent to the other; they will join hands and exchange solemn vows and in token of this they will give and receive a ring. 

Therefore, on this their wedding day we pray with them, that, strengthened and guided by God, they may fulfil his purpose for the whole of their earthly life together.

7 	The priest says to the congregation

But first I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now.

8 	The priest says to the couple

The vows you are about to take are to be made in the name of God, who is judge of all and who knows all the secrets of our hearts therefore if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.

9 	Stand
	The priest says to the bridegroom

		N, will you take N to be your wife? Will you love
		her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and,
		forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as
		you both shall live?

	 He answers

		I will.

10 	The priest says to the bride

		N, will you take N to be your husband? Will you
		love him, comfort him, honour and protect him,
		and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as
		long as you both shall live?

	She answers
		I will.

11	Either A

	The priest may receive the bride from the hands of
	her father.
	The bride and bridegroom face each other.
	The bridegroom takes the bride's right hand in his, and says

I, N, take you, N,
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,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy law;
and this is my solemn vow.

	They loose hands.
	The bride takes the bridegroom's right hand in hers,
	and says

I, N, take you, N,
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,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy law;
and this is my solemn vow.

	They loose hands.

	The service continues at section 13 on p. 292.

12 	or B

	The priest may receive the bride from the hands of
	her father.
	The bride and bridegroom face each other.
	The bridegroom takes the bride's right hand in his, and says

I, N, take you, N,
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, cherish, and worship,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy law;
and this is my solemn vow.

	They loose hands.
	The bride takes the bridegroom's right hand in hers
	and says

I, N, take you, N,
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, cherish, and obey,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy law;
and this is my solemn vow.

	They loose hands.

13	The priest receives the ring(s). He says

Heavenly Father, by your blessing, let this ring
be to N and N a symbol of unending love and
faithfulness, to remind them of the vow and
covenant which they have made this day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

14 	The bridegroom places the ring on the fourth finger of the
  	 bride's left hand, and holding it there, says

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.

15 	If only one ring is used, before they loose hands the bride says

I receive 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.

16 	If rings are exchanged, they loose hands and the bride places a ring on the fourth finger of the bridegroom's left hand, and holding it there, says

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.

17 	The priest addresses the people.

In the presence of God, and before this
congregation, N and N have given their consent
and made their marriage vows to each other.
They have declared their rnarriage by the joining
of hands and by the giving and receiving of a
ring. I therefore proclaim that they are husband
and wife.

18 	The priest joins their right hands together and says

That which God has joined together,
let not man divide.

19 	The congregation remain standing.
	The husband and wife kneel, and the priest blesses them.

God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit,
bless, preserve, and keep you;
the Lord mercifully grant you the
riches of his grace,
that you may please him both in body and soul,
and, living together in faith and love,
may receive the blessings of eternal life. Amen.

20	These acclamations may be used.

    	Priest	Blessed are you, heavenly Father
    	All	You give joy to bridegroom and bride.

	Priest	Blessed are you, Lord Jesus Christ
	All	You have brought new life to mankind.

	Priest	Blessed are you, Holy Spirit of God
	All	You bring us together in love.

	Priest	Blessed be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
	All	One God, to be praised for ever. Amen.

21	Sit
THE REGISTRATION of the marriage takes place now or at the end of the service.

22	If sections 4 and 5 have been omitted, at least ONE READING is used here, and A SERMON may be preached

23	Stand
One or more of the following PSALMS are used, or A HYMN may be sung.

PSALM 67
 1	Let God be gracious to | us and | bless us
  and make his | face | shine up | on us,

   2	that your ways may be | known on | earth
  your liberating | power a | mong all | nations.

 3	Let the peoples | praise you O | God
  let | all the | peoples | praise you.

 4	Let the nations be | glad and | sing
  for you judge the peoples with integrity
  and govern the | nations up |on | earth.

 5	Let the peoples | praise you O | God
  let | all the | peoples | praise you.

 6	Then the earth will | yield its | fruitfulness
  and | God our | God will | bless us.

Ü7	God | shall | bless us
  and all the | ends of the | earth will | fear him.

Glory to the Father and | to the | Son
  and | to the | Holy | Spirit;
  as it was in the be | ginning is | now
  and shall be for | ever. |A | men.

PSALM 121
1	I lift up my | eyes to the | hills
but | where shall I | find | help?

2	My help | comes from the | Lord
  who has | made | heaven and | earth.

3	He will not suffer your | foot to | stumble
  and he who watches | over you | will not | sleep.

4	Be sure he who has | charge of | Israel
  will | neither | slumber nor | sleep.

5	The Lord him | self is your | keeper
  the Lord is your defence up | on your | right | hand;

6	the sun shall not | strike you by | day
  nor | shall the | moon by | night.

