The Marriage Service
Welcome and Introductions
All: God of wonder and joy, grace comes from you, and you alone are the source of life and love. Without you, we cannot please you; without your love, our deeds are worth nothing. Send your Holy Spirit, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, that we may worship you now with thankful hearts and serve you always with willing minds; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
Preface
The congregations sits. The bridal party remain standing.
In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of Alex and Giulia, to pray for God’s blessing to them, to share their joy and to celebrate their love.
Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his Church.
La congregazione si siede. Lo sposo e la sposa rimangono in piedi.
Carissimi, siamo qui riuniti nella casa del Signore, Padre, Figlio e Spirito Santo, per consacrare il matrimonio di Alex e Giulia, implorare la benedizione di Dio, condividere la loro gioia e celebrare il loro amore.
Il matrimonio e’ un dono di Dio attraverso il quale marito e moglie partecipano alla creazione attraverso la grazia di Dio. Cosi’ come Cristo e’ uno con la Sua Chiesa, Nell’unione reciproca del cuore, del corpo e della mente, essi cresceranno insieme nell’amore e nella fiducia.
The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives. It is given as the foundation of family life in which children are born and nurtured and in which each member of the family, in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and to grow to maturity in love.
Il dono del matromonio unisce marito e moglie nel diletto e nella tenerezza dell’unione sessuale e del gioioso impegno fino alla fine dei loro giorni. E’, questo, il fondamento della famiglia, nella quale i figli vengono alla luce e crescono, e nel cuo amore ciascun membro della famiglia trova forza, compagnia e conforto, nella buona cosi come nella cattiva sorte fino alla maturita’.
Marriage is a way of life made holy by God, and blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty which all should uphold and honour. No-one should enter lightly into it or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of Almighty God.
Il matrimonio e’ reso sacro da Dio, e benedetto dalla presenza del nostro Signore Gesu Cristo nelle nozze di Cana. Esso e’ un segno di unita’ e lealta’ che ciascuno deve mantenere e onorare. Esso non va intrapreso con leggerezza d’animo o egoismo, ma con senso di reverenza e responsabilita’ al cospetto di Dio Onnipotente.
Alex and Giulia are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other and make solemn vows, and in token of this they will each give and receive a ring. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfil God’s purposes for the whole of their earthly life together.
Alex e Giulia stanno ora per intraprendere questo viaggio. Entrambi stanno per scambiarsi gli anelli nuziali, in segno del loro reciproco voto solenne.
Preghiamo con loro affinche’ lo Spirito Santo li guidi e sostenga, e che possano adempiere il volere di Dio nel corso di tutta la loro vita terrena come marito e moglie.
The Declarations
The minister says to the congregation:
First, I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now.
Il sacerdote alla congregazione:
Anzitutto, devo chiedere a tutti voi qui presenti se c’e’ qualcuno a conoscenza di un motivo per il quale queste due persone non si debbano unire nel vicolo matrimoniale, affinche’ lo dichiari ora.
The minister says to the couple:
The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you know a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.
Il sacerdote alla coppia:
State per scambiarvi I voti alla presenza di Dio, sommo giodice e che conosce ogni segreto dei nostri cuori; quindi se anche solo uno di voi due conosce una ragione per la quale non vi potete sposare, questa va dichiarata ora.
The minister says to the bridegroom
Alex will you take Giulia to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
He answers: I will
Il sacerdote allo sposo:
Alex, prendi tu Giulia come tua sposa? Prometti tu di amarla, sostenerla, onorarla e proteggerla sopra ogni altro, di esserle fedele fin che morte non vi separi?
Sposo risponde: Lo prometto
The minister says to the bride
Giulia will you take Alex to be your husband? Will you love him comfort him, honour and protect him, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
She answers: I will
Il sacerdote alla sposa:
Giulia, prendi tu Alex come tuo sposo? Prometti tu di amarlo, sostenerlo, onorarlo e proteggerlo sopra ogni altro, di essergli fedele fin che morte non vi separi?
Sposa risponde: Lo prometto
Cominciate a commuovervi, ma non troppo - vi riuscite ancora a controllare.
The minister says to the congregation
Will you, the families and friends of Alex and Giulia support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?
All reply: We Will
Il sacerdote alla congregazione
Promettete voi tutti – le famiglie e gli amici di Alex e Giulia – di dare loro supporto e sostegno nel loro matrimonio ora come negli anni a venire?
Tutti: Lo promettiamo
The Collect
God our Father, from the beginning you have blessed creation with abundant life. Pour out your blessings upon Alex and Giulia that they may be joined in mutual love and companionship, in holiness and commitment to each other. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
La colletta
Signore Onnipotente, che hai benedetto la creazione con il dono dell’abbondanza, riversa la nostra benedizione su Alex e Giulia, affinche siano uniti in reciproco amore compagnia , nella santita’ e nell’impegno che si sono promessi. Te lo chiediamo in nome del nostro Signore Gesu’ Cristo, tuo Figlio, che vive e regna con te, nell’unita’ dello Spirito Santo, ora e per sempre. Amen.
A Reading from the Bible
A short address may be given
A hymn may be sung
Lettura dalla Bibbia
Inno/Invocazione
The Vows
All stand
Who brings this woman to be married to this man?
Alex and Giulia, I know invite you to hold hands and make your vows, in the presence of God and his people.
I voti
Tutti si alzano
Chi porta questa donna in sposa a questo uomo?
