Loving and eternal God, you are a God of beginnings. As we gather together at this new beginning, we thank you for [names]. In scripture, you remind us that no one starts a journey alone. So go forward with [names] as you did with Sarah and Abraham, Mary and Joseph, and Ruth and Naomi, showing them the way as you keep your promises to them. We know that few journeys are easy, but that we can always count on you to meet us at the beginning. So as [names] set out on this road together:
Keep their communication open
and grant them patience, humility, and compassion.
Fill their hearts with humor,
open them to adventure,
and let them always see the best in each other,
even in tough times.
Bless them with unforgettable memories
and the courage to deal with the hard ones,
as they grow stronger together.
Give them strength to carry one another’s burdens,
the humility to ask for help,
and the wisdom to share this responsibility.
Let them be equal partners in this work,
serving one another equally and eagerly,
an example for their friends and family.
And may their love be a circle,
which, like the rings on their fingers, never ends.
Go with them now the whole way
and pour your joy on the home they will build together—
From front door to back door
from chimney to basement
and down every hall,
let the place be filled.
Let laughter and warmth
bless it by day;
and may Christ the Good Shepherd
watch over it at night.
Let all that they do, and all that they are,
remind them of the One who holds things together
and makes things good.
Hold them tight, O God,
and never let them go.
Amen.
—December 12