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Additional Prayers | ||
| Longer Prayers and Litanies | |||
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1
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Eternal God, creator and redeemer, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, fill N and N with the riches of your grace and breathe into their marriage the strength of your holy and life-giving Spirit. Lord, hear us: |
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All
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| Send upon them the gift of
love that puts no limit to its faith and forbearance. Lord, hear us: |
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| Sow in their lives the joy that
comes from sharing and grows with giving. Lord, hear us: |
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| Let peace spring from their
faithfulness to each other and flow deeper with the passing years. Lord, hear us: |
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| Give them patience with their
failures and persistence with their hopes. Lord, hear us: |
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| May their kindness, born of a
gracious heart, be shown to others in a generous spirit. Lord, hear us: |
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| Let goodness flower with
forgiveness and be the fruit of their married life. Lord, hear us: |
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| In gentleness let them be tender
with each other's dreams and healing of each other's wounds. Lord, hear us: |
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All
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Lord, graciously hear us. | ||
| Gracious God, accept our prayers for N and N , that as their love ripens and their marriage matures they may reap the harvest of the Spirit, rejoice in your gifts and reflect your glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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2
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A prayer for all people | ||
| Almighty God, look graciously on
the world which you have made and for which your Son gave his life. Bless all whom you make one flesh in marriage. May their life together be a sign of your love to this broken world, so that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy overcome despair. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| May N and N so
live together that the strength of their love may reflect your love and enrich our common life. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| May they be gentle and patient,
ready to trust each other, and, when they fail, willing to recognize and acknowledge their fault and to give and receive forgiveness. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| [May N and N
be blessed with the gift of children. Fill them with wisdom and love as they care for their family. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer.] | ||
| May the lonely, the bereaved,
and all who suffer want or anxiety, be defended by you, O Lord. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| May those whose lives are today
brought together be given wisdom, patience and courage to serve one another in Christ's name. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| May friends and family gathered
here, and those separated by distance, be strengthened and blessed this day. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| We praise you, merciful
God, for those who have died in the faith of Christ. May we be strengthened by their example. |
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| Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers. | |||
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All
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Grant that
what we have asked in faith we may by your grace receive, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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3
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Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life and giver of grace; look with favour on the world you have made, and especially on this man and this woman whom you in holy marriage have made one. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| Give them wisdom and devotion in
ordering their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counsellor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow and a companion in joy. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| Grant that their wills may be so
knit together in your will, that they may grow together in love and peace with one another and with you all the days of their life. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| Give them grace when they hurt
one another to recognize and acknowledge their fault and to seek each other's forgiveness and your pardon and peace. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| Make their life together a sign
of Christ's love in this broken and disordered world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal injury and joy overcome despair. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| [Bestow on them, if it is your
will, the heritage and gift of children and the grace to bring them up to know you, to love you and to serve you. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer.] | ||
| Give them such fulfilment of
their affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| Grant that all those who have
witnessed these vows may find their lives strengthened and their loyalties confirmed. Lord, in your mercy |
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All
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hear our prayer. | ||
| Grant that the bonds of our
common humanity by which all your children are united to one another may be so transformed by your grace that your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven; where, O Father, with your Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign in perfect unity, now and for ever. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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4
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Almighty God, our heavenly
Father,we lift up our hearts to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him you have made a covenant of grace with your people by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit. We praise you for the gift of marriage in which the love of husband and wife reveals your purposes of love for the world. We thank you today for N and N, for leading them to each other in friendship and love, commitment and trust, and for bringing them here for the blessing of their marriage. Living God, by the presence of your Holy Spirit, may they know the risen Christ to be with them now, as they celebrate this covenant together. May their lives be a witness to your saving love in this troubled world. As you pour out your love, may they grow together in your sight, and each be to the other a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need. As you blessed the earthly home at Nazareth with the presence of your Son, may their home be a place of security and peace. [Bless this couple with the gift and care of children, that they may grow up to know and love you in your Son.] And bring us all at the last to that great marriage banquet of your Son in our home in heaven, where, with all your saints and angels, in the glory of your presence, we will for ever praise you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
| Thanksgiving | |||
| For the sharing of love | |||
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5
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Father of all, in Jesus Christ you open to us the treasures of your kingdom; guide us by your Holy Spirit that we may receive your redeeming grace and reflect the perfect unity of your love, for you live and reign Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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6
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God of love, we thank you for the gift of marriage and for the joys it brings. Bless us as we share in this wedding. We thank you for the love which has brought N and N to each other and for their desire to share that love for the rest of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
| Spiritual Growth | |||
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7
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For the home | ||
| Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, who shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home: reign in the home of these your servants as Lord and King; give them grace to minister to others as you have ministered to them, and grant that by deed and word they may be witnesses of your saving love to those among whom they live; for the sake of your holy name. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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8
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For the Holy Spirit | ||
