Weddings

A little about Marriage

Lutheran Christians understand marriage in two ways. On the one hand, marriage is God’s gift. God intends to bring strength and joy to those who enter into marriage and, through marriage, to promote the well-being of the whole human family. On the other hand, marriage is a human estate. Two people make vows to each other, which are publicly witnessed, and society recognizes their status as legally married. Having a Christian wedding ceremony then means that the Christian community surrounds those who enter into this human estate with the gifts of their presence and support, the promise of God’s word proclaimed from scripture readings, and prayers of blessing and intercession.

Marriage starts at baptism

Baptism is the source of our most basic dignity and vocation. In baptism we receive our identity as children of God who are equipped to do many things. Some of us are equipped to be teachers and prophets, some to be students and pastors. We also understand our identity as partners in marriage to derive from our baptismal identity in God. In marriage, one particular human being can become an embodied expression of God’s unconditional love, revealed in Jesus Christ, for another particular human being. A particular marriage can be seen by others as one way God’s love is expressed.  In baptism, God promises lifelong faithfulness and daily forgiveness to us – which is the model and source of our understanding of marriage. Marriage, like baptism, is daily dying to sin and rising to new life as the partners in marriage respond to God’s love by loving each other as God loves them.  Relying on God’s forgiveness, they are empowered to forgive one another. Their love is also modeled on God’s love for us. Secondly, in baptism we become children of God and equal members of the body of Christ. Baptismal equality calls us to live with each other the way Christ lived with us. Within marriage, partners live together as equals.

Finally, marriage is one way the baptized participate in the life of the Christian community. The fact that you are engaging in a worship service is helping to show the world just how much Christ loves us. Christian marriage helps proclaim the gospel message of God’s love when it points to and is a sign of Christ’s marriage to the church and, through the church, the world. Marriage helps people, both inside and outside the Christian community, to glimpse the love with which Christ gave himself up for the world. To support marriage as a response to and proclamation of Christ’s self-giving love, the church celebrates marriage within the gathered Christian community and seeks the participation of the entire assembly in the service. Everything in the service attests to and celebrates God’s unconditional love for the whole world.

In preparation for your marriage:

Setting the Date – setting the date for your ceremony is to be done in consultation with the pastor and possibly the Organist at St. Mark’s. The most appropriate place for the wedding ceremony is in the context of Sunday morning worship, which is the primary gathering of the Christian community. It can however, be done at other times, generally Friday and Saturday are appropriate days of the week and times for the ceremony that are appropriate are 11am in the morning, 3pm and 6:30pm to capture the beauty of the stain glass in the sanctuary. It is requested that this date be selected at least 90 days prior to the ceremony, but the earlier the better.

Picking a Location – The pastor ordinarily performs all weddings in the church. However, other venues may be considered with the consultation of the pastor and musicians (if any) to make sure the setting conveys the appropriate symbols of Christian marriage. If travel is involved it is asked that you provide the pastor with a travel stipend. Usually the pastor does not officiate at another church, or vice-versa. The pastor will however, participate with other clergy – by either inviting them to participate with us at St. Mark’s, or be willing to participate with another clergy member at another location. While it is not the preferred location, the pastor is willing to travel to officiate at weddings outside of the church building.

Pre-Marriage Counseling Sessions – Persons planning to be married are expected to consult with the pastor as early as possible to arrange a schedule for these sessions prior to the ceremony. These could take up to six months prior to the wedding, so be prepared to commit to these appointments as soon as you are considering a wedding. The counseling provides the couple with an understanding of the Christian wedding and equips them with communication skills suited for sharing a life of faith together. Depending on the history of either of those seeking marriage, these sessions may address previous marriages or deaths of previous spouses. The pastor also reserves the right, that upon conversation with the couple sense that the commitment, responsibility, maturity, or Christian understanding be lacking from the couple that the marriage is unwise, the pastor shall assure the couple of the church’s continuing concern for them and not conduct the ceremony.

General Guidelines in preparing for your ceremony:

The marriage service is a worship service of the church. There should be several guidelines then for picking particular service elements.

