Marriage has been instituted by God Himself for companionship, to provide the blessings of shared love, and to provide a stable and caring situation into which children are to be born.
It is no wonder then, that Christian men and women want to gather in God’s house for their wedding so that their marriage might be "sanctified by the word of God and by prayer." (1 Timothy 4:5) In order to help couples have the happiest occasion possible, we are providing this information. Much more detailed information will be provided when you meet with the pastor.
Make your plans to allow plenty of time. It is amazing how quickly six months will slip by when we have to work, go to school, and take care of the multi¬tude of details associated with a wedding. Check your date with the Pastor as early as possible, since there are certain "choice" dates that fill up first.
The wedding service is a worship service. If a couple asks for a church wedding, it is assumed that they desire a worship service. While the bride has much to say about the wedding arrangements, the church has established forms of worship which reflect what God clearly says about marriage in the Bible. In addition, a sensitivity to good manners and decorum will influence choices of different features of the service. The wedding reception will provide opportunities for music and other celebrations that may not fit the worship service. Because of schedule constraints, wedding dates are discouraged during the Lenten season.
Marriage is more than a wedding. The pastor will expect to spend at least twelve hours counseling with a couple before the wedding. The subjects covered will include the wedding itself, of course. In addition, the pastor will spend time sharing with the young couple guidance from Scripture and wisdom. The pastor has spent many years counseling families and couples and is in a position to be helpful in advising men and women how they can get their marriage off to a good start and maintain a healthy relationship for the years to come. For further information, call (630) 627-2435.
The wedding service is also available to couples who are not members of St. Timothy. Non-members may request that the pastor perform their wedding service. The church is not available on a rental- only basis. It is expected that non-members will want the same pre-marital counseling as members, and it is with that understanding that the pastor would accept a wedding service. Because of obligations to the congregation, the pastor may decline to perform weddings for non-members due to press of time.
A courteous couple will pay attention to details in planning their wedding. The best man will also be expected to see to it that arrangements are carried out on the day of the wedding. The marriage license, arrangements for the reception, choices of musicians, choices of music, practice times, choice of photog¬raphers and florists should all be arranged early. The couple should be aware that if they desire professional musicians to play or sing for their service, that it is appropriate to pay them.
It is also important to make the arrangements with the Pastor FIRST, since the choice of musicians is related to the worship service. In addition, the photographers and others will have to be briefed as to appropriate decorum.
God’s Word will be applied in your wedding at St. Timothy. The pastor is first and foremost to be a faithful teacher of God’s word. You can expect him to be consistent in the wedding service as well. Don’t expect him to remove "obey" from the wedding vow – when you examine God’s word with regard to the husband’s responsibilities, you will see why.
Many couples today are quite open about the fact that they engage in marital relations before they are married. Neither the church nor the pastor can give the impression that such fornication is tolerated.
God does not tolerate sin, rather, He forgives it. So will the pastor; so will the church. The couple usually has the choice of a very early marriage or living apart until the wedding. In any case, we will want to make a confession and an impression that is in harmony with God’s word.
The role of the church in your wedding lasts. It is more than a cliche to say, "families that pray together stay together." Families that build their relationships on the Love of God for them in Christ have a true advantage when it comes to weathering the stresses and strains on our marriages. Make the worship of your loving God a shared theme in your life!