Weddings

I love weddings! They are such a statement of hope for the future,
and such a sacred act of commitment and public declaration of love.

May your life together
be full of love
and your love
be full of life

My collection of Wedding Resources is available HERE
This includes poems by myself, as well as a collection of readings, poems and blessings.

An assortment of Blessings for weddings (not compiled by me) is HERE

IThe Wedding Service (at Cashmere Presbyterian Church, Christchurch)
Here is my 'starter for 10' Wedding planning document with an outline for a wedding service with options. It is just a framework, there is always room for flexibility and creativity. I love it when couples make the ceremony their own and create a wonderful unique service of worship.

The Marriage Kit of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand can be found HERE
(www.presbyterian.org.nz)

The Cashmere Presbyterian Church website for wedding bookings is linked HERE. (www.cashmerefunctions.nz)

Information about getting married in New Zealand can be found HERE, on the official NZ Government website.

Poems for weddings

Here in this moment

Here in this moment
you are welcome, take a breath.
Here are flowers, here are rings,
all is planned, all is ready, everyone's here.
Come now to this holy place
for this sacred time.

Here in this moment
bring your beauty, bring your joy
for today is celebration,
gratitude, happiness.
But also in this moment
bring your fears and your failings;
every part of you is needed,
every corner of your heart.
Love has found you,
love has claimed you,
all you have and all you are.

Enter in this moment
into life done together.
Life as partnership, not perfection,
worked out between you every day.
So every moment, learn to listen,
choose to honour and adore.
Grow in patience, keep forgiving,
appreciate every good thing.

Now in this moment,
be here in this moment
held in love, shaped by love,
choosing to love.

There's a sparkle in the air

There's a sparkle in the air,
there's a whisper that we hear,
that no matter what is coming,
that whatever comes against us,
there's a power in this holding
of each other, you and me,
to sustain through many seasons.
This will always be the reason
that I place my hope in you
and I trust your faith in me,
for we know that together
we are more, we are better.
So as feelings come and go,
we will stand, we will know,
that we share a common story
you and I, me and you,
so in pain and in glory
you're for me and I'm for you.

What deeper question

What deeper question can there be
than this -
will you love me?
What deeper hunger can there be
than this -
to be welcomed and adored
not just now, but tomorrow.
Easy to love me now when I am gorgeous
but will you love me when I am grumpy
and a mess?
Might you maybe still love me
when I have forgotten your name?

What greater treasure can there be
than this -
a friend to stand beside me
to walk the valleys and the heights
to share the load and make me laugh.
What greater honour can there be
than this -
to give myself to another,
just an ordinary person,
only human, warts and all,
knowing you will let me down,
trusting you to pick me up.
So I choose you over everyone else,
for all the years ahead.

Blessings

A Kiwi Wedding Blessing

May your hearts grow together
like the branches of a kauri tree.
May your love be deep and wide as the ocean,
and your joy be as high as the mighty mountains.
May you be at home with each other wherever you are,
and forgive each other every day.
May success unfold in your work
like the tree fern opens to the sun,
and kindness blossom in your home.
May peace sing clear and sweet in your marriage, like a bellbird by a lake.
God bless you and keep you always.
Ma te Atua korua e manaaki.

Prayer of blessing

God of all the universe, thank you for this day.
Thank you for these two beautiful people, and for their love and marriage.
In all that they do may they know that they are special in your sight.
May love and wisdom flow through every word they say and every choice they make.
Lord, bless them with all they dream of. Keep them strong and well in body, mind and spirit. Bring them children. Bring them good friends. Deepen their love through the years. May they grow tall in their community and win the respect of many. When storms crash against their door, Lord, be the strength that holds firm to what is most important. May they be a shelter and an inspiration to others when times get hard.
Bless this marriage and bring them deep contentment, and peace as they relax together at the end of every day.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

You know who you are

You know who you are and to whom you belong.
You know where you come from,
solid ground beneath your feet.
You know who walks beside you,
and who watches from above.
So walk through the days,
even when you cannot see far ahead,
with a lightness in your step
and a confidence in your path,
for joy dances with you
and peace wraps you round.

Go now and through all the years

Go now and through all the years,
in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
the almighty love of God our Father
and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Aaronic blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace.

My favourite Bible reading for a wedding:
Colossians 3:12-15
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a complaint against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Photo by Stephanie Defregger, Handmade Photography, of the front window at Cashmere Presbyterian Church