Getting married

The Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. Then the man said, " At last, here is one of my own kind. Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. ‘Woman' is her name because she was taken out of man." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.
Genesis 2:21-24

O God, our Heavenly Father,
Bless young couples at this special time.
Watch over them as they come together and before you to make their vows and promises.
As each leave their respective families to make a new home together, may their love deepen and grow.
Give them patience Lord as they adjust to living together in their new life.
May the love and laughter of this time stay with them in the years to come,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We pray, Lord Jesus, for all those planning to marry and for those helping them with practical details and with marriage preparation. May their joys and hopes be realised. Be with them as they plan and give them patience and understanding when things are difficult. In their growing love for each other, may they come to know you as the source of all love.

We pray for those marrying today.

Holy Spirit, be present at each union

so that every couple may truly enter into the mystery

of becoming one.

Amen

Father in heaven,
You ordained marriage for your children,
and you gave us love.
We remember ___ and ___ as they marry.
May the covenant of love they make be blessed with true devotion and spiritual commitment.
We ask that you, God, will give them the ability to keep the covenant they have made.
When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity;
when mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength;
when there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness;
if suffering becomes a part of their lives,
give them a strong faith and an abiding love.

Let us be grateful for the capacity to see, feel, hear and understand.
Let us be grateful for this incredible gift of life.
Let us be especially grateful
for the ties of love which bind us together,
giving dignity, meaning, worth and joy to all our days.
This is indeed a day which the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice in it and be glad,
and let us count our many blessings.