Marriage Renewal Ceremony

ACCM Bldg., 102 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. Nos. 819-0606 to 10/ Fax No. 819-1425 E-mail: [email protected]

A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR

When two people come together in the holy bonds of matrimony, they are entering the most intimate of relationships. (Ephesians 5:31) It is a permanent relationship that must be entered into only after long and careful preparations. This preparation begins as God brings two people together and then guides them in developing their relationship. Marriage must not be entered until both are born again (I Corinthians 6:14) and know without any doubt that God has brought them together. May God's blessings be upon you as you begin your preparations.

MATRIMONIAL SERVICE

PART I - PRELIMINARIES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Seating of friends Organ Prelude Lighting of Candles Processional of Groom's Party Processional of Bridal Entourage: Pastor, Groom, Best Man, Candle Sponsors, Principal Sponsors, Veil & Cord Sponsors, Flower girls, Bible bearer, Ring bearer, Bride's Maid and Bride with parents

high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

PART VIII - SIGNING CEREMONY SONG

PART II - SERVICE OF CONSECRATION Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to join together these two Christian young people in holy bonds of matrimony. We are witnessing the miracle of God's love and power of the Holy Spirit's work in their lives. In creation, Adam, the man, was first formed then the woman. The Bible states that the woman was created for the man thus setting forth the humility, modesty and gentleness that should characterize her. Eve, being made after and out of Adam sets an honor upon womanhood as the glory of man. The man is the head with the woman as the crown. The man was dust refined but the woman was doubly refined - one step farther from the earth. The woman was not created out of man's head in order to dominate over him nor out of his feet in order to be trampled

(Sponsors will now come to sign the contract followed by the bride and groom and then the Minister).

PART IX - OFFICIAL PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCTION OF THE NEWLY WED COUPLE MINISTER:

Beloved brethren, please allow me to present and introduce to you, MR. & MRS. ____________________________

(The Groom gives the Wedding Kiss).

PICTURE TAKING RECESSIONAL POSTLUDE

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_______________________, it is your solemn responsibility to strive to retain by your virtues the heart you have won by your graces. You have a major role to play in making a happy home. And to you both: Let not your voices lose the tender tones of affection nor your eyes forget the tender ray which they had shown during courtship days; and greatest of all, let God be enthroned in your hearts above all else at all times. Let us pray. (Wedding Prayer)

SONG

upon by him; but she was made out of his side to be equal with him, from under his arms to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved and cherished by him. May the congregation please stand for the reading of the Word of GOD.

RESPONSIVE READING (Gen. 2:18,21,22,24; Prov. 18:22; Eph. 5:22-25) MINISTER:

The Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.

READERS:

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.

MINISTER:

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

READERS:

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

MINISTER:

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

READERS:

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

MINISTER:

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

PART VI - DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE MINISTER:

And now, having heard you make pledges of your affection, and take these vows of fidelity, I, by the authority conferred upon me by God as His minister and by the laws of the Republic of the Philippines pronounce you husband and wife - no longer twain, but now one in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. What God hath joined together, let no man put separate.

HONORING OF RELATIVES BY THE GROOM AND THE BRIDE PART VII - BLESSING OF THE UNION Deuteronomy 28:1-9 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands, I give you today, the Lord your God will set you - 10 -

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READERS:

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

TO BOTH:

MINISTER:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

COMMUNION WILL NOW BE SERVED:

READERS:

To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

OPENING PRAYER: By Minister SONG

(Only to the Bride and Groom)

REMOVAL OF CORD AND VEIL CANDLE CEREMONY MINISTER:

PART III - EXCHANGE OF VOWS MINISTER:

MINISTER:

Sponsors please stand! You are here today to bear witness of the miraculous union that will take place between ________________ and __________________. May God bless you for accepting the invitation to bless the union by your sponsorship. You may be seated.

