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Opening Remarks // Religious
Opening Remarks // Religious
Opening Remarks // Religious
The introductory words set the tone for the ceremony and usually say something about the nature of marriage that is in keeping with the beliefs of the couple. It is a statement about the occasion, its importance, its significance to society as well as the people involved.
We have come together from near and far to celebrate your lives as individuals and to bestow our blessings upon you as you begin a magical journey together as husband and wife. We have come together to witness the creation of a brand new family, and to share in the joy of that moment with you. Your marriage will develop a true friendship between you and that friendship must be strong and able to withstand the tests of time. Remember that when you are a true friend to someone you want to spend time with them; you want to share with them; care for them when they are sick spiritually or physically; you want to learn new things with them; you want to change with them; you want to grow in truth with them; and you want to experience all that life has to offer with them. Through this process you will wind-up on the same page together, and that is the secret to having peace and happiness in your lives. Take responsibility for making the other one to feel safe, and give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness, and kindness that your relationship deserves. Never allow anything to be more important than the one you have chosen to spend your life together with. Seek love and never take it for granted. Love is believing, sharing, caring and dreaming together. Love is honesty, friendship, companionship, and selflessness. Love is the desire to be intimate physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Love is devotion, celebration, understanding, forgiveness and sacrifice. Love is strong, yet can be fragile. Love is gentleness, kindness, and patience. Love is trusting, protecting, inspiring, and supporting. Love is the only true way to know God.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of family and friends to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony, which is commended of St. Paul to be an honorable estate, instituted of God and therefore is not to be entered into unadvisedly or carelessly, but reverently, joyfully and in the love of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.
Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man, Groom, and this woman, Bride, in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.
The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God. You ask what is this love we here affirm, and I answer, it is a covenant you make, one with the other, a covenant born of commitment to each other's wellbeing and growth and commitment to your relationship itself, allowing it the possibility of change and of growth.
Groom and Bride, our God of love has established marriage as the symbol of Christ's perfect relationship to His Body, the Church. We have come to bring you as one before Him. Groom, God has ordained the man as the spiritual head, as the responsible provider, and as the initiator of love in this human relationship. By His enablement, your strength must be Bride's protection, your character her boast and pride, and you must so live that she will find in you the haven for which the heart of a woman truly longs. Bride, it is God's purpose that you be a loving wife, that you respond to Groom's love in tenderness with a deep sense of understanding, through a great faith in Christ who brought you together. It is His desire that you have that inner beauty of soul that never fades; that eternal youth that is found in holding fast the things that never age. Groom and Bride, Christian marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two uniting and joining hands to serve God. Seek His kingdom first, and His righteousness and He will add all other things to you. Do not expect perfection from each other, perfection belongs solely to God. You need not minimize each other's weaknesses, but always be swift to praise and magnify each other's points of comeliness and strength and see each other through kind and patient eyes. God will lead you into such situations as will bless you and develop your characters as you walk together. He will give you enough tears to keep you tender, enough hurts to keep you compassionate, enough of failure to keep your hands clenched tightly in His, and enough success to make you sure you walk with Him. May you never take each other's love for granted, but always experience that wonder that exclaims "Out of all this world you have chosen me." When life is done, may you be found then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May you ever serve Him happily, faithfully, together until you return to glory or until at last one shall lay the other into His arms. And all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today we have gathered in this place of natural beauty to be joyful, in celebration of the relationship of Bride and Groom. By their commitment to marry each other, they are saying yes to love, yes to caring, yes to the family. May the spirit of God–which is in the blue sky, in the wind, and in the fresh smells of the Earth–enter your bodies, fill your hearts, and bless your lives.
We have come together today in the presence of God to witness the joining of Bride and Groom in Holy Matrimony. This is a special time of celebration that they will long remember, and because of this, they are thankful you are here to share their joy. From the dawn of human history, it has been customary for the community to place its seal of approval upon the union of two persons in marriage. If these solemn vows that they are about to make are kept faithfully, God will bless their marriage.
A wedding is the celebration of the miracle of love. Groom and Bride, today, in the presence of God, we celebrate this miracle in your lives. Here are some wonderful words that define the true meaning of love. Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; Love is not arrogant or rude; Love does not insist on its own way; Love does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices with the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Learning to love each other and to live together in harmony is one of the greatest challenges of marriage. Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, and we are to hold it in high honor at all times.
