SAMPLES
Closing Reading 1
Awed by the many meanings of this hour and overjoyed by its promises, we hope the spirit of trust, understanding and love may be with and through all the years that lie ahead. Whatever the trials and testings that may come, may they trust each other wholly, for without such faith, marriage is a mockery; may they understand each other, for without understanding there is neither acceptance nor forgiveness; and may they truly love each other, for without love, marriage is only an empty shell from which the white bird has flown.
As they build together a new life and a new home, may that home be bright with the laughter of children and of many friends; may it be a haven from the tensions of our time and a wellspring of strength; and in the world may it be the one place they most want to be, the place where they discover the ultimate human mystery - the secret of how two become one.
So may this shining hour be an open door through which and will go forth to build that dearest of all relationships, a happy harmonious marriage. May the years deal gently with them; walking together may they find far more in life than either would have found alone; and even more fully may they come to know this one supreme truth: caring is sharing ... that living is giving ... that life is eternal ... and that love is its crown.
Closing Reading 2
We ask for and a full life - a life rich in meaning, in purpose, in caring, and in joy. We ask not that they be "happy ever after", although we hope that they will feel happy often. We ask what is perhaps a more realistic goal, though by no means a simple one:
that they may continually strive to do and be what their inner voices urge them to attain. Not a static contentment with each other and with their world, but an ongoing process of exploring the fullness of their own and each other's personality; of helping and being helped by others, of working for the survival of our endangered planet. But let us not ask for them what we would not ask for ourselves.
Let us join with them,
Let us play with them,
and work with them,
through many more years of friendship and love.
Closing Reading 3
We know not what the future may bring into the life of this couple, but we pray that together they may be equal to the needs of their tomorrows. May they have patience in time of strain, strength in time of weakness, courage in time of discouragement, vision in time of doubt, and above all, growing love. And now may the love in your hearts and the greatness of life's possibilities give you joy, the awareness of your friends' good wishes give you peace and strength.