The couple who wrote this Christian Ceremony felt very drawn to Ruth 1:16 "But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Christian Wedding Ceremony Script 11 Minister: We are gathered here today in the face of family and friends, to join together Bride and Groom in marriage. Groom and Bride have not come here on this day to make a solemn promise or to exchange a sacred vow. They have already done that, long ago in their hearts. Bride and Groom have come here to make public their commitment; to give notice to their promise; to say their vow, out loud and in your presence, out of their desire that we will all come to feel a very real and intimate part of their decision and thus make it even more powerful. Now, Bride and Groom , it is your understanding that you are not entering into this marriage for reasons of security – …. that the only real security is not in owning or possessing, nor in being owned or possessed… …not in demanding or expecting and not even in hoping, that what you think you need in life will be supplied by the other… …but rather, in knowing that everything you need in life -- all the love, all the wisdom, all the insight, all the power, all the knowledge, all the understanding, all the nurturing, all the compassion, and all the strength – resides within you… …and that you are not each marrying the other in hopes of getting these gifts, but in hopes of giving these gifts, that the other might have them in even greater abundance. It is your understanding you are not entering into s marriage as a means of in any way limiting, controlling, hindering, or restricting each other from any true expression and honest celebration of that which is the highest and best within you – including your love of God, your love of life, your love of people, your love of creativity, your love of work, or any aspect of your being which genuinely represents you, and brings you joy. Is this your understanding? Bride and Groom say: “It is.” Your desire is not to see marriage as producing obligations, but rather as providing opportunities… …opportunities for growth, for full Self-expression, for lifting your lives to their highest potential, for healing yourselves and for union with God through the communion of your two souls… ...this is truly a Holy Communion … a journey through life with one you love as an equal. You both share the authority and the responsibilities inherent in your partnership, bearing equally the burdens and sharing the joys. Is this your understanding? Bride and Groom say: “It is” Now Bride and Groom would like to acknowledge their children as sharing in this marriage as part of the family and richly participating as a family together. Bride and groom would like you to know that they love you. Ruth 1:16 "But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Vows Please face each other and join hands Do you, Groom, take Bride , for you lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. Will you love and honor her all the days of your life? Groom says “I do” Do you, Bride, take Groom, for you lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. Will you love and honor him all the days of your life? Bride says “I do” Ring Exchange The rings you give and receive this day are the symbols of the endless love into which you enter as husband and wife. Such a love has no beginning and no ending, no giver and no receiver. You are each the beginning and the ending, each the giver and receiver. Minister: Take the rings you wish to give, one to the other. (Bride has his ring – Groom has her ring.) Minister: Groom, please repeat after me. Groom: With this ring ... I thee wed … I now place it on your hand … (He places the ring on her hand.) … that all may see …and know of my love for you. Minister: Bride, please repeat after me. Bride: With this ring ... I thee wed … I now place it on your hand … (She places the ring on his hand.) … that all may see …and know of my love for you. Bride and Groom have chosen a Native American prayer to end the ceremony. “Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now you will feel no loneliness, for each of you will be companionship to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is one life between you. Go to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your life together.” And so now, in so much as you Groom, and you, Bride, have announced the truths that are already written in your hearts and we have witnessed the same in the presence of family and friends – we observe joyfully that you have declared yourself to be husband and wife. Groom, you may kiss your wife. Minister: Now it is my privilege to introduce to you, Dr. and Mrs. ____________! ![]()
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Christian Wedding Ceremony Scripts and PDF Downloads
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