Practices, Policies, and Information
The willing and deliberate desire for a man and woman to live in mutual love “as long as [they] both shall live” was engendered in them by their Creator (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4–6; Eph. 5:22–33). In God’s plan, they are to be living examples of the communion that all people individually and collectively may share in God through Christ Jesus.
Because marriage is a gift of the Creator that is not negated by the fall into sin, it may be performed by civil authorities, apart from the Church. While such civil ceremonies are good according to “civil righteousness,” they do not speak the Lord’s blessing or implore His grace and aid for a sanctified marriage and home.
In the Lord’s name, the Church through her pastors gives the heavenly Father’s blessing to the willing consent and solemn promises of a man and woman. In this way, the Lord’s blessing elevates the legal marriage to holy matrimony, where His Word and promise are clearly proclaimed. Martin Luther acknowledged this purpose of holy matrimony when he wrote in his Marriage Booklet:
“When someone asks us [the pastor] to bless them in front of the church or in the church, whether to pray over them or even to marry them, we are obligated to do so…. For whoever desires a prayer or blessing from the pastor or bishop, indicates thereby (even if he doesn’t actually say so with his mouth) what kind of peril and necessity is approaching and how great is his need for divine blessing and common prayer for the estate into which he is about to enter. For one daily encounters all too often the kind of misfortune the devil serves up in the estate of marriage through adultery, unfaithfulness, discord, and all kinds of misery.”
Therefore, the Lord speaks His blessing to those who are married so that they may faithfully keep their vows. The public desire to enter the holy estate of matrimony by mutual vows lived according to the Lord’s Word was traditionally declared in the Marriage Banns. After the intention of the couple to seek the Lord’s blessing is declared, the Church prays that they may live in His strong love and enduring blessing.
The usual place where God’s blessing is publicly given is the rite of Holy Matrimony. Clothed in Scripture reading and prayer, the couple gives their mutual consent and their solemn promises, employing biblically informed words. Their words are followed by the Lord’s blessing, which declares His sturdy and unwavering protection against any evil that may threaten their marriage from without or within.
Those who were married in a legal civil ceremony may receive the Lord’s blessing in the Blessing of a Civil Marriage. While affirming the lawfulness of their civil marriage, this rite supplies what the government cannot give — the Lord’s Word, the prayer of the Church, and the Lord’s dependable promise of help and protection.
When the Church desires to celebrate the marital harmony that our Lord’s blessing bestows, the Anniversary or Affirmation of Holy Matrimony is a suitable rite. Thankful for the Lord’s mercy and kindness, the Church rejoices in those solemn vows sustained and blessed by our merciful God.
Suggested Propers for Holy Matrimony
Psalmody
The following psalms may be used at the Introit, Psalm, or Gradual in the Divine Service, or at the Psalmody in the Daily Office. Suggested antiphons are given in parentheses.
- Psalm 45:13–17 (Ps. 72:18) — With joy and gladness they are led along
- Psalm 67 (v. 1a) — May God be gracious to us and bless us
- Psalm 100 (v. 5) — The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever
- Psalm 117 (v. 2b) — The steadfast love of the Lord is great
- Psalm 127 (Ps. 26:3) — Unless the Lord builds the house
- Psalm 128 (Song 1:1) — The Lord bless you from Zion
Collect of the Day
When the service precedes one of the regularly scheduled services of the congregation, one of the following collects may be prayed following the appointed Collect of the Day.
O heavenly Father, whose Son at Cana revealed the new wine of Your kingdom to those entering holy matrimony, by Your Holy Spirit renew the married couples of Your Church in their vows, answer the petitions of those who pray for a godly spouse, and teach all Your people to pray for and help their neighbors to live faithfully as husbands and wives; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (529)
Almighty God, You created man and woman and joined them together in holy marriage, thereby reflecting the mystical union between Christ and His bride, the Church. By Your infinite goodness, let Your blessing rest upon all husbands and wives, that they may live together to Your glory in this life and with joy may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (530)
Readings
Texts in boldface should be given special consideration due to long-standing usage.
