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The
Marriage Service |
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CSI
LITURGY
Marriage |
INTRODUCTION A
Hymn may be sung by choir near the vestry. The minister prays. People stand. Then he announces a hymn. The Choir and people sing or observe silence as organ is played (silent procession) Procession As
the Presbyter (minister) comes to the Lord’s table, the person with the
processional Cross goes first, followed by Choir, then the person, who carries
in both hands the Bible from which the lessons are to be read, then the
presbyter. The
minister places the Bible on the Lord’s Table or on a lectern. A
lyric or hymn is sung. The
persons to be married present themselves before the minister, the man standing
at the right hand of the woman. The
minister says: DEARLY
beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God to join this man and this
woman in marriage. This is a way
of life instituted by God, and Holy Scripture commands all men to hold it in
honor. Our Lord Jesus Christ
blessed it by his presence at Cana of Galilee. About
this way of life, hear what our Lord says: ‘
From the beginning of creation, “ God made them male and female”. “ For
this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and thee two shall become one.” So
they are no longer two but one. What
therefore God has joined together let no man put asunder.’
Marriage
is therefore not by any to be undertaken lightly or ill advisedly, but
seriously and prayerfully, duly considering the purposes for which it is
ordained. It
is ordained: That
husband and wife may give to each other life-long companionship, help, and
comfort, both in prosperity and in adversity; That
God may hallow and direct the natural instincts and affections created by
himself, and redeemed in Christ; That
children may be born and brought up in families in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ to the glory of God; That,
marriage being thus held in honor, human society may stand upon firm
foundations. THE
MARRIAGE The
minister says: These
two persons have come here to be made one in this holy estate.
But if anyone here knows any just cause why they may not be married
according to the discipline of the Church and the law of this land, let him
now make it known, or else forever hold his peace. If no
impediment is alleged, he says to the persons who are to be married: I
charge you both in the presence of God, that if either of you knows any reason
why you may not be joined together in marriage, you do now confess it. If no
impediment is alleged, the man and woman may now garland each other; and the
minister says: ALMIGHTY
and most merciful Father, without whose help we cannot do anything as we
ought, we pray that, as thou has brought these persons together by thy
providence, thou wilt enrich them with thy grace, that they may enter into the
marriage covenant as in thy sight, and truly keep the vows they are about to
make; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the
minister says to the man: N,
will you have this woman, M,
to be your wife, and cleave to her alone? And the
man answers: The
minister says to the woman: M,
will you have this man, N,
to be your husband, and cleave to him alone? And the
woman answers: If the
woman is given in marriage by her parent or guardian, the minister says: Who
gives this woman to be married to this man? And the
parent or guardian puts the woman’s right hand into the right hand of the
man. If the
parent or guardian is not present, the minister says: N
and M,
give each other the right hand. And the
man says after the minister: I,
N,
Take you, M,
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 protect, till death us do part, According to God’s holy law; And to this
I give you my pledge. They still hold hands, and the woman says
after the minister; I,
M,
Take you, N,
to be 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 to this I
give you my pledge. The
minister says: God
has heard your vows, and we are witnesses. The
minister may bless the mangalasutra,
ring, or rings, saying: BLESS
this mangalasutra [ring(s)], O
merciful Lord, that he who gives it and she who wears it may ever be faithful
one to the other, and continue together in love so long as they both shall
live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The
minister delivers the mangalasutra
to the man, who puts it on the woman in the customary manner, and holds it.
