DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED
HERE TODAY TO WITNESS AS JOIN THEIR LIVES TOGETHER IN HOLY
MATRIMONY, THE MOST SACRED OF RELATIONSHIPS. BECAUSE YOU HAVE KNOWN
AND LOVED THEM AS INDIVIDUALS, YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SHARE IN THE
JOYOUS MOMENT AS THEY JOIN LIVES TOGETHER AS ONE.
THIS
IS THE TIME WHICH YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BECOME HUSBAND AND WIFE. WE ARE
HERE NOT ONLY TO WITNESS YOUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER, BUT TO WISH
YOU BOTH EVERY HAPPINESS IN YOUR FUTURE LIFE TOGETHER.
WITHIN
ITS FRAMEWORK OF LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT, MARRIAGE ENABLES THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOME, WHERE THROUGH TOLERANCE, PATIENCE AND
RESPECT, THE LOVE AND AFFECTION WHICH YOU HAVE FOR EACH OTHER MAY
DEVELOP INTO A DEEP AND LASTING RELATIONSHIP.
THE
BIBLE HAS GIVEN US WHAT MAY BE THE WORLD'S BEST DEFINITION OF WHAT IT
MEANS TO LOVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A WELL KNOWN PASSAGE
FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 13 AND OFFER IT AS A MODEL TO YOU FOR THE NEW LIFE
YOU ARE CREATING HERE TODAY:
LOVE
IS PATIENT AND KIND, IT IS NEVER JEALOUS.LOVE IS NEVER BOASTFUL OR
CONCEITED. IT IS NEVER RUDE OR SELFISH.IT DOES NOT TAKE OFFENSE AND
IS NOT RESENTFUL.
LOVE
TAKES NO PLEASURE IN OTHER PEOPLES FAULTS, BUT DELIGHTS IN THE
TRUTH.IT IS ALWAYS READY TO EXCUSE, TO TRUST AND TO HOPE.IT IS ALWAYS
READY TO ENDURE WHATEVER COMES. TRUE LOVE DOES NOT COME TO AN END.
BEFORE
YOU ARE JOINED IN MARRIAGE IN MY PRESENCE AND THE PRESENCE OF THESE,
YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I AM TO REMIND YOU OF THE SOLEMN AND
ENDURING NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP INTO WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO
ENTER.
PLEASE
ANSWER WITH “I DO”
DO
YOU TAKE TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE? FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, TO
HAVE AND TO HOLD, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, FOR
RICHER AND POORER, IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH, TO LOVE AND CHERISH FOR SO
LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE:
PLEASE
ANSWER WITH “I DO”
DO
YOU TAKE TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND? FROM THIS DAY
FORWARD, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, FOR BETTER AND
FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER AND POORER, IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH, TO LOVE AND
TO CHERISH FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE:
MAY
THESE RINGS BE BLESSED AS THE SYMBOL OF THIS AFFECTINATE UNION.
THESE TWO LIVES ARE NOW JOINED IN ONE UNBROKEN CIRCLE. WHEREVER THEY
GO, MAY THEY ALWAYS RETURN TO ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR TOGETHERNESS. MAY
THESE TWO FIND IN EACH OTHER THE LOVE FOR WHICH ALL MEN AND WOMEN
YEARN. MAY THEY GROW IN UNDERSTANDING AND IN COMPASSION. MAY THE
HOME WHICH THEY ESTABLISH TOGETHER BE SUCH A PLACE OF SANCTUARY THAT
MANY WILL FIND THERE A FRIEND. MAY THESE RINGS, ON THEIR FINGERS,
SYMBOLIZE THE TOUCH OF THE SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THEIR HEARTS.
IN
PLACING THIS RING ON FINGER, PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME: I GIVE YOU
THIS RING AS THE PLEDGE OF MY LOVE AND AS THE SYMBOL OF OUR UNITY.
IN
PLACING THIS RING ON FINGER, PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME: I GIVE YOU
THIS RING AS THE PLEDGE OF MY LOVE AND AS THE SYMBOL OF OUR UNITY.
INASMUCH
AS HAVE CONSENTED TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE BEFORE THIS COMPANY, HAVE
PLEDGED THEIR FAITH AND DELCARED THEIR UNITY BY EACH GIVING AND
RECEIVING A RING AND ARE NOW JOINED IN MUTUAL ESTEEM AND DEVOTION, BY
THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF MO, I PRONOUNCE THAT THEY
ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE. YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE.
IT
IS NOW MY GREAT HONOR TO BE THE FIRST TO PRESENT:
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