Christian Wedding Ceremony

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

 

We welcome you on behalf of Mike and Shelley to the celebration of their vows and covenants, in the presence of those that they love the most and in the presence of God.  You are here today to do more than witness. Hopefully you too will make a promise of support and love to Mike and Shelley.

 

Love is the most sought after of all things, the most sacred and mysterious. The highest definition of love is given to us from the heart of God, whose love is unconditional and perfect. We use it as a standard, knowing that our expression of love is often imperfect because of our own needs and weaknesses...reach beyond all those needs and let these words guide you...

 

Love is kind.. never jealous, envious, selfish or rude. If you really love someone you will be loyal.. no matter what the cost. You will stand your ground in defense of them. Love never keeps score of the rights or wrongs..no account ledger, as it were, with some balance sheet. Love can outlast anything...all may change, hope and faith may pass away... but real love will always remain.

 

Here are some thoughts you should use as a guide for your lives together.

 

Promise to give to each other the very best that you can..and never ask more from each other than you are wiling and able to give. Promise to accept each other just the way you are... you fell in love for both the strengths and the weaknesses you have...don't spend your lives trying to reshape each other.

 

Promise to respect each other as individuals with your own interests, desires and needs, and to realize that those may sometimes differ from your own but will never be less important. Promise to share your time, your close attentions, and to bring joy, strengths and imagination to your relationship.

 

Promise to keep yourselves open to see as through each others eyes...to see the needs, fears and hopes...so that you can respond and care for each other. Promise to grow along with each other and be willing to face changes...so that your relationship will stay alive and exciting.

 

Finally, promise to love with courage in good time and in difficult, with all you have to give...in the only way you know how...completely and forever...it will require courage for you to love when there is no expectation of love in return...when love is given freely, there is security and peace.

  

Vows

 

Michael, will you take this woman to be your wife. To love and cherish, and care for as long as you both shall live?

 

Shelley, will you take this man to be your husband. To love and cherish, and care for as long as you both shall live?

 Covenants

 As a symbol of this desire, please join hands as you recite your covenants.

 I Michael take Shelley to be my wife, and do promise and covenant before god and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband in sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow, committing myself only to you as long as we both shall live.

I Shelley take Michael to be my husband, and do promise and covenant before god and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband in sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow, committing myself only to you as long as we both shall live.

 Ring Exchange

 You have brought a gift for each other. Your gifts are rings which are an earnest of your covenant. The ring is a symbol of the enduring quality, beauty and eternal nature of your love.  It is worn on the third finger because that is the finger on the hand whose bloodline is closest to the heart, symbolizing that the works of your hands would always be governed by the promise you've made today. The works and deeds of your lives together, will never be more important than the promise you make today.

 Michael, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Shelley's, finger.

 This ring I give you , in token and pledge, of my abiding love and constant faith.

 Shelley, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Michael's, finger.

 This ring I give you , in token and pledge, of my abiding love and constant faith.

 In closing, I would like to read a poem written by Roy Croft.  As I read, may these words represent the true feelings that you have for each other.

 I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out. I love you for reaching your hand into my heart and passing over all the weak and foolish things you cannot help but see there and for drawing out into the open, for all to see... strong and beautiful things. Things, that if anyone else say, they did not notice and if they did notice, they did not care.  I love you, too, because you are helping me to make out of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple... and out of my everyday works, never a reproach, but always a song.