A RENAISSANCE CEREMONY
[Upon the altar are the items used in the ceremony: a willow branch, upon which are the rings of the bride and groom, a small tray of bread, a container of salt, a chalice, a container of wine, a container of water, two cords, a candle, a bell and a garland]
[The celebrant is standing at the front of the gathering before the altar. The bridesmaids and groomsmen enter in pairs to selected music and proceed up on the dais. The groom enters and waits before the dais. The bride is escorted in to selected music and joins the groom before the dais]
Celebrant: Let us take a few minutes' silence and each of us in our private way bring ourselves with loving awareness fully here [pause].
Celebrant: May the place of this rite be consecrated to God. For we gather here in a ritual of love with two who would be wedded. _____ and _____ come forward to stand here before us in the presence of the Almighty [the bride and groom step up onto the dais].
Celebrant: Marriage is when two people, responding to the most profound human instinct for companionship and intimacy, commit themselves to a unique and intimate partnership in life. This commitment is woven together with trust, with support and with fidelity. It is based in love, in affection and in an instinctive bonding between two people. This bonding is of the physical body, is of the human personality and is of the inner spiritual being.
But let us be aware of its challenges. Marriage is of the most intense of human relationships. In the closeness and intimacy of your relationship, your partner symbolizes for you the relationship between yourself and the whole of humanity. Your partner represents, both in reality and projection, all the facets of your potential for relationship.
Where you sow or expect hurt, misunderstanding, rejection or isolation, so you will find it in each other. But where you sow or expect love, trust, generosity, support and affection, so you will find these.
You need to be serious about the work that marriage entails. Be aware that in marriage, of all the relationships you may have, there is the need for strength, generosity and love as you prove yourselves part of a plan unfolding to perfect love. Know that when you love each other perfectly, you will have grown to loving all life perfectly.
Let us now lift up our hearts and our consciousness. Let us bring into our awareness the highest ideals of love and of marriage, and let these ideals incarnate now in this time and place.
PRAYER: Gracious God, beloved of all life, heart of compassion, open our lives and our understanding to the full potential of marriage, of human trust, support and fidelity. In this most fundamental of human relationships, allow us to see and experience the inner spiritual dynamic which guides all life to the enfoldment of perfect love [pause].
Let us now invoke the blessing of God, let us be aware of our Creator of the earth, of His care, of His embrace, of His nature.
BLESSING: Creator of all life, ocean of creation, draw us deep into the waves of your embrace. Bless this couple with health, with strength and with the nurturing warmth of true growth as they open your lives to each other!
Be with us here, O Creator of the powers of the air! With your clever fingers tie closely the bond between these two!
Be with us here, O Creator of the powers of fire! Give their love and passion your all consuming ardor!
Be with us here, O Creator of the powers of water! Give them the deepest love and richness of body, of soul and of spirit!
Be with us here, O Creator of the powers of the earth! Let your strength and constancy be theirs as long as they both shall live!
Gracious Creator, Mighty God, Give to these two before us, we do ask, your love and protection! Blessed Be!
Celebrant: [to the groom] If you do truly desire, O _____ to marry this woman, I bid you present to her your blade of steel, pledge your weapon to her, unfailing ever to be at her service.
[The groom draws his sword, and, kneeling, offers it to the bride, saying:] "Gracious and lovely one
Accept my pledge of love to thee.
I pledge this sword, as I pledge my soul,
Ever to be in your service.
Like this blade shall my love be strong,
Like this steel shall my love be enduring.
Accept it, O beloved one,
For that which is mine
Shall also be yours."[The bride takes the sword silently in her hands and touches it to her forehead for the time of three heartbeats. Then she returns it to him and bids him to rise saying,]
"My lord, I accept your pledge of love
As I do accept the pledge of your blade.
Thou knowest what is in my heart
As I know what is in thine.
The magic of my will, and of my love
Shall ever be yours."Celebrant: [to the bride] If thou dost truly desire, O _____, to marry this man, I bid you present to him a jewel of great value as token of the love that you have for him.
[The bride takes her jewel from her gown, and kneeling before the groom, holds it out to him saying:]
"Thou who art handsome and strong,
Accept my jewel, my treasure,As a pledge of all which I am And all that I possess Shall be yours.
