WEDDING & COUNSELING INFORMATION PAGE

Christian Wedding Ceremony

This text maybe modified at the discretion of the wedding couple. The Intentions portion should remain as written.

The Marriage of:

_____________________

and

_____________________

THE WEDDING CEREMONY :

On the ______ day of ___________

in the Year of our Lord 201___

at the hour of _______ PM at

Trinity United Church of Christ

Miamisburg, Ohio

Officiated by

Rev. Joel L. Getts

MINISTER: WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND IN THE FACE OF THIS COMPANY, TO JOIN TOGETHER __________ AND ________ IN HOLY MATRIMONY; WHICH IS AN HONORABLE ESTATE, INSTITUTED OF GOD, SINCE THE FIRST MAN AND THE FIRST WOMAN WALKED ON THIS EARTH.

THEREFORE; MARRIAGE IS NOT TO BE ENTERED INTO UNADVISEDLY OR LIGHTLY, BUT REVERENTLY AND SOBERLY. INTO THIS HOLY ESTATE THESE TWO PERSONS PRESENT COME NOW TO BE JOINED.

THEREFORE, IF ANY ONE CAN SHOW JUST CAUSE WHY THEY MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY JOINED TOGETHER, LET THEM SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD THEIR PEACE.

MINISTER: WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN TO BE MARRIED TO THIS MAN?

FATHER OF THE BRIDE : HER MOTHER AND I DO.

MINISTER: LET US PRAY: FATHER, YOU HAVE MADE THE BOND OF MARRIAGE A HOLY AND UNIQUE MYSTERY, A SYMBOL OF CHRIST'S LOVE FOR HIS BODY HERE ON EARTH. WITH FAITH IN YOU AND IN EACH OTHER, __________ AND ________ PLEDGE THEIR LOVE TODAY. MAY THEIR LIVES ALWAYS BEAR WITNESS TO THE REALITY OF THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR YOU. WE ASK YOU THIS IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK, CHAPTER 10, VERSES 6 THROUGH 8: "But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.

HOMILY (Brief spiritual message given by the Minister 3-5 minutes in length)

MINISTER: LET US PRAY.

OUR HEAVLY FATHER, AS __________ AND ________ PLEDGE THEMSELVES TO EACH OTHER, HELP THEM AND BLESS THEM, THAT THEIR LOVE LIKE YOURS FOR US MAY BE PURE, AND THEIR VOWS MAY BE TRUE. MAY THEIR VOWS BE ETCHED IN THEIR HEARTS CAUSING THEM TO LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL FOR THEM AND THEIR DESIRE TO PLEASE ONE ANOTHER, WE ASK THIS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR AND LORD, AMEN.

INTENTIONS

MINISTER __________ AND ________, YOU HAVE COME TOGETHER THIS DAY SO THAT THE LORD MAY SEAL AND STRENGTHEN YOUR LOVE IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS WORD AND THIS COMMUNITY OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED HERE. AND SO, IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS ASSEMBLY, I ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR INTENTIONS:

(Addressing The Groom) ________ DO YOU FREELY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION TAKE THIS WOMAN TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE, RECEIVING AND LOVING HER IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE? IF SO ANSWER BY SAYING “I DO”

GROOM : I DO

(Addressing The Bride) ________ DO YOU FREELY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION TAKE THIS MAN TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND, RECEIVING AND LOVING HIM IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE? IF SO ANSWER BY SAYING “I DO”

BRIDE : I DO

MINISTER: SINCE IT IS YOUR INTENTION TO ENTER INTO MARRIAGE, JOIN YOUR RIGHT HANDS AND DECLARE YOUR CONSENT BEFORE GOD AND THIS GATHERING.

(Bride and groom face each other and join their right hands)

WEDDING VOWS

(Addressing the groom ): I ________ TAKE YOU ________ + TO BE MY LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE + TO BE MY PARTNER FOR LIFE + I WILL CHERISH YOU + AND LOVE YOU TODAY TOMORROW AND FOREVER + I WILL TRUST YOU AND HONOR YOU + I WILL LAUGH WITH YOU AND CRY WITH YOU + I WILL LOVE YOU FAITHFULLY + I WILL SUPPORT YOUR DREAMS AND HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS + THROUGH THE BEST AND THE WORST + THROUGH THE DIFFICULT AND THE EASY TIMES + WHATEVER MAY COME + I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE + AS I HAVE GIVEN YOU MY HAND TO HOLD + SO I GIVE YOU MY LIFE TO KEEP.

