Verses for the ceremony?

[wembley]

What verses did you use (or are you going to use) in your ceremonies?

We have been looking through bible verses tonight and there are a whole bunch that would not apply. I know there are good ones out there, I just don't know where to find them.

[ljeagle]

I have been looking also someone told me to check Matthew but I have not done that yet. I go by the KJV I'm not sure what u are looking at it could be different. I'll ask my sister when she gets home she is doing a research on this right now. My little sister is the wiz when it comes to the bible. U can tell her a verse and she will take you right to it. It is amazing! If your looking at a different study of bible let me know so I won't wast your time.

[Jacqueline]

we are having the wedding at canna along with another one that the vicor will be picking

[Complicated Woman]

Ohhh, this is my thing. There are a few that are typical. Usually, you'll have an Old Testament reading, an Epistle reading, and a Gospel reading.

Here's an Old Testament one:

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy [a] unyielding as the grave. [b]
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame. [c]

7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of his house for love,
it [d] would be utterly scorned.

Two epistles that are often read:

1 Corinthians 13 -- any part of this is often used, sometimes all of it.

If I speak in the tongues[a] 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.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


This one is typical, I think it's often misused and misunderstood, so I don't know how much I want it read at my wedding, but here you go:

Ephesians 5:22-31

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

This is the Gospel text that *I* want at my wedding, partly because of my theological bent. I firmly believe that marriage is rooted in self sacrifical love and service. I think this demonstrates the importance of service and humility.

John 13:1-17

1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Sorry, I know this is long, but I figured putting the text inline would be easier for you to refer to instead of just the citations. The version I used here is the New International Version (NIV). I like it because it's pretty readable and easy to understand without being too casual. New Living Translation (NLT) is another good one. I would personally steer clear of the King James Version because there are a LOT of accuracy issues. It was translated from a Latin lexicon and not the original Hebrew and Greek, so it can be pretty problematic. If that doesn't matter to you, then go for it. It's very poetic and lyrical, which can be nice for weddings. If you go to www.biblegateway.com, you can look up passages in a variety of translations and see if one strikes you more than another.

Again, sorry if this was more than you were looking for. I hope some of it helps!

[555Ann555]

Ours is a full RC Mass so we need a few:

• One old testament reading
• One psalm
• One New testament reading
• One Gospel ~ which the priest is supposed to chose but says I can pick if I want to...

I've been looking into it for a wee while & so far I have most of them chosen... The problem is I've picked most of them from a booklet one of the ladies at the church gave me and they don't have the chapter & verses marked

I'll just put it all in & the rest can ignore it

I've picked:


Old: A reading from the prophet Jeremiah:

See the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks - when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. No, this is a covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive - it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbor to teach neighbor, or brother to say to brother "Learn to know the Lord!" No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest - it is the Lord who speaks.

I found the old testament one quite hard to choose because I don't know them as well...

Psalm:

Probably Psalm 23 which I love. I just wasn't sure if I'd rather have it sung...

It's the one that goes:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.


There are a few different translations of it, and it is almost always used at funerals but I like it. The one above is the King James version.

New: A reading from St. Paul to the Colossians

You are God's chosen race, His saints. He loves you and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with one another, forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you now you must do the same. Over all these clothes to keep them together and complete them put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful. Let the message of Christ in all its richness find a home in you. Teach each other and advice each other in all wisdom. With gratitude in your heart sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God. And never do or say anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Gospel:

I haven't got time to type this up right now (I'm going to be late for work! ) but I'll come back after work and add it in... I'm only working a half shift so I'll be back in about 7 hrs!

[Heather]

Here are ours:

Song of Solomon 8:6 - 7
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would be utterly contemned.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Blessing of the Apaches (After the rings and vows)
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.

[wembley]

This is exactly what I was asking for ladies!

I know there are so many good passages in the book but all I could think of were the typical "Love is patient..." and "Wives, submit to your Husbands..." and I want something a little more unique.

[555Ann555]

Back from work now...

I've found it really tough choosing a gospel passage. I like most of the ones that have been recommended... The only one I knew I didn't want was the wedding in Cana (Jesus first miracle) because nearly every wedding I've ever been to had that reading.

