Biblical Readings & Prayers

Matthew 19: 4-6

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

1 Peter 4: 8-11

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes: 4: 9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love 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.

Psalm 1 (often used in Jewish or interfaith weddings)

Blessed are the man and the woman who have grown beyond themselves and have seen through their separations. They delight in the way things are and keep their hearts open, day and night. They are like trees planted near flowing rivers, which bear fruit when they are ready. Their leaves will not fall or wither. Everything they do will succeed.

Genesis 2:24-28

The Lord God said:

“It is not good for the man to be alone.

I will make a suitable partner for him.”

So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air,

and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;

whatever the man called each of them would be its name.

The man gave names to all the cattle,

all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals;

but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man,

and while he was asleep,

he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.

The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.

When he brought her to the man, the man said:

“This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;

This one shall be called ‘woman,’

For out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife,

and the two of them become one body.

Mark 10: 6-9

“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

1 John 4: 10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Romans 12:9-16

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Colossians 3: 12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Song of Solomon - Chapter 2:10-13

My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise my darling, my beautiful one,
and come with me.
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come.
The cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

The Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, union;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, Grant that we may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love,

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Wedding Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled.

We thank you for this place in which we dwell,

For the love that unites us,

For the peace accorded us this day,

For the hope with which we expect the morrow,

For the health, the work, the food,

And the bright skies that make our lives delightful;

For our friends in all parts of the earth.

Amen

Canticle of Love (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 cannot 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 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.

A Christian Reading – Source Unknown

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But God, to be the Christians says, “No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreserved to Me, with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone; discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you”

You will never be united with another until you are united with Me, exclusively of anyone or anything else, exclusively of any other desire or longing.

I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing and learning the things I tell you…You just have to wait. That’s all.

Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the things others have gotten or that I’ve given them. Don’t look around at the things you think oy want. You just keep looking off and up to Me, or you will miss what I want to show you.

And then…when you are ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any other that you would dream of.

You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time, until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the Love that exemplifies your relationship with Me and this perfect Love.

Dear one, I want you to have this wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh, a picture of your relationship with Me, and enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and Love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly.

I am God. Believe and be satisfied.

St. Theresa's Prayer

 May today there be peace within. 

May you trust your highest power that
you are exactly where you are meant to be. 

May you not forget the
infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 

May you use those gifts that you have received 

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love. 

It is there for each and every one of you.
 

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change…
The Courage to change the things I can…
And the Wisdom to know the difference between the two.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.