Gayton Church
"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13.7
Lord, help us to begin our life together as we mean to go on, and to cherish the love that we have for one another, knowing that it comes from you. Guide us into that unity of life that is your promise to every husband and wife. Bless our preparations for our wedding and our future life, that, held in your love, we may find true joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
There are some things about marrying in church that are unique and special. It's your wedding. Let us help you make it personal, meaningful, spiritual, beautiful.
The Vicar has a very particular role to play in your wedding. They can blend ancient tradition and modern experience to reflect your story. Because of the relationship with the Vicar, your wedding can be made personal, memorable, meaningful and beautiful.
The Vicar can guide you in the choice of hymns and readings and you may well already have a favourite or written your own and chosen some special music.
Here, though, are two readings that may give you inspiration.
From the Bible : Corinthians 13. 1
13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
And there is this particularly nice reading that is suitable for a man's or woman's voice.:
God is love, and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them