Marriage

The bridge, groom, and wedding party stand in front of the minister. The parents may stand behind the couple.

Hymn

P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

A. Let us praise God with the psalmist: (Psalm)

I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

I will glory in the Lord;

let the humble hear and rejoice.

Proclaim with me

the greatness of the Lord;

let us exalt his name together.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

happy are they who trust in him.

P. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning now and forever.

Let us pray!

Eternal God, our creator and redeemer, as you gladdened the wedding at Cana in Galilee by the presence of your Son, so by his presence now bring your joy to this wedding. Look in favor upon Eric and Anne and grant that they, rejoicing in all your gifts, may at lenght celebrate with Christ the marriage feast wich has no end.

C. Amen.

P. I read the word of God, chosen on the occasion of your marriage. Apostel Saint Paul sais: .................

Sermon

Hymn: O perfect love

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P. The Lord God in his goodness created us male and female, and by the gift of marriage founded human community in a joy that begins now and is brought to perfection in the life to come.

A. My christian brothers and sisters, let us listen to Gods blessing in the order of marriage.

The Lord God said: It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: What threfore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The Apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit, saith: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it. Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord; for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Church.

P. Eric and Anne, if it is your intention to share with each other your joys and sorrows and all the years will bring, with your promises bind yourselves to each other as husband and wife.

The congregation stands.

The bride and groom face each other and join hands. Each, in turn, promises faithfulness to the other in these words, the groom first:

I take you ....................

to be my wife from this day forward,

to join with you and share all that is to come,

and I promise to be faitful to you

until death parts us.

And now the bride:

I take you ....................

to be my husband from this day forward,

to join with you and share all that is come,

and I promise to be faithful to you

until death parts us.

The bride and groom exchange rings with these words:

.................... , I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

.................... , I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

The bride and groom join hands, and the minister announces their marriage by saying:

Eric and Anne, by their promises before God and in the presence of this congregation, have bound themselves to one another as husband and wife.

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

P. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.

The congregation may sit. The bride and groom kneel.

P. The Lord God, who created our first parents and established them in marriage, establish and sustain you, that you may find delight in each other and grow in holy love until you life's end.

C. Amen.

Prayers of parents or ....

Stand.

P. Let us bless God for all the gifts in which we rejoice today.

Faithful Lord, source of love, pour down your grace upon Eric and Anne, that they may fulfill the vows they have made this day and reflect your steadfast love in their life-long faithfulness to each other. As members with them of the body of Christ, use us to support their life together; and from your great store of strenght give them power and patience, affection and understanding, courage, and love toward you, toward each other, and toward the world, that they may continue together in mutual growth according to your will in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Let us say the Lord's prayer everyone in respectiv language....

P. Receive the blessing of God:

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor

and + give you peace.