Margaret & David’s

HOLY UNION

 

Rev. Maureene Bass:  We are gathered here to share the Holy Union of Margaret and David. To celebrate and acknowledge with them the love they have found together.

 

They have chosen to honor and formalize this love in a public declaration before witnesses –you, their community of family and friends.

 

David, have you come here at this time, out of your love for Margaret, to consecrate the love that drew your souls together? Do you declare your love in the presence of these witnesses and the Christ spirit within you?

 

David:  I have.

 

Rev. Maureene Bass: Margaret, have you come here at this time, out of your love for David, to consecrate the love that drew your souls together?  Do you declare your love in the presence of these witnesses and the Christ spirit within you?

 

Margaret:  I have.

 

Rev. Maureene Bass: Because this is a sacred day, let us begin with prayer:

 

God, Indwelling Spirit, who is ever with us, we are consciously aware of Your presence.  We acknowledge the importance of pausing, becoming silent, and seeking awareness of your guidance and blessing in our lives.

 

At this special time for Margaret and David we see your love active in them, now and forever.  We acknowledge that it is through your Divine Guidance they have found each other.

 

We know that Your love will continue to bless their partnership with an abundance of all that is good.

 

 

 

Thank you God, for this joyous moment as Your Love expresses through Margaret and David, and through each one of us this day.  So it is now, and so it will always be.

Amen

 

Please hold hands as we share in this affirmation of your love.   (MUSIC BY WILLIAM WATSON)

 

Rev. Maureene Bass:  Margaret and David you have come together for many reasons.  One of these reasons is your soul’s desire to experience your love on a spiritual level.  Your challenges will be easier because they will be shared.  Your joy will be enhanced because of your partnership.

 

You know that real love is something beyond the warmth and glow, the excitement and romance, of being deeply in love with one another.  It is caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your partner in life, as about your own.

 

Real love is not total absorption in one another; it is looking outward in the same direction.  You are agreeing to be a light and strength to each other.  You are entering into an act of pure faith in which you give of yourself to the utmost.

 

To enter into a Holy Union takes a great deal of inner spiritual strength.  It is a sacred union.  It is the act of expressing openly the commitment of two souls.  It is two persons working together toward one goal.  It is two souls uniting in love, manifesting as one hope, one desire and one aspiration.

 

 You choose to share your lives together: to be friends, partners, lovers and mates to each other.  You choose to function together in life as a couple while maintaining your own identities.  You choose to create a new marriage archetype, one of equality and partnership. You choose to grow together spiritually.

 

A Holy Union, the spiritual union, cannot be dissolved, for that which is of God is eternal.  You know that your union is indeed a holy one, ordained by God.

 

The purpose of Holy Union is spiritual.  You would not need to enter into Holy Union simply to live your lives together.  By entering into this act, you are stating that you believe so deeply in the Christ within yourself and within your partner in life that you are willing to stand out from the crowd.

 

Margaret and David whatever it is that your souls have decided to accomplish together, know that God is with you and success is assured.

 

With our thoughts and words, let us bless and support this Holy Union to which Margaret and David are committing themselves today.

 

We, your community of family and friends, now declare our commitment to support you in the joys and challenges of relationship.  As you now in your hearts openly and honestly support them in their journey together please respond by saying “We support you.”  Let us declare this together:

 

Guests:   “We support you.”

 

Rev. Maureene Bass:  Margaret and David, will you face one another, hold hands, look into each others eyes and affirm together your spiritual love for one another.

 

Margaret & David:  “I behold the Christ in you.”

 

Rev. Maureene Bass: 

Let us pray:  Living Loving Lord, ever present with us and within us, we give thanks for the ability to see the Christ in one another.  We give thanks for Your blessing on this Holy Union.  May it be one of spirit, mind and heart.  We give thanks for your blessings of life, love, wisdom, peace, joy and abundance; not only for this day, but also for all the days to come.  This we affirm in the recognition of Your loving presence within us all.

Amen.

 

Please face me.

 

David, will you have Margaret as your partner in life: to open yourself to a deeper and more loving knowing of her---to honor and tenderly care for her---to nurture and encourage her fulfillment as an individual---through all the changes of your lives---and to support her quest for spiritual growth.

 

David:  I will.

