Marriage

   Additional Prayers
     
    Longer Prayers and Litanies  
     
1
   Eternal God,
creator and redeemer,
from whom comes every good and perfect gift,
fill N and N with the riches of your grace
and breathe into their marriage
the strength of your holy and life-giving Spirit.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    Send upon them the gift of love
that puts no limit to its faith and forbearance.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    Sow in their lives the joy that comes from sharing
and grows with giving.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    Let peace spring from their faithfulness to each other
and flow deeper with the passing years.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    Give them patience with their failures
and persistence with their hopes.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    May their kindness, born of a gracious heart,
be shown to others in a generous spirit.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    Let goodness flower with forgiveness
and be the fruit of their married life.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    In gentleness let them be tender with each other's dreams
and healing of each other's wounds.
Lord, hear us:
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    Gracious God,
accept our prayers for N and N ,
that as their love ripens
and their marriage matures
they may reap the harvest of the Spirit,
rejoice in your gifts
and reflect your glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
     
2
   A prayer for all people
    Almighty God, look graciously on the world which you have made
and for which your Son gave his life.
Bless all whom you make one flesh in marriage.
May their life together be a sign of your love to this broken world,
so that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt, and joy overcome despair.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    May N and N so live together
that the strength of their love may reflect your love
and enrich our common life.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    May they be gentle and patient, ready to trust each other,
and, when they fail, willing to recognize and acknowledge their fault
and to give and receive forgiveness.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    [May N and N be blessed with the gift of children.
Fill them with wisdom and love as they care for their family.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.]
     
    May the lonely, the bereaved, and all who suffer want or anxiety,
be defended by you, O Lord.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    May those whose lives are today brought together
be given wisdom, patience and courage
to serve one another in Christ's name.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    May friends and family gathered here,
and those separated by distance,
be strengthened and blessed this day.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    We praise you, merciful God,
for those who have died in the faith of Christ.
May we be strengthened by their example.
     
    Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers.
All
   Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may by your grace receive,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
   
   
     
     
3
   Eternal God,
creator and preserver of all life and giver of grace;
look with favour on the world you have made,
and especially on this man and this woman
whom you in holy marriage have made one.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    Give them wisdom and devotion in ordering their common life,
that each may be to the other
a strength in need, a counsellor in perplexity,
a comfort in sorrow and a companion in joy.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    Grant that their wills may be so knit together in your will,
that they may grow together in love and peace
with one another and with you all the days of their life.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    Give them grace when they hurt one another
to recognize and acknowledge their fault
and to seek each other's forgiveness
and your pardon and peace.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    Make their life together a sign of Christ's love
in this broken and disordered world,
that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal injury
and joy overcome despair.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    [Bestow on them, if it is your will,
the heritage and gift of children
and the grace to bring them up
to know you, to love you and to serve you.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.]
     
    Give them such fulfilment of their affection
that they may reach out in love and concern for others.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    Grant that all those who have witnessed these vows
may find their lives strengthened
and their loyalties confirmed.
Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    Grant that the bonds of our common humanity
by which all your children are united to one another
may be so transformed by your grace
that your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven;
where, O Father, with your Son and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign in perfect unity, now and for ever. 
All
   Amen.
     
     
4
   Almighty God, our heavenly Father,we lift up our hearts to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him you have made a covenant of grace with your people
by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.

We praise you for the gift of marriage
in which the love of husband and wife
reveals your purposes of love for the world.

We thank you today for N and N,
for leading them to each other
in friendship and love, commitment and trust,
and for bringing them here for the blessing of their marriage.

Living God,
by the presence of your Holy Spirit,
may they know the risen Christ to be with them now,
as they celebrate this covenant together.
May their lives be a witness to your saving love
in this troubled world.

As you pour out your love,
may they grow together in your sight,
and each be to the other
a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need.

As you blessed the earthly home at Nazareth
with the presence of your Son,
may their home be a place of security and peace.
[Bless this couple with the gift and care of children,
that they may grow up to know and love you in your Son.]

And bring us all at the last
to that great marriage banquet of your Son
in our home in heaven,
where, with all your saints and angels,
in the glory of your presence,
we will for ever praise you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
    Thanksgiving  
     
    For the sharing of love
     
5
   Father of all,
in Jesus Christ you open to us
the treasures of your kingdom;
guide us by your Holy Spirit
that we may receive your redeeming grace
and reflect the perfect unity of your love,
for you live and reign
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 
All
   Amen.
     
6
   God of love,
we thank you for the gift of marriage and for the joys it brings. 
Bless us as we share in this wedding.
We thank you for the love
which has brought N and N to each other
and for their desire to share that
love for the rest of their lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
    Spiritual Growth  
     
7
   For the home
    Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home:
reign in the home of these your servants as Lord and King;
give them grace to minister to others
      as you have ministered to them,
and grant that by deed and word
they may be witnesses of your saving love
to those among whom they live;
for the sake of your holy name. 
All
   Amen.
     
