AN ORDER FOR THE
REAFIRMATION OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT
An
adaptation from the 1992 United Methodist Book Of Worship, the1549 Book Of Common Prayer and the Didache,
for the use of Pastor Hope Jordan and his wife, Christine, on the
Anniversary of their Wedding, Upon the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The
Pastor’s wife shall light the candles on the table, and then the Pastor,
standing humbly afore the midst of the Altar, shall say this Collect.
Jordan: ALMIGHTY God, unto
whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid;
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that
we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name: through Christ
our Lord.
ALL: Amen.
Jordan: A woman of valour
who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
Christine: The heart of
her husband doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain.
Jordan: She doeth him good
and not evil all the days of her life.
Christine: She girdeth her
loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
Jordan: She stretcheth out
her hand to the poor.
Christine: Yes, she
reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Jordan: Her children rise
up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her: 'Many
daughters have done valiantly, but thou excellest them all.'
Christine: Favour is
deceitful, and beauty is vain.
Jordan: But a woman that
feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Christine: Give her of the
fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.
ALL: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to
the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shalt be, world
without end. Amen.
♫ Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Miserere nobis.
♫Gloria in
excelsis Deo,
et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.
Jordan: The LORD bless
thee, and keep thee; The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious
unto thee; The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Christine (&
offspring). The LORD bless thee.
Jordan: Let us pray.
The
Collect, Epistle, & Gospel.
ALL: ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech
thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in
substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean
hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jordan: The Epistle of
Saint Paul, written in the 5th Chapter of Ephesians, from the 22nd
to the 33rd verse.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore
as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands
in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it
to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their
wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own
flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we
are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a
man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they
two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.
♫Though I may speak with bravest
fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
♫Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be giv'n by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
♫Come, Spirit, come, our hearts
control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.
Jordan: The holy Gospel,
written in the 2nd Chapter of Saint Luke, from the 22nd
verse to the 38th verse.
And when the days of her purification
according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him
to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth
the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according
to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two
young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was
just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon
him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see
death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the
temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after
the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and
said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before
the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were
spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold,
this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for
a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own
soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had
lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of
about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served
God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant
gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked
for redemption in Jerusalem.
May the LORD add his blessings upon the reading
of his holy Gospel.
ALL: Glory
be to thee, O Lord.
♫What Child
is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s
lap is sleeping?
Whom
angels greet with anthems sweet,
While
shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this
is Christ the King,
Whom
shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste,
haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe,
the Son of Mary.
♫Why lies
He in such mean estate,
Where ox
and ass are feeding?
Good
Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent
Word is pleading.
Nails,
spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross
be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail
the Word made flesh,
The Babe,
the Son of Mary.
♫ So bring
Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come
peasant, king to own Him;
The King
of kings salvation brings,
Let loving
hearts enthrone Him.
Raise,
raise a song on high,
The virgin
sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy
for Christ is born,
The Babe,
the Son of Mary.
Reaffirmation
of the Marriage Covenant. The couple face each other, join hands, and speak
directly to each other, repeating their vows.
Jordan: Let us pray.
The Couple: O God, our heavenly
Father, on this anniversary of our wedding we give thee thanks for thy past
blessings, and for thy continual mercies now. We thank thee that with the
passing days thou hast increased and deepened our love for each other. We
praise thee for all the joys of our home and family life. Renew thy blessings
upon us now, as we renew our vows of love and loyalty; and may thy Holy Spirit
strengthen us that we may ever remain steadfast in our faith and in thy
service; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Jordan: In the name of
God, and with a thankful heart, I once again declare that, I, Jordan, take thee
Christine to be my wedded wife, 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, so long as we both shall live, according to God's holy ordinance;
and thereto I plight thee my troth. This is my solemn vow.
Christine: In the name of
God, and with a thankful heart, I once again declare that, I, Christine, take
thee Jordan to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy
ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. This is my solemn vow.
The Pastor,
(the Bread remaining covered) shall put wine into the Chalice, putting thereto
a litle pure and clean water.
Then shall
follow the Eight Blessings, the Pastor lifting the Chalice,
Jordan: Blessed art thou, LORD, our God, king of the universe,
creator of the fruit of the vine.
Christine: Blessed
art thou, LORD, our God, king of the universe, who created everything for his
Glory.
Jordan: Blessed art thou, LORD, our God, king of the universe, who
creates man.
Christine: Blessed
art thou, LORD, our God, king of the universe, who creates man in thine image,
male and female created thou them, fashioning perpetuated life. Blessed are
thou, LORD, creator of mankind.