| Almighty God, you send your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of all your people. Open the hearts of these your servants to the riches of his grace, that they may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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9
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For grace to live well | ||
| Faithful God, giver of all good things, give N and N wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their life together. May they dwell together in love and peace all the days of their life, seeking one another's welfare, bearing one another's burdens and sharing one another's joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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10
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For discipleship | ||
| Eternal God, without your grace nothing is strong, nothing is sure. Strengthen N and N with patience, kindness, gentleness and all other gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that they may fulfil the vows they have made. Keep them faithful to each other and to you. Fill them with such love and joy that they may build a home of peace and welcome. Make their life together a sign of Christ's love in this broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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11
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For a glimpse of eternal love | ||
| Eternal God, our maker and
redeemer, as you once enriched the wedding at Cana when your Son turned water into wine, so by his presence now bring your joy to this day. May we drink deeply from your boundless love and know in our hearts the delights of your Holy Spirit. As we honour the union of a man and a woman, let the love we celebrate today be a sign of your eternal love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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12
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For the gift of love | ||
| God of wonder and of 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. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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13
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For marriage as a sign to the world | ||
| Almighty God, in whom we live
and move and have our being, look graciously upon the world which you have made and for which your Son gave his life, and especially on all whom you make to be one flesh in holy marriage. May their lives together be a sign of your love to this broken world, so that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy overcome despair; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
| Faithfulness, Joy, Love, | |||
| Forgiveness and Healing | |||
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14
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For the joy of loving | ||
| God our creator, we thank you for your gift of sexual love by which husband and wife may delight in each other and share with you the joy of creating new life. By your grace may N and N remain lovers, rejoicing in your goodness all their days. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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15
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For the healing of memory | ||
| Loving God, you are merciful and forgiving. Grant that those who are suffering the hurts of the past may experience your generous love. Heal their memories, comfort them, and send them all from here renewed and hopeful; in Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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16
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For the joy of companionship | ||
| All praise and blessing to you,
God of love, creator of the universe, maker of man and woman in your likeness, source of blessing for married life. All praise to you, for you have created courtship and marriage, joy and gladness, feasting and laughter, pleasure and delight. May your blessing come in full upon N and N. May they know your presence in their joys and in their sorrows. May they reach old age in the company of friends and come at last to your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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17
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For grace and delight | ||
| God of love, ever gracious and
kind, we pray for N and N as they make the promises of marriage. Let them know you as the God of mercy and new beginnings, who forgives our failures and renews our hope. May the grace of Christ be poured into their wedding for celebration and for joy. God of love, ever present and faithful, may N and N know that their marriage is your delight and will. May the promises they make govern their life together, as your presence surrounds them, and your Spirit strengthens and guides them; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
| For faithfulness | |||
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18
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God of all grace, friend and companion, look in favour on N and N , and all who are made one in marriage. In your love deepen their love and strengthen their wills to keep the promises they have made, that they may continue in life-long faithfulness to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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19
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Gracious God, as you have brought N and N together in love, enable them through the power of your Holy Spirit to make and keep the solemn promises of marriage; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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20
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O gracious and ever-living God, male and female you have created us in your image: look mercifully upon this man and this woman who come to you seeking your blessing; assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honour and keep the promises and vows they make; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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21
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For faithfulness and peace | ||
| O God of love, look mercifully upon N and N in the new life which they begin together this day. Unite them evermore in your love. Keep them faithful to the vows they have made one to the other; strengthen them with every good gift; and let your peace be with them, now and always; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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22
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For daily following of Christ | ||
| Heavenly Father, we thank you that in our earthly lives you speak to us of your eternal life: we pray that through their marriage N and N may know you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
| Children, other Family
Members and Friends |
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23
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For children and home | ||
| Heavenly Father, maker of all things, you enable us to share in your work of creation. Bless this couple in the gift and care of children, that their home may be a place of love, security and truth, and their children grow up to know and love you in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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24
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For children and family | ||
| Lord of life, you shape us in your image, and by your gracious gift the human family is increased. Grant to N and N the blessing of children. Fill them with wisdom and love as they care for their family, so that they and their children may know and love you; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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25
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For an existing family | ||
| God of all grace and
goodness, we thank you for this new family, and for everything parents and children have to share; by your Spirit of peace draw them together and help them to be true friends to one another. Let your love surround them and your care protect them; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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26
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For the families of the couple | ||
| Gracious Lord, bless the parents and families of N and N that they may grow in love and friendship. Grant that, as they have witnessed these vows today, they may find their lives enriched and strengthened and their loyalties confirmed; in Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||
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27
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For the support of friends | ||
| Holy Spirit of God, you know our strength and have compassion on our frailty. Be with N and N in all they undertake. And grant that we their friends, with all who become their friends, may sense and understand their needs; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | ||