Wedding Prayer
Sermon
THIS NEW LIFE TOGETHER
An Anthology Of Wedding Meditations
After the prayer of invocation:
You look so beautiful and so handsome - like any prince and princess! We remember the fairytales of our childhood where the prince and princess were married and lived happily ever after. Since that does not happen today, I am obligated to instruct you. No activity is entered into so joyfully and with such high expectations as is marriage. But the happiness does not come automatically. You are not entering a partnership where each partner is asked to give 50 percent; rather you are entering a union where you may give 70 percent or 90 percent or even 100 percent. Listen to these words of scripture: may they inspire you as you enter a new way of loving and living (usually parts of 1 Corinthians 13 follow).
A wedding prayer
Eternal God, who has willed the estate of marriage and who has taught us the way of love, we ask that you would bless this marriage. Give to __________ and __________ the desire and the ability to keep the vows that they have made. Where selfishness would show itself, give an extra measure of love; where mistrust is a temptation, give confidence; where misunderstanding intrudes, give gentleness and patience. Give to them many times of joy and peace and happiness as their love for each other deepens. May their home be visited frequently by laughter and pleasant surprises and dear friends. Teach them the values of listening and giving and saying the kind word. Give them strength to endure the bitter moments that life may put in their way. Make strong their faith and their hope when
they have to face problems that seem too big. May they long remember the exciting days of their courtship; may tender affection always be a part of their love for each other. Let them know that you are with them and that you care for them when the night seems darkest. We pray this in the Spirit of the Christ who taught us to pray, Our Father ... Amen.
Kenneth E. Crouch is minister of Casas Adobes Congregational (UCC), Tucson, Arizona.
You look so beautiful and so handsome - like any prince and princess! We remember the fairytales of our childhood where the prince and princess were married and lived happily ever after. Since that does not happen today, I am obligated to instruct you. No activity is entered into so joyfully and with such high expectations as is marriage. But the happiness does not come automatically. You are not entering a partnership where each partner is asked to give 50 percent; rather you are entering a union where you may give 70 percent or 90 percent or even 100 percent. Listen to these words of scripture: may they inspire you as you enter a new way of loving and living (usually parts of 1 Corinthians 13 follow).
A wedding prayer
Eternal God, who has willed the estate of marriage and who has taught us the way of love, we ask that you would bless this marriage. Give to __________ and __________ the desire and the ability to keep the vows that they have made. Where selfishness would show itself, give an extra measure of love; where mistrust is a temptation, give confidence; where misunderstanding intrudes, give gentleness and patience. Give to them many times of joy and peace and happiness as their love for each other deepens. May their home be visited frequently by laughter and pleasant surprises and dear friends. Teach them the values of listening and giving and saying the kind word. Give them strength to endure the bitter moments that life may put in their way. Make strong their faith and their hope when
they have to face problems that seem too big. May they long remember the exciting days of their courtship; may tender affection always be a part of their love for each other. Let them know that you are with them and that you care for them when the night seems darkest. We pray this in the Spirit of the Christ who taught us to pray, Our Father ... Amen.
Kenneth E. Crouch is minister of Casas Adobes Congregational (UCC), Tucson, Arizona.
