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INDEX Congratulations! One of the most important days in your life is your wedding day. We wish to do everything possible to make it a most happy occasion and Christ Lutheran and its pastors are pleased to share it with you. Having a church wedding indicates your desire to see your marriage as a commitment made before God, with emphasis on the Christ-centered basis of the ceremony. While there is much room for flexibility in a church wedding, the information in this booklet will make planning easier and more enjoyable. May God bless you during these days of planning and anticipation. Set the date and hour for your wedding as far in advance as possible. Six months before the date is not too soon to assure you of the date you prefer and to give you enough time for all that needs to be done. Please contact the main church office (320-864-4549) for a tentative reservation of the date and time. Our church secretary is in the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. The date and time will be checked by the pastors. You will receive a reservation form from the church office. Please fill this out and return it, along with your $50 deposit made out to Christ Lutheran Church, as soon as possible. When the church has received your signed reservation form and the deposit you will get a confirmation letter. This letter will contain the name and phone number of your wedding coordinator. Please use this person as your primary contact person. She will have answers (or can find them out for you) to all the questions you may have. She will sit down to meet with you and have you fill out our wedding checklist. It is a good idea to have an alternate date and time in mind in case the church is in use or the pastor is not available on the first date selected. Please do not plan any part of the wedding until after you have determined the availability of both the church and pastor. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to reserve the dates. After you have selected a tentative date and time for your wedding, it is important to make your initial appointment with the pastor. The proper information can then be entered into the church calendar. A pastor from Christ Lutheran shall normally officiate at weddings within the church. However, other pastors may officiate by mutual agreement between pastors, the Christ Lutheran Church Council, and the wedding party. You have asked the pastor to conduct your marriage ceremony. Our pastors regard this as a sacred privilege and trust. In this capacity the pastor will act both as an official of the State and of the Church. As an official of the State, the pastor is authorized to legalize the marriage. The Pastor of the Church is given a commission to join you in sacred marriage according to God’s holy ordinances and to add the blessings of God and God’s Church. Our church will seat 250 people comfortably. We can accommodate up to 300 people if the choir loft is used and chairs are set up in front of the organ. Christ Lutheran sees its ministry to couples contemplating marriage in a wholistic sense; not merely providing a place and a ceremony for the wedding, but as an opportunity to help them prepare for their new life together. No weddings are performed by a Pastor of Christ Lutheran without premarriage preparation sessions. These are conducted by the Pastor with each couple according to a convenient schedule for parties concerned. “Prepare and Enrich” is one questionnaire that may be used during the sessions. It is usually taken at the first official meeting with the Pastor. There is a $30.00 fee for this questionnaire and is required by the pastor for couples marrying at Christ Lutheran. The fee is to be paid by check to: Life Innovations at the first session. The Christian Wedding As Worship A wedding is, first of all, worship of the God who calls a man and woman together in marriage. As you plan your wedding service, if you keep in mind that it is God who ordains marriage this will give you a clearer vision of what your wedding service should be. Keep simplicity in mind as you plan. The Christian wedding service is an act of worship. It is a service in which Christians, particularly you as bride and groom, come together to offer special thanks and praise and to ask God’s blessing upon your lifetime together as husband and wife. When we remember that this service is a reflection of the relationship of the bride and groom to their Lord, then it will not become a display or production to impress friends or to conform to social customs. The wedding service is an act of joyful worship, because the object of worship for Christians is always God. This means that as we worship, our attention is to be drawn first and last to God. You will want to be sure that nothing in your wedding detracts from giving God the place of greatest importance. It is God’s blessing upon the union that is sought. God should be foremost in your wedding service and in the hearts and minds of those who attend. It is also significant that you have chosen to have your marriage begin in the church building. It is not that the sanctuary provides an impressive background for the service. This setting has real meaning because this is the place where you became part of God’s family through your Holy Baptism; this is the place where God’s people will come together and ask God’s blessing upon this union and thank God for that blessing. As you begin planning for the marriage service, please keep in mind the following guidelines: The Christian wedding Here is a preliminary order of service for you to work with. The *s indicate places where you are welcome to insert music of some kind – special music, solo, congregational hymn (see the notes concerning “Music” further in this booklet). You do not need to have music in all of these spaces. Prelude The order of service is printed on pages 202-205 in the front of the Lutheran Book of Worship. Other possible additions or options would include such things as the lighting of a unity candle, the blessing of the rings, etc. You will work with your pastor to finalize your musical selections, readings, and bulletin. Music at the wedding must be of a sacred nature and it should serve, reflect, and intensify the meaning of the wedding as a sacred occasion. Music selections must be cleared with the pastor. While special music can enhance a wedding, it is by no means necessary.