7	The Lord will defend you from | all | evil
  it is | he who will | guard your | life.

8	The Lord will defend your going out and your
coming | in
from this time | forward for | ever | more.

Glory to the Father and | to the | Son
  and | to the | Holy | Spirit;
  as it was in the be | ginning is | now
  and shall be for | ever. | A | men.

PSALM 128
1	Blessed is everyone who | fears the | Lord
and walks in the | confine | of his | ways.

2	You will eat the | fruit of your | labours
  happy shall you | be and | all shall go | well with you.

3	Your wife with | in your | house
  shall | be as a | fruitful | vine;

4	your children a | round your | table
  like the fresh | shoots | of the | olive.
   
5	Behold thus shall the | man be | blessed
  who | lives in the | fear of the | Lord.

6	May the Lord so | bless you from | Zion
  that you see Jerusalem in prosperity |  
  all the | days of your | life.

Ü7	May you see your | children's | children
  and in | Israel | let there be | peace.

Glory to the Father and | to the | Son
  and | to the | Holy | Spirit;
  as it was in the be | ginning is | now
  and shall be for | ever. | A | men.

THE PRAYERS

24	Kneel
	The husband and wife kneel before the holy table.

Priest	Almighty God,
you send your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of all your people.
Open the hearts of these your children
to the riches of his grace,
that they may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

25 	Either or both of these prayers are said.

26 	Priest 	Heavenly Father,
maker of all things,
you enable us to share in your work of creation.
Bless this couple in the gift and care of children,
that their home may be a place of love,
  security, and truth,
and their children grow up
  to know and love you in your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 27 	Priest 	Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who shared at Nazareth the life of an
  earthly home
reign in the home of these your servants
  as Lord and King;
give them grace to minister to others
  as you have ministered to men,
and grant that by deed and word
they may be witnesses of your
  saving love
  to those among whom they live;
  for the sake of your holy name. Amen.

 28 	Other prayers may be said here (see sections 31-38).

 29 	Priest 	As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.

 All	Our Father in heaven,	       or
hallowed be your nane,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those
  who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,
  and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

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 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,
  the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

30 	The priest blesses the couple and the congregation, saying

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

	ADDITIONAL PRAYERS

31		Almighty God, giver of life and love, bless N and N, whom you have now joined in Christian marriage. Grant them wisdom and devotion in their life together, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy. So unite their wills in your will, and their spirits in your Spirit, that they live and grow together in love and peace all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

32		Almighty and most merciful Father, the strength of all who put their trust in you we pray that, as you have brought N and N together by your providence so you will enrich them by your grace, that those vows which they have made to one another in your sight, they may truly and faithfully perform; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

33        	Almighty Father, you have created all mankind to glorify you in body and in spirit.  Give these your children joy in one another, as living temples of the Holy Spirit, and bring them by this joy to know and share in your creative and redeeming love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

34		Eternal God, true and loving Father, in holy  marriage you make your servants one May their life together witness to your love in this troubled world; may unity overcome division, forgiveness heal injury, and joy triumph over sorrow; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

35		We praise you, Father, that you have made all things, and hold all things in being. In the beginning you created the universe, and made mankind in your own likeness because it was not good for them to be alone, you created them male and female; and in marriage you join man and woman as one flesh, teaching us that what you have united may never be divided.

We praise you that you have made this holy mystery a symbol of the marriage of Christ with his Church, and an image of your eternal covenant with your people.

And we pray for your blessing on this man and this woman, who come before you as partners  and heirs together of your promises. Grant that this man may love his wife as Christ loves his bride the Church, giving himself for it and cherishing it as his own flesh; and grant that this woman may love her husband and follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures. Strengthen them with your grace that they may be witnesses of Christ to others; let them live to see their children's children, and bring them at the last to fullness of life with your saints in the kingdom of heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

36		Heavenly Father,
we thank you that in our earthly lives
you speak to us of your eternal life
we pray that through their marriage
N and N
may know you more clearly
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

37		O God of love, look mercifully upon N and N in the new life which they begin together this day.  Unite them evermore in your love. Keep them faithful to the vows they have made one to the other. Strengthen them with every good gift.  And let your peace be with them, now and  always; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

38		Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who gave marriage to be a source of
blessing to mankind,
we thank you for the joys of family life.
May we know your presence and peace
in our homes;
fill them with your love,
and use them for your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.