Bells may be rung or chimed before the service in accordance with local custom.

Organ Prelude

First Hymn

Introductory Greeting
Pastor:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with all of you.

Introductory Prayer and Reading
Pastor:
Let us pray:
Lord our God, heavenly Father,
we thank you for the gift of life,
and for all who have shown us love
from our childhood until this day.
We pray you:
Give us always what we need
and daily renew our love to one another,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever. Amen.

Pastor:
It is written,
When God had created heaven and earth, the sea, the sun, the moon and the stars, all plants and animals, he said, 'Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.' So God created humankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them.

And our Lord Jesus Christ says,
Haven't you read that the one who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

And the apostle Paul writes,
Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against the other, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Hymn

The bride and bridegroom go up to the altar, or they may wait till after the address.

Address

Interrogation and Declaration (can be omitted).
Pastor:
N. and N., you are lawfully joined together in marriage and have come today to obtain God's blessing of your marriage.

I therefore ask you, N. (bridegroom's name),
will you love and honour N. (bride's name)
and live with her in prosperity and adversity
in what fortune God, the Almighty, will send you,
as a husband should live with his wedded wife
until death parts you? - I will.

Likewise I ask you, N. (bride's name),
will you love and honour N. (bridegroom's name)
and live with him in prosperity and adversity
in what fortune God, the Almighty, will send you,
as a wife should live with her wedded husband
until death parts you? - I will.

Intercession
Pastor:
Unless the Lord builds the house the work of the builders is in vain. Therefore we will now ask God for the blessing of this man and this woman.

While the bride and bridegroom kneel, the pastor lays his hands on their heads and says:
Almighty God,
who created man and woman
that they may live together in holy matrimony
and blessed them.
We ask you, bless also this man and this woman,
let them always live in your grace
and in love for each other.

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

Peace be with you.

The bride and bridegroom sit down.

Hymn

Final Collect
Pastor:
Let us pray:
Lord our God, heavenly Father,
we thank you for the ordinance of marriage,
and we pray you
that you will keep it strong among us with your blessing.
Grant that through the Holy Spirit all christian married couples
may help one another to remain in your saving grace.
Make them joyful in hope,
patient in adversity
and persevering in prayer,
and strengthen them to become living members of your church,
that they may finally be united with you in your kingdom,
where you live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, forever and ever.

Blessing
Pastor:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
All:
Amen. Amen. Amen.

Final Hymn

Organ Postlude