Eternal God,
Send upon them the gift of love
Sow in their lives the joy that comes from sharing
Let peace spring from their faithfulness to each other
Give them patience with their failures
May their kindness, born of a gracious heart
Let goodness flower with forgiveness
In gentleness let them be tender with each other's dreams
Gracious God, Almighty God, look graciously on the world which you have made
May N and N so live together that the strength of their love May they be gentle and patient,
[May N and N be blessed with the gift of children.
May the lonely, the bereaved, and all who suffer want or anxiety,
May those whose lives are today brought together
May friends and family gathered here,
We praise you, merciful God, for those who have died in the faith of Christ.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers. Eternal God,
Lord, in your mercy
Give them wisdom and devotion in ordering their common life,
Lord, in your mercy
Grant that their wills may be so knit together in your will,
Lord, in your mercy
Give them grace when they hurt one another
Lord, in your mercy
Make their life together a sign of Christ's love
Lord, in vour mercy
[Bestow on them, if it is your will,
Lord, in your mercy
Give them such fulfilment of their affection
Lord in your mercy
Grant that all those who have witnessed these vows
Lord, in your mercy
Grant that the bonds of our common humanity Almighty God, God of all grace, God our Creator, Heavenly Father, Lord of life, Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God of all grace and goodness, Faithful God, Eternal God, Gracious Lord, Loving God, All praise and blessing to you, God of love, God of love, Holy Spirit of God, Eternal God, our maker and redeemer. Gracious God, O gracious and everliving God, God of love, ever gracious and kind, God of wonder and of joy:
Send your Holy Spirit, Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being.
back to The Marriage Service
Creator and redeemer,
from whom comes every good and perfect gift,
fill N and N with the riches of your grace
and breathe into their marriage
the strength of your holy and life-giving Spirit.
that puts no limit to its faith and forbearance
and grows with giving.
and flow deeper with the passing years.
and persistence with their hopes.
be shown to others in a generous spirit.
and be the fruit of their married life.
and healing of each other's wounds.
accept our prayers for N and N
that as their love ripens
and their marriage matures
they may reap the harvest of the Spirit,
rejoice in your gifts
and reflect your glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2
A prayer for all people
and for which your Son gave his life.
Bless all whom you make one flesh in marriage.
May their life together be a sign of your love to this broken world,
so that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt, and joy overcome despair.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
may reflect your love and enrich our common life.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
ready to trust each other,
and when they fail, willing to recognise and acknowledge their fault
and to ask each other's forgiveness.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
Fill them with wisdom and love as they care for their family.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.]
be defended by you, O Lord.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
be given wisdom, patience and courage
to serve one another in Christ's name.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
and those separated by distance,
be strengthened and blessed this day.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
May we be strengthened by their example.
Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may by your grace receive,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
3
creator and preserver of all life and giver of grace;
look with favour on the world you have made,
and especially on this man and this woman
whom you in holy marriage have made one.
hear our prayer.
that each may be to the other
a strength in need, a counsellor in perplexity,
a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.
hear our prayer.
that they may grow together in love and peace
with one another and with you all the days of their life.
hear our prayer.
to recognise and acknowledge their fault
and to seek each other's forgiveness and your pardon and peace.
hear our prayer.
in this broken and disordered world,
that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal injury,
and joy overcome despair.
hear our prayer.
the heritage and gift of children
and the grace to bring them up
to know you, to love you and to serve you.
hear our prayer.]
that they may reach out in love and concern for others.
hear our prayer.
may find their lives strengthened
and their loyalties confirmed.
hear our prayer.
by which all your children are united to one another
may be so transformed by your grace
that your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven;
where, O Father, with your Son and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign in perfect unity, now and for ever.
Amen.
4
For the Holy Spirit
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.
5
For faithfulness
friend and companion,
look in favour on N and N,
and all who are made one in marriage.
In your love deepen their love,
strengthen their wills
to keep the promises they have made,
that they may continue in life-long faithfulness to each other;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6
For the joy of loving.
we thank you for your gift of sexual love
by which husband and wife
may delight in each other,
and share with you the joy of creating new life.
