Jewish/Christian Combo Ceremony
We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the blending of two hearts, the joining of GROOM/BRIDE and GROOM/BRIDE in marriage.
Who gives this woman/man to be married today? (Optional) We have come together to witness the union of these two hearts. Out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. GROOM/BRIDE and GROOM/BRIDE met, fell in love, and are celebrating as much with their wedding today. GROOM/BRIDE and GROOM/BRIDE , life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and friends - we learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life; and it is the shared goal of a married life. First Corinthians Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him or her no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them. Wine Blessing In this glass are the fruits of God, humankind, and Mother Earth. The years of our lives are like a cup of wine that is poured out for the sake of labor, honor, and love. Many days you will sit at the same table and eat and drink together. Many are the experiences you will share. Blessed art thou oh lord our god king of the universe who has created the fruit of the vine. (Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam bo're p'ri ha gafen.) You may now drink from this fountain of love. Vows (face each other and hold hands) (repeat after me) I, Groom/Bride take you Groom/Bride to be my husband/wife, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully Through the best and the worst, Through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold So I give you my life to keep So Help Me God I, GROOM/BRIDE take you GROOM/BRIDE to be my Husband/Wife, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully Through the best and the worst, Through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold So I give you my life to keep So Help Me God I Do’s Do you GROOM/BRIDE take GROOM/BRIDE to be your husband/wife? ("I do"). Do you promise to love, cherish and protect him/her, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with him/her a life hallowed by god ("I do") Do you GROOM/BRIDE take GROOM/BRIDE to be your husband/wife? ("I do"). Do you promise to love, cherish and protect him/her, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with him/her a life hallowed by god ("I do") Ring Exchange (who has the rings) (repeat after me) The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken. I GROOM/BRIDE , take thee, GROOM/BRIDE to be my husband/wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you. And with this ring, I take you as my Husband/Wife, for as long as we both shall live. I GROOM/BRIDE, take thee, GROOM/BRIDE , to be my husband/wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you. And with this ring, I take you as my husband/wife, for as long as we both shall live. 7 blessings You are blessed, Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, who created everything for his glory. You are blessed, Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, the creator of man. You are blessed, Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, who created man in His image, in the pattern of His own likeness, and provided for the perpetuation of his kind. You are blessed, Lord, the creator of man. Let the barren city be jubilantly happy and joyful at her joyous reunion with her children. You are blessed, Lord, who makes Zion rejoice with her children. Let the loving couple be very happy, just as you made your creation happy in the Garden of Eden, so long ago. You are blessed, Lord, who makes the groom and the bride happy. You are blessed, Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, who created joy and celebration, groom and bride, rejoicing, jubilation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. May there soon be heard, Lord our God, the sound of joy and the sound of celebration, the voice of a groom and the voice of a bride, their happy shouting from their weddings and of young men and women from their feasts of song. You are blessed, Lord, who makes the groom and the bride rejoice together. You are blessed, Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, creator of the fruit of the vine. Closing Prayer I ask you and all your dear ones to bow your heads in reverence. Silently pray that God will bless the home of GROOM/BRIDE and GROOM/BRIDE and that they each, and together, may achieve their highest hopes. Bless their marriage, O God, as they begin their journey down the road of life together. We don't know what lies ahead for the road turns and bends. But help them to make the best of whatever comes their way. Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met. Help them to realize that nothing nor no one is perfect and to look for the good in all things and all people including themselves. Help them to respect each other's likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams and fears even though they may not always understand them. Help them to learn from each other and to help each other to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Help them to realize that no matter what happens to them they will hold on to each other and know that things have a way of working out for the good. Help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives. But most of all, dear God, help them to keep lit the torch of love' that they now share so that by their loving example they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children's children forever. Amen (After short pause) "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto to you, and give you peace. (“Amen”) Glass Breaking The final act of this ceremony is the shattering of the glass. This old custom has many traditions, with many interpretations. At one time it was meant to scare off demons that frequent celebrations (or pesky wedding guests) Today, the fragility of the glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. Just as permanent and final as the breaking of this glass is unchangeable. The glass is broken to protect this marriage with the implied prayer. “May your bond of love be as difficult to break, as it would be to put back together these pieces of glass.” Knowing that this marriage is permanent, GROOM/BRIDE and GROOM/BRIDE should strive every day to show each other love and respect and happiness. After GROOM/BRIDE breaks the glass, I invite everyone to shout the Hebrew words “Mazel Tov,” meaning “Good Luck” and “Congratulations.” “I now pronounce you Husband/Wife and Husband/Wife. You may kiss your Groom/Bride.” I would like to introduce the happy couple |