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Wedding Service - Full Text There are probably not very many grooms who are given the opportunity to write their own wedding services. However, it turned out that Pastor Peikang Dai had not yet done a hundred weddings and consequently we didn't have a cookie-cutter wedding service to work with. What can you do when you are one week to the wedding with no service? Never fear, the INTERNET is here. I found our wedding service by searching Yahoo! with the search key: "Wedding Service with Full Text Suitable for Evangelical Japanese and Canadian International Couple" AND NOT "Las Vegas". This search came up with 67,492 hits. Maybe not. Actually, more mundane tools such as the phone and the FAX machine also played a big role here as our friends and contacts at Knox in Toronto, as well as pastors and ministers from all corners of Canada and the United States sent us their favorite wedding services. I now consider myself something of an expert on wedding services. We chose not to use an 18th century wedding service which read like a cross between Shakespeare, King James, and Jean Calvin. We instead worked from a service kindly provided to us by James T. Hurd, the minister of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, and backed up by wedding services provided by Ellen Rae Dai's father and other Presbyterians of good standing.
Prelude and Processional	When I survey the Wondrous Cross Bach - Air on the G string Bach - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Call to Worship	Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness Tremble before Him, all the earth. Honor and Majesty are before Him. Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Welcome	We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Eric Eugene Fandrich and Yamada Midori and to ask God to bless them in the new relationship they are about to enter. This is a most joyous occasion! And it is with great joy that I extend to you a heartfelt welcome on behalf of the Yamada and Fandrich families. Your presence shows Eric and Midori how much you care, how much you love them, and how much you are part of their lives. Let us join our hearts together now and give thanks to God for this special occasion.
Prayer of Invocation	Let us bow our heads in prayer: Dear God, you are the Creator of Heaven and Earth. You are the Redeemer of us all. We thank you for the gift of life &endash; and in life, for the gift of marriage. We praise and thank you for all the joys that can come to men and women through marriage, and the blessings of home and family. Today, especially, we think of Eric and Midori as they begin their life together as husband and wife. With them, we thank you for the joy they find in each other. We pray for their parents, that at this moment of parting they may rejoice in their children's happiness. We pray that the God of mercy touch you with the healing of God's forgiveness and teach you always to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. The God of righteousness guide you into holy living and be compassionate with you as you grow in grace and the knowledge of God's way in marriage. The God of peace calm your fears, guard your days, and grant you the serenity to live securely in a world of God's making. The God of strength knit you firmly to one another that you may support each other in life's every endeavor. The God of love give you God's love in abundance and teach you to love one another as Christ has first loved you. The God of faith, who trusts you to each other and both of you to the living of these days, bind you together with the strong cords of fidelity and an unshakeable trust in God's loving kindness. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Giving of the Bride	Who gives this woman to be married? "Her mother and I do" [congregation may be seated]
The Nature of Christian Marriage	Marriage was instituted by God the Creator, who made us male and female. It was hallowed by the presence of our Lord at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. It is set forth by His apostle as a symbol of the mystical union between Christ and His Church. Our Saviour has declared that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. He has, by His apostles, instructed those who marry to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other and for their household; to pray for and with each other; to encourage each other; and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life. The estate of matrimony is, therefore, not to be entered upon lightly or unadvisedly, but thoughtfully, reverently, and in the fear of God. Marriage was ordained for the life-long companionship, help, and comfort of husband and wife. It was ordained for the procreation of children and the continuance of the holy ordinance of family life, that children, who are the heritage of the Lord, should be nurtured and trained in godliness. It was ordained for the welfare of human society, which can be strong and happy only where the marriage bond is held in honour. Into this holy estate this man and this woman now desire to enter.
Hymn	"As the Deer" Let us rise and join our hearts together in song as we sing the hymn "As the Deer" as found in your order of service.
Scripture	Let us hear the word of the Lord: Colossians 3:12-17
Homily
Hymn	"This is my father's world" Let us rise and join our hearts together in song as we sing the hymn "This is my father's world" as found in your order of service.
Declaration of Intent	Having heard how God created, ordered, and blessed the covenant of marriage: Question to the Groom: Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honour her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, faithfully keep yourself to her alone, so long as you both shall live? Groom: "I will" Question to the Bride: Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, faithfully keep yourself to him alone, so long as you both shall live? Bride: "I will"
Affirmation of Family and Friends	Will the families and friends of the bride and groom please stand. The marriage of Eric and Midori creates a new family, and a new relationship with each of you. Will you give them your blessing, pray for them, and support them with the love and freedom they need? All respond: "I will" or "We will" [congregation may be seated]
Exchange of Vows	Please join hands: I, Eric Eugene Fandrich, do take you, Yamada Midori, to be my lawful wedded wife, according to God's holy ordinance; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. I, Yamada Midori, do take you, Eric Eugene Fandrich, to be my lawful wedded husband, according to God's holy ordinance, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.
Exchange of Rings	Groom: Yamada Midori, I give you this ring as the token and pledge of the covenant now made between us. Bride: Eric Eugene Fandrich, I give you this ring as the token and pledge of the covenant now made between us.
Blessing	The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you And be gracious unto you; The LORD lift you up His countenance upon you, And give you peace Amen
Kiss	(Yes, this compulsory part of the service was printed in the program)
Declaration of Marriage	Forasmuch as you, Eric Eugene Fandrich, and you, Yamada Midori, have agreed to marry each other, and have declared this intention before God and in the presence of these witnesses, I pronounce you to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Therefore, what God has united let not man put asunder.
Prayer for Couple	Let us pray: Heavenly father, we ask you to bless Eric and Midori whom you have now made husband and wife. As you have providentially brought them together, sanctify them through your Holy Spirit. Bless their new home with your presence, giving them love and grace to fulfill the vows made today in your presence. May their love know no doubt, and may common tasks, trials, and joys bind them ever closer together. Defend them against the temptations of life, give them health and well-being, and grant them the desires of their hearts, according to your will. And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all and forevermore. Amen.
Signing of Register	Pachebel - Canon [Announcements regarding schedule, special arrangements, etc.]
Presentation	Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs., Eric and Midori Fandrich
Recessional	Mendelssohn - Wedding March Handel - Hornpipe