The "Brady Bunch" of TV fame brought together two separate families. At the time, such marriages were most uncommon. Today, one in four marriages involve children.

The Brady's included their six children as flower girls, brides maids, and groomsmen. That's still an option. But more and more couples are realizing the importance of including the children at a much deeper level. Rather than the children simply seeing their parents joined as a couple, many are choosing to emphasize for their children the coming together of a new family.

My friend, Rev. Roger Coleman is chaplain of urban ministry for the Community Christian Church in Kansas City. (He's a good guy - his name is also Roger).  He's designed a family medallion that gives children a more significant role in the ceremony.

The Family Medallion® adds a third circle to the traditional marriage circles to portray the relationship of three or more. It emphasizes mutual caring within the family.

The presentation of the medallion fits into the wedding after the exchange of rings and vows and the pronouncement of the couple as husband and wife. The exact words are dependent upon the age of the children. What I like most in a religious service, is the prayer offered at the end of the family medallion ceremony:

Creator God, you have made us in your own image male and female, that together we may live as members of your one family. As you surround us with never dying love, strengthen us that we might reflect your love, becoming ever supportive of one another in times of sorrow, forgiving of one another in times of anger, patient in those moments when we seek to recover from the pain of broken trusts and shattered dreams. We give thanks, O Lord, for this family, In your presence we are humbled by the recognition that today we face a new future, in which love has unfolded and is unfolding before our very eyes. May we ever respect the sanctity of this gift. As You have filled our cup with joy, may we share the strength of our deepening love for each other, including in ever widening circles, those who are without hope and live without loves' shelter Amen.