TO THE GROOM AND HIS BRIDE: ____________________ and ______________________ this is your day. May I remind you that you must enter this relationship with all your heart and soul. I, therefore, charge you that if either of you know any reason why your marriage should not be consumated let it be known now. For be assured that marriage done under compulsion or duress does not carry with it the blessings of God.

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Let the principles of this Book be the foundation of your family.

The two lighted candles that you see represent the separate lives of ________________ and _______________. To symbolize their being united in marriage today th*ey will each take the candle representing themselves and together light the candle which will represent their being joined together as one. They will then blow out their individual candles.

PART V - WEDDING CHARGE MINISTER:

Now let me speak to your hearts. I charge you both as you hope for happiness in your married life to be true to the vows you have made to each other. With your marriage from this day, you begin life anew with larger responsibilities. ______________________, guard well this your bride who now commits herself into your keeping; strive so to live in the Lord that no word or deed of yours shall cloud her brow with grief nor dim her eyes with tears. -9-

man, nor was she taken from the foot to be despised by man but she was taken from the ribs near the heart to be loved and cherished by man.

TO THE GROOM: _______________________, do you take, ___________________ to be your wedded wife, to love her as Christ loves His church and to protect her and care for her for the rest of your lives?

THE CORD

RESPONSE: I do!

MINISTER:

TO THE BRIDE: _________________________, do you take, ________________, to be your wedded husband, submitting yourself to him alone as unto the Lord, showing reverence to him as the head of this union for the rest of your lives?

The cord may now be put on. (The cord sponsors will step forward and place it on the couple). This cord is a symbol of unity. It speaks of the eternal reality that in marriage man and woman become one. Jesus Himself said that man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one. The cord also symbolizes the unbreakable ties of love between the husband and his wife.

THE BIBLE (The Minister asks for the Bible from the Bible bearer.) MINISTER:

Please place your hands on the Bible. The BIBLE is God's Word. From it we receive the wisest of counseling. I charge you to be guided by its principles.

TO THE GROOM: ___________________, as the head of your family, search the pages of this book often for the spiritual guidance you will need to make wise decisions for your family. TO THE BRIDE: _______________________, make the reading of this Book a daily part of your life. As the wife and mother you will need guidance that can only be found here.

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RESPONSE: I do! MINISTER:

Who gives this woman to be married to this man? (NOTE: The Book of Genesis tells us that 'a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.' When a father agrees to giving his daughter, he is endorsing this Biblical principle, and giving his consent to his daughter's marriage to this man. By this agreement, he willingly forfeits the primary place that he and his wife have had in his daughter's life, and gives his blessings to the marriage of his daughter and her husband).

FATHER OF THE BRIDE: Her mother and I do. (The father then takes the hand of his daughter and places it into the hand of the groom and repeats the following words:) FATHER OF THE BRIDE: I commit ____________________ into your love and care. May God's blessings be upon your marriage. -5-

MINISTER: GROOM:

BRIDE:

Repeat these vows: I, ____________________________, take thee, _________________________, to be my wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part. I, ____________________________, take thee, _____________________, to be my wedded husband; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part.

GROOM:

This ring I give you as token and pledge of my abiding love and respect of what you are as well as my prayer for what you will be. (The Minister gives the groom's ring to the Bride).

BRIDE:

This ring I give you as a token and pledge of my abiding love and respect of what you are as well as my prayer for what you will be. (The Minister gives the bride's ring to the Groom). (Please Kneel)

THE VEIL

SONG

MINISTER:

The veil will now be put on. (The veil sponsors will come forward and put on the veil.)