Or else the minister delivers the ring to the man, who puts it on the
woman’s finger, and holds it. The
man then says after the minister: This
mangalasutra [ring] I give you in token of constant faith and abiding love. I
honor you with my body, and all my worldly goods with you I share. * If the
woman gives a ring to the man, she puts it on his finger, and holds it, saying
after the minister: This
ring I give you in token of constant faith and abiding love. I honor you with
my body and all my worldly goods with you I share. The minister declares: As
N
and M
have made their pledge to each other before God and before this congregation,
I declare that they are now husband and wife, according to the law of this
land and the ordinance of God; in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Whom
therefore God has joined together let not man put asunder. * Passages
thus marked may be omitted at the discretion of the minister. The man
and the woman kneel while the congregation remains standing, and the minister
says:
MOST merciful and gracious God, our Father, of whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named: Send thy blessing upon N
and M,
whom we bless in thy name; that, living faithfully together, they may surely
perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may ever remain
in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy law; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless preserve, and
keep you; the Lord mercifully look upon you with favor, and fill you with all
spiritual benediction and grace: that you may so live together in this life
that in the world to come you may have life everlasting.
Amen. THE
PRAYERS A
lyric or hymn is sung; or one or both of the following psalms may be said or
sung.1 The man and
woman go to the Lord’s Table. If
the ceremony of the Saptapadi (Seven Steps) is observed, the people say or
sing Psalm 67, pausing after each verse while the man and woman take
one step forward. 1
Any
other recognized version of the psalms may be used.
*
Psalm 67 1.May
God be gracious to us and bless us, and
make his face to shine upon us, 2.
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy
saving power among all nation 3.
Let the peoples praise thee, O God; Let
all the peoples praise thee! 4.Let
the nations be glad and sing for joy for
thou dost judge thee peoples with equity and
guide the nations upon the earth. 5.
Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let
all the peoples praise thee! 6.The
earth has yielded its increase; God,
our God, has blessed us. 7.God
has blessed us; Let
all the ends of the earth fear him! *
Psalm 128
Blessed
is everyone, who fears the Lord, Who
walks in his ways! You
shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; You
shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your
wife will be like a fruitful vine Within
your house; Your
children will be like olive shoots Around
your table. Lo,
thus shall the man be blessed who
fears the Lord. The
Lord bless you from Zion! May
you see the prosperity of Jerusalem All
the days of your life! May
you see your children’s children! Peace
be upon Israel! After each
psalm all say or sing:
Glory be to the Father: and to
the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without
end. Amen. * A Bible or New Testament may then be placed
in the hands of the newly married couple by the minister, with the words: May
the Word of God be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. The following passage of Scripture is read:
1 Corinthians 13: 4-13. *A sermon may be preached. Then
the minister says: Let
us pray Lord,
have mercy upon us. Christ,
have mercy upon us. Lord,
have mercy upon us. Our Father,
who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done;
In earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them
that 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. Lord,
save thy servant and thy handmaid: And
let them put their trust in thee. O
Lord, send help from thy holy place: And evermore
defend them. Be
unto them a tower of strength: From the
face of their enemy. O
Lord, hear our prayer: And let our
cry come unto thee. ALMIGHTY
and everlasting Father, who hast given to mankind the ordinance of marriage,
and dost hallow it with thy blessing: Bless,
we beseech thee, thy servants, N and M, now joined together as husband and
wife; and grant that, bearing one another’s burdens, sharing one another’s
joys, and together fulfilling the duties of their home, they may ever be
faithful to each other in love and obedience to thy word; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. O
LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, who didst share at Nazareth the life of an
earthly home: Reign, we beseech thee, in the home of these thy servants as
Lord and King; give them grace that they may minister to others as thou didst
minister to men, and grant that by deed and word they may be witnesses of thy
saving love to those amongst whom they live; for thy holy name’s sake, who
livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without
end. Amen. The following prayer may be omitted if the
woman is past childbearing. O
MERCIFUL Lord and heavenly father, by whose gracious gift mankind is
increased: Bestow, we beseech thee, upon these thy servants the heritage and
gifts of children, and grant that they may live together so long in godly love
and honor, that they mat see their children brought up in Christian faith and
virtue, to thy praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O
ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct,
sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws, and
in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection,
both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. If the Lord’s Supper follows, the service
begins at the Breaking of the Bread. Otherwise,
the minister says: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. A lyric or hymn may be sung while the
register is being signed. -----
End
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