for inclusion in a service of worship

Graham and I wrote these simple words to be used within the "community-building" portion of a regular Sunday service (i.e. after the notices and Prayers of the People) so that we could express our commitment to one another before the community of faith who will accompany us in this time of transition and so that they could affirm their care and support of us in this season of preparation. 

While Uniting in Worship II offers prayers for an engaged couple (which we have used in this rite), we wanted to acknowledge the journey that had brought us to this point, express our intentions in our Christian community, and place the rings that will become our wedding bands on each others' right hands as a symbol of our faithfulness to one another even now (a far more Orthodox practice).

We offer them to you to use and adapt in blessing members of your community who get engaged and want to mark the moment with their church family. 

As this is neither a sacrament nor a legal act, any leader in the church can act as the "celebrant."  

Celebrant:
God is love, and those who live in love live in God 
and God lives in them.                               1 John 4:16

Yvonne and Graham have come today to seal their engagement,
and to seek your blessing and support 
as friends and companions in this community of faith. 

Together we rejoice 
that they have found in each other a new source of love and life,
new hope for their future, 
and that they will share this journey in the midst of us. 

Today we will pray for them as they exchange engagement rings 
and we will support them as they prepare for marriage. 

Graham:
Yvonne, you have filled my heart with love and hope for the future. 
I choose to spend my life with you, 
and look forward with excitement and joy to the day of our marriage. 
As we prepare for our wedding day, 
I will be faithful and true to you. 

Yvonne:
Graham, you have surprised me with the joy of partner-love.
I choose to journey with you, 
with hope, with love, with gentleness, and with great affection.
As we prepare for our wedding day, 
I will be faithful and true to you. 

Celebrant:

Please present the rings that you will exchange
as symbols of your hopes and intentions.

Yvonne:
In these rings we see the eternal circle: 
the dance of God the Maker, the Lover, the Life-giver. 

Graham:
In these rings we see the circle of our homes: 
our going out and returning each day to heart and hearth. 

Yvonne:
In these rings we see the circle of all who love us,  
who will surround us in love as our story unfolds. 

Graham:
In these rings we see the wholeness of all living things: 
weaving together all that is unfinished and incomplete. 

Celebrant:
May God bless these rings which signify the circle of eternal love;
may God bless the right hands that wear them 
with strength and compassion to build a home of grace and joy; 
May God bless Yvonne and Graham in this season of preparation for marriage.

Place rings on right hands.

Gracious God,
you have blessed us as your people,
and have called us to serve you
and one another in love.
Hear our prayers for Yvonne and Graham 
as they begin their journey of life together.
Bless them with your presence on the way.
Guard them from trouble,
be with them in times of celebration,
guide them with your light,
and keep them open to one another,
that their union may be a living sign
of your love for the world.

Bless their parents, children and friends
and this congregation as we accompany them on their way;
and lead us all into fullness of life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

From UiW2

Addressing the couple, the celebrant says:

May the light of God, our Maker,

bring to you the goodness of each new day;

the life of God, our Lover; 

open up for you unseen, eternal possibilities;

and the love of God, our Life-giver,

comfort, inspire, and guide you; this day, and always.
Amen.