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| HOLY UNION - ORDER OF
SERVICE |
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| PRE-CEREMONY MUSIC |
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| PROCESSIONAL MUSIC
(Mary Beth - Wachet Auf (Sleeper's Wake) Bach: |
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| Ministers: Rev. Jill
Edens / Rev. Jimmy Creech |
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| WELCOME - Jill
Edens |
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| On behalf of Jim and Evan,
I welcome you to this celebration of their commitment to each other. We are here to affirm
intimate relationship in its many and varied forms: the love of family, the support of
friends. We are here to witness the making of a covenant expressed in solemn vows and
promises, in dignity and integrity. |
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| In keeping with the spirit of
this moment, I would ask that you refrain from taking any flash photographs until the
ceremony is over. We will be happy to regroup and pose in any scenes for photos after the
service. |
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| Perhaps these moments will
offer each of you the opportunity to review and reflect upon your life commitments and
important relationships. May this time facilitate the renewal of your commitments and
covenants to family, friends, and community. |
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| By our presence here today,
we offer best wishes and affirm our support of the promises Jim and Evan are about to
make to each other. To indicate this, would you please stand. |
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| PROCESSION (to music) as
couple and witnesses come forward |
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| Witnesses: Jeannie
Moses / Brian Berte & Fred S. |
| / Jim & Evan (Jim
& Evan each light one of the two outside candles (of three) as they arrive at the
altar) |
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| INTRODUCTION - Jimmy
Creech |
| "Please be seated." |
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| This a timeless moment, a
moment of hope and expectation, when standing before God and among you, their friends, Jim
and Evan (Evan) pledge themselves to each other in the covenant of Holy Union. |
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| What Jim and Evan
mean to each other is obvious in their lives, but it is not easily expressed in the
language of a ceremony. Any union, to be complete, must first be Spiritual. A
marriage, in truth, is the uniting of two souls already attuned to and united with each
other. To share their lives, to encourage creativity, to inspire each other to reach
beyond the limits of the ordinary . . . not at the expense of each partner's
individuality, but rather by the strength of the common bond, this is the hope in which
Jim and Evan come to be united." |
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| Through this rite of passage,
two persons declare publicly their intent to enter into a covenant relationship of
enduring love. This occasion is not a spectacle, but a holy moment; it is not a mere
formality. We are witnesses to the making of a covenant. This is a celebration of the
highest we know in love, the pledging of the deepest fidelity and trust, the expression of
the highest aspiration. |
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| It is our hope that those of
you who live in an intimate and loving relationship will take this occasion to renew your
own vows, and that all of you will share in this celebration by offering your prayerful
thoughts for Jim and Evan. |
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| CALL TO WORSHIP -
Jimmy Creech |
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| "Beloved, let us love
one another; for love is from God. And everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). |
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| PRAYER OF APPROACH - Jimmy
Creech |
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| "Eternal God, Creator of
all things, Source of every good and perfect gift, you made us and you sustain us; we
depend on you. We praise you for the gift of life; we thank you for making us able to
think about life's meaning and purposes; and most especially do we glorify you for the
love you have created in us. We also give you thanks, dear God, for Jim and Evan who are
making a public declaration of their commitment to each other today." |
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| "May your Holy Spirit
empower them to perform and keep the solemn covenant they are about to make, and keep them
ever growing in love for one another and for You." |
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| "This we ask in the name
of Jesus, the Christ who taught us the true meaning of love, Amen." |
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| (Please be seated) |
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| GENERAL CONFESSION and
ASSURANCE OF PARDON - Jill Edens |
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| "We are gathered here to
celebrate the love that Jim and Evan have for one another, a love that is but a
reflection of God's love for all people, a love which expresses in a particular way our
Savior Christ's command that we love one another as Christ has loved us. But we do not
always keep that command. Therefore, in the silence of our hearts, let us silently confess
to God the ways in which, by what we have said and done and by what we have failed to say
and do, we have not loved God, not loved others, and not loved ourselves as we ought
to." |
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| [Period of silent
confession] |
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| READINGS - Jeannie
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| "Hear some words of
eternal truth:" |
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| Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV) |
| 9. Two are better than
one, because they have a good return for their work; 10. If one falls down, his
friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
11. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep
warm alone? 12. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of
three strands is not quickly broken. |
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| Isaiah 54:10, 14-15 (NIV) |
| 10. Though the
mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be
shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you. 14.