PART IV - THE MEANING OF SYMBOLS

MINISTER:

The veil is a symbol of purity. It is white, to symbolize virginity, a virtue which the Christian faith extols. But in addition the veil also represents your relationship with each other. It is placed on the groom's shoulder because man is the head of the family. He has a tremendous responsibility as the head. He has to make decisions and to see to it that his family's needs are provided. The Bible says that man is he head of the woman in the same way as Christ is the head of the Church. This does not mean that man is a dictator anymore than Christ is. This means that in loving his wife and family, the man is ready to the extent of sacrificing his own life in the care and defense of his loved ones. At the same time, the veil is placed on the head of the Bride because it shows that she will honor her husband in mutual esteem and love. The woman was not taken from the head to rule over

THE RING (The Minister asks for the rings from the ring bearer). MINISTER:

Down through the years, marriage has been enriched with symbols that have come to us from the living past. Foremost among these is a ring. This ring is circle and a circle has no beginning or end. This reflects the character and attributes of God. God who is from eternity has put love in the hearts of men. In placing this ring on your fingers, you are not only expressing your eternal love for each other but you are also affirming that God is love. (The Minister gives the bride's ring to the groom.)

MINISTER: (To the Groom) Say after me the following:

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ACCM Bldg., 102 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. Nos. 819-0606 to 10/ Fax No. 819-1425 E-mail: [email protected]

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands,, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of this body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. - Ephesians 5:22-23 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without talk by the behavior of their wives. - I Peter 3:1 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. - I Peter 3:7 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

I.

Initial Interview 

II.

III.

IV.

Call up the center for an appointment with a counselor/pastor.

Pre-marital Seminar 

You will be required to attend this seminar.

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Schedule of this seminar is announced in the Sunday Word or you can call up the center.

Follow Up Sessions 

The counselor/pastor may schedule you for about 2 to 3 sessions more after the seminar.

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Attached is a "List of Scriptures" for you to reflect upon and discuss together.

Marriage License 

You can apply for this license either at the City Hall of the bride or groom's residence.

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This license is valid for 90 days and will be void if the marriage ceremony will not take place within this period.

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You maybe required by the City Hall to attend the seminar on birth control.

V.

Marriage Contract 

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 VI.

It will be registered by the Fellowship office at the city hall where the marriage ceremony took place. A copy will be provided for the couple.

Place of Marriage 

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VII.

Word for the World office provides the contract to be signed as part of the marriage ceremony

It can be done either: a) church b) home c) garden d) hotel Any place, in fact that is conducive to reverence may serve. Garden and poolside weddings can be most beautiful Should your wedding takes place outside of the church premises, you need to secure a permit from the City hall where it will be solemnized.

Practice 

It is wise if possible to have a rehearsal of the wedding program with those involved in the entourage. It helps make things smoother.

Note: If you have any other questions or request, kindly let your counselor/pastor know.

A LIST OF SCRIPTURES TO STUDY The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.' - Genesis 2:18 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. - Genesis 2:24 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. - Proverbs 18:22 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Jeremiah 29:6 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the Lord. - Hosea 2:19,20 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. - I Corinthians 7:2-4

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So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. -I Tim. 5:14.

ACCM Bldg., 102 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. Nos. 819-0606 to 10/ Fax No. 819-1425 E-mail: [email protected]

MARRIAGE RENEWAL CEREMONY

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to renew the marriage vows of this couple that stand before us. Sometime ago, this couple were married making vows of faithfulness and love to one another. They felt a need to repeat their vows to one another in the presence of God and you as witnesses to their commitment to one another. SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 5:22-33

PRAYER REPEATING OF VOWS: (Face each other) TO THE COUPLE: You are here tonight to renew your marriage vows. Let me remind you that you must do this with all your heart and soul. It is not just in the presence of these witnesses and to their ears that you are speaking but in the presence of God and in His hearing. A vow made in the presence of God must be viewed in the light of our accountability to Him. Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

(Repeat the vows after me): HUSBAND/GROOM: Do you take ______________, to be your wedded wife. Do you by this act renew your love for her and pledge to love her as Christ loves His church. Do you promise to protect and care for her; and affirm by this act of renewal that she is your one and only for the rest of your life? RESPONSE: I do! WIFE/BRIDE: Do you take _____________________, to be your wedded husband. And do you promise by this act of renewal that you will love and care for him, submitting yourself to him alone as unto the Lord? Will you show reverence to him as the head of your family for the rest of your life? RESPONSE: I do!

