…in der Tarkk’ampuja-Kapelle des Turkuer Doms

Samstag, 21.05.2005

Wedding March / Einzug / Johdantomusiikki

Welcoming Words / Begrüßung / Johdanto

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We have come together in the presence of God, to ask God’s blessing to the marriage of Karen and Vidal and to share in their joy. Our Lord Jesus Christ was himself a guest at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and through his Spirit he is with us here and now.

Psalm Reading / Psalmlesung / Psalmi

Ps. 118: 1, 24-25

Danket dem Herrn, denn er ist gut zu uns, seine Liebe hört niemals auf! Dieser Festtag ist ein Geschenk des Herrn. Heute wollen wir uns freuen und jubeln! Hilf uns doch, Herr! Gib uns Glück und Gelingen!

Prayer / Gebet / Rukous

God our Father, from the beginning
you have blessed creation with abundant life.
Pour out your blessings upon Karen and Vidal,
that they may be joined in mutual love and companionship,
in holiness and commitment to each other.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Reading / Lesung / Lukukappale

Ruth 1: 16-17

Wohin du gehst, dorthin gehe ich auch; wo du bleibst, da bleibe auch ich. Dein Volk ist mein Volk, und dein Gott ist der meine. Wo du stirbst, will auch ich sterben und begraben werden.

Gospel Reading / Evangelium / Evankeliumi

Matt. 19: 4-6

Jesus antwortete: “Habt ihr nicht gelesen, was in den heiligen Schriften steht? Dort heißt es, dass Gott am Anfang den Menschen als Mann und Frau geschaffen hat. Und er hat gesagt: “Deshalb verlässt ein Mann Vater und Mutter, um mit seiner Frau zu leben. Die zwei sind dann eins, mit Leib und Seele.” Sie sind also nicht mehr zwei, sondern eins. Und was Gott zusammengefügt hat, sollen Menschen nicht scheiden.”

Homily / Ansprache / Puhe

Gott, der Herr, sei vor dir, um dir den richtigen Weg zu zeigen.
Er sei neben dir, um dich in die Arme zu schliessen und dich zu schützen.
Der Herr sei hinter dir, um dich zu bewahren vor der Heimtücke böser Menschen.
Er sei unter dir, um dich aufzufangen, wenn du fällst und dir Kraft zu geben, wenn du am Ende bist.
Der Herr sei in dir, um dich zu trösten, wenn du traurig bist.
Er sei über dir, um dich jeden Augenblick mit seiner Nähe zu erfreuen.
So segne dich der gütige Gott, Vater, Sohn und Heiliger Geist.

“Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge.” It truly is your passage. You two have given the world to one another with your travels together and by that token also left your own home country and moved to Finland. Where one has gone the other one has followed.

When you talked about love you talked about relying on each other, about being certain that the other one is there, about missing each other when you’re not together, about feeling that you can be yourself with the other and about feeling that everything is much nicer to do with the other one than without. That it is why it is clear to me that I need not tell you about what love is. You know. Very well. And are very blessed in that.

Now the way Christianity sees our existence on this earth starts with the knowledge that we live leaning on God’s blessings every day. His goodness and forgiveness surround us. God protects our lives even though we do not always understand the paths of his love. He is the source of inner peace, which supports us amidst all the brokenness of human existence. He is quite simply everything.
As we ask for God to bless us we ask that it is this God that comes close to us. Gives us eyes to see that there is hope when we’re blinded by despair. Shares our joy with us by multiplying it and enfolds us into his arms when we need comfort and peace. As we ask God to bless each other we ask this to happen. We ask God’s Spirit to enter each others lives. To show the way when it is lost and to give us wisdom, courage and love in the face of life as it is. We ask God to help us lift the cup of life and enjoy it to the fullest. And the amazing thing is that He will always give even more. And is eagerly waiting for us to ask Him to bless us even more. Abundantly.

Now today we ask God to especially bless you two and your marriage. We ask Him to be present in your lives and in your marriage this day and ever more. We do not know what this blessing will look like each day, but you will if you look for it. Day by day it’ll be there for you. It’ll be a treasure hidden in your marriage calling for you to look for it and to base your lives on it. On God, His love and His gifts.

Our internet system decided to take a holiday yesterday when I wrote this speech and I couldn’t get the following in German. But the next words are nontheless originally from Germany:

With faith there is love,
With love there is peace,
With peace there is blessing,
With blessing, there is God,
With God there is no need.

A German Blessing

Declarations / Traufragen / Kysymykset

Please stand up to witness Karen and Vidal’s vows to one another:

I now invite you to declare your love to one another before God, his church and your family and loved ones.

Vidal F., in your marriage with Karen Monika F. do you promise to love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Answer: I do.

Karen Monika F., in your marriage with Vidal F. do you promise to love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Answer: I do.

Blessing of the Rings / Segnung der Ringe / Sormusrukous

Heavenly Father, source of everlasting love,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ
and poured into our hearts through your Holy Spirit;
that love which is patient and kind,
enduring all things without end;
by your blessing,
let these rings be to Karen and Vidal symbols
to remind them of the covenant made this day
through your grace in the love of your Son
and in the power of your Spirit.
Amen.

Blessing of the Marriage / Segnung der Ehe / Aviopuolisoiden siunaaminen

Most Gracious God,
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
pour out the abundance of your blessing upon Karen and Vidal.
Defend them from every enemy.
Lead them into all peace.
Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts.
Bless them in their work and in their companionship;
in their sleeping and in their waking;
in their joys and in their sorrows; in all their life.
Send your blessing to them so that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness,
that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God , now and for ever.
Amen.

You may now kiss each other.

Hymn / Lied / Virsi

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty / Lobe den Herren / Kiitos nyt Herran

Intercessions / Fürbittengebet / Yhteinen esirukous

Faithful God, holy and eternal,source of life and spring of love,
we thank and praise you for bringing Karen and Vidal to this day,
and we pray for them:
Blessed is the Lord, who makes the groom rejoice with the bride.
God of love, we thank you for the gift of marriage and for the joys it brings.
Bless us as we share in this wedding.
We thank you for the love which has brought Karen and Vidal to each other and for their desire to share that love for the rest of their lives;

Faithful God, giver of all good things,
give them wisdom and devotion in ordering their common life,
that each may be to the other a source of comfort and confidence,a strength in need, a counsellor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow and a companion in joy.
Give them grace when they hurt one another to recognize and acknowledge their fault and to seek each other’s forgiveness and your pardon and peace.
God our creator,thank you for your gift of sexual love by which husband and wife may delight in each other.
By your grace may Karen and Vidal remain lovers, rejoicing in your goodness all their days.

Give them such fulfilment of their mutual affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others.
May the hospitality of their home bring refreshment and joy to all around them;
may their love overflow to neighbours in need, and embrace those in distress.
Gracious Lord, bless the parents, families and friends of Karen and Vidal that they may grow in love.
Grant that all of us who witness these vows today may find our lives enriched and strengthened, and our loyalties confirmed;
And give us all safe travel back to our homes after these wedding celebrations.
In Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Lord’s Prayer / Vaterunser / Isä meidän

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

Blessing / Segnung der Traugemeinde / Siunaus

The Lord bless you and watch over you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you,
the Lord look kindly on you
and give you peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Hymn / Lied / Virsi
All Creatures of Our God and King / Gottes Geschöpfe kommt zuhauf / Luodot, te Herraa kiittäkää

Dismissal / Verabschiedung / Lähettäminen

Postlude / Auszug / Päätösmusiikki