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The Blessing of a Civil
Union adapted from
The Book of Common Prayer, 1979
The Rite begins
as prescribed for celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, using the Collect
and Lessons appointed in the Marriage service or appropriate for Holy Union.
After the Gospel
(and homily), the couple stands
before the Celebrant, who addresses them in these or similar words
N.
and N., you have come here today to seek the blessing of God and of his
[or the] Church upon your union. I require, therefore, that you promise,
with
the help of God, to fulfill the obligations which, in the context of the Church,
such union demands.
The Celebrant
then addresses each partner in turn, saying
N.,
you have taken N. to be your spouse (or partner, or some
equivalent
term).
Do you promise to love her/him, comfort her/him, honor and keep
her/him,
in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to
her/him
as long as you both shall live?
The Partner
answers
I do.
The Celebrant
then addresses the congregation, saying
Will you who have witnessed these promises do all in your power to uphold
these two persons in their union?
People
We will.
If rings are to
be blessed, the two partners extend their hands toward the Priest, who says
Gracious God, bless these rings to be signs of the vows by which these two have
bound themselves to each other; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Celebrant
joins the right hands of the couple and says
Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.
The Congregation
responds
Amen.
The service
continues with The Prayers in The Celebration and Blessing of a Holy Union.
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