Order of Marriage

(Taken from the Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America, 1958)

The persons to be married having presented themselves at the entrance to the Chancel, or before the altar, the man to the right of the woman, the minister shall say:

The minister says to the family:

Who gives their blessings for these two to be married?

The families or the bride’s escort respond:

We do

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

P. Let us pray:

Eternal God, our creator and redeemer, as you gladdened the wedding at Cana in Galilee by the presence of your Son, so by his presence now bring your joy to this wedding. Look in favor upon ____________ and __________ and grant that they, rejoicing in all your gifts, may at length celebrate with Christ the marriage feast with has no end.

R/ Amen

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of ________ and ________.

Forasmuch as marriage is a holy estate, ordained of God and to be held in honor by all, it behooves those who enter it to weigh, with reverent minds, what the Word of God teaches concerning it:

The Lord God said:

It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper for him.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

Have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh? Wherefore, they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

Please be seated.

Then shall be read one or more of the following texts, with other readings read first:

A Reading from First John 4.7-12; 16; 18-19

Love has no room for fear; rather, perfect love casts out all fear. And since fear has to do with punishment, love is not yet perfect in one who is afraid. We, for our part, love because he first loved us.

Here ends the reading.

A Reading from St. John 15.12-13, 17-17

This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure, so that all you ask the Father in my name he will give you. The command I give you is this, that you love one another.

The Gospel of our Lord,

Then shall the minister say:

Our gracious Father in heaven does not forsake his children in an estate so holy and acceptable to him as marriage, but is ever present with his abundant blessing.

Into this holy estate this man and this woman come now to be united. If any one, therefore, can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak, or else forever hold their peace.

The minister shall say to the man:

__________, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?

The man says:

I will.

The minister says to the woman:

__________, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

The woman says:

I will.

The Minister shall then receive her hand, placing her right hand in the hand of the Minister. Then the Minister will place the right hand of the woman in the right hand of the man. Then they shall loose their hands.

Then they shall move into the chancel, unless outdoors.

The man shall take the right hand of the woman in both of his hands

and says after the minister:

__________, I take you to be my spouse/wife/husband

from this time onward,

to join with you and to share all that is to come,

to give and to receive,

to speak and to listen,

to inspire and to respond,

and in all circumstances of our life together

to be loyal to you with my whole life

and with all my being until death parts us.

Then shall the woman, in like manner, say after the minister:

__________, I take you to be my spouse/wife/husband

from this time onward,

to join with you and to share all that is to come,

to give and to receive,

to speak and to listen,

to inspire and to respond,

and in all circumstances of our life together

to be loyal to you with my whole life

and with all my being until death parts us.

When rings are exchanged, the minister takes the rings, blesses them, then gives the man the woman’s ring. The man shall say after the minister as he holds the ring in place on the bride’s left hand ring finger:

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

Then shall the women, in like manner, say after the minister:

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

The couple may kneel, and the minister shall bless them, saying:

The Lord God, who created our first parents and sanctified their union in marriage: sanctify and bless you, that you may please God both in body and soul, and live together in holy love until your life’s end. Amen

The minister says to the gathered:

Please rise as you are able

Then the minister says:

We will now have three prayers, followed by the Lord’s Prayer:

Let us pray:

Almighty and most merciful God, who has now united this man and this woman in the holy estate of matrimony: Grant them grace to live therein according to you holy Word; strengthen them in constant fidelity and true affection toward each other; sustain and defend them amidst all trials and temptations; and help them so to pass through this world in faith toward you, in communion with your Holy Church, and in loving service one of the other, that they may enjoy forever your heavenly benediction; through Jesus Christ, you Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O Almighty God, creator of humankind, who only art the well-spring of life: Bestow upon these your servants, if it be your will, the gift and heritage of children; grant that they may see their children brought up in your faith and fear, to the honor and glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

O God, you are our dwelling-place in all generations: Look with favor upon the homes of our land; surround husbands and wives, parents and children, in the bonds of your pure love; and so bless our homes, that they may be a shelter for the defenseless, a bulwark for the tempted, a resting-place for the weary, and a foretaste of our eternal home in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall all say:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed by thy name,

thy kingdom come,

they will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

forever and ever. Amen

Then shall the couple rise

The minister lays his right hand upon their hands

and says:

Forasmuch as ________ and ________ have consented together in holy matrimony, and have declared the same before God and in the presence of this congregation, I pronounce them husband and wife: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

Then shall the minister say the benediction:

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord’s face shine upon you

and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor,

and give you peace. Amen.

The order for marriage is ended.

Then the minister says:

You may kiss.

The couple will turn and face the congregation. Then the minister may say:

It is my privilege to introduce to you ______________________

The music begins immediately.

Savannah Georgia Wedding Officiant, Rev. Steven Schulte E-mail (912) 354-6815