Renewal of Vows – Bobby and Judy
November 9, 2007

Items Needed:
Altar Chalice Plate Athame Incense
Altar cloth Water Bread/Cake 2nd Chalice Honey
Bell Rose Oil Sword Lighter Decorations
Candles Rings Broom Wine/Water

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[Priestess] Ring Bell to announce beginning of ritual

Priestess sweeps the room counter-clockwise.

Priest and Priestess anoint each other

[Priestess] Ring Bell

This space has been cleansed.

Judy and Bobby stand to the sides, facing each other across the ritual space

[Priest] There are 2 here with us this evening that have made the decision to renew their vows on this special day. If those 2 are still wanting to proceed, please meet your son in the center.

[Priestess] (insert sons name), your parents have charged you with the duty of presenting them to the God and Goddess so that they may reconfirm the vows of their marriage. If they have your blessings, please walk them to the altar and leave them to stand before us.

[Priestess] We have joined together today, to help Bobby and Judy celebrate their union of 20 years. Bobby and Judy began this journey to this celebration a year and a day ago, when they stood before me ..Rev. Dawn Earthsong, High Priestess of the Sacred Flame Temple, and took part in a handfasting. Today, they stand before me once again, with the addition of Rev. Dan from the Temple, to complete the journey by renewing their wedding vows on this special day.

This ceremony is but an outward sign of their inward union of heart, mind and spirit, a celebration of the joining of two souls already attuned to each other.

[Priestess] Ring Bell

[Priestess and Priest] light the candles and incense. They turn toward the others in the rite. The Priest and Priestess join hands, raising their arms aloft at the same time, and the

[Priest]
May the place of this rite
Be consecrated and blessed before the gods.
For we gather here in a ritual of love
And support
With two who would be wedded
Once again
Before the gods of Nature.

[Priestess]
In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Moving to the altar, Priestess lights the incense, faces East and says: Powers of the air, weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit, and Love between Bobby and Judy. Let none undo the fabric of their love. Smudges the couple with incense.

Priest lights candles, faces South and says: Powers of fire, ignite the passion and love for Bobby and Judy, ever burning yet never one consuming the other.

Priestess raises the chalice up to the sky, faces West and says: Powers of water, bless Bobby and Judy with a love as deep as any ocean. Sprinkles some water over the couple’s heads.

Priest raises oil to North and says: Powers of the earth, bless Bobby and Judy with strength and wisdom as long as life and love lasts! anoints the bride and groom’s foreheads with rose oil

[Priestess]
Oh Greatest Lady of finest grace,
We ask you to enfold this place.
Cleanse it pure as children’s laughter,
Their vows to last forever after.
Oh thou Lady of Circle Three,
Come forth we ask, here to be.
Hail and Welcome.

[Priest]
Oh Gracious Lord of strength and power,
Stand by us on this blessed hour.
Consecrate our sacred place,
Your powers linked with Nature’s grace.
Oh thou Father sacred of forest tree,
Come forth we ask, here to be.
Hail and Welcome.

[Priestess]
All called here this blessed hour,
Stand within this Circle bower.
Watchers of the Towers old,
Your strength protect this sacred hold.
Lord and Lady this Circle cast,
Blessing of the gods long past.
Through Star and Circle of the Three,
Spoken now, so mote it be.

[Priest] To all of you who are here to witness this ceremony: you have shown your love and support for Bobby and Judy as individuals and as an already married couple. I charge you now to continue loving and supporting them as they move into a new phase of their relationship. Please, continue to rejoice with them in their successes and to help them through times of hardship. I know they will do the same for you, and together we create a loving community.

[Priestess]
Please listen to that which I’m about to say.

Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time passes remember….

Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together. Let the power of love and desire bring you joy and let the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come but they will pass.

Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease.

[Priestess] Please repeat after me.

I, Bobby, in the name of the Spirit that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides in my heart, take you Judy to my hand, my heart, and my spirit..to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired, to possess and be possessed without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond..where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people and your ways, as I respect myself.

I, Judy, in the name of the Spirit that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides in my heart, take you Bobby to my hand, my heart, and my spirit..to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired, to possess and be possessed without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond..where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people and your ways, as I respect myself.

[Priestess] By Air, by Fire, by Water, and by Earth do I bless and consecrate these rings.
[Priest] Circles represent eternity, and though our lives are finite, love – the creative force that binds us together, the force that gives new life – is everlasting.
[Priestess] Please repeat after me:
In the name of the Goddess: Maiden, Mother and Crone; and in the name of the God, with this ring, I thee wed.

[Priest] Bobby and Judy, you have proclaimed your commitment in this sacred circle before your community of family and friends. I now invite everyone to join me in the confirmation of this marriage.

(to congregation): Please repeat after me:
In the presence of this good company
By the power of your love
You have exchanged vows of commitment
And we recognize, honor, and celebrate your marriage.

[Priestess] Be understanding and patient, each with the other. Be free in the giving of affection and warmth. Be sensuous with one another. May your lives together be joyful and content, and may your love be bright as the stars, Warm as the sun, accepting as the ocean, and enduring as the mountains. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the Gods are with you now and always.

[Priestess] Bobby and Judy, in the presence of this company and of the Goddess and God, you have spoken the vows and performed the rites which unite your lives. Therefore do we pronounce you joined together as partners in life, love and the spirit. (Pause) May your lives together be as sweet as this honey, a gift of the Goddess. (Have them each place a little honey on the others lips. Then kiss.)

[Priest] Hand over Chalice

God of the Harvest
Bless these gifts as you bless us all.

Hands Chalice to Groom.

May you drink your fill from the cup of life. May you never thirst.

(Bobby holds chalice to Judy while she sips, then Judy holds it to Bobby while he sips. Returns chalice to Priestess)

[Priestess] Hand over Bread

Goddess of Abundance
Bless these gifts as you bless us all.

Hands Plate to Groom.

May you eat your fill from the food of the earth. May you never hunger.

(Bobby holds bread to Judy. Judy holds bread to Bobby)

[Priest]
God of the growing and wild things
We thank you for your presence in our circle
And ask you to be near us,
While we are apart;
Let your warmth revive us
Your love support us
And your passion inspire us all.
Go if you must, stay if you will.
We bid you hail and farewell.

[Priestess]
Goddess of the brightening day
We thank you for your presence in our circle
And ask you to be near us,
While we are apart;
Let your warmth revive us
Your love support us
And your passion inspire us all.
Go if you must, stay if you will.
We bid you hail and farewell.

[Priestess and Priest]
By the Earth that is her body,
By the Air that is her breath,
By the fire that is Her bright spirit,
By the living waters of her womb,
The circle is open but unbroken.
The peace of the Goddess and God go in our hearts.
Merry meet, and merry part and merry meet again.

Blessed Be!

[Priestess] As your first act of working together as a re-committed couple, I’d like to ask that you jump the sword and the broom. May the sword cut all ties with the past that don’t benefit you both as a couple, and the broom sweep them away.

Jump over Sword and broom.