A blessing for a relationship (more on integrity and practice)

Following my last post on integrity and practice, I offer you my latest challenge. This blessing is partly written and partly adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book it also includes an Apache Blessing which I have adapted to become more like a prayer. Within the ceremony rings will be exchanged and a "wedding chalice" will be offered; I will hand the chalice to n, who will hold it out to m in order that they can take a sip and vice-versa.

There is not a legal element to the ceremony as this is not possible at this time, but pastorally it seemed right to offer a blessing, the legal element will be fulfilled by a shorter ceremony in the church in a few weeks time. The ceremony will take place out of doors this Saturday, and I am looking forward to it.

I believe that the church needs to respond to requests like this more often, and I also believe that we can maintain our integrity whilst daring to offer something different. This liturgy is strongly Trinitarian, with an emphasis on the work of the Spirit, through that emphasis I am meeting the spirituality and needs of the couple concerned without compromising myself.

So I throw out the questions, should we do this?

Can we do this with integrity?

What are your thoughts?

 

 

A blessing for a relationship

 

n…and ..n welcome to this place, chosen by you to celebrate your love for one another and to ask before the maker and creator of the universe a blessing on your life together. By virtue of what happens here among us and before God, this becomes a special place for you, and for all of us who gather to offer our respect and support for what you have found together. In the new journey that goes on from here, may you find strength and joy in recalling this place and all that it comes to mean.

n... and ...n do you come to seek a blessing upon your relationship?

n &n: We do.

Friends as you gather to witness this blessing, will you play your part, will you support and encourage them, will you pray for them?

All: We will

We gather to celebrate before creation and before the great creator the bond of love that ….n… and…n… have found in each other, to show our respect and offer our support, to affirm our faith in them and what they share together. May the words and symbols, the thoughts and prayers we offer here, serve to strengthen the commitment and trust that ….n… and ….n… now know, and may the experience of the love they share grow ever richer and deeper.

 

The Christian Gospels give many pictures of Jesus offering new ways for us to live together. One is an image of new wine, which is not for putting in old wineskins, otherwise the skins burst, the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. New wine is put into fresh wineskins, so that both are preserved. Today ….n… and ….n… are committing themselves to a new way of holding and living out their love for one another.

 

A short wisdom tale

 

Creative and creating Spirit you constantly give and refresh life, and by grace you offer us opportunities to begin again in love, to mature in knowledge of ourselves and one another. Enable us to leave behind those constraints and memories that hinder us and help us to grow in trust and understanding.

 

Creative, creating, and recreating Spirit give to ….n… and ….n… we pray a sense of new possibilities unfolding. Let them delight in the mystery and beauty they find in each other. Keep us all open to your Spirit moving amongst us, and before us.

Amen.

 

We listen now to the words of commitment and love that ….n… and ….n… have prepared to share with one another. And to watch as they exchange rings as a symbol of that love.

 

The couple exchange of rings, as a symbol of their love and commitment

 

 

Creative and creating Spirit, may ….n… and ….n… know your blessing so that in their relationship they are a source of blessing to each other and to all they meet.  

 

Apache wedding blessing ( and hand fasting)

May you feel no rain,
as you strive to be a
shelter to the other.

May you will feel no cold,
as the others presence
brings warmth to you.

May there be no more loneliness,
for each of you will be
companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,
but there is only one
life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days
of your togetherness.

And may your days
be good and long
upon the earth.

*********************

I present ….n… and ….n… to you, no longer two but one

 

 

Pictures from

Lindisfarne Scriptorium Clip Art