[gillherb]

Hi all

It has been with great interest that I have read down through the various 'messages' in this thread. To clarify I am the person in question who asked her lovely brother's partner to write some prayers of the faithful.

To clarify

1. The service that is going to take place is called a con-validation service which after having been granted the required dispensation I am having the marriage to my wonderful muslim husband blessed as per the rules of my Catholic Religion. No this is not against the rules of my religion in any way shape or form as the required permission has been given by the bishop.
2. There are various things that must happen before that ceremony can take place the last of which is for me to take confession all the others have been done and the required documents signed and produced.
3. The liturgy of the word must come from the Bible and cannot come from other books, documents etc.
4. Later in the service 'appropriate' wording from the Koran, maybe something from Khalil Gibran can be used as a reflection
5. It is not against my husband's religion to marry me because as someone pointed out in one of the messsages as a Christian I am of the book and therefore a Muslim man may marry me.

I am not going to address the variety of other issues that were brought up under people's own agendas.

Love can bring us on wonderous journeys and my journey brought me to Egypt and to my husband. Like every marriage it will have its ups and downs there will be times because of cultural or religious reasons we will not agree with each other but by the Grace of God (the God that both Christians and Muslims believe in) and through honesty, respect and communication we will prevail.

God bless you and keep you all and whatever your beliefs be open to the miracles that God will provide you with

[hivizman]

Originally Posted by gillherb

Later in the service 'appropriate' wording from the Koran, maybe something from Khalil Gibran can be used as a reflection

Here is Khalil Gibran's famous reflection on marriage:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Originally Posted by gillherb

God bless you and keep you all and whatever your beliefs be open to the miracles that God will provide you with.

In that spirit, the verse from Surat al-Rum (The Romans) 30:21 is very apt: "And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect."

[gillherb]

Thank you - we were possibly going to use the following section from Khalil Gibran's thoughts on 'Love'

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

[hivizman]

Originally Posted by gillherb

Thank you - we were possibly going to use the following section from Khalil Gibran's thoughts on 'Love'

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Very good passage - this is quite popular in the UK at civil ceremonies as there is no specific reference to any deity (whereas the passage I quoted mentions God).