Holy Union
Version B

INTRODUCTION
We are present here this morning to celebrate the binding in Holy Union of (name) and (name). This couple has shared the best and the worst of all that life has to offer. During the time that they have known one another, they have proven the strength of the love that binds them together. Now before you and Almighty God, they wish to formalize their vows of Holy Union. There are four basic elements in a Service of Holy Union. During this service, God is acknowledged as the author and initiator of the love that (name) and (name) share. Secondly, although credit is given to God, more importantly, thanksgiving is offered for truly there are many reasons to celebrate and be grateful to God. Next, there is the element of commitment expressed through the exchange of vows. Finally, through the means of prayer, God is petitioned to continue to strengthen and bless the love relationship of the Holy Union couple. Join with us now as we witness the binding in Holy Union of our sisters/brothers in Christ.

"But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'" Ruth 1:16-18.

(Name) and (name), realize that a service of Holy Union centers around and is based upon the love of God - Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Know that the question you are about to answer and the vows you are about to exchange come from your heart, and that God hears them and remembers. Stand firm in your vows, for they are not only of this moment, but forever.

STATEMENT OF INTENT
I now charge each of you to answer the following question: (Name), will you accept (name), as your loving spouse and soulmate, and will you pledge your loyalty and friendship to her/him, in all faith and tenderness, to live with her/him and love her/him according to the will of God in the state of Holy Union? I WILL

EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Now that you have declared your intentions to God, I invite you to share your vows with one another.

I promise to spend the rest of my life with you, My wonderful lady/man, (name), I promise to love you, care for you, and be with you, for the rest of my life. Your spirit warms me and in return I will always reflect your love. I promise to be at your side as an equal partner and to always provide you with all my spirit can give. I promise to support your dreams and help to make them come true. To do my best to always be worthy of your love, light and spirit. I pray this always to be true and bind my love to you forever and ever.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
I Corinthians 13: 4-7.

EXCHANGE AND BLESSING OF THE RINGS
Do you wish to exchange a physical token of your love for one another? WE DO The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of wholeness, perfection and peace. The ring is a symbol of unity into which your two lives are now joined in an unbroken circle, in which, wherever you go, you will return to one another. I give you this ring, as a token and pledge, of our constant faith and abiding love.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Now let us come to the table of our Lord and Saviour. Here is to be found the finest and purest love ever offered. I invite you to feed and grow upon it.

THE LIGHTING OF THE HOLY UNION CANDLE
As a symbolic act of their Holy Union I invite (name) and (name) to light their Holy Union Candle. Each will take a lit candle representing their individual lives and at the same time they will ignite the center candle which represents their relationship and Holy Union. They will not extinguish their single candles for they are still separate individuals existing on their own. They simply have now come together to form a third entity - a Union created by love and blessed of the Lord.

THE PRONOUNCEMENT
By the authority and power vested in me as clergy in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, I now declare that (name) and (name) are united as one. Let it be known that God has joined them together and that there is, therefore, no power which can separate them.

BENEDICTION
May Almighty God bless you and keep you; may God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; may God's divine countenance look upon you and grant you peace - both now and forevermore. Amen