Guidelines in Selecting Music
The marriage service is an order of worship in the church. In this service a man and woman publicly commit themselves to a lifelong relationship with each other and ask God’s blessing upon their life together. The various parts of the service also offer an opportunity to give thanks and praise to God for the gift of marriage.
The Manual of the Liturgy reads: “...The music therefore must be carefully and discriminately chosen. It should embody high standards of quality and the texts should reflect the praise of God, the steadfast love of Christ for His church as the foundation and model for love and fidelity in marriage, and the invocation of God’s presence and blessing.”
Music used in the marriage service may be instrumental and/or vocal. It may be organ/piano music or other instrumental music such as strings, brass or woodwind performed by a soloist or an ensemble. It may be music with text sung by a single voice, duet, small ensemble, full choir, or the congregation.”
In every case, the music selected “should be of high quality and not cloud the mood of the service with triteness or sentimentality. It should moreover be within the ability of the performers at hand to play or sing with assurance.” (Manual on the Liturgy)
While there are appropriate contemporary songs, it should be remembered that recordings of such music are made under ideal conditions with sophisticated electronic equipment and mixing devices. Renditions of these selections on an organ will not sound like the recorded selections.
In summary, if you can answer “yes” to the following questions, the music is probably appropriate:
1. Does the music and text reflect praise and/or thanksgiving to God?
2. Is it based on, or does it reflect, a Scriptural theme?
3. Would this song be appropriate for a regular morning worship service?
One option often overlooked is that the reception provides an excellent opportunity and a less restricted performance situation, for using lighter, less functional popular music of good quality.
*We have a tape deck and a CD player connected to our sound system. If you plan to use a song or accompaniment using our equipment, please let your wedding coordinator know as soon as possible. This will aid us in our selection of your sound board technician. You will need to bring your tapes/CDs to the rehearsal – BUT it is even more helpful if we can have them several days to a week in advance of the rehearsal. If we do not have them by your rehearsal, they will not be able to be used during your ceremony.
Please let us know how many microphones you will need set up as well as any other special sound related items we need to be aware of.
To help the congregation be more than spectators, you might consider having them sing a hymn or two. Below are listed some possibilities:
LBW: Green Book
169 Father, Most Holy
229 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
241 We Praise You, O God
242 Let the Whole Creation Cry
245 All People That on Earth Do Dwell
253 Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now
256 Oh, Sing Jubilee to the Lord
263 Abide with Us, Our Savior
267 Father, We Praise You
287 O Perfect Love
288 Hear Us Now, Our God and Father
289 Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer
315 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
333 Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
354 Eternal God, Before Your Throne
356 O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts
364 Son of God, Eternal Savior
367 Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
370 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
409 Praise and Thanksgiving
451 The Lord’s My Shepherd
456 The King of Love My Shepherd Is
459 O Holy Spirit, Enter In
474 Children of the Heavenly Father
475 Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly dove
481 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
492 O Master, Let Me Walk with You
514 O Savior, Precious Savior
517 Praise to the Father
518 Beautiful Savior
520 Give to Our God Immortal Praise!
522 Come, Thou Almighty King
524 My God, How Wonderful Thou Art
525 Blessing and Honor
527 All Creatures of Our God and King
530 Jesus Shall Reign
532 How Great Thou Art
534 Now Thank We All Our God
535 Holy God, We Praise Your Name
543 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
548 Oh, Worship the King
550 From All That Dwell below the Skies
551 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
553 Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng!
