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Good relationships never stop growing. Like fine wine, they get better with age. __________ and _____________, you have now been married ___ years and through all the years of your journey together, you have now come to this moment, so that you could renew your vow and commitment of love for each other.

No marriage is perfect. As you continue in this union, you already know that it will continue to take a lot of love and work to keep your relationship an ongoing success.

Many couples tend to think of marriage as a 50/50 proposition. Actually, the best relationships are 90/10. If you both will give 90% and take only 10%, you will have a formula likely to continue to bring both of you happiness for a lifetime.

As you continue on your journey together, I ask you to remember this advice:

Let your love be stronger than your anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break. Believe the best of your beloved rather than the worst. Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends. Say "I love you" every day.

A marriage ceremony represents one of life’s greatest commitments. But it also is a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love I hope you pursue in your marriage:

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud.

Love is never haughty or selfish or rude.

Love does not demand it’s own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong.

Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.

If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them."

Vow Introduction (Select One)

VI-1:

__________________________ and _________________________, as you this day renew your marriage vows which united you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as you shall remain each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.

VI-1:

When you first joined hands and hearts ___ years ago, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult tribulations. Therefore, you have fulfilled your promise. And God is smiling! So, as you come here today to reaffirm your wedding vows and as you reflect back over all the years as husband and wife, do you now reaffirm the vows you took ___ years ago?

Wedding Vow Renewal Sample Vows (Select One)

VR-1:

_____________ once before,
I have stood with you
before family and friends;
once again, I take your hand
as my partner.
I take you this day,
and for all days,
as my (husband/wife).

VR-2:

_____________, I am proud
to marry you on this day.
I promise to wipe away your tears
with my laughter
and your pain
with my caring and compassion.
We will wipe clean
the old canvases of our lives
and let God,
with His amazing artistic talent,
fill them with new colors,
harmony and beauty.
I give myself to you completely,
and I promise to love you always,
from this day forth."

VR-3:

I believe in this marriage
more strongly than ever.

(Name), it is with joy
born of experience and trust
that I commit myself
once again
to be your (husband/wife)."

VR-4:

I, (name), give to you, (name),
a new promise, and yet not so new;
a new (husband/wife), and yet not so new;
and a new affirmation of love
from the heart
that has loved you for (__) years
and will love you
for as many more
as God allots to it.

VR-5:

______________ and _______________, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift; a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.

With this understanding, do you _____________, continue to take _____________ as your beloved wife?

Will you continue to be a tender, faithful husband? Will you continue to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto her?

With this understanding, do you ____________, continue to take ____________ as your beloved husband?

Will you continue to be a tender, faithful husband/wife?

Will you continue to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto him/her?

Rings:

_____________ and _____________ have rings as the outward symbols of their ongoing commitment to each other.

From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of wedded love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to love that is also never ending.

_____________, hold _______________'s hand, touch her ring, symbolically giving it to her again, and say to her these words.

From this day on,
I recommit myself to you,
and this ring
is a symbol of my pledge.

_____________, hold _____________'s hand, touch his ring, symbolically giving it to him again, and say to him these words.

From this day on,
I recommit myself to you,
and this ring
is a symbol of my pledge.

_____________ and _____________, let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.

Prayer:

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with great happiness as _________ and __________ have renewed their marriage vows and today reaffirmed their faith and love for one another. Grant that they may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense or jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other’s sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may they find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship. May the home they have reaffirmed today truly be a place of love and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray, and walk beside _________ and ___________________ throughout all of their lives together.We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen

May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.

____________ and _____________, having witnessed your vows of affirmation with all who are assembled here, and by the authority of love itself, I do affirm that you have expressed your desire to continue as husband and wife.

Congratulations, you may now seal your pledges with a kiss..

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, once again as husband and wife: __________________ and _________________________.

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