Tuesday, October 4, 2022

In case any of you have forgotten...

 From The Book of Common Prayer, 1662

The Pastor: Into this holy union (the Man) and (the Woman) now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace.

The Pastor: I require and charge you both, here in the presence of God, that if either of you know any reason why you may not be united in marriage lawfully, and in accordance with God's Word, you do now confess it.

The Pastor: (The Woman) will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

The Woman answers, "I will."

The Pastor: (The Man) will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

The Man answers, "I will."

The Pastor: Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?

The People answer, "We Will."

The Pastor: The Lord be with you.

The People respond, "And also with you."

The Pastor: Let us pray.

The Pastor: O gracious and everliving God, you have created us male and female in your image: Look mercifully upon this man and this woman who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The man, facing the woman and taking her right hand in his, says, "In the Name of God, I, (the Man), take you, (the Woman), 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 we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."

Then they loose their hands, and the Woman, still facing the man, takes his right hand in hers, and says, "In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., 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 we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."

They loose their hands.

The Pastor: Bless, O Lord, this ring to be a sign of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The giver places the ring on the ring-finger of the other's hand and says, "(The Man and then the Woman), I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The Pastor: Now that (The Man) and (The Woman) have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Pastor: Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.

All the People say, "Amen."


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