HUSBAND/GROOM, I (your name), take thee (your wife's name), to be my wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part. I LOVE YOU! WIFE/BRIDE: I (your name), take thee, (your husband's name), to be my wedded husband; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part. I LOVE YOU! THE BIBLE: (Both of you take the Bible and hold it in your hands). The Bible is God's Word. From it we may receive the wisest of counseling. Within the pages of this book you can find answers to your most perplexing of problems. I charge you both to be guided by the principles of this book. HUSBAND & GROOM: As the head of your family search the pages of this book continuously. It will aid you in making the wisest of decisions. As the spiritual head of your family, it is a must that you be guided by the teachings of God's Word. Read it, study it and be guided by it. WIFE & BRIDE: As a wife and mother you must make the reading of the Bible a daily part of your life. The words of wisdom and guidance that you will find will guide you in your role as a wife and will direct you in the way of motherhood.

SONG OF RENEWAL DECLARATION OF RENEWAL And now, having heard you make your pledges of affection and take these vows of fidelity, I, by the authority conferred upon me by God as His minister and in my role as your Pastor pronounce that your marriage vows to one another are renewed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. What God hath joined together, let no man separate. (Kiss the bride!) BLESSING OF THE UNION: Deuteronomy 28:1-9 PRAYER

COUPLES: You are here tonight to renew your marriage vows. Let me remind you that you must do this with all your heart and soul. It is not just in the presence of these witnesses and to their ears that you are speaking but in the presence of God and in His hearing. A vow made in the presence of God must be viewed in the light of our accountability to Him. Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. (Repeat the vows after me):

MARRIAGE RENEWAL CEREMONY

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to renew the marriage vows of these couples (or couple) that stand before us. Sometimes ago, each of these couples (this couple) were married making vows of faithfulness and love to one another. At this special time of the year they felt a need to repeat their vows to one another in the presence of God and you as witnesses to their commitment to one another. SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 5:22-33 PRAYER

HUSBAND/GROOM: Do you take this Wife/Bride, to be your wedded wife. Do you by this act renew your love for her and pledge to love her as Christ loves His church. Do you promise to protect and care for her; and affirm by this act of renewal that she is your one and only for the rest of your life? RESPONSE: I do! WIFE/BRIDE: Do you take this Husband/Groom, to be your wedded husband. And do you promise by this act of renewal that you will love and care for him, submitting yourself to him alone as unto the Lord? Will you show reverence to him as the head of your family for the rest of your life?

RESPONSE: I do!

SONG OF RENEWAL

REPEATING OF VOWS: (Face each other) HUSBAND/GROOM, I (your name), take thee (your wife's name), to be my wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part. I LOVE YOU!

DECLARATION OF RENEWAL

WIFE/BRIDE: I (your name), take thee, (your husband's name), to be my wedded husband; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part. I LOVE YOU! THE BIBLE: (Both of you take the Bible and hold it in your hands). The Bible is God's Word. From it we may receive the wisest of counseling. Within the pages of this book you can find answers to your most perplexing of problems. I charge you both to be guided by the principles of this book. HUSBAND & GROOM: As the head of your family search the pages of this book continuously. It will aid you in making the wisest of decisions. As the spiritual head of your family, it is a must that you be guided by the teachings of God's Word. Read it, study it and be guided by it. WIFE & BRIDE: As a wife and mother you must make the reading of the Bible a daily part of your life. The words of wisdom and guidance that you will find will guide you in your role as a wife and will direct you in the way of motherhood.

And now, having heard you make your pledges of affection and take these vows of fidelity, I, by the authority conferred upon me by God as His minister and in my role as your Pastor pronounce that your marriage vows to one another are renewed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. What God hath joined together, let no man separate. (Kiss the bride!) BLESSING OF THE UNION: Deuteronomy 28:1-9 PRAYER