554 This is My Father’s World
557 Let All Things Now Living
561 For the Beauty of the Earth
With One Voice: Blue Book
648 Jesus, Come! For We Invite You
664 A New Commandment
666 Great God, Your Love Has Called Us
721 Go, My Children, with My Blessing
748 Bind Us Together
749 When Love is Found
751 As Man and Woman We Were Made
765 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
770 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry
776 Be Thou My Vision
778 O Christ the Same
779 You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord (On Eagle’s Wings)
783 Seek Ye, First the Kingdom of God
790 Praise to You, O God of Mercy (Thanks Be to You)
Arrange with one of the church organists for her/his services as early as possible. If another organist is wanted this must be by special arrangement with the pastor or Worship and Music Ministry Team of Christ Lutheran. We are particularly concerned about the organ being handled only by competent organists. There is a $75 minimum suggested payment for the organist. The organist fee is payable directly to your organist no later than the time of the rehearsal.
Currently our organists/pianists at Christ Lutheran are:
Vicky Harris 320-327-2728
Gary Colden 320-864-8427
Wendy Dahlke 320-510-2468
Chris Starr 952-467-2494
Our church can provide a list of names for you of people who will perform solos at weddings. Please contact our Director of Vocal Music, Randy Wilson, at 320-864-5046 for this list. There is a $50 minimum suggested payment for the soloists.
*If you have other music related questions in regard to your service, such as needing ideas for solos, processional music, or recessional music please to not hesitate to ask us. Your first contact person should be the pastor presiding at your wedding. If he or she cannot help you, they will give you the names and numbers of some people who can.
Scripture Readings
As the service indicates, one or more lessons from the Bible help us understand marriage in the context of God’s creative love for us. Select a family member or friend to read. Consider some of the following suggestions:
A psalm may also be used between the lessons. This may be a good opportunity to involve members of the congregation assembled. Consider the following which appear in the Lutheran Book of Worship.
If you wanted to reduce the marriage service to its simplest form, it would be just this: the exchange of promises by the bride and groom. The heart of marriage is a promise. Normally, the vows on page 203 of the Lutheran Book of Worship are used. If you do not indicate otherwise, these will be the vows your Pastor will use during your ceremony. They are as follows:
Traditional: I take you, (name), to be my wife/husband from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.
Other forms you may wish to consider:
Option A: I take you (name), to be my wife/husband and these things I promise you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you; I will share my life with you; I will forgive you as we have been forgiven; and I will try with you to better understand ourselves, the would and God; through the best and worst of what is to come until death parts us.
Option B: I take you (name), to be my wife/husband, and I promise before God and these witnesses to be your faithful husband/wife, to share with you in plenty and want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, to forgive and strengthen you, and to join with you so that together we may serve God and others as long as we both shall live.
Option C: (Name), I take you to be my wife/husband from this time onward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond, and in all circumstances of our life together to be loyal to you with my whole life and with all my being until death parts us.
If you wish to write your own promises, they should be consistent with the Biblical understanding of marriage, and should make clear that the promises are a lifelong commitment. Since it is the pastor who must certify that a marriage has taken place, he/she must approve the wording before the wedding.
As baptized Christians, you may request that your marriage be set in the context of the celebration of Holy Communion. The “Minister’s Desk Edition of the Lutheran Book of Worship” says however, “Under no circumstances should the bread and wine be received by the bride and groom to the exclusion of the congregation. The Sacrament is for the gathered congregation. If because of denominational practice many of your non-Lutheran guests may not be able to participate in the communion, it may be wise not to do it. But if you believe that the worshipers could participate freely, celebrating marriage in the context of the Holy Communion enriches the meaning of both. Marriage often involves a festive meal; Holy Communion always does. Marriage is a sign of intimacy and union and communion; so is Holy Communion. The Holy Communion abounds in festive marriage imagery in which Christ the bridegroom celebrates with his bride, the Church, the heavenly wedding banquet which knows no end.