- Genesis 1:26–28 — Male and female he created them
- Genesis 2:7, 18–24 — They shall become one flesh
- Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; 9:9–10 — A threefold cord is not quickly broken
- Song of Songs 2:10–13; 8:6–7 — Many waters cannot quench love
- Isaiah 61:7–11 — As a bridegroom decks himself
- Hosea 2:18–23 — I will betroth you to me in faithfulness
- Romans 12:1–2 — Present your bodies as a living sacrifice
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 7:4–5 — Glorify God in your body
- 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13 — The greatest of these is love
- Ephesians 5:1–2, 22–33 — Walk in love as Christ loved us
- Philippians 4:4–7 — Rejoice in the Lord always
- Colossians 3:12–17 — Put on love which binds everything together
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 — God has called us in holiness
- Hebrews 13:1–8 — Let marriage be held in honor among all
- 1 John 4:7–12 — Let us love one another
- Revelation 19:6–9 — His Bride has made herself ready
- Revelation 21:1–5 — The holy city prepared as a bride
- Matthew 19:4–6 — What God has joined let no one separate
- Mark 10:1–9 (13–16) — What God has joined let no one separate
- John 2:1–11 — Wedding at Cana
- John 15:9–12 — Abide in my love
Verse
Alleluia. Alleluia. It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. Alleluia. — Genesis 2:18
Prayer of the Church
When the service precedes a regularly scheduled service of the congregation, one or both of the following may be included in the Prayer of the Church.
Almighty, everlasting God, our heavenly Father, grant that by Your blessing name and name may live together according to Your Word and promise. Strengthen them in faithfulness and love toward each other. Sustain and defend them in every trial and temptation. Help them to live in faith toward You, in the communion of Your holy Church, and in loving service to each other that they may ever enjoy Your heavenly blessing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (531)
O God, our dwelling place in all generations, look with favor upon the homes of our land. Embrace husbands and wives, parents and children, in the arms of Your love, and grant that each, in reverence for Christ, fulfill the duties You have given. Bless our homes that they may ever be a shelter for the defenseless, a fortress for the tempted, a resting place for the weary, and a foretaste of our eternal home with You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (527)
Suggested Hymns
- 922 — Go, My Children, with My Blessing
- 860 — Gracious Savior, Grant Your Blessing
- 940 — Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
- 859 — Lord, When You Came as Welcome Guest
- 700 — Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
- 895 — Now Thank We All Our God
- 858 — O Father, All Creating
- 862 — Oh, Blest the House
- 790 — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26–27). Therefore, rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18–25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2–5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Thess. 4:2–5). We believe that God has commanded that we engage in no intimate sexual activity outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18–20; 1 Cor. 6:9–10).
Marriage cannot be rightly understood apart from another gift: the gift of children. When he created man and woman, God says, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). Therefore, the optimal setting for the care of children is the loving marital unity of a man and woman. In such marriage, children are nurtured within the distinctive uniqueness and created differences of male and female serving together in the family.
This biblical understanding of the marriage union of man and woman is both purposeful and beautiful. Its purposes include the procreation and nurture of children, the mutual joy and the support and encouragement be given to one another by husband and wife, and the restraint of selfishness and sin as each seeks to serve the other’s needs. Such purposes reveal a beauty so great that Eph. 5:21–33 connects marriage to the holy union of Christ and His bride, the church.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19–21; Rom. 10:9–10; 1 Cor. 6:9–11). We believe that we must give every person compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church and School.
Because this Statement agrees with Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, to preserve the function and integrity as the local Body of Christ and provide a biblical role model to St. John members and the community, all persons employed by St. John Ev. Lutheran Church and School in any capacity, those who serve as volunteers, all members of the congregation, and all parents and students at our school agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14–16; 1 Thess. 5:22).
Presented to Council June 2021. Approved by Council and Voters September 2021.