St Nicholas
As soon as I decided that I would like to get married I got in touch with the vicar - Rev John Hall at Tooting Parish Church. This is the church I was christened in and my brother was married here too He has arranged to meet us both and discuss the plans for our wedding. He also let us know that our planned date and time are available and we where able to make a definite booking.
We could like about getting married at Abington Pigotts, St Michael a very pretty little church which is near the reception.
Steve or me are entitled to be married in the church of the Church of England parish where live. Also, if we are an active, worshipping member of another church congregation, it is usually possible to be married there.
As neither of these applies St Michael we will have to apply common or special licence, which can be granted to allow the marriage in another church. To be married by common or special licence, at least one of us must have been baptized, which we both are.
At the moment we can only have a Church of England wedding in a parish church or some other place of worship - normally one licensed by the Bishop. It is not normally possible to have a church wedding in other venues, for instance in South Farm. This will mean more sorting out and planning, I best get my pen and paper out and contact the Bishop
A marriage service, wherever it is held, is a public declaration of love and commitment to my partner. I want to also have the assurance that God cares about my relationship and that his resources and strength are available to help me. I do realize that including God in my marriage doesn’t mean that we will avoid all the usual ups and downs, but I will know that we can look to God for help and guidance, and that his love will sustain us. We will also have the support and encouragement of the wider Christian Church family.
Marriage, the Bible tells us, is a gift of God in creation and a means of his grace, a holy mystery in which man and woman become one flesh. It is God's purpose that, as husband and wife we give each other in love throughout their lives, we are united in that love, just as Christ is united in love with his Church.
We will have to start thinking of the service
I like this reading from the bible
We read some verses together to see if what they say seems important to us.
* God creates women and men to look after the earth (Genesis, Chapter 1, verses 26-28)
1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
* A love poem between two lovers (Song of Solomon, Chapter 2, verses 10-13; Chapter 8, verses 6&7)
2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
2:11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
* Being a good lover! (1 John Chapter 4 verses 7 - 12)
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Other possible ones are
* Jesus teaches how to live life that brings true happiness (Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-10)
* Jesus teaches about marriage, and welcomes children (Mark, Chapter 10, verses 6-9 and 13-16
* What happens when Jesus attends a wedding reception (John, Chapter 2, verses 1 - 11)
* Love, actually! (1 Corinthians Chapter 13)
* Committing to each other (Ephesians Chapter 5, verses 21-33)
* Seeing the good side… (Philippians Chapter 4, verses 4 - 9)
* Getting the perfect relationship (Colossians Chapter 3, verses 12 - 17)
We may even have a poem. This one court our eye
I Will Be Here
Steven Curtis Chapman
If in the morning when you wake,
If the sun does not appear,
I will be here.
If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand and have no fear,
I will be here.
I will be here,
When you feel like being quiet,
When you need to speak your mind I will listen.
Through the winning, losing, and trying we'll be together,
And I will be here.
If in the morning when you wake,
If the future is unclear,
I will be here.
As sure as seasons were made for change,
Our lifetimes were made for years,
I will be here.
I will be here,
And you can cry on my shoulder,
When the mirror tells us we're older.
I will hold you, to watch you grow in beauty,
And tell you all the things you are to me.
We'll be together and I will be here.
I will be true to the promises I've made,
To you and to the one who gave you to me.
I will be here.
We will have to find out how we will add these ideas for our service
