A Wedding Prayer for Nick and Julie

Julie asked me to say a prayer, but, before I do that I want to reflect a bit on what a prayer before their vows symbolizes.

On Friday as I was thinking about Nick and Julie's wedding two thoughts dominated my thinking. The first was their choice to invite God to their wedding. The second was their choice to invite all of us. These choices may seem like obvious conclusions to reach when planning a wedding, but, I challenge all of us to consider for a moment how their decisions will change the rest of their lives from this day forward.

By inviting God today, Nick and Julie are acknowledging Matthew's Gospel where it is written, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them". What a powerful advocate of marriage this Gospel passage is. Two people joined together in God’s name. Thats Nick and Julie!

God is always with you Nick and Julie because the two of you have invited God into your marriage on this day. From this day on continue to talk to God as two joined together for a common need or to give thanks and God will be in your midst.

By inviting all of us Nick and Julie are acknowledging that their commitment to each other is strong enough to proclaim it in front of all of us. Rarely is there another event in a person’s life that causes them to feel so much passion that they want to let the whole world know.
Rare are the events that inspire so many family and friends at one time to get dressed up, find a baby sitter, buy a plane ticket, or take time off work to show their support for a friend or family member. Today clearly we are all blessed with such an event in our lives. Nick and Julie’s vows today to be a life long monogamous couple that will love, honor, support, and treasure each other regardless of what happens is inspiring to all of us.

But our presence here today as family and friends is more than just to be a witness to Nick and Julie’s union. Our presence here at Nick and Julie's wedding signifies the value that we as family and friends place on the union of a man and a woman in marriage.

More importantly our values are put into action by our willingness to support Nick and Julie's decision both today and in the future.
So, Nick and Julie, not only is God present when you join together in his name, but, we are also here for the two of you both now and in the future because of the tremendous respect we have for your commitment and virtue we see in your vows.

Why have I said all of this? It is all about those two thoughts. Today God is here with us and we are here to support Nick and Julie. But, our support and God’s support doesn’t end today.

In your program you will find a prayer for Nick and Julie. Please take it out now. With God and Family in mind I ask all of you to stand and extend your right hand.

As a community of family and friends we express our support for Nick and Julie. United in our belief in God and having faith that God is here with us we offer the following nine blessings on Nick, Julie, and their sacred union.

Eric: May your gift of humor be shared with one another and all who enter your lives to lighten your spirits and touch your hearts, dispelling weariness and worry, restoring balance and joy.

ALL: May the blessing of humor be upon you.

Eric: May the gift of balance be yours. In a world that is busy and makes incessant demands, may you always hold your center – in one another and in God. May you never lose sight of the qualities you see in each other that have brought you together on this your wedding day.

ALL: May the blessing of balance be upon you.

Eric: May your gift of wisdom be freely given and joyously shared with one another, with your children and all who enter your lives. May wisdom enrich your life and enable you to find meaning and purpose in all that you do.

ALL: May the blessing of wisdom be upon you.

Eric: May the peace of God be with you; walking beside you, holding your hand, speaking to your heart. May the warm mantle of peace rest upon your home and be extended to all who cross your threshold.

ALL: May the blessing of peace be upon you.

Eric: May God, who is truth, be your companion in all that you do. May your dealings with one another, and with all whom you meet, be marked with honesty. May your trust in one another be a constant in your lives so that you may always speak the truth in love and see in one another's eyes a reflection of the soul.

ALL: May the blessing of honesty be upon you.

Eric: May the strength of God be with you, holding you in strong-fingered hands. May your own hands be strong enough to be gentle; holding baby fists, toddler fingers, and clasping children's hands. May your hands be held in prayer, in romance, as a team, and in support. May you be strength for one another and together create a union that endures and gives hope.

ALL: May the blessing of strength be upon you.

Eric: May God's joy be with you, filling your heart to fullness, filling your throat with song. May you and the family you make together be known for the joy you live and share with others.

ALL: May the blessing of joy be upon you.

Eric: May God's compassion be an inspiration to you. May the gift of compassion be yours, holding one another close when you are weary or afraid, when there is rain in your heart. May you have eyes to see and ears to hear what each of you most needs from the other. May your heart be soft and your arms strong as you embrace one another.

ALL: May the blessing of compassion be upon you.

Eric: God's love has gifted you with one another. May selfless love be ever constant through all your years together. May you never lose the excitement of the love you feel today, may you grow in the ever deepening experience of daily love, and may you come to rejoice in a life lived fully, given completely to love.

ALL: May the blessing of love be upon you.

 

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