St Mary’s Church, Bibury, Gloucestershire
TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF
FRANCES LUCRAFT
with
JAMES CLEAR
1pm
FRIDAY 18TH MARCH 2016
ORDER OF SERVICE
THE ENTRANCE OF THE BRIDE
Thomas Tallis - If ye love me
————
THE BIDDING
The Reverend John Swanton
————
HYMN
MORNING HAS BROKEN
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
————
READING
Song of Solomon 2.10-13; 8.6,7
read by Samantha McGregor
My beloved speaks and says to me:
'Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away;
for now the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtle dove
is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away.'
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love
all the wealth of one's house,
it would be utterly scorned.
————
THE DECLARATIONS
Minster: Will you the family and friends of
Fran and James support and uphold them in
their marriage now and in the years to come?
All: We will
————
HYMN
BREAD OF HEAVEN
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more.
Feed me till I want no more.
Open thou the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream shall flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer
Be thou still my strength and shield.
Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.
I will ever give to thee.
————
READING
Friendship - read by Benjamin Lucraft
It is often said that it is love that makes the
world go round. However, without doubt, it is
friendship which keeps our spinning existence
on an even keel. True friendship provides so
many of the essentials for a happy life – it is
the foundation on which to build an enduring
relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us
together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm
protection we sometimes need when the world
outside seems cold and chaotic. True
friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and
failings, without destroying our sense of
worthiness. True friendship nurtures our
hopes, supports us in our disappointments,
and encourages us to grow to our best
potential. Bride and Groom came together as
friends; today they pledge to each other not
only their love but also the strength, warmth,
and, most importantly, the fun of true
friendship.
————
THE ADDRESS
The Reverend John Swanton
————
THE MARRIAGE
————
THE SIGNING OF THE REGISTER
Choir to sing
————
Reading
William Shakespeare sonnet read by Sally Brook-Lane
Of all my loves this is the first and last
That in the autumn of my years has grown,
A secret fern, a violet in the grass,
A final leaf where all the rest are gone.
Would that I could give all and more, my life,
My world, my thoughts, my arms, my breath,
my future,
My love eternal, endless, infinite, yet brief,
As all loves are and hopes, though they
endure.
You are my sun and stars, my night, my day,
My seasons, summer, winter, my sweet
spring,
My autumn song, the church in which I pray,
My land and ocean, all that the earth can bring
Of glory and of sustenance, all that might be
divine,
My alpha and my omega, and all that was ever
mine
————
THE PRAYERS
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
Amen
————
HYMN
This Little Light Of Mine
The light that shines is the light of love
Lights the darkness from above
It shines on me and it shines on you
And shows what the power of love can do
I'm gonna shine my light both far and near
I'm gonna shine my light both bright and clear
Where there's a dark corner in the land
I'm gonna let my little light shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna
This little light of mine, I'm gonna
This little light of mine, I'm gonna
Let it shine, let it shine, let it
let it shine.
let it shine.
let it shine.
shine.
On Monday he gave me the gift of love
Tuesday peace came from above
On Wednesday he told me to have more faith
On Thursday he gave me a little more grace
On Friday he told me to watch and pray
On Saturday he told just what to say
On Sunday he gave me the pow'r pow'r divine
To let my little light shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
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THE BLESSING
————
RECESSIONAL
Choir
————
There will be a retiring collection
aid of this ancient church.