Christian Wedding Readings

Christian Readings can be scripture - from any translation available - some of the modern versions of scripture are lovely in a wedding ceremony.  Christian wedding readings can also be poetry written from a faith-based perspective. Hymns and traditional prayers can also be great options.  

​1 Corinthians: 13 NIV

If I speak in the tongues 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, 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.​

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Based on 1 Corinthians: 13 

GOD IS LOVE.  May you have His kind of love for each other.

LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND.  May you be able to lovingly overlook each other’s faults and weaknesses.

LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL. May you seek praise for each other and not for yourselves.

LOVE IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE. May you give of yourselves for each other’s needs and treat one another with utmost respect.

LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY. May you genuinely listen to each other with a willingness to be wrong yourselves.

LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL. May you be tolerant of each other’s moods, always ready to forgive, never holding a grudge.

LOVE DOES NOT REJOICE AT WRONG BUT REJOICES IN THE RIGHT.
May you experience happiness because of each other’s triumphs and successes.
​
​LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS. May you seek to understand each other’s differences, knowing you will stick together through it all.

LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS. May you always expect the best in each situation, regardless of temporary setbacks.

LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS. May you never give up your commitment to work on improving your relationship.

LOVE NEVER ENDS. May you spend the rest of your lives together enjoying God’s love.

GOD IS LOVE.

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Ecclesiastes 4: 7-12 NIV
The Chord of 3 Strands

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil,yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

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Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you.

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Song Of Solomon 2:10-13

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

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Song Of Solomon 8:6-7

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned.

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The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.​

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True Love
​Author, Unknown

Love can always conquer
Whatever discord brings
and love can also cover
a multitude of things.

Don’t you underestimate
what love can ever do,
for love is God eternal
and His love can renew.

What is cold and lifeless,
now lost all hope and died,
for love can breathe new meaning
and give it back new life.

Please don’t give up on love
when it seems that all is lost,
for there is always hope
if we’re prepared to pay the cost.

For love is always worth it
no matter how much the price,
for love will be much stronger
when we trust in Jesus Christ.

So let God have full reign,
let Him live within your heart
then you will know true love,
for this He will impart.

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Treat Yourselves and Each Other with Respect

Treat yourselves and each other with respect, 
and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. 
Give the highest priority to the tenderness, 
gentleness, and kindness that your connection deserves. 
When frustration, difficulties, and fear assail your relationship, 
as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, 
remember to focus on what is right between you, 
not only the part which seems wrong. 
In this way, you can ride out the storms 
when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives... 
remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, 
the sun is still there. 
And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality 
of your life together, 
it will be marked by abundance and delight. 
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, 
there am I in the midst of them.

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I Do!
​
The moment I set my eyes on you, 
I knew God answered my prayers.
And when you said "I do"
I know God made me to love you.

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Mark 10:9
​
“Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.

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Ephesians 4:2

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

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Two Lives Become One
Author Unknown

As two lives become one
May the Father above
Bless our hearts and our home
With an abundance of love.
As two lives become one
And we pledge to each other
Our hearts intertwined
Professing love for one another.

As two lives become one
Let no one come between
And may God richly bless
A future, He has already seen.

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Colossians 3:14-20
​
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Instructions for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

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Gracious God, Richly Bless
​
Gracious God, richly bless this bride and groom 
in the promises that they have made to each other. 
Grant that the courtesies, the thoughtfulness, 
and the self-giving which already 
have laid the foundation for their love, 
build the home that is raised on it. 

May they be loyal and engaging companions to each other. 
And may they be loving and wise parents. 
And in this world 
where there is much disillusion and disappointment... 
where love brings delight 
and also wounding in the frailty of our ways... 
make them a visible symbol of the love that does not wane when 
The evening comes but is fresh with each new day. 
And as you bless this special couple this day, 
Bless each union represented here. 
Forgive us where we have not been good news 
and glad days for each other. 
Perfect our imperfect love with the joy that comes from above, 
And may we grow ourselves and grow in affirmation of the other. 
May the Lord bless you and take care of you: 
May the Lord be kind and gracious to you: 
May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

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Philippians 4:4-9
​
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

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Song of Solomon 4:9

“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace."