We are gathered here in God’s presence to witness the marriage of Groom and Bride and to ask God to bless them. Marriage, like our creation as men and women, owes its very existence to God. It is God’s will and intention that a husband and wife should love each other throughout their life; (and that the children born to them should enjoy the security of family and home).
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. O Lord, hear our prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee. The Lord be with you. And with your Spirit. My dear friends: you are about to enter into a union which is most sacred and most serious. It is most sacred, because it is established by God himself; most serious, because it will bind you together for life in a relationship so close and intimate, that it will profoundly influence your whole future. That future, with its successes and disappointments, its joys and its sorrows, is hidden from your eyes. And so not knowing what is before you, you take each other for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death. These words are also a beautiful tribute to your undoubted faith in each other, that recognizing their full import, you are nevertheless willing to pronounce them. In marriage you enter into a deeper and wider life which you share in common. The sacrifices you must make will sometimes be irksome, but love will make them easy, and perfect love will make them a joy. We are willing to give in proportion as we love. No greater joy can come to your life than pure conjugal love, loyal and true to the end. May this love with which you join your hearts and hands today never fail, but grow deeper and stronger as the years go on. Your lives will be in the hands of God. He pledges to you the life-long support of His grace in the Holy Sacrament which you are now going to receive.
We are gathered here in the presence of God, family and friends to join in holy matrimony Groom and Bride, and to bear witness to the love they have for one another. Marriage is an honorable estate, and therefore it is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and with God’s blessing. Today you will receive God’s greatest gift; another person to share life’s blessings with, care for, learn with, trust in, change with and to discover the greatness of God’s glory. On behalf of this bride and groom, I would like to take a moment to thank all of the special people who have traveled from near and far to celebrate with Bride and Groom, and to shower them with love and blessings.
Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love of Groom and Bride, as they make their pledges of marriage before God and before this company. Jesus Christ was once asked, ``What is the greatest Law that mankind must follow?'' And he answered them by saying that we must love God with all our hearts, and love our neighbors as our self. I think that when he said these words, he touched upon something we all feel very deeply in our hearts, and that is that love is the greatest gift we can offer one another, and that is what makes marriage so very special, and such a cause of joy and celebration for all of us who have come here today to share in this event. It is my personal prayer and hope that those of you who have already taken the vows of marriage will witness the love of these two people, and as you hear them share their vows, perhaps it will strengthen for you the memory of your happy day, and remind you of the meaning of the vows you yourselves once took. Perhaps it will even strengthen just a little bit the bonds of love that have been growing between you. If any of this should happen, it would certainly be the greatest gift that Groom and Bride could offer all of us on their wedding day. Marriage is an act of faith and ever-deepening commitment, as well as a loving union between a man and a woman. It has been described as the best and the most important relationship that two people can share, the creation of a single growing energy of spiritual life. Marriage can be a lifelong unfolding of loving kindness, backed by the will to make it last. There is no limit to the knowing of another's soul, and when you learn to love one person, then you grow in love for all of humanity.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of this company, to unite Groom and Bride in holy matrimony. Marriage was ordained by God in Eden and confirmed in Cana of Galilee by the presence of the Lord Himself, and is declared by the inspired Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men. It is therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, soberly and in the fear of God. It is fitting, therefore, that we should on this occasion, begin by asking God's blessing on this marriage service.
Dearly Beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God, to join Groom and Bride , in holy marriage; which is instituted of God, regulated by His commandments, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be hold in honor among all men. Let us therefore reverently remember that God has established and sanctified marriage, for the welfare and happiness of mankind. Our Savior has declared that a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife. By His apostles, He has instructed those who enter into this relation to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; and to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other, and for their household, in temporal things; to pray for and encourage each other in things which pertain to God; and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company of witnesses to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is between Christ and His Church; which Holy Estate Christ adorned with His presence and first miracle that He wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore, not entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God. Into this Holy Estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.
