It’s been a long time, but today I’m bringing back Weird Rubric Wednesday with another wacky idea that could be done, though probably shouldn’t.

We all want a God-honoring, biblical, Christian wedding, don’t we? The state of marriage in the West is pretty dismal, and it’s an uphill battle reeducating our fellow believers in the scriptural doctrine of holy matrimony. So let’s take a look at what the Prayer Book says about the wedding service.

THE LESSONS

One or more of the following passages is read.

Between the Lessons, a Psalm, hymn, or anthem may be sung or said. Appropriate Psalms are 45, 67, 127, or 128.

BCP 2019 page 204

Along with these rubrics are listed fifteen Scripture readings to choose from.

So if we’re looking at designing the Most Biblical Wedding Ever (TM) without violating the Prayer Book rubrics, let’s choose the best readings. Let’s choose the longest readings! Let’s choose ALL TEH READINGZ!!!1!one!

And, like good Anglicans informed by the regular recitation of the Daily Office, we’re going to follow each lesson with a Psalm, hymn, canticle, or anthem. Ready? Here goes…

• Genesis 1:25-28 (Male and female he created them)
• Psalm 67
• Genesis 2:4-9, 15-24 (A man holds fast to his wife and they become one flesh)
• Psalm 127
• Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 (Many waters cannot quench love)
• Psalm 45
• Tobit 8:5b-8 (That she and I may grow old together)
• Psalm 128
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Love is patient and kind)
• Hymn: Though angel tongues adorn my human voice (Magnify the Lord #590)
• Ephesians 3:14-19 (The Father from whom every family is named)
• Hymn: Lord of Glory, who hast bought us (Magnify the Lord #594)
• Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33 (Walk in love, as Christ loved us)
• Pascha Nostrum (BCP 16)
• Colossians 3:12-17 (Love which binds everything together in harmony)
• Hymn: Blest be the tie that binds (Magnify the Lord #494)
• 1 John 4:7-16 (Let us love one another, for love is of God)
• Hymn: O perfect Love (Magnify the Lord #306/307)
• Matthew 5:1-10 (The Beatitudes)
• Te Deum (BCP 17)
• Matthew 5:13-16 (You are the light… Let your light shine)
• Nunc Dimittis (BCP 46)
• Matthew 7:24-29 (Like a wise man who built his house on the rock)
• Hymn: Seek ye first the kingdom of God (Magnify the Lord #625)
• Mark 10:6-16 (They are no longer two but one)
• Hymn: Love, fixed before the worlds were framed (Magnify the Lord #589)
• John 2:1-11 (The wedding at Cana)
• Hymn: O Father, all creating (Magnify the Lord #308)
• John 15:9-12 (Love one another as I have loved you)

And of course a nice long sermon must follow, being sure to tie together this rich breadth of teaching on the nature and duties of Christian marriage.

In actual seriousness, this is obviously overkill for a normal wedding service. However, if you’re planning a wedding and need help lining up Scripture lessons with psalms or musical responses, much of this list is actually pretty thought-through; feel free to draw from it. Alternatively, if a special service of prayer is desired – perhaps for a special day of teaching or celebration or intercession on the subject of holy matrimony, this order can be a good resource for public worship and devotion.