A Marriage Prayer Lord, help us to remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between

us. To work that love into practical things so nothing can divide us. We ask for words both kind and loving, and for hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Dear Lord, we put our marriage into your hands. Amen. Christian Wedding Prayer Oh God of love, you have established marriage for the welfare and happiness, of mankind. Yours was the plan and only with you can we work it out with joy. You have said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a help-meet for him." Now our joys are doubled since the happiness of one is the happiness of the other. Our burdens now are halved since when we share them, we divide the load. Bless this husband. Bless him as provider of nourishment and raiment and sustain him in all the exaction's and pressures of his battle for bread. May his strength be her protection, his character be her boast and her pride, and may he so live that she will find in him the haven for which the heart of a woman truly longs. Bless this loving wife. Give her a tenderness that will make her great, a deep sense of understanding and a great faith in you. Give her that inner beauty of soul that never fades, that eternal youth that is found in holding fast the things that never age. Teach them that marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two uniting and joining hands to serve you. Give them a great spiritual purpose in life. May they seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the other things shall be added unto them. May they not expect that perfection of each other that belongs alone to you. May they minimize each other's weaknesses, be swift to praise and magnify each other's points of comeliness and strength, and see each other through a lover's kind and patient eyes. Now make such assignments to them on the scroll of your will as will bless them and develop their characters as they walk together. Give them enough tears to keep them tender, enough hurts to keep them humane, enough of failure to keep their hands clenched tightly in yours, and enough of success to make them sure they walk with God. May they never take each other's love for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, "Out of all this world you have chosen me." When life is done and the sun is setting, my they be found then as now still hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May they serve you happily, faithfully, together, until at least one shall lay the other in the arms of God. Amen. Prayer for the Couple Oh Lord, we thank you For the union of hearts of our dear [John] and [Mary]

On this special day, their wedding day. Heaven sings in triumph For a new love shall unveil The glory of your name. Dear Father, we sincerely pray That you bless this couple With a love to last forever. In sickness and in health May they find your strength In doubts and troubles May they see your light In hurts and failures May they find your pardon In loneliness and desperation May they find your joy. Also we pray, that you bless them with a family So blissful, prosperous and ever healthy And above all, filled with love, faith and hope That is founded on you.

Lord, help us to remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us. To work that love into practical things so nothing can divide us. We ask for words both kind and loving, and for hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Dear Lord, we put our marriage into Your hands. Amen.