Jordan: May Zion
rejoice as her children are restored to her in joy. Blessed art thou, LORD, who
causes Zion to
rejoice her children’s return.
Christine: Grant
perfect joy to these loving companions, as thou didst thy creations in the
Garden of Eden. Blessed art thou, LORD, who grants the joy of groom and bride.
Jordan: Blessed art thou, LORD, our
God, king of the universe, who created joy and gladness, groom and bride,
mirth, song, delight and rejoicing, love and harmony and peace and
companionship.
ALL: We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the holy vine of Thy son
David, which Thou madest known unto us through Thy Son Jesus; Thine is the
glory for ever and ever. AMEN.
Then shall Pastor, his wife, and their child/ren
(in that order) shall drink from the Chalice for the sanctification of the day.
Here
the priest shall turn him toward those that come for Holy Communion, and shall
say.
Jordan: YOU that do truly
and earnestly repent you of your sins to almighty God, and be in love and
charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the
commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: draw near
and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort, make your humble confession to
Almighty God, and to his holy church here gathered in his name, meekly kneeling
upon your knees.
ALL: ALMIGHTY GOD Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail our manifold
sins and wickedness, which we from time to time, most grievously have
committed, by thought, word and deed, against thy divine majesty, provoking
most justly thy wrath and indignation against us, we do earnestly repent and be
heartily sorry for these our misdoings, the remembrance of them is grievous
unto us, the burden of them is intolerable: have mercy upon us, most merciful
father, for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past,
and grant that we may ever hereafter, serve and please thee in newness of life,
to the honour and glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jordan: ALMIGHTY GOD, our
heavenly father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to
all them, with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto him: have mercy upon
you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in
all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Then shall
the Pastor also say,
Jordan: HEAR what
comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith, to all that truly turn to him.
Yf ye forgeue men theyr treſpaſſes, your
heauenly Father ſhall alſo forgeue you. But, yf ye forgeue not men theyr treſpaſſes:
no more ſhall your Father, forgeue you your treſpaſſes. Therfore, if thou bring
thy gyft to the aulter, and there remembreſt, that thy brother hath ought
agaynſt thee: leaue there thy gyft, before the aulter, and go thy way, firſt
and be reconciled to thy brother: and then, come and offer thy gyft.
Let us therefore forgive each other and greet
one another with a holy kiss.
The
Kiss of Peace is given and forgiveness is exchanged.
Then
shall the Pastor uncover the Bread and put the wine into the Chalice, with a
little pure and clean water.
And then
shall Great Thanksgiving begin, and the Pastor shall say,
The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be
with you all.
Answer. And with thy
spirit.
Pastor. Lift up your hearts.
Answer. We lift them up
unto the Lord.
Pastor. Let us give thanks
to our Lord God.
Answer. It is meet and
right so to do.
Pastor: It is very meet,
right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places,
give thanks unto thee, 0 Lord Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.
THOU hast formed us in thine image, male and
female thou created us. Thou gavest us the gift of marriage
Therefore, with the Cheruvim and the Seraphim,
and with all the Angels and Archangels of heaven, we praise thee, and singing,
ALL: ♫Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD of hosts, God Almighty, which was, and is, and is
to come! Heaven & earth are full of thy glory! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to
the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in
the Highest!
Jordan: O God heavenly Father,
which of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer
death upon the cross for our redemption, who made there (by his oblation once
offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction,
for the sins of the whole world, and did institute, and in his holy Gospel
command us to continue, to celebrate a perpetual memory of that his precious
death, until his coming again.
Hear us
(0 merciful Father) we beseech thee; and with thy holy spirit and word,
vouchsafe to bl+ess and sanc+tify these thy gifts, and creatures of br+ead and wi+ne, that they may be unto us the bo+dy and blo+od of thy most dearly beloved son Jesus Christ.
Who in the same night that he was betrayed: [a]took bread, and when
he had blessed, and given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples,
saying:
Take, eate,
this is my bodye which is broken & geuen for you,
do this in
remembraunce of me.
ALL: Blessed art thou, LORD our God, King of the Universe, who bringest forth
bread from the earth. +
Jordan: Likewise after
supper he [b]took the cup of
blessing, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying:
Drynk ye all of this, for this is my bloude of the Newe Testament,
whyche is ſhed for you and for many, for
remiſſion of ſynnes: do this, as often as you ſhall drinke it, in remembraunce
of me.