By your grace may N and N remain lovers,
rejoicing in your goodness all their days. Amen.
7
For children and home
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.
8
For children and family
you shape us in your image,
and by your gracious gift
the human family is increased.
Grant N and N with the blessing of children.
Fill them with wisdom and love
as they care for their family,
so that they and their children
may know and love you,
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
9
For the home
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 them,
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.
10
For an existing family
we thank you for this new family,
and for everything parents and children have to share;
by your Spirit of peace draw them together
and help them to be true friends to one another.
Let your love surround them
and your care protect them,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
11
For grace to live well
giver of all good things,
give N and N wisdom and devotion
in the ordering of their life together.
May they dwell together in love and peace
all the days of their life,
seeking one another's welfare,
bearing one another's burdens,
and sharing one another's joys;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
12
For discipleship
without your grace nothing is strong, nothing is sure.
Strengthen N and N with patience, kindness, gentleness,
and all other gifts of the Holy Spirit,
so that they may fulfil the vows they have made.
Keep them faithful to each other and to you.
Fill them with such love and joy
that they may build a home of peace and welcome.
Make their life together [[be]] a sign of Christ s love
in this broken world,
that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy conquer despair;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
For the families of the couple
bless the parents and families of N and N
that they may grow in love and friendship.
Grant that, as they have witnessed these vows today,
they may find their lives enriched and strengthened
and their loyalties confirmed;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
14
For the healing of memory
you are merciful and forgiving.
Grant that those who are suffering the hurts of the past
may experience your generous love.
Heal their memories, comfort them,
and send them all from here
renewed and hopeful. Amen.
15
For the joy of companionship
creator of the universe,
maker of man and woman in your likeness,
source of blessing for married life.
All praise to you, for you have created
May your blessing come in full upon N and N.
May they know your presence
in their joys and in their sorrows.
May they reach old age in the company of friends
and come at last to your eternal kingdom. Amen.
16
For the sharing of love
we thank you for the gift of marriage and for the joys it brings.
Bless us as we share in this wedding.
We thank you for the love
which has brought N and N to each other
and for their desire to share that
love for the rest of their lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
17
For the support of friends
you know our strength
and have compassion on our frailty.
Be with N and N
in all they undertake.
And grant that we their friends,
with all who become their friends,
may sense and understand their needs;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
18
For a glimpse of eternal love
as you once enriched the wedding at Cana
when your Son turned water into wine,
so by his presence now bring your joy to this day.
May we drink deeply from your boundless love
and know in our hearts the delights of your Holy Spirit.
As we honour the union of a man and a woman,
let the love we celebrate today be a sign of your eternal love,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
19
For faithfulness
as you have brought N and N together in love,
enable them through the power of your Holy Spirit
to make and keep the solemn promises of marriage.
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
20
For faithfulness
male and female you have created us in your image:
Look mercifully upon this man and this woman
who come to you seeking your blessing;
assist them with your grace.
that with true fidelity and steadfast love
they may honour and keep the promises and vows they make;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
21
For grace and delight
we pray for N and N as they make the promises of marriage.
Let them know you
as the God of mercy and new beginnings,
who forgives our failures and renews our hope.
May the grace of Christ
be poured into their wedding
for celebration and for joy.
God of love, ever present and faithful,
may N and N know that their marriage is your delight and will.
May the promises they make govern their life together
as your presence surrounds them,
and your Spirit strengthens and guides them:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(JLG p 12)
22
For the gift of love
grace comes from you,
and you alone are the source of life and love.
Without you, we cannot please you;
without your love, our deeds are worth nothing.
and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of love,
that we may worship you now
with thankful hearts
and serve you always with willing minds;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BCO p 238)
23
For marriage as a sign to the world
Iook graciously upon the world which you have made
and for which your Son gave his life,
and especially on all whom you make to be one flesh
May their lives together be a sacrament of your love
so that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy overcome despair. [[Amen.]]