Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and

bless the joining together of this man and this woman in holy matrimony.

The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation. Our Lord

Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by being present at and performing a

miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

Marriage signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and His church

and scripture commends marriage to be honorable among all people.

The union of husband and wife in heart and body and mind is intended by God for

their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in times of prosperity

and adversity, and when it is God's will, for the birth of children and their nurture in

the knowledge and love of the Lord.

Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but with a great deal of

forethought, reverently, deliberately and for the purposes for which it was instituted

by God.

We always presume when we see two people getting married that they are in love

with each other.

But there are a lot of mistaken ideas in the world today about what love is and

what love is not, and what love does and what love does not do. There is a

passage in the Bible that many people call the Love Chapter. It is I Corinthians 13.

A modern version of a portion of that chapter says:

“Love is very patient, very kind. Love knows know jealousy, makes no parade,

gives itself not to arrogance. Love is never rude, never selfish, never resentful.

Love is never glad when others go wrong. Love is gladdened by goodness. Always

slow to criticize, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient.

Love never fails.

To Groom: __________, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together

in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love her, honor her and comfort

her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, do you promise to be

faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?

Groom: I do.

To Bride: ______________, will you have this man to be your husband, to live

together in the covenant of marriage. Do you promise to love him, honor him and

comfort him in sickness and in health, for forsaking all others, do you promise to

be faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?

Bride: I do.

Couple will now face each other, hold hands, and repeat vows in short phrases as

provided by the minister.

Exchange of Rings, with short phrases repeated after the minister.

Brief prayer of blessing on rings and marriage, led by minister.

Pronouncement by minister: Inasmuch as both of you have consented together in

marriage, and have witnessed your desire to be married, and further committed

yourselves one to the other, by the taking of these vows, by giving and receiving of

the rings, and by the joining of your hands, I now pronounce you husband and

wife. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

To Groom: You may kiss your bride.