To our assembled guests, on behalf of Rose and Jim, I welcome you.
We welcome you to this moment in your lives and to the place you have come to in each other's hearts. We join with you on this day, as you commit before God and humanity that from this point forward you shall live as one.
I remind all of our guests that you have been invited here for a holy purpose. This holy purpose is not just to witness, but to fully participate with your thoughts and prayers, and to ask God to bless this couple and their married life.
You are here because this couple feels close to you and asks that you join with them in this dedication of sacred purpose. You represent symbolically all the people in the world who will be touched in any way by the lie of this couple. You represent their family and friends, now and forever. They have chosen this act of marriage and this public, holy ceremony in which to proclaim it. Together we all thank God who brought them together and ask Him always to guide their way.
Rose and Jim, we live at a time when very little in life is considered sacred. One thing must remain so, however, or all the world disintegrates. That is and shall be, an agreement between two people. This day we celebrate a sacred agreement between the two of you.
I congratulate you on the journey of your lives, on the strength and the courage it has taken for each of you to make your way to this place. Both of you have found a way to put away childish things and embrace a very serious love. You receive on this day the blessings thereof, for yourselves and all the world.
We live in times that are beset with problems. This marriage is not to be an escape from the world, but indeed it is to be a commitment to greater service to the world. You shall not exclude the world but include it in your love. Together, in this marriage, you shall contribute more fully, for you shall be more full.
Rose, Jim is God's gift to you, but he is not a gift for you alone. It is God's will that in your love, this man might find within himself a greater sense of who he is meant to be. You are asked by God to see the good in this man, to accept him for who he is and who he shall be, that thus he might be healed and made strong. In this, God's purpose shall be accomplished in this relationship. May this man find, literally, the kingdom of heaven through the love you share.
And so it is with you, Jim, that although Rose is God's gift to you, she is not a gift intended for you alone. You are asked by God to so love this woman, that in your love she might find herself as God has created her, so beautiful and strong and brave and true, that the entire world might be blessed by the presence of a woman who shines so. May she relax in your arms as she has never relaxed before. May she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend forever.
Our prayer for both of you is that you might find in each other's love such profound acceptance and total release, that together you might experience the forgiveness that shall free the world. May you create, with God, a piece of heave on earth. Into a darkened world the Lord has sent your love for one another, and accomplishes between you, the miracle that will heal us all.
From this point forward, Rose, Jim’s needs will carry the same priority as your own. Likewise, Jim, Rose’s needs will be seen to be as important as your own. You shall not be as two conflicting or competing forces; but rather the energies of your lives shall blend into harmony and oneness through the grace of God. The angels shall dance between you, and they will rejoice in the dance of life you do together.
To both of you, I enjoin you to release at this time all impediments to your joy. In this moment may you forgive each other any past transgressions, that you might enter this marriage reborn. Allow the waters of forgiveness to wash you clean. You are given the chance to begin your lives again this day, as God grants you radical renewal through the power of this commitment. You commit to a compelling future for yourselves, for any children you have or might one day have, and to any part you might play in the healing of the world. Receive full God's gifts on this day, as He receives so fully the gift of your love for each other. May you rejoice in Him, as He rejoices in you.
To the parents of Rose and Jim, congratulations on the part you have played in raising a daughter and son of such serious purpose. They accept a very mature and meaningful task in taking on this marriage. On their behalf, and on behalf of all those here, I thank you. I remind you that it is more than their blood that is joined here; it is yours as well. With this marriage, God joins your two families, and it is the family unit that shall rebuild the world. With this in mind, I ask you, Rose's parents, to take this man, Jim, as your son. I ask your family to take him into their hearts, as son and brother, and beloved to Rose. May a great and glorious light sanctify this joining. Do you so accept this man? ("We do")
And of you, Rose's parents, I ask the same. I ask that you take this woman, Rose, into your hearts, that she might live from this day as your daughter. I ask your other children as well to receive her as their sister, for she is dear and beloved to your son, and shall be so, through the grace of God, to all your family. May the miracle of this marriage extend through your family. ("We do")
I would also like to ask at this time if anyone else has a problem with this marriage, because after today, please keep it quiet! As of this ceremony, may your tongues be still and utter only the positive, that your energies might support these two, that any words you say might bless and protect the holiness of this bond.
If the couple so wishes:
Rose, I now ask you to say publicly any declaration of commitment you'd like to make to Jim.
Jim, I now ask you to say publicly any declaration of commitment you'd like to make to Rose.
And so we come, Rose and Jim, to the presentation of rings by which you
symbolize and bind your love.
Rose, please repeat after me:
With this ring,
Jim, please repeat after me:
With this ring,
Dear God,
Rose and Jim, I remind you that the God who brought you together and
nurtured this relationship is the key to your success as a married couple.
May you allow into your marriage the presence of a mystical third, who
shall guide your thinking and bless your home. Call on Him consistently
and often. We bring to mind as well the lives of any children who might
one day gather unto you (or those you have), and in the spirit of this
day, we bless them also.
May this marriage by your sanctuary, your haven from worldly pain.
Rose, do you take this man Jim, to be your lawful wedded husband to love
him and to honor him, nurture and sustain him, through times of darkness as
well as light, henceforth and forevermore? Do you promise that times of
trouble will not deter you, or tempt you to forsake this love? Do you
commit before God to honor this vow unto all your days?
BRIDE: "I do."
OFFICIANT: Jim, do you take this woman, Rose, to be your lawful wedded
wife, to love her and cherish her, honor and sustain her, through times
of darkness as well as light, henceforth and forevermore? Do you promise
that times of trouble will not deter you, or tempt you to forsake this
love? Do you commit before God to honor these vow unto all your days?
GROOM: "I do."
OFFICIANT: And now, Rose and Jim, by the authority vested in me by the
state of Michigan, but much more important by the authority vested in me
by the fact that I believe in the power of your agreement this day, the
look of love in your eyes, and the seriousness with which you make this
commitment; and because I believe my faith is shared by others gathered
here, it is my honor and my delight to now pronounce you, henceforth from
this moment, husband and wife.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. James Adkins!
I give to you my promise that from this day forward
you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May god bless you always.
May we walk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see your innocence in my eyes.
With this ring,
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I shall do my best.
I shall always try.
I feel so honored to call you husband.
I feel so blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank God.
I thank you.
Amen.
I give to you my promise that from this day forward
you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May god bless you always.
May we walk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see your innocence in my eyes.
With this ring,
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I shall do my best.
I shall always try.
I feel so honored to call you my wife.
I feel so blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank God.
I thank you.
Amen.
Please bless this couple.
May their love be nurtured by You, always and forever.
May this marriage be held in Your hands and ministered unto by
Your angels.
We dedicate this love to You.
May it serve Your purposes; may it increase Your dominion.
May this man grow strong in the arms of this woman.
May this woman grow glorious in the love of this man.
May the earth be brought closer to heaven through this love.
May all the world be blessed hereby.
Thank You very much.
Amen.
