Wedding Ceremony

Processional

A Celebration of Marriage

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen

P: Let us pray …

Gracious God, we give thanks to you for the gift of life and for its renewal with each day. We gather in your presence to celebrate this time that brings Bob and Bridget to the threshold of marriage. For the dreams they have dreamed, and for their hopes for themselves and each other, we give thanks. Bless them as they promise their love in marriage. In your Holy name we pray,

AMEN.

Exchange of Lei

P: A key element of a traditional Hawaiian wedding is the exchange of leis. This is done for several reasons. One is that the lei is an unbroken circle, like the rings that soon will be blessed and exchanged, representing the eternal commitment of your hearts together. Also, as each flower is brought into the circle, it loses none of its individual beauty, reminding us that in the unity of your love, you have lost none of your unique individuality. In fact, the loving care and nurturing security of your relationship helps you grow even more fully into that special person with whom your partner fell in love. So, let these beautifully crafted lei with their handpicked flowers and twine, carefully bonded together with love, be a special reflection of your love and Aloha for one another.

P: As the Hawaiians say: He Lei Kau, He Lei Ho’oilo ke Aloha

which means “I will wear your love as a lei forever.

Bob, please place this Lei around the neck of your bride, and as you do so: HONI KA UA – kiss her on the lips, And likewise, Bridget, place this Lei around the neck of your beloved and HONI KA UA – with a kiss.

Readings

from that great love chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians 13, we hear these words about love:

4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not

irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.

1

Statement of Intent

P: Marriage is a gift from God. It is a commitment to be celebrated and honored. Bridget and Bob, we gather with you this afternoon to promise our love and support for you as a couple.

P: Today is a special day for you, you are publicly professing your commitment in the presence of God. As you celebrate this commitment, may you do so joyfully, thoughtfully, lovingly, and with faith in God and each other.

The most precious gift is standing right beside you. Gifts that will last a lifetime. Bob, you are receiving the gift of Bridget. She is giving you her heart, her love, and her friendship. She is giving the precious gift of herself. All of who she is and all of who she dreams of becoming. Will you have Bridget to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, and be faithful to her alone? If so please answer, I will.

Bridget, you are receiving the gift of Bob. He is giving you his heart, his love, and his friendship. He is giving the precious gift of himself. All of who he is and all of who he dreams of becoming. Will you have Bob to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, and be faithful to him alone? If so please answer, I will.

Vows (Said by bride and groom to each other, joining hands and facing each Other)P: Repeat after me: I,___Bob______ /, have taken you,_Bridget____ ,/ to be my (wife)/ and I now promise to love/ and to trust you from this day forward,/ for better, for worse,/ for richer, for poorer,/ in sickness and in health./ As we continue to grow in our love for each other/ I shall stand by you/, speak the truth to you/ and seek to live each day as a gift of God,/ as long as we both shall live.

Repeat after me: I,___Bridget______ /, have taken you,_Bob____ ,/ to be my (husband)/ and I now promise to love/ and to trust you from this day forward,/ for better, for worse,/ for richer, for poorer,/ in sickness and in health./ As we continue to grow in our love for each other/ I shall stand by you/, speak the truth to you/ and seek to live each day as a gift of God,/ as long as we both shall live.

Blessing of the Rings

P: May I have the rings? (Rings are given to the pastor)

P: Wedding rings serve as the symbol of the covenant you have just spoken. They are the outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible love which binds your hearts together.

2

P: Let us pray: Gracious God, bless these rings so that whenever they see or feel them they may remember the covenant that they have made here today. Let these rings be a symbol of your love and forgiveness which is always available to them in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

P: Repeat after me: In token and pledge/ of our constant faith/ and abiding love/ with this ring/ I give myself to you/ in the Name of the Father/ and of the Son/ and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P: Will you give me your right hands?

My friends, by making your promises before God, I proclaim that you have made your commitment to one another as husband and wife. Blessed be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.

Unity Ceremony

Bride and Groom each pour their individual sand into the jar which symbolizes the joining of their love

The Blessing

Prayer of blessings in Hawaiian, and then interpretation:

imau aku kaloko mai ka’i o ke akua a mekalauna puana o ka’uhane hemolele me ka ko apa’u.

May the lord God bless you and keep you. May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; and may God lift up his countenance upon you both and give you peace; both now and forever more; amene.

Declaration of Marriage

P: Bob and Bridget, you have exchanged promises of faithful love and symbols that make your covenant visible. Therefore, I recognize before God that you are husband and wife, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

P: You may now seal your marriage with a kiss