If I'd Committed Murder, I'd Have Got Less

SERVICE for RE-AFFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE VOWS

between Mick and Chris Chivers

On Saturday 17th September in NR at 4pm

Hymn: Morning has broken

Introduction

This sentence may be used

God is love, and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them. 1 John 4.16

We have come together today to give thanks for and to celebrate 40 years of marriage between Mick and Chris Chivers and to

This prayer may be said

Those who wish to renew their vows stand and say together:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for all your blessings to us. We thank you for all things that have enriched our lives, for all people who have blessed us with their love and friendship. We thank you for Christian marriage, for our homes and families and friends. Give us, O Lord, this further blessing, that as we have freely received, so we may freely give. Confirm and strengthen our marriages, that our homes may be to us, and to friend and stranger, places of joy and gladness. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Renewal of Vows:

Minister: Do you here, in the presence of God and this congregation renew and affirm the vows you made to each other when you bound yourselves together in holy matrimony?

We do.

Minister: Will you seek to nurture and daily affirm your love and commitment to each other in the light of the love that God has revealed to us in Jesus Christ?

We will.

The minister says to Mick

Minister: Mick, will you renew the vows you made to Chris on your marriage day?

Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

He answers

I will.

The minister says to Chris

Chris, will you renew the vows you made to Mick on your marriage day? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

She answers

I will.

Mick and Chris face each other.

Mick takes Chris’ right hand in his.

Mick, please repeat these words after me:

I, Mick, renew my promise to you, Chris,

to have and to hold from that day forward;

for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law.

In the presence of God I make this vow.

They turn their hands over

Chris, please repeat these words after me:

I, Chris, renew my promise to you, Mick ,

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, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law.

In the presence of God I make this vow.

Minister: Mick, please repeat after me:

Chris, with this ring I renew the vow I made to you, on our wedding day in which I promised

that I would honour you with my body,

that I would give all that I am to you and

that I would share all that I have with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Minister: Chris, please repeat after me:

Mick, with this ring I renew the vow I made to you on our wedding day in which I promised

that I would honour you with my body,

that I would give all that I am to you and

that I would share all that I have with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Minister: Let us pray.

Gracious and eternal God, look with favour on all who have come to renew their marriage vows. Grant them your blessing, and assist them with your grace, that with steadfast love they may continue to honour and keep the promises they have made; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you gave marriage to be a source of blessing to us:

We thank you for the joys of family life: May we know your presence and peace in our homes, fill them with your love, and use them for your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.