西方传统婚礼上牧师的证言

     Minister: We are gathered here today in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to jointogether (Groom 1’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate,instituted of God, since the first man and the first woman walked on the earth. Therefore; it is notto be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently 2 and soberly.

    Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.
    If any one can show just cause why they may not be lawfully 4 joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
    Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
    Father: My wife and I do.
    (Then the bride is given away)Minister: I require and charge you both that if either of you know any impediment why you may not belawfully joined together in matrimony, you confess it now. Be assured that if any persons are joinedtogether otherwise than as God’s word allows, their marriage is not lawful 3.
    (Minister: addressing the groom(Groom’s Name), do you take (Bride’s Name) for your lawful wedded 6 wife, to live together afterGod’s ordinance 7, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her fromthis day forward, forsaking 8 all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?
    Groom: I do.
    (Minster: addressing the bride):
    (Bride’s Name), do you take (Groom’s Name) for your lawful wedded husband, to live together afterGod’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish him fromthis day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?
    Bride: I do.
    (At this point the couple may improvise 9 by playing a favorite song, reading a scripture 10, etc.
    suggested scriptures 11 might be genesis 2:21-25, mark 10:6-8 and 1 cor 13:4-7)Reader 1: A reading from the book of Genesis, chapter 2, versus 12 21 through 25:
    So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one ofthe man’s ribs 14 and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib 13 hehad taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “this is now bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ’woman, ’ for she was taken out of man.“ for this reasona man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Theman and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
    Reader 2: A reading from the gospel of Mark, chapter 10, versus 6 through 8:
    But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave hisfather and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longertwo, but one.
    Reader 3: A reading from the Apostle Paul, the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 4through 7:
    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 delightin evil but rejoices with the truth. It alwaysprotects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres 15.
    Minister: Let us pray for this man and woman as they make their marriage vows 16.
    Father, as (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) have chosen each other, help them and bless them thattheir love may be pure, and their vows may be true. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
    (Minister: addressing the groom who repeats the marriage vows):
    I (Groom’s Name) take thee (Bride’s Name) to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this dayforward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, andcherish, ’til death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight 17 thee mytroth.
    (Minister: then to the bride who repeats the marriage vows):
    I (Bride’s Name) take thee (Groom’s Name) to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this dayforward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, andcherish, ’til death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.
    (The Minister then gets the brides ring from the best man)Minister: (praying over brides ring): Lord, bless this ring that he who gives it and she who wears itmay abide 18 in your peace, and continue in your favor until life’s end, through Jesus Christ our Lord,Amen.
    (Groom: placing ring on bride’s finger):
    With this ring I thee wed 5. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.
    Minister: (praying over groom’s ring): Lord, bless this ring that she who gives it and he who wearsit may abide in your peace, and continue in your favor until life’s end, through Jesus Christ ourLord, Amen.
    (Bride: placing ring on groom’s finger):
    with this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.
    (Music may be inserted here.)(The wedding song)Minister: Let us prayFather, we pray for all married persons, that they may continue to give, be able to forgive, andexperience more and more of the joy of the Lord with each passing day. And especially for (Groom’sName) and (Bride’s Name), now beginning their married life together, that they may have divineassistance, the constant support of friends, and a long life with good health. May your fullestblessing come upon (Bride’s Name) and her husband (Groom’s Name), from this day forward, for everand ever, Amen.
    May Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are now startingto build together, that you may know the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you bothall the days of your lives and fill you with his joy. Amen.
    (The minister now joins their right hands together and says):
    Those, whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder 19.
    In so much as (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) have consented together in holy wedlock 20, and havewitnessed the same before God and this company, having given and pledged their troth, each to theother, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they arehusband and wife.
    Minister: (to the couple): Seal the promises you have made with each other with a kiss.
    (The couple kisses.)Minister: Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. _________________.
    Now let us pray as Jesus has taught us:
    Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
    Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors 21.
    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
    for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.