(Addressing the bride): I ________ TAKE YOU ________ TO BE MY LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND + TO BE MY PARTNER FOR LIFE + I WILL CHERISH YOU + AND LOVE YOU TODAY TOMORROW AND FOREVER + I WILL TRUST YOU AND HONOR YOU + I WILL LAUGH WITH YOU AND CRY WITH YOU + I WILL LOVE YOU FAITHFULLY + I WILL SUPPORT YOUR DREAMS AND HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS + THROUGH THE BEST AND THE WORST + THROUGH THE DIFFICULT AND THE EASY TIMES + WHATEVER MAY COME + I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE + AS I HAVE GIVEN YOU MY HAND TO HOLD + SO I GIVE YOU MY LIFE TO KEEP.

RING CEREMONY

MINISTER : __________ AND ________ WILL NOW EXCHANGE RINGS AS A SIGN AND A SEAL OF THEIR LOVE AND COMMITMENT THROUGH MARRIAGE TO EACH OTHER. THE RING IS AND UNBROKEN CIRCLE FORMED WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END AND ENCOMPASSING OF EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE TOGETHER.

MINISTER (Praying over the two rings): LORD, BLESS AND CONSECRATE __________ AND ________ IN THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER. MAY THESE RINGS BE A SYMBOL OF THE FAITH THEY HAVE FOR EACH OTHER, AND A REMINDER THAT TRUE LOVE, LIKE THESE RINGS, HAS NO END.

(Minister hands the bride’s ring to the groom)

GROOM (Placing ring on bride's finger): Elizabeth WITH THIS RING + AND WITH ALL OF MY BEING + I PLEDGE MY UNENDING LOVE TO YOU + MAY THIS RING ALWAYS BE + A VALUED AND HONORABLE REPRESENTATION + OF MY LOVE FOR YOU.

(Minister hands the bride’s ring to the groom)

BRIDE (Placing ring on groom's finger): Craig WITH THIS RING + AND WITH ALL OF MY BEING + I PLEDGE MY UNENDING LOVE TO YOU.+ MAY THIS RING ALWAYS BE + A VALUED AND HONORABLE REPRESENTATION + OF MY LOVE FOR YOU.

UNITY CANDLE SERVICE

MINISTER: __________ AND ________ HAVE CHOSEN TO EXPRESS THEIR COMING TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE BY THE LIGHING OF THE UNITY CANDLE. THE STRENGTH OF UNITY IN A MARRIAGE BOND IS SPOKEN OF IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIATES - CHAPTER 4 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, the other can help him up. If two lie down together, they will keep each other warm. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

(Speaking to the wedding couple) WE CELEBRATE YOUR UNION WITH EACH OTHER AND TOGETHER WITH GOD. FROM NOW ON YOUR THOUGHTS SHALL BE FOR EACH OTHER.YOUR PLANS SHALL BE MUTUAL, AND YOUR

JOYS AND SORROWS SHALL BE SHARED ALIKE. MAY YOUR LIVES BECOME ONE IN PURPOSE AND FUNCTION THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDING AND EMPOWERING YOUR LIFE TOGETHER.YOU MAY LIGHT THE UNITY CANDLE TOGETHER.

(Couple lights the unity candle)

SPECIAL MUSIC:

MINISTER: LET US PRAY

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAY FOR ALL MARRIED PERSONS, THAT THEY MAY CONTINUE TO GIVE, BE ABLE TO FORGIVE, AND EXPERIENCE MORE AND MORE OF THE JOY OF THE LORD WITH EACH PASSING DAY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR __________ AND ________ NOW BEGINNING THEIR MARRIED LIFE TOGETHER. WE PRAY THAT THEY MAY HAVE DIVINE ASSISTANCE, THE CONSTANT SUPPORT OF FRIENDS, AND A LONG LIFE WITH GOOD HEALTH. MAY YOUR FULLEST BLESSING COME UPON __________ AND ________, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, FOR EVER AND EVER, AMEN.

MINISTER : RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF THE LORD.

MAY JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, ALWAYS BE AT THE CENTER OF THE NEW LIVES YOU ARE NOW STARTING TO BUILD TOGETHER. MAY YOU KNOW THE WAYS OF TRUE LOVE AND KINDNESS. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU BOTH ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIVES AND FILL YOU WITH HIS LOVE, GRACE, JOY. AND PEACE. AMEN.

THOSE WHOM GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER.

IN SO MUCH AS __________ AND ________ HAVE CONSENTED TOGETHER IN THIS COVENANT OF MARRIAGE, AND HAVE WITNESSED THE SAME BEFORE GOD AND THIS CONGREGATION, HAVING GIVEN AND PLEDGED THEIR LOVE AND HONOR, EACH TO THE OTHER, AND HAVING DECLARED THE SAME BY THE GIVING AND RECEIVING OF RINGS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, I PRONOUNCE THAT THEY ARE INDEED HUSBAND AND WIFE.

MINISTER : ________ YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE.

(Couple Kisses)

(Couple turns and face the congregation)

MINISTER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER __________________________________.

RECESSIONAL BEGINS

Recessional Music Selection : ________________________