Friends, we come together in this holy place to share with Groom and Bride a most important moment in their lives. Marriage was instituted by God in the Garden of Eden when He saw that it was not good for man to be alone. Christ beautified marriage with His presence in Cana of Galilee when He wrought His first miracle. It is commended by the Apostle Paul who likened it to the holy union which exists between Christ and His Church, in which our Lord Jesus is called the Bridegroom and His Church, the Bride. We have been invited to hear Groom and Bride promise to face the future together as husband and wife. Groom and Bride, you must recognize that this covenant is more than a legal contract. This is a bond of union made in heaven. It is to be entered into with reverence. You are about to assume mutual relationships and responsibilities and to promise undying devotions. Nothing is easier than saying words, nothing harder than living them day by day. Love between a Christian man and wife means caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as about yourself. You will be looking in the same direction together. Burdens will be lighter be-cause you divide them. Joys will be more intense because you share them. No other human tie is more tender, no other vows more sacred than these you are about to assume. Now as you stand in the presence of God, you must remember the responsibilities of a Christian man and wife.
We learn from the inspired record that the Lord Jesus honored the marriage ceremony with His presence working there the beginning of His miracles. These miracles indicate that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Sovereign and the Creator of the universe, and the wedding ceremony was the first used to demonstrate this glorious fact. His purpose on earth was to "seek and to save that which was lost," As the scriptures declare, "God com-mended His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The one who sanctifies the marriage union is the Savior of the universe. And the scripture says, "neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." And therefore His invitation to all who witness the wedding ceremony is to "come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.", "And Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." The Bible, which is the Word of God declares marriage to be honorable. It was ordained of God in the time of man's innocence, before he had sinned against the Lord. Since marriage has always been a divine institution, it is to be entered into soberly and discreetly, as in His sight. God Himself united the first members of human family, which fact alone should abolish all light and frivolous views of marriage. The bridegroom and bride are partners in life, each forsaking mother and father to cleave unto the other. They share a common name, a united household, a common experience, and a love which blesses and transcends all the cares and trials of life. The mathematics of love--Add and multiply joys while subtracting and dividing the sorrows. Groom and Bride, you now have common interests and occupations. You've become co-workers for common ends. You hold property and possessions in common, and you have essentially one history and one destiny. Inscribed in the Word of God is the counsel you will need for this mutual and blessed relationship. The vows are to be broken only by death. In token of having chosen each other as partners for life, you may now join your right hands.
Dearly Beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God to join this man and this woman in holy marriage. Marriage is one of the oldest and most sacred institutions of God. It was established in the garden of Eden, graced by the personal presence of Christ at Cana of Galilee, likened by the Apostle Paul to the mystical union which exists between Christ and the Church, and is declared in Holy Scripture to be honorable before all men. Our Savior has declared that a man shall forsake his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. By His eternal Word, He has instructed those who enter into this relation to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other in the things which pertain to God; and, to live together as the heirs of the grace of life.
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses, to join Groom and Bride in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocence, signifying to us the mystical union which is between Christ and His Church. Which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with His presence at the first miracle which He wrought in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of the Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men, and is therefore not to be entered into lightly or inadvisably, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into which holy estate Groom and Bride come now to be joined and to unite two hearts and lives, blending all interest, sympathies, and hopes. I charge and entreat you, therefore, in entering upon and sustaining this hallowed union, to seek the favor and blessing of Him whose favor is life, whose blessing maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. Let us now seek His blessing.
From God's Holy Book we read these words: From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. And the Lord God said, "It isn't good for man to be alone; I will make a companion for him, a helper suit-able to his needs. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife in such a way that the two become one spirit. You wives must submit to your husbands' leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of His body the church. (He gave his life to take care of it and be its Savior!) So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the church obeys Christ. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband reverencing, praising and honoring him. You, Bride, and you, Groom, have come to me signifying your desire to be formally united in marriage.
At the day and time appointed for solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the porch of the Church with their friends and neighbors; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the woman on the left, with that person who shall give the Woman betwixt them, the Minister shall say: Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in Paradise, and into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to reaffirm the vows of love and marriage that exists between Groom and Bride. Marriage is a most honorable estate created by our Lord signifying unto us the mystical union between a man and a woman, this union also exists between Christ and His Church. So too may this marriage be adorned also by a true and everlasting love that we pray shall continue through eternity. When Christ performed His miracle at a wedding of Cana in Galilee by turning water into wine, he showed the world His respect for this Holy Sacrament. The Bible commends marriage to be honored by all people.
Friends, we have come today at the invitation of Bride and Groom to share in the joy of their wedding. This outward celebration we shall see and hear is an expression of the inner love and devotion they have in their hearts. Jesus Christ reminds us that at the beginning the Creator made us male and female, and said, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” God loved us, and created us to love others. Our lives find completion only as we love and are loved in return. Together, we can become what we could never be separately. Marriage is of God. Groom And Bride come today desiring to be united in this sacred relationship. So God, we thank you for the love that Groom and Bride have for you. We believe that you have led them to this day and we ask your blessing as they exchange their vows and seal their promises. As they become husband and wife, may they do so not only in our presence, but in Yours, with Your grace surrounding them and Your love within their hearts. We pray through Christ, Amen.
