Essay / Misc.

Wedding Prayer at Christmas

Here is a prayer I said at the wedding of two friends today, Dec. 21, 2007. Congratulations to Mark and Shelley.

Our Father in heaven,

We thank you and praise you for all you are and for all you have done. You are the one who said in the beginning, “let light shine out of darkness,” and you are the one who has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. You, O God, are the one who sent forth your only-begotten Son in the fullness of time, and caused your word to become flesh and dwell among us. O God who made all things, we thank you that here today among us you are making a new thing, a new family, out of Mark and Shelley. Lord, you cause all things to work together for good for those who love you and are called for your purpose, and we ask you to take this new thing you are creating and use it to bring glory to you and blessing to us. Through this new thing, God, bless us every one.

Lord Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, all the good we receive is from your own fullness. Come and make your blessing known as far as the curse is found, for the curse of sin is found everywhere we look, and we are comfortless if you do not comfort us with your almighty power and love. We ask you to bring your strong, sovereign comfort to Mark and Shelley here and now: lead them, instruct them, encourage them, empower them, employ them, protect them, provide for them, and be their companion in all they do. Deliver them from evil: from pride and cockiness, from laziness and condemnation, from deceitfulness and secrecy. Deliver us all, Lord Jesus. If it be your will, make this wedding celebration a channel of blessing to all gathered here: a renewal of old vows for some of us, a refreshing of vision for some of us, a catching of our attention, a reminder of your faithfulness, a glimpse of your glory and blessedness for all of us. And what you do for their wedding in one bright and blessed afternoon, do a hundredfold for their marriage over the course of their lives.

Holy Spirit, come be among us and do what only you can do, bring us to life, open our eyes, instruct our minds, lift up our hearts, and strengthen our steps. There are many obstructions that block our clear vision of God. Make a flat and level pathway and remove everything that keeps us from seeing you. Knock down the lofty, lift up the lowly, and show us your glory. Spirit, let the light of Christmas, the light of the incarnation of the Son of God, shine on this wedding, this couple, these assembled guests, and the world that you created together with the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.

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