8
   For the Holy Spirit
    Almighty God,
you send your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of all your people.
Open the hearts of these your servants to the riches of his grace,
that they may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
      in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
9
   For grace to live well
    Faithful God,
giver of all good things,
give N and N wisdom and devotion
in the ordering of their life together.
May they dwell together in love and peace
all the days of their life,
      seeking one another's welfare,
      bearing one another's burdens
      and sharing one another's joys;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
10
   For discipleship
    Eternal God,
without your grace nothing is strong, nothing is sure.
Strengthen N and N with patience, kindness, gentleness
and all other gifts of the Holy Spirit,
so that they may fulfil the vows they have made.
Keep them faithful to each other and to you.
Fill them with such love and joy
that they may build a home of peace and welcome.
Make their life together a sign of Christ's love
      in this broken world,
that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy conquer despair;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
11
   For a glimpse of eternal love
    Eternal God, our maker and redeemer,
as you once enriched the wedding at Cana
when your Son turned water into wine,
so by his presence now bring your joy to this day.
May we drink deeply from your boundless love
and know in our hearts the delights of your Holy Spirit.
As we honour the union of a man and a woman,
let the love we celebrate today be a sign of your eternal love,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
All
   Amen.
     
12
   For the gift of love
    God of wonder and of joy:
grace comes from you,
and you alone are the source of life and love.
Without you, we cannot please you;
without your love, our deeds are worth nothing.
Send your Holy Spirit,
and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of love,
that we may worship you now
with thankful hearts
and serve you always with willing minds;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
13
   For marriage as a sign to the world
    Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being,
look graciously upon the world which you have made
and for which your Son gave his life,
and especially on all whom you make to be one flesh
      in holy marriage. 
May their lives together be a sign of your love to this broken world,
so that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy overcome despair;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
    Faithfulness, Joy, Love,  
    Forgiveness and Healing  
     
14
   For the joy of loving
    God our creator,
we thank you for your gift of sexual love
by which husband and wife
may delight in each other
and share with you the joy of creating new life.
By your grace may N and N remain lovers,
rejoicing in your goodness all their days. 
All
   Amen.
     
15
   For the healing of memory
    Loving God,
you are merciful and forgiving.
Grant that those who are suffering the hurts of the past
      may experience your generous love.
Heal their memories, comfort them,
and send them all from here
renewed and hopeful;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
16
   For the joy of companionship
    All praise and blessing to you, God of love,
creator of the universe,
maker of man and woman in your likeness,
source of blessing for married life.
All praise to you, for you have created
      courtship and marriage,
      joy and gladness,
      feasting and laughter,
      pleasure and delight.
May your blessing come in full upon N and N.
May they know your presence
in their joys and in their sorrows.
May they reach old age in the company of friends
and come at last to your eternal kingdom; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
17
   For grace and delight
    God of love, ever gracious and kind,
we pray for N and N as they make the promises of marriage.
Let them know you
as the God of mercy and new beginnings,
who forgives our failures and renews our hope.
May the grace of Christ
be poured into their wedding
for celebration and for joy.
God of love, ever present and faithful,
may N and N know that their marriage is your delight and will.
May the promises they make govern their life together,
as your presence surrounds them,
and your Spirit strengthens and guides them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
    For faithfulness
     
18
   God of all grace,
friend and companion,
look in favour on N and N ,
and all who are made one in marriage.
In your love deepen their love
and strengthen their wills
to keep the promises they have made,
that they may continue
in life-long faithfulness to each other;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
19
   Gracious God,
as you have brought N and N together in love,
enable them through the power of your Holy Spirit
to make and keep the solemn promises of marriage;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
20
   O gracious and ever-living God,
male and female you have created us in your image:
look mercifully upon this man and this woman
who come to you seeking your blessing;
assist them with your grace,
that with true fidelity and steadfast love
they may honour and keep the promises and vows they make;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord 
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 
All
   Amen.
     
21
   For faithfulness and peace
    O God of love,
look mercifully upon N and N in the new life
      which they begin together this day.
Unite them evermore in your love.
Keep them faithful to the vows they have made one to the other;
strengthen them with every good gift;
and let your peace be with them,
now and always;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
22
   For daily following of Christ
    Heavenly Father,
we thank you that in our earthly lives
you speak to us of your eternal life:
we pray that through their marriage
N and N may know you more clearly,
love you more dearly
and follow you more nearly,
day by day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
    Children, other Family Members
and Friends		  
     
23
   For children and home
    Heavenly Father,
maker of all things,
you enable us to share in your work of creation.
Bless this couple in the gift and care of children,
that their home may be a place of love, security and truth,
and their children grow up to know and love you in your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
24
   For children and family
    Lord of life,
you shape us in your image,
and by your gracious gift
the human family is increased.
Grant to N and N the blessing of children.
Fill them with wisdom and love
as they care for their family,
so that they and their children
may know and love you;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
25
   For an existing family
    God of all grace and goodness,
we thank you for this new family,
and for everything parents and children have to share;
by your Spirit of peace draw them together
and help them to be true friends to one another.
Let your love surround them
and your care protect them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
26
   For the families of the couple
    Gracious Lord,
bless the parents and families of N and N
that they may grow in love and friendship.
Grant that, as they have witnessed these vows today,
they may find their lives enriched and strengthened
and their loyalties confirmed;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.
     
27
   For the support of friends
    Holy Spirit of God,
you know our strength
and have compassion on our frailty.   
Be with N and N
in all they undertake.
And grant that we their friends,
with all who become their friends,
may sense and understand their needs;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
   Amen.