Chuntian Academy International

Vow Renewal

When I print it out, it looks a little "stiff" but keep in mind that I don't "read" it I "speak" it so it sounds a lot friendlier than it looks here. Also, this is just a sample. I'm sure you have some special things that you would like to have said or have included in your ceremony -- maybe by family or friends. We'll talk about those details when we meet together.

Here's the sample:

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WIFE and HUSBAND
25TH WEDDING VOW RENEWAL

To family, friends and guests:
On behalf of WIFE and HUSBAND, I’d like to welcome everyone here today. Each of you has given something of yourself into their lives and they want you to know that your love, encouragement, and support will forever be appreciated. So, we come together today to celebrate 25 years of marriage and to renew the vows made by WIFE and HUSBAND 25 years ago.

The relation of husband and wife is sacred. It is “two souls with a single thought...two hearts that beat as one.” It is the blending of two lives, the union of two natures. God, who created us male and female for each other, established this covenant of marriage. And since it is in this spirit that HUSBAND and WIFE have come together today -- it’s appropriate that we pray together:

Let’s pray together:
O Lord, our hearts are filled with great happiness today. HUSBAND and WIFE come before you pledging their lives and their hearts to one another; grant that they be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame and heartbreak into their marriage; temper their hearts with kindness and understanding and rid them of all jealousy; help them to be sweetheart, helpmate, friend, and guide to each other, that together they may meet the cares and problems of life. May their home truly be a place of love and harmony. Bless their wedding day we pray and walk beside them, Lord, through all their life together. Amen

I’m going to ask you now to symbolize your intention to renew your wedding vows made 25 years ago by facing one another and joining hands.

Turning to HUSBAND:

HUSBAND, 25 years ago you pledged your loyalty to WIFE, as your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony. (Do you remember something like that?) You promised to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health. You further promised that, forsaking all others, you would keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live. Now again, at the beginning of 26 years of you life together, in the presence of God, in the presence of your family, and in the presence of friends who have gathered for this happy occasion--will you renew these vows, pledging yourself to continue your devotion to her as long as you both shall live?
**HUSBAND answers: “I will.”

Turning to WIFE:

WIFE, 25 years ago, you pledged your loyalty to HUSBAND, as your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony. You promised to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health. You further promised that, forsaking all others, you would keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both should live. Now -- at the beginning of the 26th year of your life together, in the presence of God, in the presence of your family and in the presence of friends who have gathered for this happy occasion -- will you renew these vows, pledging yourself to continue your devotion to him as long as you both shall live?
**WIFE answers: “I will.”

I’d like to take this opportunity to share some wisdom with you… but it’s more than just common sense, and more than just my wisdom. You see, what I’d like to share today comes from thousands of years of human experience . . . from people living together and discovering what you both already know already and, in fact, has brought you here to this moment today. The bond that binds us all together is the bond we call love. Your marriage relationship is built on a foundation of love. There is probably no better definition of this love than this:

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love does not boast, Love is not proud.
Love is not rude Love is not self-seeking,
Love is not easily angered.
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
--1 Corinthians 13

So, a marriage relationship is more than just an arrangement of convenience; and it’s much more than just signing names to a piece of paper – which, of course, you did. It’s an agreement between two people who have pledged to love each other, to trust each other, and to face all that life has to offer, together; based on your loyalty, memories, dreams, goals, sacrifices, tears, joy and laughter; in no way subtracting from who you are -- but adding each of you to a new union which becomes more than the sum of the two parts.

HUSBAND and WIFE, another way of thinking about this relationship is to think of a friend, because a friend is someone you like to be with, go places with, laugh with, cry with…. But a BEST friend is even more than this, because with your best friend you can discuss your ideas, your hopes and dreams, and you understand and appreciate each other’s thoughts and needs. Your best friend somehow understands your needs better than you do. Sometimes, just being together is what you need. Sometimes, holding hands is what you need. Remember always that it is the privilege of both the husband and the wife to enjoy the company of each other – AND THAT LOVE IS FRIENDSHIP THAT HAS CAUGHT FIRE. It takes root and grows, one day at a time. You are warmed by one another’s presence, even when they are away. Miles do not separate you, because near or far, you know they are yours and you can wait. So, I’d like to point out (here minister holds couples hands) that you are right now holding the hand of the best friend that you will ever have.