 

Rev. Maureene Bass:  Margaret, will you have David as your partner in life; to open yourself to a deeper and more loving knowing of him---to honor and tenderly care for him---to nurture and encourage his fulfillment as an individual---through all the changes of your lives---and to support his quest for spiritual growth.

 

Margaret:  I will.

 

Rev. Maureene Bass:  Please face each other, Margaret & David have prepared statements of intent that they wish to say:

 

David:

 

My dearest Margaret, you have been my buddy, my best friend, and my love, all at the same time.  I love you dearly, and I hold in mind and declare my intent to do these wonderful things with you: 

 

I will respect your wisdom and intuition as much as my own.  I will listen to you, and I will hear you. 

 

I will respect you, and keep your goals and desires in mind as well as my own.  I will walk through life with you, hand in hand, side by side, as an equal partner. 

 

I will grow with you, both individually and in partnership.  I will learn lessons with you, share victories with you, whether they be your lessons and victories or mine. 

 

I will remember that our relationship is one of the most precious treasures of my life.  When I become aware of things that need to be said, clarified, or done to nurture this relationship, I will talk with you about them without hesitation. 

 

I will always see the innocence and divinity in you, and I will love you for all time. 

 

Margaret:

 

My dearest lovely David, you have been my buddy, my best friend, and my love, all at the same time.  I love you dearly, and I hold in mind and declare my intent to do these wonderful things with you: 

 

I will respect your wisdom and intuition as much as my own.  I will listen to you, and I will hear you. 

 

I will respect you, and keep your goals and desires in mind as well as my own.  I will walk through life with you, hand in hand, side by side, as an equal partner. 

 

I will grow with you, both individually and in partnership.  I will learn lessons with you, share victories with you, whether they be your lessons and victories or mine. 

 

I will remember that our relationship is one of the most precious treasures of my life.  When I become aware of things that need to be said, clarified, or done to nurture this relationship, I will talk with you about them without hesitation. 

 

I will weigh the effects of the words I speak, pause and in the silent moment reflect and come from the heart so as to always nurture and uplift you.

 

I will nourish your mind, delight in your body and sing with your soul.

 

I will never take you for granted and will always give thanks for your presence.

 

I will always see the innocence and divinity in you, and I will love you for all time. 

 

Rev. Maureene Bass:  May I have the rings please?

 

Rings are an ancient symbol, blessed and simple. Round like the sun, like the eye, like arms that embrace.  Circles, for love that is given comes back round again and again.  Therefore, may these rings remind you that your love, like the sun, illuminates; that your love, like the eye, must see clearly; and that your love, like arms that embrace, is a grace upon this world.

 

As often as either or you looks at these rings you will be reminded of the commitment to love each other which you have made today.

 

Dear God bless these rings as symbols of love and wholeness.  May these rings glow with the reflection of the love that flows though Margaret and David today.  May they mark the beginning of a shared journey filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration, joy and abundance.  Bless Margaret and David, who wear these rings as an ever-present symbol of the bond they share in Your Divine Love.  Amen.

 

David, place the ring on your heart and repeat after me.  “This ring symbolizes that you are always in my heart.”

 

Place the ring on your forehead,  “This ring symbolizes that my thoughts are always with you.”

 

 Kiss the ring “ This ring symbolizes my eternal love for you which has been sealed with my kiss.”

 

Now place the ring on Margaret’s finger

 

Margaret, place the ring on your heart and repeat after me.  “This ring symbolizes that you are always in my heart.”

 

Place the ring on your forehead,  “This ring symbolizes that my thoughts are always with you.”

 

 Kiss the ring.  “This ring symbolizes my eternal love for you which has been sealed with my kiss.”

 

Now place the ring on David’s finger

 

Margaret and David by the power vested in me, and in the name of the Holy Spirit who performs every true Holy Spiritual Union: I now pronounce you loving partners in life.

 

Let us bless this Holy Union in prayer:

 

Precious spirit, witness to and sealer of every true union, we acknowledge Your abundant blessings for this couple.  We know You are with them in all things.  May they always be open and receptive to Your guidance.  Amen.

 

May God keep you in love with each other, and may the peace of the Christ abide in you and in all who share your lives.

 

You may exchange a kiss.  (KISS)

 

It is my pleasure to present to you Margaret and David partners in life