If you desire to celebrate communion during your wedding celebration, please indicate that on your wedding checklist AND let the presiding pastor know at least one month before your wedding date. (An extra charge will apply – see fee schedule).
You are responsible for purchasing and printing your service bulletins. Bulletins are available for printing the order of service, special musical selections and names of the parties involved in the ceremony. These make a nice memento of the wedding if you desire to give them to your guests. They are not a necessity. Bulletins are available through the company where you get invitations or at a Christian bookstore and can be printed by a local printer. If you have some computer know-how, you can also create your own.
Note: Your Bulletin must be proofed and approved by the presiding pastor before you have them printed.
If your wedding is taking place at Christ Lutheran Church in our sanctuary, there must be a rehearsal. The time should be arranged with your wedding coordinator and notification should be made to the church office – you will list this on your wedding reservation form. All who participate in the wedding should be requested to be present and on time. The bride will clear time & date with the organist and members of the wedding party. If you are having a groom’s dinner and wish to include the pastor & spouse, please invite them well in advance. Last minute invitations at the rehearsal will usually be declined.
Answer any questions the couple has during the wedding planning process.
Assist the wedding party in the planning of the rehearsal, setting up the date and time.
Open the church for the wedding party prior to rehearsal and on the wedding date
Assist the Pastor(s) in directing the flow of the rehearsal and ceremony.
Assist the florist in the placement and arrangement of flowers in the sanctuary.
Assist the wedding party in setting the lighting for the sanctuary.
Setup of extra chairs in sanctuary.
Setup of pew candles, if pew candles are going to be used.
Setup and takedown of sound equipment to be used during the ceremony.
Cleaning and vacuuming of the sanctuary before the wedding rehearsal.
Set the thermostat for the sanctuary prior to the ceremony, depending on the weather and season.
Will be on-call for emergency needs the evening of the rehearsal and during the morning and afternoon of the wedding ceremony.
Cleaning and resetting the sanctuary and fellowship hall, if used, after the wedding ceremony before Sunday morning worship services.
Lock the church following the rehearsal and wedding.
Flower arrangement and delivery. Removal of flowers following the ceremony.
Aisle runner. Removal of aisle runner.
Inform the photographer and videographer of the picture taking limitations.
Removal of all personal items from the dressing areas.
Removal of any food items that have been brought in for the wedding party. There are no food or beverage items allowed in the sanctuary.
Ushers need training to do a good job. The pastor or wedding coordinator will hold a brief conference with them at rehearsal. It is also the role of the ushers to assist with straightening up hymnal racks and restoring chairs as they were found prior to the wedding.
If a florist’s services are desired, the bride or groom will make the arrangements with them directly. We encourage you to use a florist who is familiar with our church and also with good church decor. The floral arrangements should be situated in such a way that they do not obstruct the placing of the wedding party nor detract from the centrality of the altar, pulpit and lectern.
Christ Lutheran Church does not allow flowers on the piano or the organ.
ONLY REAL flowers may be used ON the ALTAR. We have several plant stands available to be used. Please indicate on the wedding checklist how many you will need.
Please let your wedding coordinator know the date and time that your flowers will be delivered to the church.
The Church takes care of the candles on the altar. We have a pair of candelabra that may be rented for your wedding. Additionally there are 10 candle holders for the pews available upon request. Please indicate on your wedding checklist form if you would like to use the candelabras and/or the pew candles. The cost is $25 for the candelabras and $25 for the pew candles.
The Church has a Unity Candle Stand. If you would like to use this, please indicate that on your wedding checklist form. You will be responsible for providing your own unity candle and the two side candles to fit onto the candle stand. Please remember that we only allow dripless candles in the church.
