I'd like to share this with you all. It is our renewal of vows from Monday morning.

Blessing of Relationship and Renewal of Marriage Vows

Kim and Ian Cauwood

St John’s Hospice, 9th October 2006

We gather together to share in a very special occasion:
For Kim and Ian to celebrate the love they have shared together over so many years, to give thanks for the depth of love they now have for each other, and in renewing their marriage vows to commit themselves to continue in that love.
As they commit themselves together in love, so we remember that love bears all that is past, love lives in the present, and love hopes for the future. For love is of God, and love is eternal.
So as we sit, so let us join our hearts together in prayer.

Opening Prayer
Gracious God,
We are here to give thanks your gift of love,
the love that Kim and Ian share
the faithfulness they have shown to each other,
the strength they have given each other,
the closeness that has grown between them,
for the love they have shared with Danielle, William and Zoe.
Loving Father,
We are here to give thanks for how you have sustained them,
through hopes and fears, happy times and hard times, in health and illness.
So, Loving God, we ask your richest blessing on Kim and Ian as they express their love for each other now.
In the name of Christ, Amen


Context of Love: Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 vv 4-7, 13
Love is patient; love is kind and envies no-one.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offence.
Love keeps no score of wrongs; does not gloat over other people’s
wrongs, but delights in the truth.
There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and its endurance.
Love will never come to an end.
In a word, there are three things that last forever: faith, hope,
and love; but the greatest of them all is love.


Promises of Love
I now invite Kim and Ian to join hands and to make a very simple yet very deep promise, in renewing your marriage vows:
to commit yourselves to each other, to honour, to cherish and to love one another, in the knowledge that love lasts for ever:
Do you, Kim, promise to love Ian? . . . I do
Do you, Ian, promise to love Kim? . . . I do


Prayer of Blessing
Loving God,
We thank you for this special time,
of two lives, of a family, brought closer together.
We thank you for Kim and Ian,
all that they mean to us,
all that they mean to each other,
all that they mean to you.
We thank you for bringing them together,
for the love that they share.
Loving God,
We pray that you will strengthen and deepen their love for each other, and for their family, hour by hour, day by day.
Grant your richest blessing on Kim and Ian, in the name of Christ, Amen.

Blessing
Kim and Ian, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace, this day and always. Amen.


David Barnett, Chaplain

 

Although I am an athiest, I will declare my undying love for Kim in any religious context. Our love is stronger than any religion and is eternal.

 

Aetheist or not, the words speak volumes.
It must be difficult to sit there at 2 in the morning hoping that there's someone out here to read what you have to say. It looks like I'm the first, but I'm sure there'll be many more today to share thoughts with you.
Very hard to know what to say from out here, our words can seem very shallow and meaningless, but intentions are true.
Dave.

 

Very touched by that

I hopeyou will find the strength to carry on and remember all thewonderful times you shared.

 

Selfish of me, at ....

... a this time, but, reading that, gave me a kick up the backside and made me realise that life is very fragile and I should appreciate more, the time (26yrs) I have spent with the caring,loving woman I married.</p>

God bless, you and your Family and give you the strength to carry on.</p>

 

god bless you both - an extremely generous gesture in you sharing that with members of this board

 

I don't know what to say. But I want you to know my thoughts are with you and the kids. </p>

Dave</p>

 

Can't really seem to find the right words Ian

but I know how important it was to you and Kim to be able to renew your vows. I hope it gives you a little comfort that you had time to reaffirm your love for each other infront of your children.

Love has no boundaries, Kim will be with you in your heart and by your side guiding you until it is time for you to be together again.

Take care.

xx

 

Thank You

Give me the selfish thought of being thankful for what I've got!!

God bless and keep on keeping on!

 

---

 

That's so beautiful and shows just how special your relationship was.

 

thats very moving, thank you for sharing it

we all use this board for a variety of reasons, but if you want to use it as a source of strength for a while, the queue of people you can lean on goes right round the block.</p>

You know who they are. </p>

 

Ian

Dont know you but I've seen the you and the kids in the OP and in Cardiff..the shirts are a big clue.</p>

Anyway, thanks for sharing that. I am not religous myself but those words are very moving.</p>

I cannot imagine how you and the kids are feeling at the moment but I am sure you and the kids will find the strength to move forward and that you cherish forever the memories of beloved wife and mother Kim.</p>

Darrell</p>

 

Aww that's beautiful.

Thank you for sharing a precious memory with us.

Laura
xx