The Christian Protestant Marriage Liturgy
Organ Prelude
First Hymn
Introductory Greeting
Pastor:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with all of you.
Introductory Prayer and Reading
Pastor:
Let us pray:
Lord our God, heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life,
and for all who have shown us love from our childhood until this day.
We pray you:
Give us always what we need and daily renew our love to one another,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one true God forever and ever. Amen.
Pastor:
It is written,
When God had created heaven and earth, the sea, the sun, the moon and the stars, all plants and animals, he said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them.
And our Lord Jesus Christ says,
Haven’t you read that the one who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
And the apostle Paul writes,
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against the other, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Hymn
Address
Interrogation and Declaration (the bride and bridegroom stand in front of the alter).
Pastor:
I now ask you, N. (the bridegroom’s name),
will you take N. (the bride’s name), standing by your side,
to be your wife? – I will.
Will you love and honour her,
and live with her in prosperity and adversity
in what fortune God, the Almighty, will send you,
as a husband should live with his wedded wife,
until death parts you? – I will.
Likewise I ask you, N. (the bride’s name),
will you take N. (the bridegroom’s name), standing by your side,
to be your husband? – I will.
Will you love and honour him,
and live with him in prosperity and adversity,
in what fortune God, the Almighty, will send you,
as a wife should live with her wedded husband,
until death parts you? – I will.
Then join your hands together
The pastor lays his hand on their hands and says,
Since you have promised one another that you will live together in marriage and have now confirmed this before God, and before us who are present, I declare you to be man and wife before God and all mankind.
At this point the bride and bridegroom may exchange rings.
Intercession
Pastor:
Let us pray:
While the bride and bridegroom kneel, the pastor lays his hand on their heads and says:
Dear heavenly Father, grant this man and this woman grace, happiness and blessing
in soul and body.
Grant that they may love one another with faithful love
and serve you sincerely in all things,
that they may live as your dear children
and finally be gathered unto you in the eternal mansions.
Hear us in the name of Jesus.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Peace be with you
Hymn
Final Collect
Pastor:
Let us pray:
Lord, our God, heavenly Father, we thank you for the ordinance of marriage, and we pray you:
Be graciously present with those who have this day entered into holy matrimony.
Bless them, that they may be god fearing and live with one another in love, and give no cause for anger or strife.
In the face of temptation, may they always experience the help of your grace.
Grant to them, and to all of us, to live our lives here on earth in faith and obedience, and finally to live in eternal blessedness, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one true God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Blessing
Pastor:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
All: Amen. Amen. Amen.
Final Hymn
Organ Postlude