In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will
have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. 15. If
anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to
you. |
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| I Corinthians 13:4-8 |
| "Love is patient and
kind; love is not jealous or boastful - it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist
on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong; but
rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things,
endures all things. Love is lasting ... there is faith, hope and love; but the greatest of
these is love." |
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| Ephesians 4:32 |
| "And be kind to one
another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you and be
subject to one another out of reverence to God." |
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| I John 4 |
| 7. Dear friends, let us
love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God
and knows God. 8. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 12. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and God's love is made
complete in us. |
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| MUSIC: "Gift of
Love" (traditional folksong arr. by Hal Hopson) - Jeff Whicker |
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| CHARGE TO THE PEOPLE
PRESENT - Jill Edens |
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| "Beloved in Christ, you
have gathered here in the sight of God to witness the pledge of Evan and Jim to
join together in Holy Union. They have been called to be visible signs to one another of
God's love and for all people in Jesus Christ; and they now publicly proclaim their
acceptance of that call. By your presence here, you accept responsibility for helping
them, for encouraging them in their relationship with each other, and in Jesus Christ. You
are called to rejoice with them in their happiness, to help them when they have trouble,
to remember them regularly in your prayers, and in all things to offer them your love and
support as the Body of Christ." |
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| Do you, the family and
friends, pledge your support and encouragement to the covenant commitment that Jim and
Evan are making together? If so, please say, "We do". |
| [Jim and Evan stand
before ministers] |
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| CHARGE TO THE COUPLE -
Jimmy Creech |
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| Jim and Evan, the
covenant you are about to make with one another is intended to join you together in a
relationship so intimate and personal that it profoundly affects your whole being. It
offers you the hope and the promise of a love that is true and mature. But to attain such
a love, you will have to commit yourselves to each other freely, without reserve, and
gladly for the sake of a richer and deeper love together. |
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| Love recognizes and affirms
the godliness of each other, the creative spirit in each other. It ties together
with a bond of mutual trust and understanding. Commitment does not burden or bind.
Commitment offers the freedom to celebrate your individuality with all its
happiness, joy, exuberance, and wonder. It brings the freedom to celebrate your
participation in a world rich with a positive future of dreams. Today, your separate
lives, with their individual memories, desires and hopes, are merged into one. |
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| Although you will be sharing
one life, never forget you are two separate people. Cherish and affirm your
differences, love each other, keep your commitment primary. Together you will laugh
and cry, be happy and angry, share and grow. Grow, sometimes together, sometimes
separately. Love and life are always changing, always new. If you will ensure
a lasting, healthy relationship, always value each other. And most importantly, to attain
to such a loving relationship, you must each give yourself in faith and obedience to God
who is the source and nurturer of all love." |
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| "Do you understand this
commitment to each other, and will you bring to this new life, each for the sake and
fulfillment of the other, the best that you have??" [Please respond: "We
do."] |
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| "Then trusting in the
Holy Spirit to sustain you, make the commitment to which God has called you." |
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| THE INTENTIONS -
Jill Edens |
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| Jim and Evan, you are
here before us, your family and friends, to affirm your choice that you have made of each
other as a life's mate. |
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| [To Jim] |
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| Jim, do you find
within you a special love for Evan, that convinces you that you want to spend the
rest of your lives together?" |
| [Response: "I
do."] |
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| "Are you willing to love
Evan in his unique fullness and to take the risk and to accept the vulnerability of
that love again and again?" |
| [Response: "I
am."] |
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| "Do you also find within
yourself the courage and conviction to resist the many deaths by which love can die?" |
| [Response: "I
do."] |
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| [To Evan] |
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| Evan, do you find
within you a special love for Jim, that convinces you that you want to spend the
rest of your lives together?" [Response: "I do."] |
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| "Are you willing to love
Jim in his unique fullness and to take the risk and to accept the vulnerability of