My love shall ever endure,
And shall flourish as the vine and the tree."[The groom takes the jewel silently in his hands and touches it to his forehead for the time of three heartbeats. The he returns it to her and bids her rise, saying:]
"My lady, I accept your pledge of love
As I do accept the pledge of your jewel.
Thou knowest what is in my heart
And I know what is in thine.
All which I have now, or shall have,
Shall ever be yours."[The Celebrant takes the willow branch and holds it over the bride's head, saying:]
"Thou shalt be the star that rises from the sea, the twilight sea.
Thou shalt bring man dreams to rule his destiny.
Thou shalt bring the moon tides to the soul of a man,,
The tides that flow and ebb, and flow again,
The magic that moves in the moon and the sea;
These are thy secret, and they belong to thee.
Thou art woman, thou art she...
The tides of all men's soul belong unto thee."[The Celebrant then takes the wand and holds it over the groom's head saying:]
"In thee may the Creator of the forest return to earth again;
Hear the ancient call, and show thyself to men.
Shepherd of wild things, upon the wild hill's way,
Lead thy lost flock from darkness unto day.
Forgotten are the ways of sleep and of night;
Men seek for them whose eyes have lost the light.
Open the door, the door that hath no key...
The door of dreams whereby men come unto thee.
Shepherd of wild things, may you one with him be!"[The Celebrant then holds the willow with one hand on each end and the rings on the exposed will branch between the hands. The Celebrant then says to the both the bride and groom:]
"Place you right hands over this willow branch and your rings his hand over hers.
Above you are the stars
Below you are the stones.
As time passes, remember...
Like a star should your love be constant,
Like the earth should your love be firm.
Possess one another, yet be understanding.
Have patience each with other,
For storms will come, but they will go quickly.
Be free in giving of affection and of warmth.
Have no fear, and let not the ways or words
Of the unenlightened give you unease.
For God is with you now and always."Celebrant: Is it your wish _____, to become one with this man? Bride: I offer myself as your wife.
Celebrant: Is it your wish _____, to become one with this woman? Groom: I offer myself as your husband.
Celebrant: Does any say "nay?"
[The bride and groom then take the rings off the willow branch and place the ring upon each others finger and pledge:]
"I pledge thee my troth
To love and cherish thee through all lifetimes,
For even though our paths may later diverge,
Yet will I always be thy true friend,
To love thee and lend thee aid and protection
By the power of the starry mill of heaven,
Beyond the imaginable reaches of time and eternity!"[The Celebrant then takes the cords from the altar and holds them side by side. The bride and groom each take an end of a cord and tie a knot in it. The Celebrant then ties the ends he is holding together and says:]
"By the knots on this cord your love is united."
[The Celebrant then binds the hands of the bride and groom with the cord and says:]
"Thus they hands are fastened...the two are one, the work of joy is done, and yet begun!"
[The Celebrant then unbinds the hands of the bride and groom. The bride and groom then make their way to the altar and say in unison:]
"In recognition of our physical union, we scatter salt upon bread."
[The bride and groom scatter a small amount of salt onto the bread. The bride and groom then simultaneously pour water and wine from separate containers into the chalice and say in unison:]
"In recognition of our spiritual union, we mix water with wine." [The bride and groom then taste the bread and wine. They then make their way back to their places.]
[The Celebrant will then take the garland from the altar and place in around the necks of the bride and groom and say:]
"May the binding of this hand fasting bond be felt as lightly as this garland. It is a bond of love, equally shared, not a chain of servitude. I will tell you the Law, which should be reflected in your marriage.
This be the Law,
That thou love all things in nature,
For they are the gifts of our Creator.
That thou bring harm to none by word or deed.
That thou go modestly in this realm
And they feet stray not from the hidden path.
Contentment shall thou find in simple things
And at the last, thou will meet again in the heaven."[The Celebrant then says:]
On behalf of everyone and every being present, I say that we recognize you, _____ and _____, As wife and husband, husband and wife. May God in all loving kindness bless you And be with you in your marriage. May strength and purposefulness sustain you and bring you great spiritual growth together. May wisdom bring you enlightenment and patient clarity. And may perfect love sine ever through your lives."