Religious

Corinthians 13:1-13 (Blessing – Read by guests not the celebrant)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

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

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. For we know in-part, and we prophesy in-part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

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 childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor 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. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

Corinthians 13:4-7 (Blessing – Read by guests not the celebrant)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

You Were Born Together by Kahil Gilbran philosopher and poet

“You Were Born Together”

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

With You In My Heart by Mick Jennings

“With You In My Heart”

With you in my heart, my life is complete,

You’re the air that I breathe and the food that I eat.

You are my soul mate, the beat in my heart,

It feels like a year each second we’re apart.

With you in my heart I’m walking on air,

I can imagine your perfume and the touch of your hair.

Your beautiful eyes, so kind and so green,

The loveliest sight I ever have seen.

With you in my heart, I am brim full of pride,

It’s as though i can achieve anything with you by my side.

You’re my rock, you?re my angel, my one true love,

You’re my present from heaven, my gift from above.

With you in my heart, I love you so much,

How caring you are, my soul you do touch.

You’re a beautiful princess, a pleasure to know,

My love for you just continues to grow.

With you in my heart, I’m the happiest man on earth,

I feel God has planned this since the day of my birth.

I could never love anyone the way I love you,

I hope and I pray that you feel the same way too.

With you in my heart, through the good and the bad,

I’ll be there when you need me, when you’re hurting or sad.

In fact I’ll be there for you any night, any day,

Whenever you need me, you just have to say.

With you in my heart, it really makes my day,

With the things that you do and the things that you say.

You and Eva deserve happiness and I will ensure,

From now, only good times come knocking at your door.

With you in my heart, I hope it feels good,

And that I am caring for you the way that I should.

I will always be happy, just by the love that you give,

I will protect you and love you for as long as I live.

Wedding Prayer by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Behold our family here assembled.

We give thanks:

for the love that unites us,

for the family that joins us,

for the peace accorded us,

for the hope with which we expect tomorrow,

for the health, the work, the food,

and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;