LET THERE BE LIGHT:

A TRADITIONAL CEREMONY FOR LIGHTING THE UNITY CANDLE

INTRODUCTION

It is written in the Bible that a man shall leave his family and a woman shall leave her home and the two shall be as one. [So they are no longer two but one, Jesus declared.] What, therefore, God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE

Marriage forms a new creation, for in marriage the old things have passed away and a new heaven and a new earth become our dwelling place.

_____ and _____, today we celebrate your commitment to each other. But marriage itself is a relationship that only time, patience and understanding can fully reveal.

God may have created the universe in six days but the sixth day was a very long day and the seventh day of rest was very, very short. Marriage as a relationship of two becoming one does not happen overnight. It is created over time and your days of rest will also be very short.

LIGHTING OF THE UNITY CANDLE

In the beginning God said, "'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good..." (Genesis 1:3-4)

_____ and _____, now that you have pledged your love to one another through the sharing of vows (and of rings), you further symbolize your commitment to sharing life together through the creation of one flame.

Bride and groom take their individual candles, light the unity candle together, and then return the individual candles, still lit, to their holders. "One Candle," may also be used here as an optional reading (see Additional Resources).

MUSIC Optional

Several suggestions include: "Entreat Me Not To Leave Thee" (Charles Gounod), "The Lord's Prayer," "Ave Maria," "May The God of Love" (John F. Wilson), and "The Two Shall Be As One" (John F. Wilson).

STATEMENT OF HOPE

_____ and _____, may your love for one another always burn brightly and may your life together be a light to others, an example of God's love made visible in the world. [As it is written in the Gospel of Matthew: "No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to  God" who has brought you together (Mt. 5:15-16).]

As an alternative scripture the following may be read: As the prophet Isaiah said, "If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday" (Isaiah 58:10).

A BLESSING

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

May the face of the Lord shine upon you,

and be gracious to you:

May the light of the Lord be lifted upon you,

and give you peace. 

Amen.

Couple may kiss.

PRESENTATION OF THE NEW COUPLE

It is my pleasure to present to you _____ and _____ (or Mr. and Mrs. __________) in their new relationship as husband and wife.

Clergy Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 32333
Kansas City, MO 64171
1-800-237-1922 

ÓClergy Services, Inc.