that love again and again?" |
| [Response: "I
am."] |
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| "Do you also find within
yourself the courage and conviction to resist the many deaths by which love can die?" |
| [Response: "I
do."] |
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| THE VOWS - Jill
Edens |
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| To symbolize your joining
of journeys, I ask you now to face one another and, joining your hands, to make your vows:
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| Jim: "As God has
made a covenant with us in Christ, so do I make this covenant with you. I, Jim now
take you Evan, to be my Life Partner, to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in
sorrow, to grow with you in love, to be faithful to you alone, as long as we both shall
live." |
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| "And now, to you and to
God, I make this solemn vow and promise." |
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| Evan: "As God
has made a covenant with us in Christ, so do I make this covenant with you. I, Evan now
take you Jim, to be my Life Partner, to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in
sorrow, to grow with you in love, to be faithful to you alone, as long as we both shall
live." |
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| "And now, to you and to
God, I make this solemn vow and promise." |
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| EXCHANGE OF RINGS -
JIMMY Creech |
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| What symbols do you bring as
evidence of the vows you have just made? |
| [Response: "We bring
these rings."] |
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| The
Minister takes the rings from the couple/witnesses and holding them for those gathered to
see, says: "These rings mark the beginning of a life journey together, a journey
filled with wonder, surprise,
laughter, tears, celebration, sorrow and joy." |
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| "These rings are
circles, symbolic of that which is without beginning or end. May these rings be to each of
you a sign and a seal of the promises you have made to each other today. Whenever you see
this sign of your partner's love, know that love is precious and fragile, yet strong. |
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| Whenever you see these rings,
remember all that you have pledged to each other today." |
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| Jim, you will now place
this ring on Evan's left hand and holding the ring there, please say after me: |
| "With this ring, I offer
you my love, I offer my strength, I offer my support, I offer my loyalty, I offer my
faith, I offer my hope . . . that in all the changing circumstances of life, we shall
always live together in love." |
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| "Receive and wear
this ring as a sign of the covenant we have made here today in the sight of God and in the
presence of our friends." |
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| Evan, you will now place
this ring on Jim's left hand and holding the ring there, please say after me:" |
| "With this ring, I offer
you my love, I offer my strength, I offer my support, I offer my loyalty, I offer my
faith, I offer my hope . . . that in all the changing circumstances of life, we shall
always live together in love." |
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| "Receive and wear
this ring as a sign of the covenant we have made here today in the sight of God and in the
presence of our friends." |
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| After exchanging RINGS,
each take an outer candle and together light the inner (center) candle. |
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| Minister's Candlelighting
Reflection - Jimmy Creech |
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| Somewhere, sometime on the
human journey there comes a moment of profound hope, a moment of grace. This is such a
moment. Because time takes us all where we choose to go AND where we do not choose to go,
things will not always be as they are today. Wherever time takes you, we give you these
three candles and three cautions in the hope that they may help you keep your love as warm
and life-giving as light itself. |
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| The first caution is to
always retain your individuality. The two outer candles, which you lit today, represent
your two solitudes. You are, and you always will be, two different, distinct persons. You
come from different experiences. Your separate and unique histories have shaped your
convictions, your values, your sensitivities. With this unique blend of your two
individualities, you have created a new light, symbolized by the inner candle.
Individuality is not the enemy of unity; it is that which makes union possible. Be
enriched by your differences. The outer candles are not extinguished by the lighting of
the inner candle AND the inner candle only received its fire from the two outer candles.
May the flame of the first candle remind you to always RETAIN YOUR INDIVIDUALITY. |
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| The second
caution is to remain friends. I know that your relationship is firmly rooted in
friendship. It has its foundation in the rich environment of friendship ... spending time
together, exchanging ideas, discovering and exploring together a world of shared interests. The health of your marriage will
always be measured by the state of your friendship. |
| May the flame of the second
candle remind you to REMAIN FRIENDS. |
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| The third caution is
to give each other room to grow. The love you pledge today is a covenant love, a long
suffering love. The commitment you voice here today is a covenant and not a contract.