If a white aisle cloth is desired, check with the florists. You need to make arrangements with them for rental. The use of a white aisle cloth is not a necessity. Our aisle at Christ Lutheran is approximately 52 feet long.
The couple will make their own arrangements with a photographer if one is desired. We encourage the use of one who is familiar with our church and with good church etiquette. Photography equipment will not be permitted in the chancel area. A wedding is not a photographer’s “hay day”. No flash pictures will be permitted during the ceremony either by professional photographers or by friends. Other types of recording of your wedding must be approved by the pastor. Please indicate on your wedding checklist if you are having a videographer. Your wedding coordinator or the pastor will alert the photographer and videographer where they may be located during the wedding ceremony.
Consider your guests when you arrange the time for taking pictures. It is rude to make your guests wait either in the church or at the reception unoccupied while you have pictures taken. It is also an imposition on a photographer’s time to expect him/her to sit around unoccupied while you are otherwise engaged.
If you would like a photo with the pastor, please let him/her know in advance so they can schedule a time to do this.
Participants in the wedding may dress at the church. The bride and her attendants will be allowed to use the chapel.
Christ Lutheran is a smoke free church. Please inform your entire wedding party of this. They may smoke on the east side of the building and please remind wedding party to dispose of butts properly.
No food or beverage is allowed in the sanctuary at any time.
You are welcome to schedule a bridal shower in our church. Please contact the church office for further information. Once you have received permission to use the facility, please contact your wedding coordinator. She will make note of any set-up help you may need for your shower.
The pastor may attend the reception if invited prior to the wedding. The reception should start only after the pastor or someone designated asks the blessing. If the pastor’s spouse, organist or vocalist are expected to attend the reception, they should receive a formal invitation.
If you are using the Fellowship Hall and kitchen for a reception the wedding party is responsible for finding a caterer. Consult with the church office for guidelines on use of the Fellowship Hall for a reception or shower. The wedding party is responsible for the setup of all tables and chairs and for setup of any other decorations and equipment.
The use of rice, bubbles and birdseed when sending off the couple is discouraged. Please use other means to help celebrate the couple in their sendoff from the church. Make sure to approve with pastor or wedding coordinator prior to the rehearsal and ceremony.
Minnesota law requires a license to enter into marriage. You must apply for the license a minimum of five (5) days before the wedding (not counting the day you apply). License is good for six months. You would normally apply at the Office of the County Recorder in the county of the bride’s residence. Only one person needs to apply but he/she must have proof of age for both. If there has been a previous marriage, the date and place of death, divorce or annulment is also needed. Currently the license fee is $100.00.
The marriage license should be left with the church secretary at least three days prior to the wedding (Tuesday or Wednesday before a weekend wedding) along with the correct legal names of the witnesses so information can be typed up.
Church weddings can be, but need not be, expensive. We believe that the church is in constant readiness for a beautiful wedding just as it is. It is what you do in making additional plans that will add to your costs. We encourage young couples to keep their plans simple and to conserve on extravagant additions. Each wedding is a different occasion and no one needs to try to “keep up with the Jones” as they say. Simple can be more beautiful than elaborate. Let your own tastes and pocket book decide the wedding you will have.
*Active members in good standing - “Such confirmed members shall have communed and made a contribution of record during the current or preceding year.” This refers to the bride or groom and their respective parents.
**Inactive and Non members of Christ Lutheran will be charged for facilities and services according to the enclosed fee schedule. Except by special arrangement, a pastor from Christ Lutheran will perform all wedding ceremonies conducted at Christ Lutheran.
***Pastoral fees are payable to the pastor at the rehearsal.
$50.00 wedding date deposit. Payment of this fee will reserve the date and time for your wedding. Please make check payable to “Christ Lutheran Church”. In memo area put “wedding deposit” and name of couple getting married
Balance of church fees payable to “Christ Lutheran Church” is due one month before wedding. Please give this check to either the wedding coordinator or directly to the church office. (In memo section of the check, put “wedding: date” and the couple’s names)
If you have any questions about how much you should make the various checks out for, or who to make them out to, please contact your wedding coordinator.