Where the sublime is done, there rests the Divine. The sacred web binding of the flowering of one life with another makes common weave and common wealth for all. No kind is apart, nor to itself sufficient. As I treat the weakest and plainest of creatures, so will I be judged. Our treasure and trust are the children. They are due a wholesome and learned growth, and, given these, will rightly honor their elders. These waters are my cradle, the land is my garden, the sky is my blanket. These are my sustenance, and worthy of devotion. The earth is bountiful without measure. My sowing and reaping will be mindful for the harvest of the far generations. My mind, my body, and my spirit are equally deserving of care. The wedding of this woman and this man, each to each other, is a solemn and luminous paring. The way of their path is theirs alone to choose, and none may intrude. But they will honor love as the clear wellspring of commitment, and truth, of the community. What is our purpose and why are we set in this place? Our purpose is to make greater the portion of the sublime giving to our time and place. Our purpose is to unite Groom and Bride in holy matrimony. Our purpose it to confirm the joys of love and commitment before God and this congregation.
We have come together in the presence of God to witness the joining of Groom and Bride in Holy Matrimony. This is a special time of celebration that Bride and Groom will long remember, and because of this, they are thankful you are here to share their joy.
We are gathered today in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage, and to witness the joining together of Groom and Bride. In various traditions, marriage is a sign of our Creator's intention for wholeness in all creation. Out of the chaos, God brought order. That creative purpose is still at work. The joining together of two persons into one unique, intimate, and creative unity in marriage is therefore not only a symbol but also a demonstration of the well-being, the purpose of human society. And so marriage is truly a celebration of God's good work in creation The uniting of two individuals from two separate families and backgrounds to establish a new family is an important and memorable event. For us, attached as we are to Bride and to Groom by special bonds of love and affection, the uniting of these two people in heart and body and mind, is an occasion of great significance which we can all celebrate. Marriage is not a casual event, nor is it simply a private affair between two individuals. Marriage is to be entered into responsibly and prayerfully. This marriage brings together this day two individuals, two families, and two communities of faith. It is then, in the midst of a troubled and broken society, a sign of hope. It deserves and needs the support of a wider community. Today is a time for family and friends to share in their commitment to each other by offering Groom and Bride our continued support, love and best wishes in their lives together. In their love together, which they publicly express in this ceremony, Groom and Bride demonstrate not only their joy in the present but their commitment to share the future together. We share their joy, and promise to do all we can to help bring to fulfillment a future of peace and justice for them and for all humanity.
Dearly Beloved, friends, relatives, and honored guests; It is out of our affection for this Bride and Groom that we have gathered together to witness and bless their mutual vows which will unite them in Holy Matrimony. To this moment they bring their open hearts, willing spirits, the dreams which bind them together, and their own personalities and spirit. We are here to thank God for bestowing upon them life’s greatest gift; another person to share with, care for, grow with, change with, be joyful with and to stand firm as one when trials and tribulations enter their lives. To you who are present as friends and families… this is your service as well and you are here to bestow your blessings and love upon this couple as they seek to unite as one with the Holy Spirit. By your thoughts, your feelings and your deeds toward them, on this day and in the days to come, you can help strengthen the vows they are here to make.
Friends, we have been invited here today to share with Groom and Bride a most important moment in their lives. In the time they have been together their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured. Now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. Parents and people are seated We have been invited to hear Groom and Bride as they promise to face the future together, accepting whatever may lie ahead. For the world that God has created for them, with its beauty and grace that is all around, with the strength that it offers and the peace that it brings, makes them truly grateful.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Groom and Bride in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Marriage is a most honorable estate created by our Lord signifying unto us the mystical union between a man and a woman, this union also exists between Christ and His Church. So to may this marriage be adorned also by a true and everlasting love that we pray shall continue through eternity. When Christ performed His miracle at a wedding of Cana in Galilee by turning water into wine, he showed the world His respect for this Holy Sacrament. The Bible commends marriage to honored by all people.
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away; A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak: A time for love, and a time for hate; A time for war, and a time for peace. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Now is a time for a wedding.