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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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