Detail from the "Wedding at Cana" window in
Trinity's Sanctuary.
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Service of Marriage
© 1984 Concordia Publishing
House Used with permission
Service adapted for use at
Trinity Lutheran Church, Traverse City, MI
1.
Pre-service, Mothers are escorted into the sanctuary and light the unity
candle (optional)
2. Ringing
of the Bells
3. Pastor
and Men of the Wedding Party enter the Sanctuary from the Vestry.
4.
Processional Music
5.
Entrance of the Bridal Party
6.
Entrance of the Crucifer (all rise)
7.
Entrance of the Bride (& Escort)
P:
In the Name of the Father and of the
+
Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
P: We are
gathered here in the sight of God and of his Church to witness and bless the
joining together of this man and this woman in holy marriage. This is an
honorable estate, which God himself has instituted and blessed, and by which
he gives us a picture of the very communion of Christ and his bride, the
Church. God has both established and sanctified marriage and has promised to
bless therein all who love and trust in him and who seek to give him their
faithful worship and service, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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 inadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance
with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.
P: Who gives
this woman to be married to this man?
A: Her mother and I
(or another answer as appropriate to the circumstances)
P: Inasmuch
as you purpose to enter into the holy estate of marriage that is to be held in
honor by all, it becomes you to hear the Word of God concerning it. . .
8. The
congregation is seated for the reading of the Scriptures, usually one reading
each from the Old Testament and Epistle.
9. Old
Testament Reading
10.
Epistle Reading
11. The
Congregation Rises for the Reading of the Gospel
12. The
Gospel Reading
13. A
wedding address (sermon) may follow. A hymn may be sung
14. The
Bride hands her flowers to an attendant. The Pastor asks the groom:
P: _Name_______,
will you have this woman to be your wife, to live with her in holy marriage
according to the Word of God? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, and
keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be husband to
her as long as you both shall live?
A: I Will
15. Pastor
asks the Bride:
P: _Name_______,
will you have this man to be your husband, to live with him in holy marriage
according to the Word of God? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, [obey
him], and keep him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be
wife to him as long as you both shall live?
A: I Will
16. The
Bride and Groom join hands. The groom and repeats after the Pastor:
I, _Name_______,
in the presence of God and these witnesses, take you, _Name_______, to
be my 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,
until death parts us, and I pledge you my faithfulness.
17. The
bride and repeats after the Pastor:
I, _Name_______,
in the presence of God and these witnesses, take you, _Name_______, to
be my 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, until death parts us, and I pledge you my faithfulness.
18. The
bride and bridegroom exchange rings, saying:
Receive this ring as a
pledge and token of wedded love and faithfulness.
19. The
Pastor leads the bride and groom to the altar. He wraps his stole around the
ring hands of the bride and groom, saying:
P: Grant your blessing, O
Lord, to your servants _Name_______ and _Name_______ that they
may be ever mindful of their solemn pledge and, trusting in your mercy, abound
evermore in love all their days; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: AMEN.
20. The
bride and bridegroom kneel, and the Pastor says:
P: Now that
_Name_______ and _Name_______ have consented together in holy
marriage and have given themselves to each other by their solemn pledges, and
have declared the same before God and these witnesses, I pronounce them to be
husband and wife, in the name of the Father and of the
+ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
What God has joined
together, let man not separate.
C: AMEN.
P: The almighty and
gracious God abundantly grant you his favor and sanctify and bless you with
the blessing given our first parents in paradise that you may please him in
both body and soul and live together in holy love until you life’s end.
C: AMEN.
21. If a
unity candle is to be used it is lit now. A musical offering (solo, etc.) may
be made during the lighting of the unity candle.
22. The
Bride and Groom return to the front of the chancel. The attendant returns the
flowers.
P: Let us
pray.
Almighty, everlasting God, our heavenly Father, grant that by your blessing
_Name_______
and _Name_______ may live together according to your Word and promise.
Strengthen them in faithfulness and love toward each other. Sustain and defend
them in all trial and temptation. Help them to live in faith toward you in the
communion of your holy Church and in loving service to each other that they
may ever enjoy your heavenly blessing; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
C: AMEN.
P: Let us join together all
of the petitions of our hearts and pray for the Lord's guidance and peace as
we pray the prayer He taught us:
The Lord's
Prayer
P: The eternal God, the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant you his Holy Spirit, be with you and
richly bless you now and forever.
C: AMEN.
23. Pastor
invites the Groom to kiss the bride.
24. Pastor
introduces the Bride and Groom to the congregation by their married name.
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