Marriage Services from A New Zealand Prayer Book - Contents - Marriage Ceremony First Form

Sep 24, 2026

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Marriage Services from A New Zealand Prayer Book presents liturgical material for Christian weddings, including services adapted for people previously married in a civil ceremony and for renewal of marriage vows. It outlines a theology of marriage as a lifelong covenant blessed in public before God, a priest, and a congregation. The text includes quotations and reflective themes, followed by structured liturgical forms that guide readings, declarations, vows, prayers, signing the register, and charge and blessing.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages100

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

MARRIAGE CEREMONY FIRST FORM

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

THE READINGS

REFLECTION

THE DECLARATIONS

THE MARRIAGE VOWS

SIGNING THE REGISTER

THE PRAYERS

CHARGE AND BLESSING

MARRIAGE CEREMONY SECOND FORM

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

THE DECLARATIONS

THE READINGS

REFLECTION

THE MARRIAGE VOWS

SIGNING THE REGISTER

THE PRAYERS

CHARGE AND BLESSING

MARRIAGE CEREMONY THIRD FORM

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

THE READINGS

REFLECTION

THE DECLARATIONS

THE MARRIAGE VOWS

SIGNING THE REGISTER

THE PRAYERS

CHARGE AND BLESSING

MARRIAGE CEREMONY FOURTH FORM

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

THE READINGS

REFLECTION

THE DECLARATIONS

THE MARRIAGE VOWS

SIGNING THE REGISTER

THE PRAYERS

BLESSING

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE CEREMONY

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

THE DECLARATIONS

THE MARRIAGE VOWS

THE BIBLE READINGS

THE PRAYERS

Marriage Services from A New Zealand Prayer Book, He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa. © 1989 The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Services for “Those Previously Married in a Civil Ceremony” and“Renewal of Marriage Vows” are adapted from Book of Common Worship and Common Worship, Pastoral Services. Book of Common Worship, © 1993 Westminster/John Knox Press. Common Worship: Pastoral Services, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000, 2005 and published by Church House Publishing. A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time for good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells us how Jesus shared in such an occasion, and gave there a sign of new beginnings. Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship-God’s blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and bad. For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, made and celebrated in the presence of God and before a priest and congregation. On their wedding day they face each other, make their promises with clear understanding, and receive the Church’s blessing. ‘Love is patient and kind. Love never comes to an end.’ A New Zealand Prayer Book, Introduction to Marriage True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching, sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from eachother, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together. Henri Nouwen 3 CONTENTS MARRIAGE CEREMONY FIRST FORM .................................................. 8 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION ................................................................... 8 THE READINGS ............................................................................................... 9 REFLECTION ................................................................................................... 9 THE DECLARATIONS ...................................................................................... 9 THE MARRIAGE VOWS................................................................................. 11 SIGNING THE REGISTER................................................................................ 12 THE PRAYERS ............................................................................................... 13 CHARGE AND BLESSING .............................................................................. 14 MARRIAGE CEREMONY SECOND FORM .......................................... 16 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 16 THE DECLARATIONS .................................................................................... 17 THE READINGS ............................................................................................. 18 REFLECTION ................................................................................................. 18 THE MARRIAGE VOWS................................................................................. 19 SIGNING THE REGISTER ............................................................................... 20 THE PRAYERS ............................................................................................... 20 CHARGE AND BLESSING .............................................................................. 21 MARRIAGE CEREMONY THIRD FORM .............................................. 22 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 22 THE READINGS ............................................................................................. 23 REFLECTION ................................................................................................. 23

FAQs

What kinds of marriage services does the book include?

It includes services for those previously married in a civil ceremony and for the renewal of marriage vows, alongside multiple marriage ceremony forms and a traditional marriage ceremony outline.

What theological purpose of marriage is stated in the introduction?

Marriage is presented as a lifelong covenant intended by God, receiving the Church’s blessing and inviting Christians to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

What elements appear across the different marriage ceremony forms?

The forms organize the service around welcome and introduction, readings, reflection, declarations, marriage vows, signing the register, prayers, and a charge and blessing.

Sep 24, 2026

Upload by Mimi