A wedding is not considered booked until a $50 deposit and the signed “Wedding Reservation” form have been received in the church office. Your check should be made payable to “Christ Lutheran Church”. Please put “wedding: (names)” on the memo line of your check.
Christ Lutheran Church
Wedding Handbook: Policies and Procedures
2007
1820 Knight Avenue North
Glencoe, MN 55336
320-864-4549
Pastor Bradley J. H. Thom
320.864.5077
Pastor Kristi L. Schiroo
320.864.3111
(Please cut and paste onto your computer to print out this form, or contact the church office and we will mail you one.) WEDDING RESERVATION FORM Shower Date: _______________________Time:________Location: _____________________ Reception Site: ________________________________________________________________
Bride's Name:____________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________ Phone: (home)_______________________ (work) ________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________________________ Church Home: Groom's Name:____________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________ Phone: (home) _______________________(work) ________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________________________ Church Home: Officiating Pastor for wedding: ___________________________________________________ Wedding Coordinator: _________________________________________________________ Covenant Agreement I have read and understand the Wedding Policies and Procedures of Christ Lutheran Church.
Wedding Checklist
Bride's Name: Phone Numbers (h): (w): (cell) : E-Mail Address: Groom's Name:
How many microphones will you need? _________ Number of Attendants: Ushers: ___________
Readers: __________
How many pews would you like your ushers to reserve for special family members? _________ Please provide a seating chart for these family members.
The Order of Service Here is a preliminary order of service for you to work with. The order of service is printed on pages 202-205 in the front of the Lutheran Book of Worship. The *s indicate places where you are welcome to insert music of some kind of special music, solo, congregational hymn (see the notes concerning "Music" further in the Christ Lutheran wedding booklet). You do not need to have music in all of these spaces. Prelude Greeting: Pastor Traditional: I take you, (name), to be my wife/husband from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.
Other forms you may wish to consider: Option A: I take you (name), to be my wife/husband and these things I promise you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you; I will share my life with you; I will forgive you as we have been forgiven; and I will try with you to better understand ourselves, the would and God; through the best and worst of what is to come until death parts us. Option B: I take you (name), to be my wife/husband, and I promise before God and these witnesses to be your faithful husband/wife, to share with you in plenty and want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, to forgive and strengthen you, and to join with you so that together we may serve God and others as long as we both shall live. Option C: (Name), I take you to be my wife/husband from this time onward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond, and in all circumstances of our life together to be loyal to you with my whole life and with all my being until death parts us. If you wish to write your own promises, they should be consistent with the Biblical understanding of marriage, and should make clear that the promises are a lifelong commitment. Since it is the pastor who must certify that a marriage has taken place, he/she must approve the wording before the wedding.
____ ____________ _________________________________________________ Will you use an aisle runner?_____ Yes _____No CLC does not provide an aisle runner. The center aisle at Christ Lutheran is approximately 52 ft long. Who will walk down the aisle with the bride?______________________________________ (select one to three) 1. 2. 3. * Homily or Wedding Address: Pastor * Vows: Vow Choice: _____ Traditional _____ A _____ B _____ C If you wanted to reduce the marriage service to its simplest form, it would be just this: the exchange of promises by the bride and groom. The heart of marriage is a promise. Normally, the vows on page 203 of the Lutheran Book of Worship are used. If you do not indicate otherwise, these will be the vows your Pastor will use during your ceremony. They are as follows: Exchange of Rings Will you use Birdseed? _____ Yes _____ NoPlease refer to wedding handbook as we do not allow rice and prefer no bubbles. Rough Draft of Service Bulletin received on__________________ Approved by ____________
Your names and address after the wedding: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
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