Alex e Giulia, prendetevi la mano e scambiatevi i voti davati a Dio e la sua comunita’.
Qui comincia la prima lacrimuccia - attenzione!
The bride and bridegroom face each other.
The bridegroom takes the bride’s right hand in his.
I Alex take you Giulia to be my wife
To have and to hold, from this day forward;
For better for worse, for richer for poorer,
In sickness and in health, to love and cherish,
Till death us do part; according to God’s holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.
They loose hands.
Gli sposi sono in piedi, uno di fronte all’altro
Lo sposo prende la mano destra della sposa nella sua.
Io, Alex, prendo te, Giulia, come mia sposa
E prometto di amarti e onorarti sempre;
In salute e in malattia,
Nella buona e nella cattiva sorte,
In ricchezza e in poverta’,
Finche’ morte non ci separi;
Prometto nel nome di Dio.
The bride takes the bridegroom’s right hand in hers, and says
I Giulia take you Alex to be my husband
To have and to hold, from this day forward;
For better for worse, for richer for poorer,
In sickness and in health, to love and cherish,
Till death us do part; according to God’s holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.
La sposa prende la mano destra dello sposo nella sua.
Io, Giulia, prendo te, Alex, come mio sposo
E prometto di amarti e onorarti sempre;
In salute e in malattia,
Nella buona e nella cattiva sorte,
In ricchezza e in poverta’,
Finche’ morte non ci separi;
Prometto nel nome di Dio.
Scoppio di gioia/emozione incontenibile, piangete piangete pure.
Let it all out, dear.
The Giving of Rings
The minister receives the rings and says this prayer:
Heavenly Father, by your blessing let these rings be to Alex and Giulia a symbol of unending love and faithfulness to remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lo scambio degli anelli
Il sacerdote riceve gli anelli e recita la benedizione:
Padre Onnipotente, benedici questi anelli, simbolo dell’eterno amore e fedelta’ tra Alex e Giulia, affinche’ essi ricordino loro del voto e promessa che si sono scambiati oggi in nome di Gesu’ Cristo, nostro Signore.
The bridegroom places the ring on the forth finger of the bride’s left hand, and holding it there, says
Giulia I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Lo sposo infila l’anello all’anulare della mano destra della sposa, e, tenendole la mano, dice
Giulia, ricevi questo anello in segno del nostro matrimonio. Con questo atto io mi dono a te, e prometto di onorarti e condividere tutto cio’ che ho con te, nell’amore di Dio, Padre Onnipotente, Figlio e Spirito Santo.
Sospiri, emozione, ma con discrezione, prego.
You can sob quietly, now.
The bride places the ring on the forth finger of the bridegroom’s left hand, and holding it there, says
Alex I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
La sposa infila l’anello all’anulare della mano destra dello sposo, e, tenendogli la mano, dice
Alex, ricevi questo anello in segno del nostro matrimonio. Con questo atto io mi dono a te, e prometto di onorarti e condividere tutto cio’ che ho con te, nell’amore di Dio, Padre Onnipotente, Figlio e Spirito Santo.
The Proclamation
The couple knell, and the minister addresses the people
In the presence of God, and before this congregation Alex and Giulia have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of rings.
I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife.
The minister wraps a stole around their joined hands and says
Those whom God has joined together, let no-one put asunder.
Proclamazione
Alla presenza di Dio e di questa congregazione, Alex e Giulia hanno acconsentito a scambiarsi i voti, tenendosi reciprocamente la mano e scambiandosi gli anelli. Quindi, io li dichiaro marito e moglie.
Che nessuno divida coloro che sono stati uniti da Dio.
(Che nessuno separi cio che Dio ha unito)
The Blessing of the Marriage
The minister gives God’s blessing upon the new husband and wife.
God the Father God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully grant you the riches of his grace, that you may please him both in body and soul, and, living together in faith and love, may receive the blessing of eternal life. Amen.
La benedizione matrimoniale
Che Dio Onnipotente, Padre, Figlio e Spirito Santo vi benedica, preservi e mantenga (?!preservi…?!). Possa il Signore conferirvi il dono della grazia, affinche’ lo onoriate nel corpo e nello spirito, e conviviate nella fede e nell’amore. Ricevete la benedizione (della vita?!) eterna. Amen
Hymn, during which the bridal couple goes to the alter
The Prayers
Faithful God, holy and eternal, source of life and spring of love, we thank and praise you for bringing Alex and Giulia to this day, and we pray for them.
Lord of live and love: hear our prayer.
May their marriage be life-giving and life-long, enriched by your presence and strengthened by your grace; may they bring comfort and confidence to each other in faithfulness and trust.
Lord of live and love: hear our prayer.
May the hospitality of their home bring refreshment and joy to all around them, may their love overflow to neighbours in need and embrace those in distress.
Lord of live and love: hear our prayer.
May they discern in your word and purpose for their loves, and may the power of your Holy Spirit lead them in truth and defend them in adversity.
Lord of live and love: hear our prayer.
May they nurture their family with devotion, see their children grow in body, mind and spirit and come at last to the end of their lives with hearts content and in joyful anticipation of heaven.
Lord of live and love: hear our prayer.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn
The Blessing
God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Registration of the Marriage
The congregation sits.
The bridal party moves into the vestry for the Signing of the Registers, after which the couple leads the bridal party out of church.
Giubilo generale. Ripigliatevi! E' ora di andare fuori ad aspettarci col riso/pomodori/ecc.
