Traditional Protestant Ceremony
circa, March 18, 1950
Foreword
The minister will ask
the couple to spend a few moments in quiet meditation on the meaning of marriage
and some of the necessary ingredients for a happy, harmonious married life. The
following Scripture passage will be read:
Love is very
patient, very kind
Love knows no jealousy,
Love makes no parade,
Gives itself no airs,
Is never rude, never selfish,
Never irritated, never resentful.
Love is never glad when others do wrong]
For love is gladdened by goodness,
Always slow to expose.
Always eager to believe the best,
Always hopeful, always patient;
And love never fails.
(from I Corinthians 13. Moffatt translation)
Invocation
God, our Father, whose nature it is to seek the welfare of Thy children, sanction the vows and strengthen the promises about to be made before Thee by increasing true love in our hearts; and may this marriage rite enjoy the presence and the blessing of the Master, as did the marriage at Cana of Galilee. Amen.
Challenge to the
Man
Do you ____ take ___to be your wedded wife? And do you solemnly promise, before
God and these witnesses that you will love, honor and cherish her; and that,
forsaking all others for her alone, you will perform unto her all the duties
that a husband owes until his wife, from this day forward?
I do.
Challenge to the
Woman
Do you ___ take ___to be your wedded husband? And do you solemnly promise,
before God and these witnesses, that you will love, honor and cherish him; and
that, forsaking all others for him alone, you will perform until him all the
duties that a wife owes her husband, from this day forward?
I do.
The Giving of the
Bride
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
I do.
The Marriage Vows
(___ you will take ___ by the right hand and repeat after me.)
I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded 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 and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my vow.
(Drop hands.)
(___ you will take ___ by the right hand and repeat after me.)
I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded 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 and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my vow.
(Drop hands.)
The Ring Ceremony
What token of your promise do you bring? (Flowers are passed to attendant.)
Do you, ___, give this ring in sincere pledge that you will keep your promise and perform your vows?
I do.
Bless, O Lord, this ring. May its unbroken circle be the symbol of perfect union of two hearts, two minds and to lives. Amen.
With this ring, I wed thee, in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Join your right hands. (Guests stand.)
Inasmuch as you have chosen to marry, and have witnessed your several promises before God and this company, I now pronounce you to be husband and wife together, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord bless
you and keep you,
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and
be gracious to you,
May the Lord life up his countenance upon you and
give you his peace.
(Recover flowers.)
Prayer
Gracious and loving Father, Thou hast taught us that if in all our ways we acknowledge Thee, Thou wilt direct our paths. We come, therefore, to ask Thy fatherly blessing upon these two just now joined in marriage. Even as two streams coming down the hillsides unite their forces and run together through the valleys enriching them as they go, grant that these lives may be. In Thy providence Thou hast brought them together; grant that each may enrich the other's life and that together they may be a blessing to the world through which they pass. In the midst of life's joys keep them true to each other and loyal to Thee, their God. And if, perchance trials and difficulties come, may they be the means of binding them yet more closely together - together to work out life's problems - together to perform life's tasks. And so through all the coming days we commit them to Thee and to Thy gracious care and keeping in a great companionship along life's road.
And now may that peace from God that passeth all understanding stand sentinel at the gateway of your lives, keeping out all things that hurt and annoy, and permit to pass only the things which sweeten and enrich and beautify, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.