Christian Ceremony Script

Opening
It is with joy and happiness that we gather on this occasion to celebrate the union of Jordan Swartz and Michelle Harris in the holy bond of marriage. Who gives Michelle to be married today?

Bride's father: Her mother and I.

Prayer
Dear Father, we humbly invite your presence and your blessings to be upon these two as they enter into the ceremony that will unite them in the bonds of holy matrimony. Impress upon them the solemness and the impact of their actions today that will impact their lives for eternity. AMEN

Readings
Marriage is the oldest and most sacred of all the social institutions among men. Ordained of the all-wise Creator, in the Garden of Eden. Its sanctity has been made known to all the human race, on the pages of the holy word. Rightly regarded, marriage is the highest and happiest of human relationships, the preserver of true love, the foundation of the home and the bulwark of society. In marriage there is twice as much joy and happiness with each of you adding. On the other hand, problems are half as big because you have to hear only half the burden.

I have read that in Iowa stand a little brown church and it is the scene of many hundreds of weddings each year. The preacher has adopted a beautiful farewell to the many happy couples. After the ceremony has ended, he walks with the couple to the entry of the building and says, "Before you go, the bride has the honor of ringing the church bell." He hands her the rope, and she pulls with all her might but the heavy bell will not turn. The preacher then turns to the groom and asks that he lend a hand and help his bride. Together they pull and the bell turns, sending out over the countryside the news of another wedding. Then the preacher says, "As you go out into life, never forget that as long as you pull together, you can ring the bell."

You can ring the bell for a happier marriage by taking these steps.
1. Share the day's activities with each other and also your hopes for the future.
2. Meet each other at least half way when disagreements arise. Quarrels are not a matter of who's right, but what is right.
3. Involve each other in family finances, in spending and saving.
4. Be in agreement with discipline and punishment you use in rearing children.
5. Small acts of appreciation can be the most effective way to demonstrate love and respect for each other.
6. Be like Zechariah and Elizabeth as Luke described them in Luke 1:6 by saying, " Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly."

After making man in his image and putting him in the Garden of Eden, God saw it was not good for man to be alone but he could not find a suitable helpmeet for him. In Genesis 2:21-25 we read, "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a women from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called "women" for she was taken out of man. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame."

From the beginning, God meant for marriage to be a joyous relation with the man and women establishing their own home. As we think of marriage with that special person our thoughts range from establishing a home that will be pleasant and attractive in the tenderest and most sacred relations of life to visions of having beautiful and adoring children. A marriage relation that is thus consummated should not be entered thoughtlessly or irreverently; but advisedly in the fear of God, and for the purpose which He, the divine author, ordained and blessed matrimony. Marriage is love, faith and peace.

A story is told of an artist that wanted to paint a picture of the most beautiful thing in the world. He asked the preacher - Faith - all successes in life is built on faith. He asked a young bride - Love - it builds poverty into riches; sweetens tears; makes much of little; without it there is no beauty. He asked weary soldier - Peace - Where you find peace, there you find beauty. He thought Faith, Love and Peace. How can I paint them? He went home and upon entering the door, he saw Faith in the eyes of his children and in his home was the Peace that Love and Faith had built. He then knew what picture to paint of the most beautiful thing - HOME.

Vows
Loved ones and friends, we are now to witness the confession of mutual love and desire that has brought Jordan and Michelle to this sacred occasion. They have come seeking the blessing of Christ and the sanction of society, that they must be lawfully and happily joined together as husband and wife.

Please join your right hands.

JORDAN, do you take Michelle to be your wife and do you promise before God and these witnesses that you will be to her a true and devoted husband, true to her in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in prosperity and adversity; and forsaking all others, you will keep yourself to her, and to her only, in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with her and cherish her according to the ordinance of God, until you are parted by death? I WILL

MICHELLE, do you take Jordan to be your husband and do you promise before God and these witnesses that you will be to him a true and devoted wife, true to him in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in prosperity and adversity; and forsaking all others, you will keep yourself to him, and to him only, in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with him and cherish him according to the ordinance of God, until you are parted by death? I WILL

Ring Ceremony
Are there rings to be given as tokens of this union?

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign or symbol of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. God has given us many types of symbols that we should remember His promises.
Jordan, will you take Michelle's ring and put it on her finger then repeat after me. I give this ring to you Michelle, as a constant reminder....of my devotion of love.... I dedicate myself in righteousness... to the pursuit of...our mutual good and happiness...and I willingly and gladly...share with you...all that I possess....till death shall part us.

Michelle, will you take Jordan's ring and put it on his finger then repeat after me. I give this ring to you Jordan, as a constant reminder....of my devotion of love.... I dedicate myself in righteousness... to the pursuit of...our mutual good and happiness...and I willingly and gladly...share with you...all that I possess....till death shall part us.

For as much as Jordan and Michelle have consented together and pledged their faith to each other in holy wedlock, and have witnessed their vows before God and his company of friends and loved ones, and have sealed the same by giving and receiving rings, I therefore, by the authority vested in me as a ministering servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and that state of Texas, pronounce that they are husband and wife! Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

Final Prayer and Blessing
Shall we pray. Our Father bless this young couple as they face life together in a sinful world that is full of many temptations. Bless Jordan as he assumes the duties and privileges pertaining to his role as a Christian husband. Give him manly strength, energy and virtue that he may fulfill the task that you have planned for him. Give him wisdom for the great decisions of life that are before him and his family.
May your special blessings be with Michelle as she accepts duties and privileges pertaining to her role as a Christian wife. Grant her strength of body, mind and spirit that she may fulfill her task that you have planned for her. Give her the wisdom to be a role model in establishing a loving, caring Christian home for her family.

O Lord, may they find peace and joy and Christian purpose in their family. As they go from this place may they never go from thy presence. Bless them and keep them; make your face to shine upon them, be gracious unto them, lift up thy countenance upon them and give them peace. We ask it of thee in the name of thy son, who is the price of peace and Lord of Love. AMEN
Jordan, Michelle, you may kiss one another.

Pronouncement
It is known with great pleasure that I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Swartz!