HUSBAND to WIFE:
I, HUSBAND, take you WIFE, to be my wife
To have and to hold from this day forward.
I promise to be your true and loyal husband
and to honor and love you always.
I do this because I love you today . . .
I will love you tomorrow . . .
and I will love you forever.

WIFE to HUSBAND:
I, WIFE, take you HUSBAND to be my husband
To have and to hold from this day forward.
I promise to be your true and loyal wife
and to honor and love you always.
I do this because I love you today . . .
I will love you tomorrow . . .
and I will love you forever.

Pastor to couple:
Throughout time, the ring has been a symbol of unending love, because like time, the ring has no beginning and no end. It is a circle -- the emblem of eternity. These rings are made of gold, the purest metal, and the type that is least tarnished and most enduring; to show how lasting and imperishable is the faith which is now mutually pledged.

Pastor to HUSBAND:
HUSBAND, do you have such a symbol of you love for WIFE?
HUSBAND answers, “I do!”

Pastor asks HUSBAND to place ring on wife's ring finger and repeat these words:
WIFE, I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love.
And as a reminder
That I have chosen you
to be the one
to share my life.

Pastor to WIFE:
WIFE, do you have such a symbol of your love for HUSBAND?
WIFE answers, “I do!”

Pastor asks WIFE to place ring on husband's ring finger and repeat these words:
HUSBAND, I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love
And as a reminder
That I have chosen you
to be the one
to share my life.

Let us pray -- We ask You, Lord, to bless this couple whose lives are joined in one unbroken circle and may they find in each other the love, which all men and women hunger for. May they continue to grow in the understanding of this covenant they have RENEWED today; and may these rings on their fingers symbolize the touch of Your spirit of love in their hearts forever. It is written that a three-strand cord shall not easily be broken. HUSBAND loves WIFE and WIFE loves HUSBAND. I pray that the love of the strand of HUSBAND, and the love of the strand of WIFE, and that Your love, Lord, be be so entwined that the cord of this union is never easily broken.

Pastor to couple:
HUSBAND and WIFE, you have RENEWED your marriage vows before God and before these witnesses, and before each other; and, you have sealed your vows with the giving and receiving of these rings. So now, I pronounce your vows made 25 years ago are renewed in both spirit and in truth.

HUSBAND and WIFE, you may now kiss one another.

ROSES:
Join arms and face the congregation and pastor says:
HUSBAND and WIFE have renewed their marriage vows, and have witnessed this before God. They have pledged their faith, each to the other by the giving and receiving of promises, and by the joining of their hands, and they symbology of the cord. I now pray God’s continued blessings and richest benediction upon them during the rest of their days as husband and wife together. I’d like for you to think of these roses as signifying the love, the foundation of your marriage that I’ve been talking about today, and I’d like to present you with a gift and that gift is, of course, the gift of love as symbolized by these roses. (Minister hands roses to husband and wife.)

Likewise, I’d like to invite you to exchange your roses with each other -- symbolizing your gift to each other as husband and wife. That gift, of course, is the gift of love. (Couple exchanges roses).

Pastor to the people:
Too often, we view a marriage as simply the union of two people. The truth is, that marriage is much broader. As we give thanks to God for the love that brings HUSBAND and WIFE together into their covenant of marriage, I’m going to ask that all of you give to HUSBAND and WIFE your pledge: Do all of you, friends and family, by God’s grace, promise to do everything in your power to uphold and care for this family and their marriage? Please answer, “I do!” People: “I do!!!!!”

Couple faces congregation arm-in-arm and wife holds bouquet

Pastor reads closing Scripture:
From the beginning, God made men and women male and female. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.” So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together let no man put asunder.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please congratulate
Mr. and Mrs. HUSBAND and WIFE (plus last name)
on their 25th Anniversary.