ALL: Blessed art thou, LORD our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the
fruit of the vine. +
Jordan: THEREFORE, O Lord
and heavenly Father, according to the Institution of thy dearly beloved Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ, we thy humble servants do celebrate, and make here
before thy divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, the memorial which thy Son
hath willed us to make, having in remembrance his blessed+ passion, mighty+ resurrection, and glorious+ ascension, rendering unto thee most hearty
thanks, for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same.
ALL: We give thee thanks, O
our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou didst make known unto us
through Thy Son Jesus; thine is the glory for ever and ever.
Jordan: We entirely desire
thy Fatherly goodness, to mercifully to accept this our Sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving: most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and
death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy
whole church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his
passion. As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and being
gathered together became one, so may thy Church be gathered together from the
ends of the earth into thy kingdom.
ALL: And here we offer and
present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls, and bodies, to be a
reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee: humbly beseeching thee, that
whosoever shall be partakers of this holy Communion, may worthily receive the
most precious body and blood of thy son Jesus Christ: and be fulfilled with thy
grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with thy son Jesus Christ,
that he may dwell in them, and they in him, for thine is the glory and the
power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. And
although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any
Sacrifice: Yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, and
command these our prayers and supplications, by the ministry of thy Holy
Spirit, to be brought up into thy holy Tabernacle before the sight of thy
divine majesty; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences.
Jordan: By the same
Spirit, bless me and my wife, that our love for each other may reflect the love
of Christ for us and grow from strength to strength as we faithfully serve thee
in the world. Defend us from every enemy. Lead us into all peace. Let our love
for each other be a seal upon our hearts, a mantle about our shoulders, and a
crown upon our heads. Bless us in our
work and our companionship; in our sleeping and our waking; in our joys
and in our sorrows; in our lives and in our deaths. Finally, by thy grace,
bring us all together to that table where thy saints feast forever in thy
heavenly home.
Through Christ our Lord, by whom, and with
whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: all honour and glory be unto thee, 0 Father
almighty, world without end.
ALL: Amen.
Jordan: AS our savior
Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to pray.
ALL: ♫ Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Jordan: WE do not presume
to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in our own
righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.
ALL: We are not worthy that thou shouldest come
under our roof: we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy
table: but thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy; but
speak the word only, and thy servants shall be healed.
Jordan: Grant us
therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat thy flesh and to drink thy blood in these
holy Mysteries, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by thy body, and our
souls washed through thy most precious blood.
ALL: Amen.
♫ Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, misere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, misere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Jordan: The peace of the
Lord be always with you.
Answer. And with thy
spirit.
Jordan: THE body of our
Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto
everlasting life. The bread which we break, is the communion of the body of
Christ. For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers
of that one bread.
THE blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was
shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. The cup of
blessing which we bless, is the communion of the blood of Christ, which cleanseth
us from all sin, purging our consciences from dead works to serve the living
God.
The
family then shall partake of the elements, and the pastor may receive the bread
and wine last.
When
all have communed, then shall the Pastor begin the thanksgiving after the meal,
and all continue, saying,
Jordan: ALMIGHTY and
everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou hast vouchsafed to
feed us in these holy Mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious
body and blood of thy son our saviour Jesus Christ, and hast assured us (duly
receiving the same) of thy favour and goodness towards us, an that we be very
members incorporate in thy Mystical body, which is the blessed company of all
faithful people, and heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the
merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son.
ALL: Remember, Lord, thy Church to deliver it from
all evil and to perfect it in thy love; and gather it together from the four
winds—even the Church which has been sanctified—into thy kingdom which Thou
hast prepared for it; We therefore most humbly beseech thee, 0 heavenly Father,
so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship,
and do all such good works, as thou hast prepared for us to walk in: through
Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and
glory, world without end. Amen.
♫ When love is found and hope comes home,
sing and be
glad that two are one.
When love
explodes and fills the sky,
praise God, and
share our Maker's joy.
♫ When love has flowered in trust and care,
build both each
day, that love may dare
to reach beyond
home's warmth and light,
to serve and
strive for truth and right.
♫ When love is tried as loved ones change,
hold still to
hope though all seems strange,
till ease
returns and love grows wise
through
listening ears and opened eyes.
♫ When love is torn and trust betrayed,
pray strength
to love till torments fade,
till lovers
keep no score of wrong,
but hear
through pain love's Easter song.
♫ Praise God for love, praise God for life,
in age or
youth, in calm or strife.
Lift up your
hearts, let love be fed
through death and life in broken bread.
Then
the Pastor turning himself to his family shall give this blessing.
THE peace of GOD
(which passeth all understanding) keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge
and love of GOD, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of God
Almighty, the +Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst
you and remain with you always.
Then
the people shall all answer. Amen.
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