 |
Marriage |
|
Bethany United Methodist Church |
|
|
|
|
Christian MarriageThe Ministries of What is the church's ministry in your marriage? Christian marriage is the covenant two people make in the presence of God and a worshipping congregation, to live together in mutual love, honor and trust, as long as they both shall live. The Bethany United Methodist Church affirms such covenants as signs of God's grace and growth, when they are entered with freedom, honesty, and reverence. Our ministry of marriage is to witness your covenant on behalf of the whole Church of Jesus Christ, and to support you, both before and after your wedding, as you consider its implications in your life. What do we require of the couple? ENOUGH TIME: We prefer that the couple contact the pastor three to six months before they want to be married.We require that there be at least one month between the first counseling session and the date of the wedding. The wedding date will be set in consultation with the pastor, during or after the first meeting with the couple. A tentative date can be put on the church calendar (in pencil) when the couple schedules this consultation. SESSIONS WITH THE PASTOR: The pastor will require two to three meetings with the couple, for consultation, instruction, and planning the wedding. The pastor must approve the wording, musical selections, and other procedures of the service.A WEDDING REHEARSAL: For all but the smallest or most informal wedding services, a rehearsal will be needed. The pastor usually conducts the rehearsal, but in some cases the wedding hostess will conduct it.It is best if all persons in the wedding party are present for the rehearsal. This would include all those who will stand with the couple. It would also include ushers, candle-lighters, parents, musicians. A MARRIAGE LICENSE: The license authorizes the pastor to officiate at your wedding. It must be in the pastor's hands at least one day prior to the wedding. In Washington State, the couple must obtain the license at least three full days prior to the wedding. You can get it at the Pierce County Annex building (2401 S. 35th Street), or in any other county in the state, for $54 cash. It is valid for sixty days. Further information can be obtained HERE or by calling (253) 798-7435. People involved in the service: PASTOR: As a representative of the whole congregation of Bethany United Methodist Church, the church's pastor shall be an officiating pastor for the wedding. If the pastor will be unavailable, the couple and the pastor may select another Christian clergyperson to officiate. If the couple wishes to ask another clergyperson to share in the wedding, they can arrange this with the pastor. In marriages between people of two faith communities, this shared witness becomes a visible sign of the shared commitment of the two faith communities to uphold the couple in their marriage. WEDDING HOSTESS: The help of our wedding hostess is required for all weddings involving 25 or more people. She will consult with the couple concerning building use and sanctuary arrangement, and assist with the rehearsal and wedding, overseeing preparations and coordinating the procession.MUSICIANS: The couple is welcome to ask musicians of their choice to play for the wedding. The church is equipped with an electronic organ, a piano, and a sound system which can accommodate taped music and vocalists' microphones. If you wish recommendations, we can provide names of a few musicians who have played piano or organ, or who have sung, at previous weddings at the Bethany United Methodist Church. FLORIST: The couple is responsible for the flowers and candles used for the wedding and/or reception. The church's candelabra, may be used if desired, or others may be obtained from most florists (use dripless candles only, please!). The church's altar candles are provided. Altar flowers may be donated to the church, but the pastor should be informed in advance of this intention. PHOTOGRAPHER: We suggest that all formal pictures be taken before the wedding. This usually takes at least an hour, often more, and we request that the photo session be scheduled early enough that the photographer and all equipment will be out of the sanctuary at least one-half hour before the wedding. Flash pictures may not be taken during the ceremony. The photographer should be prepared to use available light only during the ceremony. (Flash is OK during the processional and recessional.) All photography during the ceremony should be done from a single location completely outside the field of vision of the congregation -- from behind the congregation or from the balcony, or from within one of the side rooms off the chancel. No photographs may be taken from the within chancel (raised area) during the processional, recessional or ceremony. VIDEOTAPING: If you want your wedding videotaped, the camera should be kept in a single location away from the field of view of the congregation (from behind the congregation, from the balcony, or from within one of the side rooms off the chancel). No videotaping will be done from within the chancel (raised area) during the processional, recessional, or ceremony.RECORDING THE WEDDING -- MATTERS OF PRIORITY: Your first priority, and the church's, is that the wedding service should be conducted in reverence and beauty, and that your witnesses, including the whole congregation, should be able to participate and remember your wedding and the vows you have made. A lower priority is the visual or audio-visual record of the wedding. Recording the wedding for future enjoyment must not interfere with your guests' experience of the wedding. TIME OF ARRIVAL: Ushers should be ready to greet guests one-half hour before the service. The whole wedding party should be present at the church at least one hour before any pre-wedding photo session.PLEASE OBSERVE THESE RULES: - Smoking is not permitted in the church building.- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on church grounds. - Rice and/or birdseed throwing is not allowed. The members of the wedding party are chosen to witness, support and affirm your marriage. It is not appropriate for them to participate while intoxicated, and the pastor reserves the right to postpone the wedding to a time when all members of the wedding party are ready to respect the couple's dignity and the integrity of their marriage celebration. FEES: Information on fees can be obtained by calling the church. RECEPTION: Information on receptions can be obtained by calling the church. |
|