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John 15:12

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

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The Prayer
by St. Francis of Assisi
​
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. 
Where there is hatred, let us sow love; 
Where there is injury, pardon. 
Where there is discord, union; 
Where there is doubt, faith; 
Where there is despair, hope; 
Where there is darkness, light; 
Where there is sadness, joy; 
O Divine Master, Grant that we may not so much seek 
To be consoled as to console, 
To be understood as to understand, 
To be loved as to love. 
For it is in giving that we receive; 
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 
Amen.

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​Passage
Author, Theodore Colterelli

How little we know in our growing years?
Protected by our loved ones from woes and fears.
We continue to grow from our past. 
Searching for a new love, one that will last. We think back on how easy it was to say, ‘I do’ 
But it was your conviction, good foundation, and character that saw you through. 
Each year, no matter how large or small, celebrate your anniversary nonetheless. 
For the greater the number the greater the the success.Accentuated by our social being to find someone to share with. 
We take our wedding vows to show the world we care. 
A family is next to sustain our marriage and fortify our love. 
To succeed, this human experience needs to be blessed from above.

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Proverbs 18:22
​
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

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Our Wedding Day
Author Unknown
​
On this our wedding day,
We are uniting to become one.
The journey of a lifetime
Has only just begun.
With family and friends present
We vow to live by faith,
And trust in God’s provision
With every step we take
For only by His goodness
Can we selflessly show our love
Striving to live exemplary lives
To point to the Father above.

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Love, Joy, Understanding, Friendship, Courage
Author Unknown

In joining your lives, may God grant you both... 
Love... to afford each other a special quality of time together. 
Joy...in the accomplishments of one another. 
Understanding...that your interests and desires 
will not always be the same. 
Friendship...based on mutual trust. 
Courage...to speak of a misunderstanding 
and to work on a solution 
before the setting of the sun. 
Compassion...to comfort each other in pain and sorrow. 
Foresight...to realize rainbows follow rainy days. 
Imagination...to keep with you part of the child you once were. 
Mirth...from your sense of humor. 
Awareness...to live each day with the knowledge 
that there is no promise of tomorrow. 
May God bless you and keep you 
in the Palm of His hand.

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​From “Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC’s of Faith”
Author,  Frederick Buechner
​
“They say they will love, comfort, and honor each other to the end of their days. They say they will cherish each other and be faithful to each other always. They say they will do these things not just when they feel like it, but even — for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health — when they don’t feel like it at all. In other words, the vows they make could hardly be more extravagant. They give away their freedom. They take on themselves each other’s burdens. They bind their lives together… The question is, what do they get in return? They get each other in return… There will always be the other to talk to, to listen to… There is still someone to get through the night with, to wake into the new day beside. If they have children, they can give them, as well as each other, roots and wings. If they don’t have children, they each become the other’s child. They both still have their lives apart as well as a life together. They both still have their separate ways to find. But a marriage made in heaven is one where a man and a woman become more richly themselves together than the chances are either of them could ever have managed to become alone.”

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Canticle of Love  
From the United Methodist Hymnal 1989

Let love be genuine and live in harmony;
hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.
Outdo one another in showing honor;
Be humble and never conceited.
Love is stronger than death, 
and jealousy is cruel as the grave.
Floods can not drown love, and
wealth can not buy it.
Put love above all else;
Let Christ’s peace rule your hearts.
Always be forgiving, as Christ has forgiven you.
Love is not jealous or boastful,
arrogant, rude, or stubborn,
irritable, resentful, or possessive.
Love is patient and kind.
Do not love in word or speech only;
love also in deed and truth.
Receive each other in sincerity,
​find mercy, and grow old together.

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Be Satisfied
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 Christians says, “No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreserved to Me, with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone; discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you 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, exclusively of anyone or anything else, exclusively of any other desire or longing. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you can not imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing and learning the things I tell you… You just have to wait. That’s all. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the things others have gotten or that I’ve given them. Don’t look around at the things you think you want. You just keep looking off and up to Me, or you will miss what I want to show you. And then…when you are ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any other that you would dream of. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time, until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the Love that exemplifies your relationship with Me and this perfect Love. Dear one, I want you to have this 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 that I love you utterly. I am God. Believe and be satisfied.

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

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