Gospel:
I'm stuck between:

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew:

Some Pharisees approached Jesus and to test him they said, "Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?" He answered, "Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them male and female and that He said 'This is why man must leave father and mother and cling to his wife, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore but one body'? so then, what God has united man must not divide."

I'm not sure that this would bring the right tone to my wedding though, I'm not sure if I want a reference to divorce when I'm just getting married (even if it's saying don't divorce!)

Or:

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew:

A lawyer to disconcert Jesus put a question, "Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?" Jesus said, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it; you must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole of the Law, and the Prophets."

I'm leaning towards this one partially because I've heard it used in Mass and the homily Monsignor does on it is lovely.

The big challange I'm finding is picking the hymns, as a lot of you know I'm still in the process of converting so I don't know all of the hymns, I've asked Mo's mum to help me choose because she goes to mass nearly every day...

[syringa]

You might read I Corinthians 13, called the Love chapter, from a modern translation. The words sound so much different than they do in KJV. It is really nice.

[sparklesweetie]

I am also using the Blessing of the Apaches, although I have two versions. One is like Heather's the other one is just longer. I'm glad this thread got started, it's giving me lots of ideas.

[Jennifer]

I can't remember what verses we had...but I know on the handouts we used the one...(i'll get the address if you want it)...

We love each other becase He first loved us...

[ladedah]

We are using a "Canticle of Love"...it's a mixture of several scripture passages, it's a common Methodist thing..I'll see if I can find it...

[ladedah]

Found it!!

Canticle of Love ( From the United Methodist Hymnal 1989 Pg. 646)

Let love be genuine and live in harmony;

hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.

Out do one another in showing honor;

be humble and never conceited.

Love is stronger than death

and jealousy is cruel as the grave.

Floods can not drown love and

wealth can not buy it.

Put love above all else;

let Christ's peace rule your hearts.

Always be forgiving,

as Christ has forgiven you.

Love is not jealous or boastful,

arrogant, rude, or stubborn,

irritable, resentful, or possessive.

Love is patient and kind.

Do not love in word or speech only;

love also in deed and truth.

Receive each other in sincerity,

find mercy and grow old together.

The scripture references for this canticle are: Romans 12:9, 16; Song of Solomon 8:6-7; I Corinthians 13:4-8; Colasians 3:12-14; I John 3:18; Tobit 8:7; Psalm 127:1, 34:8, adapted by S T Kimbrough, Jr.

[michaelsbride]

Here is part of what we're using... I'm trying to write most of the ceremony myself including vows so that it fits us....


"Kathryn and Michael's families gave them both so much love and inspiration, they set the foundation for the family that they will create. They believe in love because they have been so loved. Today they commit to continuing and deepening the love that brought them into this world. It means a great deal to both of them that you are sharing in this; their most joyful of days. Through challenges and triumphs, through the profound times and the simple times. Kathryn gives her thanks to Rick, Gloria, and Linda for the love and the kindness with which they raised Michael. Your focus, your strength and your love have created and incredible man who she loves with all her heart.

Michael gives his thanks to John and Debi for the spirit, the passion and the unconditional love with which you raised Kathryn. She is a beautiful, strong and compassionate woman who he loves with his whole heart and being.

In the joy of this celebration we are also grateful for the love of Anna and other family members who have passed for their love. We know that they look down on this day with their blessings for Kathryn and Michael's happiness.

Their families; parents and grandparents, have shown Kathryn and Michael how to live a life of loving kindness and caring, and have illuminated the spirit of living life to it’s fullest. An understanding that lives in them and will live in their children.

Kathryn and Michael, you have gathered all of the people that matter most to you to help you celebrate this incredible rite of passage. If it weren’t for all those people sitting out there you could have gone to Vegas or the courthouse and just gotten it over with! But, for so many people, it really does not feel like a wedding without your world being there to honor the event; to witness not just the legality of your marriage but your metamorphosis into husband and wife. It is great fun to get the blessings, not the approval, of your guests during your ceremony.

Kathryn and Michael wish to thank all of you here today who have come to honor their commitment to each other. All of you have inspired them on their journey through life; you are all a part of their life. Your contributions, your love and energies have become a part of Kathryn and Michael and will continue to nourish and inspire them in their future together. Your blessing on this, their most important day is of the utmost importance to both of them.

To all of you here do you give your blessing to their union and do you promise to help them celebrate their love together for the rest of their lives?"

"We do" (guests response)