• Scripture – central to worship is the reading of scripture. During a wedding, several readings from scripture will be read, preferably one reading from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament and a reading from the Gospels. These should be picked with consultation of the pastor and should be important to the life of the couple as Christians.
• Prayers – during the service there will be several opportunities for prayer will be included, including praying for the new couple and for their new life together. We will also take an opportunity to pray for community needs.
• Music – if music is a part of the church service then it should be selected for its suitability to a service of worshiping God. Congregational singing is encouraged as it is a form of their participation with you in this celebration and worship service.
• Use of Christian Symbols – The giving of rings is encouraged as a sign of unity and the outward visible sign of marriage.  Other symbols for unity and marriage may be considered in consultation with the pastor.
• The Procession / Recession – should be consulted with the pastor in order to establish the appropriate means of entrance to the worship space.

Music – Music should be selected for its suitability to a service of praise and thanksgiving. A variety of songs and use of various instruments is encouraged, within the following guidelines:

• It is generally the custom that the church organist will play at all weddings taking place within the church. Arrangements should be made with the organist for the selection of appropriate music of the service, in conjunction with the pastor.
• Vocal, choral, or instrumental selections should be in harmony with the themes and mood of the marriage service itself. The texts of many popular/love songs may be inappropriate for use in the sanctuary. A simple test in this regard, would be: would this song be appropriate for a regular Sunday worship service?
• A meeting of the couple with the organist should occur no less than one month (30 days) prior to the service to make appropriate selections for all music and to approve music to be preformed by soloists. Music unfamiliar to the organist must be provided to him/her no less than one month (30 days) prior to the service. If no consultation has been scheduled, and no other arrangements made, all music is at the organist’s discretion.
• The couple may provide their own musicians (soloist, special musicians, etc.). All outside musicians, as well as the music they providing, must be approved by the organist and the pastor no less than one month (30 days) prior to the wedding.

Photos and Videos – Photographers and wedding guests are to refrain from taking pictures during the wedding service. Processional and recessional pictures are allowed. Video may be taken from the rear of the church only, but no artificial lights are permitted nor is the equipment used allowed to block any of the isles or pews. Pictures may be taken after the ceremony or earlier in the day. Upon arrival at the church, the photographer or video camera operator should consult with the pastor as to the rules concerning their operation and to let the pastor know that they have arrived.

Flowers and decorating the sanctuary or other areas of the church. The church has recommendations for local florists that have working relationships with the church, however the couple is welcome to use whatever florist they wish. We do ask though that the florist observe the following limitations:

• The use of nails, screws, and wire in decorating is strictly forbidden.
• No decorations of any kind may be placed on the Communion Table, pulpit, lecturn, organ console, piano, baptismal font, or choir pews. Neither the Communion table nor the baptismal font may be moved as they are key symbols in our Christian community and key symbols for the wedding ceremony itself.
• No candles or candelabras may be used other than those that St. Mark’s owns and the placement of which are dictated by our normal Sunday worship practices.
• It is requested the decorators and florist coordinate delivery of flowers and decorations with the church office during normal office hours of 9:30-2pm to co-ordinate their set up and removal from the church.

The Rehearsal for the ceremony will be set up prior to the ceremony. Traditionally this is the night before, but could be the morning before an evening wedding ceremony. It is necessary that all participants in the wedding be present for this Rehearsal which will acclimate the wedding party and other participating in the ceremony with their roles in the worship service.

The wedding ceremony and rehearsal will be conducted in the Christian spirit with dignity. It is expected that members of the wedding party will refrain from alcoholic beverages before the rehearsal and before the wedding service. The bride and groom shall be under obligation to make this rule known to all other members of the party.

Rice, confetti, or birdseed is not permitted for safety reasons inside or outside of the church.

The marriage license for residents of Montgomery County (which is the county that St. Mark’s resides in) may be obtained from the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, PA. You may also apply for one at any courthouse in Pennsylvania. The license is good for 60 days.

Information about St. Mark’s:

Seating capacity for the sanctuary – the sanctuary at St. Mark’s can comfortably hold 250 people, should your guest list be larger than this, please consult with the pastor to consider alternative sites for your service.

Alcohol on property – the use of alcohol is prohibited unless provide by a caterer serving as part of a catered meal. In which case, the caterer or couple shall provide the church proof of liability insurance for the catering company for serving alcoholic beverages to adults who are of age. We also request that only beer, wine and Champaign be served and the caterer is in charge of making sure it is secure while it is in the building – many people use our building and so it should be secured while it is here.

Catered Food—We do have a professional kitchen but securing caterers is recommended. If you are having a catered meal it is suggested that the caterer coordinate with the church office to see what kind of facilities we have if they have not provided service here before.

Parking – St. Mark’s does not have a parking lot, but there is free street parking available along Harry Street and along portions of 5^th Avenue.