Читать книгу Worship Anthology - S. Craggs - Страница 19
ОглавлениеA Silver Wedding Ceremony
REV. LYNN BRADY
This liturgy grew out of the desire of friends of mine to go back to the church they were married in twenty-five years earlier and reflect on the personal journey of marriage. Though it is very personal to them, I hope it will help others to reflect on their anniversary and write their own liturgy.
Introduction: spoken by either wife or husband.
Twenty-five years ago, we came to this building, and in the presence of God and our closest friends and family we declared our love for each other and made a commitment to love each other for the rest of our days. At that time, we sang the hymn ‘Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone’. That foundation is as sure to us now as it was then, and we wanted to come together in this place again to give thanks for what has been and to renew the vows that we made to each other before God and before our friends. Our relationship has not existed in a vacuum. We were born of love, and our families first showed us love and taught us how to love, and we are the people we are today because of them. Our friends have journeyed with us, old friends and new friends, who have loved and supported us and who have allowed us to love them in return. We are so grateful for that, and hope you will continue on this journey with us. May this short time today affirm our friendship and commitment to each other, and may you all find blessing through these words.
Reading: Ephesians 3:14–21
Prayer of thanks for what has been, by yourself if that’s suitable (including for health, happiness, and for never having been wanting in any respect).
Prayer of thanks for husband and wife
Life-giver, Pain-bearer, Love-maker,
O Lord our God, how wonderful is life!
How rich its variety of joy and sorrow!
How precious are the lives of those dear to us!
Life is your gift,
In everything that makes life worth living,
it’s you we see at work.
In every human life we see something of you
And, in the end, it’s only in you that our lives make sense.
Living God, we praise you for the gift of life!
The life of our friends N . . . and N . . .
whom you have touched and shaped with your own hands.
O Lord our God, how glorious is love!
How wonderful are the various aspects of love we’ve seen:
in the parents who brought us into this world,
in the family and friends who have cared for us;
and especially today we celebrate the love of N . . . and N . . .
the love they have for you, Loving God, and the love they have for each other.
Love is your presence.
It’s you we know, when we know love;
It’s you we see reflected in everybody who loves us.
We thank you for all N . . . and N . . . have shared together and with others;
the love that they have shared with the many friends old and new
they have journeyed with over the last twenty-five years.
Loving God, we praise you for the gift of love today!
Love that brought [children’s names may be mentioned here] into the world,
and your sustaining love that has been part of their shaping.
It’s you whose love will never let us go, it’s your love that forgives;
It’s your love that enables us to endure the hard times, sad times.
It’s your love that keeps us going, keeps us trying, when things are tough.
Lord, on this day, may life and love be renewed in us all,
and especially in N . . . and N . . . so that the love that joined their lives together twenty-five years ago may continue to be truly your spirit working through them.
May life and love pour into our lives now . . .
light up all that we are doing with a new glory,
so that we may know your presence.
May it be your love that enables them to reaffirm their vows
and to keep them for as long as they both shall live. AMEN.
Thank you
This will be a few short sentences by both husband and wife thanking each other for what he/she has given to the other. (Not to be revealed to one another before the service!)
Vows
The couple are encouraged to create their own.
Reading
Chosen by the couple and read by a younger member of the family if possible.
Short comment
From the minister about what it means to be real!
Apache Blessing
Said by wife and husband.
A Celtic Blessing by the minister
May the raindrops fall lightly upon your brow,
May the soft winds freshen your spirit,
May the sunshine brighten your heart,
May the burden of the day rest lightly upon you
And may God enfold you in the mantle of his love.
Thank you both for all your sharing, laughing and listening.
For your comforting, supporting and shielding .
Your forgiving, trusting and respecting.
Your honouring, cherishing and loving.
May God continue to bless you both as you travel on together.
