WB2 Blessing of A Marriage

Blessing of a Marriage
This service may be used after a civil marriage. It may take

place in a church building or another place - on the same
day as the civil marriage or on a subsequent occasion. It
is desirable that elders and members of the local church
are present, along with the person conducting the service
(normally a minister), to make evident and real the presence
of the Church.
A service of blessing does not supersede or invalidate any

marriage previously solemnized and no record should be
entered in a marriage register.
1. Welcome
2. Hymn or Song
3. Prayer
4. Statement
5. Readings from Scripture
6. Sermon
7. Hymn or Song
8. Prayer
9. The Promises
10. The Rings
1. The Prayer of Blessing
12. Declaration
13. Greeting
14. Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
15. The Lord’s Prayer
16. Hymn or Song
17. Blessing
Blessing of a Marriage 1
1. The Welcome
The minister welcomes the people and continues:
Bless God,
and acknowledge him in the presence of all the
living for the good things he has done for you.
Bless and sing praise to his name.
With fitting honour declare to all
people the deeds of God.
Tobit 12:6
2. Hymn or Song
3. Prayer
God of love,
on this day of joy
we come to praise you.
When two people find love
together you are with them
and in their faces we see your delight.
When love is expressed in promises
we see a faithfulness like yours.
When the future beckons with hope
we are restored and renewed.
Bless our celebration today
with your presence and
promise,
that all of us may be touched by
grace and strengthened with joy,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
4. Statement
A and B have been married in law.

They have made solemn vows
and have contracted to live together
as husband and wife
until death parts them.
Now they come before
God,
in the presence of the Church,
to ask for a blessing for their marriage.
We rejoice in the love they share
and gladly pray for the blessing of God upon them.
In marriage,
a man and woman love each
other. They promise to be
faithful,
in good times and in bad,
and to honour one another for all their
days. (In marriage,
children may be born and grow up,
in the security of a loving home.)
In marriage,
a new community is made
and all may celebrate a sign of unity and faithfulness.
Marriage is a gift and a calling,
and God’s blessing strengthens us
to live according to the promises we have made.
5. Readings from Scripture
Some suggested readings:
Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures):

Psalm 67
New Testament:
Philippians 4:4-9, Colossians 3:12-17
Matthew 5:1-9, John 2:1-1
(Tobit 8: 4b-9a may also be used)
6. Sermon
7. Hymn or Song
8. Prayer
Eternal God,
whose love is always faithful
and whose promises never fail,
we pray for A and B
as they ask for your blessing on their
marriage. Strengthen them by your Spirit,
that they may remember the vows they have
made, grow in love and honour for one another
and live according to your holy
will. Fill them with joy,
guide them in future days
and surround them with your
love, through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.
9. The Promises
The husband says to his wife:
B, you are my wife.

I promise to be faithful to you,
to love and honour you,
to comfort and protect you,
as long as we both shall live.
This is my solemn promise.
The wife says to her husband:
A, you are my husband.

I promise to be faithful to you,
to love and honour you,
to comfort and protect you,
as long as we both shall live.
This is my solemn promise.
If either, or both, has children
the minister may say to the couple:
Do you promise to include N (and N)

within the circle of your love?
We do.
Do you promise to care for the children you now have,

and to welcome those who may be given to you?
We do.
10. The Rings
Eternal God,
whose love, like a circle, never ends,
we pray that these rings
may be signs of unending
faithfulness. Give A and B a love that
lasts,
joy in one another,
and years of peace together.
And may your presence,
the perfect Trinity of love,
be always with them.
Amen.
If there is only one ring, the minister prays:
Eternal God,
whose love, like a circle, never ends,
we pray that this ring
may be a sign of unending
faithfulness. Give A and B a love that
lasts,
joy in one another,
and years of peace together.
And may your presence,
the perfect Trinity of love,
be always with them. Amen.
1 . The Prayer of Blessing
God our Creator,

you make us in your image,
and bless us with the gift of
love. In the longing of our
bodies, the passion of love’s
touch
and the strong bonds of affection,
your love and blessing are already
known. We pray for your blessing to be
upon
A and B, married in your
sight. Lord Jesus Christ,
who once blessed a wedding
by turning water into wine,
we pray that A and B
may taste the good wine
of a happy and joyful marriage.
Holy Spirit,
bless them with your
gifts of love and joy,
of peace, patience and kindness,
that they may be good for one
another through the years to come,
and have strength to go on
through times of sorrow and
struggle. May your love, bound with
theirs, keep them faithful to one
another,
Amen.
and close to you all the days of their
life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
Numbers 6:24-26
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you,
Amen.
and give you peace.
12. Declaration
A and B you are husband and wife.
You have declared your commitment to one
another before your friends and before God.
In the presence of the Church,
in the strength of God’s grace, you have made solemn vows.
Let no-one separate you. Be together always.
13. Greeting
The couple may kiss. The people may applaud. The sign of
peace may be shared.
14. Prayers of Thanksgiving

and Intercession
Loving God,
we thank you for every blessing we have known.
Thank you for the simple, everyday pleasures of life
and for the great, amazing days when life is made as new.
Thank you for the moments when we know
that we are blessed and that life is good.
Thank you for this day,
for what it means to A and B and to all of us,
and for everyone for whom today brings joy.
You promise blessing for those who are suffering

and on the darkest days in all our lives you are
there. We pray that the poor will be blessed with
justice, that those who are sad will find comfort and
strength,
and that all who work and pray for peace will receive their reward.
We pray that broken hearts will be mended,
that bitter disputes will be resolved
and aggression be smoothed by gentleness.
Where your creation is cursed by suffering and struggle,
come with blessing upon us all.
We thank you that we have seen this
day, and witnessed such joy together.
May we carry your blessing with us
to our homes, our friends, our families.
May the places where we live, and the places where we work,
the people we love, and the people we serve,
be blessed by your presence and by holy
joy. May your name be blessed,
among us and through all the
world, this day and for ever.
Amen.
15. The Lord’s Prayer
16. Hymn or Song
17. Blessing
God our Maker gives joy to bride and

groom! Christ our Saviour gives life to the
world!
The Holy Spirit brings us together in
love! The blessing of God,
the Trinity of love,
be with you today and always. Amen.

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Blessing of a Marriage

This service may be used after a civil marriage. It may take

A service of blessing does not supersede or invalidate any

The minister welcomes the people and continues:

A and B have been married in law.

5. Readings from Scripture

Some suggested readings:

Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures):

The husband says to his wife:

B, you are my wife.

The wife says to her husband:

A, you are my husband.

Do you promise to include N (and N)

Do you promise to care for the children you now have,

10. The Rings

If there is only one ring, the minister prays:

God our Creator,

The LORD bless you and keep you;

14. Prayers of Thanksgiving

You promise blessing for those who are suffering

15. The Lord’s Prayer

16. Hymn or Song

God our Maker gives joy to bride and

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