INTRODUCTION
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God to witness and celebrate the joining of (name) and (name) in a Holy Union. This is a special moment in the development of their love and life together. Through their love for one another, their lives have become richer and fuller and they are both made stronger. Having found one another and established their relationship, they have come here to sanctify it and give it special significance by celebrating it here in this holy place. This service is not meant to be magic nor a tool to establish a relationship between these two that stand before you today. It will not create the relationship, rather reinforce the relationship that already exists. It is a time for tying the knot in the rope of days and saying "we will not slip backward from here, but will go forward together". It is a time for declaring vows and intentions and for facing life's uncertainties with the one thing of which they are certain: their love for one another and their desire for that love to last for eternity.
STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Apostle Paul wrote: "If I speak with the tongues of humans and angels but have not love, I am but a sounding gong or a tinkling cymbal. Love is patient and is kind. It does not envy. It is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. It does not rejoice in evil, but delights only in the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails. Now abide faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love." (Name) and (name), you have heard the Bible's definition of love. It is a high and lofty one, but the only one worthy of efforts. I invite you now to state publicly your resolution to live together with this kind of pure love for one another.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
(Name) will say: (Name), today I choose you to be my life partner, and I do it proudly and openly in the presence of these witnesses. I promise to love you always, to listen to you, to nourish you with my praise, to never take you for granted, to hold you close when you need to be held, to laugh with you when you laugh, and to always be your safe haven in this life. I will be faithful to you, even as we grow old together. I will love you truly from this moment on, and promise this from my heart, with my soul and until death parts us.
EXCHANGE AND BLESSING OF THE RINGS
The perfect circle of a ring symbolizes eternity, while gold is a symbol of all that is pure and holy. As you give these rings to each other, our prayer is that your love for each other will be as eternal and everlasting as these rings.
LET US PRAY:
Bless, O Lord, these rings that as they are given and as they are worn, may they serve to remind us that though we may fail, love never does. As the circle of these rings knows no end, so may the love this day declared never end. Amen.
RING VOW
(Name), repeat after me - (Name), I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. As you wear it, may it be a reminder of how much I love you, not only on this precious day, but every single day of your life. (Name), repeat after me - (Name), I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. As you wear it, may it be a reminder of how much I love you, not only on this precious day, but every single day of your life.
SCRIPTURE READING
Listen to the words of the scriptures in which Ruth spoke to Naomi. May these words go with you and be yours forever: "And Ruth said to her, 'Entreat me not to leave you, or return from following you: For where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge; and your people will be my people and your God my God. And where you die I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts you from me.'" Ruth 1:16-17.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Faithful God, pour down Your grace upon (name) and (name) that they may fulfill the vows that they have pledged this day. May they reflect Your steadfast love in their lifelong faithfulness to each other. From Your great store of strength, give them power and patience, affection and understanding, courage and love. We ask, O God, that in every time of difficulty they may find a path to growth and maturity. May all the events of their life together bring them closer to one another and closer to You. May the world be better for the life of their love. Amen.
WORDS FROM THE APACHE CEREMONY OF LOVE
Finally, listen to these words from the Apache Ceremony of Love: Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth for the other. Now there is no more loneliness, For each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is one life before you. Go now to your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together. And may your days be good and long upon the earth.
THE PRONOUNCEMENT
In as much as (name) and (name) have presented themselves here and exchanged vows and rings as symbols of their love and relationship together: By the power vested in me by this church and by the power of their love, I do proclaim that they are partners for life, in the name of God, the Parent, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Jesus said, "What God has joined together, let no one put asunder."