Strom/Dahdah Wedding

The Celebration and Blessing of the Marriage of Eric Strom and Mounir Dahdah

on this thirteenth day of April two thousand twenty-four at half past two o’clock in the afternoon

Christ Church Cathedral, Houston

The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell, Celebrant

Thomas Marvil, Organist

The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage

at eleven o’clock in the morning

The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell , Celebrant

The Celebrant says the following, the People standing

Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People Blessed be God, now and for ever. Amen.

Celebrant Beloved, let us love one another, People For love is of God.

Celebrant Whoever does not love does not know God, People For God is love.

Celebrant Since God so loves us, People Let us love one another.

Dearly beloved, in the name of God and the Church we have come together today with Eric Strom and Mounir Dahdah, to witness the vows they make, committing themselves to one another in marriage. Forsaking all others, they will bind themselves to one another in a covenant of mutual fidelity and steadfast love, remaining true to one another in heart, body, and mind, as long as they both shall live. The lifelong commitment of marriage is not to be entered into lightly or thoughtlessly, but responsibly and with reverence. Let us pray, then, that God will give them the strength to remain steadfast in what they vow this day. Let us also pray for the generosity to support them in the commitment they undertake and for the wisdom to see God at work in their life together.

The Word of God The Collect

Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you.

Celebrant Let us pray.

The Celebrant says the following collect.

O God, faithful and true, whose steadfast love endures for ever: we give you thanks for sustaining Eric and Mounir in the life they share and for bringing them to this day. Nurture them and fill them with joy in their life together, continuing the good work you have begun in them; and grant us, with them, a dwelling place eternal in the heavens where all your people will share the joy of perfect love, and where you, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The People sit.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

The Holy Gospel

Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

John 15:9-12

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Homily

The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell, Celebrant

The Witnessing of the Vows and the Blessing of the Covenant

The Celebrant addresses the couple, saying Eric and Mounir, you have come before God and the Church to exchange solemn vows with one another and to ask God’s blessing.

The Celebrant addresses Eric, saying Eric, do you freely and unreservedly offer yourself to Mounir?

Eric answers I do.

Celebrant Will you continue to live together in faithfulness and holiness of life as long as you both shall live?

Eric answers I will, with God’s help.

The Celebrant addresses Mounir saying Mounir, do you freely and unreservedly offer yourself to Eric?

Mounir answers I do.

Celebrant Will you continue to live together in faithfulness and holiness of life as long as you both shall live?

Mounir answers I will, with God’s help.

The assembly stands, the couple faces the People, and the Celebrant addresses them, saying Will all of you gathered to witness these vows do all in your power to uphold and honor this couple in the covenant they make?

People We will.

Celebrant Will you pray for them, especially in times of trouble, and celebrate with them in times of joy?

People We will.

The Prayers

The Celebrant then introduces the prayers Then let us pray for Eric and Mounir in their life together and for the concerns of this community.

Worship Leader Anne Flanagan bids prayers for the couple.

For Eric and Mounir, seeking your blessing and the blessing of your holy people; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For a spirit of loving-kindness to shelter them all their days; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For friends to support them and communities to enfold them; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For peace in their home and love in their family; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the honesty to acknowledge when they hurt each other, and the humility to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the outpouring of your love through their work and witness; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the strength to keep the vows each of us has made; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those who lead and serve in communities of faith; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those who seek justice, peace, and concord among nations; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those who are sick or suffering, homeless or poor; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For communion with all who have died; Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

The Marriage

The People sit. The couple stands, facing the Celebrant who says Eric and Mounir, I invite you now, illumined by the Word of God and strengthened by the prayer of this community, to make your covenant before God and the Church.

Each member of the couple, in turn, takes the hand of the other and says

In the name of God, I, Eric, give myself to you, Mounir. I will support and care for you: in times of sickness, in times of health. I will hold and cherish you: in times of plenty, in times of want. I will honor and love you: in times of anguish, in times of joy, forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.

In the name of God, I, Mounir, give myself to you, Eric. I will support and care for you: in times of sickness, in times of health. I will hold and cherish you: in times of plenty, in times of want. I will honor and love you: in times of anguish, in times of joy, forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.

The rings are brought before the Celebrant, who prays using the following words

Let us pray.

Bless, O God, these rings as signs of the enduring covenant Eric and Mounir have made with each other, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eric and Mounir place the rings on the fingers of one another, first the one, then the other, saying

I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God.

The Celebrant says

Now that Eric and Mounir. have exchanged vows of love and fidelity in the presence of God and the Church, I pronounce that they are married and bound to one another as long as they both shall live. Amen.

The Blessing of the Couple

Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Most gracious God, we praise you for the tender mercy and unfailing care revealed to us in Jesus the Christ and for the great joy and comfort bestowed upon us in the gift of human love. We give you thanks for Eric and Mounir, and the covenant of faithfulness they have made. Pour out the abundance of your Holy Spirit upon them. Keep them in your steadfast love; protect them from all danger; fill them with your wisdom and peace; lead them in holy service to each other and the world.

God, the holy and undivided Trinity, bless, preserve, and keep you, and mercifully grant you rich and boundless grace, that you may please God in body and soul. God make you a sign of the loving-kindness and steadfast fidelity manifest in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, and bring you at last to the delight of the heavenly banquet, where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.

Silence may be kept.

Leader and People

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you.

The newly married couple greet each other, after which greetings may be exchanged throughout the people.

All stand.

Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Then the Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus and Benedictus

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Then the Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. A men.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Celebrant and People

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Episcopal Church invites all baptized persons to the Lord’s Table. Either kneel or stand at the altar rail, receiving the bread in the palm of your hands. Receive the wine by guiding the cup to your mouth or by touching the bread to the wine. If you do not wish to receive Communion, cross your arms over your chest to receive a blessing. Gluten-free communion wafers are available for persons with dietary restrictions. Notify the priest during the administration and one will be offered.

At the Administration

Bogoroditse Devo

Post-Communion Prayer

Celebrant

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)

O God, the giver of all that is true and lovely and gracious: We give you thanks for binding us together in these holy mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Grant that by your Holy Spirit, Eric and Mounir, now joined in Holy Matrimony, may become one in heart and soul, live in fidelity and peace, and obtain those eternal joys prepared for all who love you; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Dismissal

Deacon

Let us go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia!

People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia!