Christian Wedding ReadingsI always try to let couples know that even if they aren't getting married in a church they can still bring that which they remember from a religious childhood to their wedding. If there was something about a church service you remember we can always add it. We are creating a ceremony just for you. There are no rules! Often couples will not care for religion but want to include it for the sake of the family. Remember that there are many beautiful readings that are not religious but sound that way. There is no reason to not speak your truth on your wedding day to please others. We can find a very happy medium that will please everyone.
|
|
The Wedding Song
Paul Sookey
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love,
there is Love.
Well a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning is now and til the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is Love,
there is Love.
Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
For if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh there is Love,
there is Love.
Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love,
there is Love.
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love,
there is Love.
Well a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning is now and til the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is Love,
there is Love.
Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
For if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh there is Love,
there is Love.
Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love,
there is Love.
Perfect Love
Author Unknown
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone. To have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God to the Christian says, "No, not until you're satisified and fulfilled and content with living, loved by Me alone and giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.
"I love you, My child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or belongings.
"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait.
"Don't be anxious and don't worry. Don't look around at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I have to show you.
"And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working this minute to have both of you ready at the same time, and until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is perfect love.
"And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself. Know I love you. I am God Almighty, believe and be satisfied."
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone. To have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God to the Christian says, "No, not until you're satisified and fulfilled and content with living, loved by Me alone and giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.
"I love you, My child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or belongings.
"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait.
"Don't be anxious and don't worry. Don't look around at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I have to show you.
"And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working this minute to have both of you ready at the same time, and until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is perfect love.
"And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself. Know I love you. I am God Almighty, believe and be satisfied."
A Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes (IV: 8-12)
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: a person all alone, no parent, no sibling, no child; there is no end to his effort, her eyes were not content with her wealth. For whom, then, do I work so hard, and why am I depriving myself of pleasure? This, too, is vanity and the chasing of the wind. Better two than one alone, since thus their work is really profitable. If one should fall, the other helps her up. If one should rise, he can pull her up behind him. Woe those who stand alone with no one to help them up when they fall down. When two sleep together they find warmth, but how can one keep warm alone? Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
John 15: 9-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
Live on in my love.
You will live in my love if you keep my commandments,
even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and live in his love.
And this I tell you that my joy may be yours
and that your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment:
Love one another as I have loved you."
"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
Live on in my love.
You will live in my love if you keep my commandments,
even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and live in his love.
And this I tell you that my joy may be yours
and that your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment:
Love one another as I have loved you."
Paul's Letter to the Romans 12:9-18
Love must be sincere. Look away from what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
If I speak in the tongues [1] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, [2] but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, [2] but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Matthew 22: 35-40
To put him to the test, one of them asked him a question:
"Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?"
Jesus said to him, "You must love the Lord your God with all our heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too."
"Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?"
Jesus said to him, "You must love the Lord your God with all our heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too."
A Reading from the Book of Ruth
… Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you and to
stop going with you, for
wherever you go, I shall go,
wherever you live, I shall live.
Your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
where you die, I shall die.
First Letter of John 4: 7-12
My dear friends, let us love one another, since love is from God
and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love.
This is the revelation of God's love for us, that God sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him.
Love consists in this:
it is not we who loved God, but God loved us and sent his Son to expiate our sins.
My dear friends, if God loved us so much, we too should love one another.
No one has ever seen God, but as long as we love one another
God remains in us and his love comes to its perfection in us. This is the proof that we remain in him and he in us. that he has given us a share in his Spirit.
and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love.
This is the revelation of God's love for us, that God sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him.
Love consists in this:
it is not we who loved God, but God loved us and sent his Son to expiate our sins.
My dear friends, if God loved us so much, we too should love one another.
No one has ever seen God, but as long as we love one another
God remains in us and his love comes to its perfection in us. This is the proof that we remain in him and he in us. that he has given us a share in his Spirit.
John 15: 9-12
I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this that my own joy may be in you and that your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.
About TimeYESTERDAY you discovered love, gently unfolding in your hearts, whispering of the joy to come.
TODAY your dreams will come true, creating memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime.
TOMORROW you begin a new journey hand in hand, eager
to explore a world of promise.
FOREVER you will share an everlasting love that could come
from God alone.
TODAY your dreams will come true, creating memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime.
TOMORROW you begin a new journey hand in hand, eager
to explore a world of promise.
FOREVER you will share an everlasting love that could come
from God alone.
Words of St. Paul
as interpreted by Mr. Robert Larcher
(and spoken to his son and daughter-in-law
on the occasion of their wedding on 10-9-10)
So be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and live in love. Be subordinate to one another
out of respect. Wives—always love your husbands; Husbands—always love your wives.
– Ephesians 5
Offer yourselves as a spiritual worship, holy and pleasing to God. Do not worry about the material trappings of this world, But be transformed through each other, to be good and loving of each other.
Let your love be always sincere; and savor that sincerity that you find in your hearts.
– Romans 12
Cherish what is good in life: the beauty of a gentle and calm disposition. Love one another with mutual understanding and mutual affection. Glorify your holy union by always showing each other the honor and goodness you possess as children of God.
– 1st Peter 3
(and spoken to his son and daughter-in-law
on the occasion of their wedding on 10-9-10)
So be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and live in love. Be subordinate to one another
out of respect. Wives—always love your husbands; Husbands—always love your wives.
– Ephesians 5
Offer yourselves as a spiritual worship, holy and pleasing to God. Do not worry about the material trappings of this world, But be transformed through each other, to be good and loving of each other.
Let your love be always sincere; and savor that sincerity that you find in your hearts.
– Romans 12
Cherish what is good in life: the beauty of a gentle and calm disposition. Love one another with mutual understanding and mutual affection. Glorify your holy union by always showing each other the honor and goodness you possess as children of God.
– 1st Peter 3
SONG OF SONGS 2:8-10, 14, 16a; 8:6-7a
THE JERUSALEM BIBLE
For love is as strong as death.
I hear my Beloved. See how he comes
leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My Beloved is like a gazelle,
like a young stag.
See where he stands behind our wall.
He looks in at the window,
he peers through the lattice.
My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me,
"Come then, my love,
my lovely, come.
"My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock,
in the coverts of the cliff,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful."
My Beloved is mine and I am his.
He said to me:
'Set me like a seal on your heart,
For love is strong as Death,
jealousy relentless as Sheol.
The flash of it is a flash of fir,
a flame of the Lord himself.'
Love no flood can quench,
no torrents down.
For love is as strong as death.
I hear my Beloved. See how he comes
leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My Beloved is like a gazelle,
like a young stag.
See where he stands behind our wall.
He looks in at the window,
he peers through the lattice.
My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me,
"Come then, my love,
my lovely, come.
"My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock,
in the coverts of the cliff,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful."
My Beloved is mine and I am his.
He said to me:
'Set me like a seal on your heart,
For love is strong as Death,
jealousy relentless as Sheol.
The flash of it is a flash of fir,
a flame of the Lord himself.'
Love no flood can quench,
no torrents down.