Covenants are flexible and dynamic, not static or carved in stone. You will not always be
who or where you are today. You will grow and change. |
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| May the flame of the third
candle remind you to GIVE EACH OTHER ROOM TO GROW. |
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| To
preserve love as light, to resist the many deaths by which love can die may be as simple
and as challenging as this: retain your individuality, remain friends, and remember to
give each other room to grow. |
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| MUSIC - "Grow Old
Along With Me" John Lennon (Jeff Whicker) |
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| COMMUNION
- MUSIC - Mary Beth |
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| Invitation - This
table is open to all who wish to receive Jesus Christ |
| In company with all
believers in all time and beyond time. |
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| This is the joyful
feast of the people of God. |
| Christ is present
with gifts of new life, |
| As once Christ was
present in Cana in Galilee |
| With the gift
of new wine. |
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| We come to
know Christ |
| In the breaking of
bread and the pouring of wine. |
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| Pastor: God be with
you. |
| People: And also with
you |
| Pastor: Lift up your
hearts |
| People: We lift them up
to the living God. |
| Pastor: Let us give
thanks to God Most High. |
| People: It is right to
give God thanks and praise. |
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| Pastor: Blessed are
you, |
| O God our Creator. |
| From the womb of
your being |
| You brought forth
worlds. |
| Into mere dust you
blew the breath of live, |
| Creating women and
men |
| To bear your
likeness in the world. |
| You create, love,
and care for all that is. |
| We prais you and
thank you, |
| Nurturing God, that
in Jesus |
| You bring joy and
hope to loving hearts, |
| And offer health
and power to human relationships. |
| Even the powers of
sorrow and death |
| Could not contain
Christ`s joy. |
| From the tomb our
risen Savior came |
| to share bread
again among the beloved. |
| In the glory of
your banquet hall, |
| Christ prepares a
wedding feast |
| For all the
faithful who even now praise you. |
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| Words of Institution |
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| Sharing
of the Bread and Cup - Communion
will be served to Jim & Evan. They will in turn assist Jill and Jimmy in
serving the congregation. |
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| Prayer of Thanksgiving
(when all have been served and the table is in order) |
| ALL: Thank you,
O God. |
| for refreshing us at
your table. |
| By your grace you have
nourished us |
| with the living
presence of Christ, |
| the bread of life, |
| that we may share life
together. |
| Send us forth in the
power of your Holy Spirit |
| to give ourselves in
love |
| Until your entire human
family is gathered at your table, |
| Glorifying and praising
you in the name of Christ. |
| Amen. |
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| PRAYER OF GRACE - Jill
Edens |
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| "Gracious God, we thank
you for the gift of life, for the gift of mutual love. We thank you for Jim and Evan and
for the love and joy they find in each other. And we pray: strengthen them so that they
may cherish more deeply the love they share and may be devoted to each other more
completely. Grant them grace to support one another with patience, honesty, and
understanding. And let your Holy Spirit so direct each one of us, that we may each look to
the good of others in word and deed, and grow in grace and love through Christ.
Amen." |
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| COMMISSIONING - Jimmy
Creech |
| Jim and Evan,
you have made a covenant in that you have committed yourselves to love each other.
Explore this love well with deep reverence. Explore it with joy and hope and perseverance.
And as you journey together, may the companionship of love and peace be yours in the name
of the Creator, the Christ and the Comforter. Amen." |
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| BENEDICTION AND
DECLARATION |
| "May you have the
courage to love each other not only as you are now, but as you are yet to be . . . with a
love that is always new." |
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| "Since you Evan and
Jim have promised your love to each other before God and these witnesses, and have
exchanged these solemn vows and these symbols of your love and commitment, I now pronounce
you LIFE PARTNERS." |
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| "You may now express
your love with the kiss of union." |
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| GREETING THE COUPLE - Jill
Edens |
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| "And, now I invite all
of you to be among the first to welcome Jim and Evan as Partners in Life and Love!" |
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| MUSIC - Recessional
- "Rejoicing" by Theodore Beck (Mary Beth) |
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