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GETTING MARRIED IN CHURCH?
Introduction… Congratulations on having reached this most important stage in your journey together!
If you are a member of St. Luke’s Church or a prospective member, we want to be as helpful as possible in assisting you through the process of preparing for your life together.
Remember: Your wedding service might last 45 minutes; your marriage will last for a long time.
To assist you in laying a solid foundation for an enduring marriage relationship, the Anglican Church of Canada strongly recommends a course in marriage preparation.
St. Michael’s Retreat Centre, in Lumsden, offers a highly recommended course entitled Engaged Encounter. At St. Luke’s you can choose to work with any of the clergy. The following explains the process of premarital preparation:
Set the Date... Wedding dates are usually set in consultation with one of the clergy. We normally allow one wedding per day on a “first come" basis. Please contact the Parish Office (306) 586-9355 for further information, e.g. about the suitability of your proposed date.
The First Visit... The first visit is a time for introductions, reviewing the wedding policy, preparing the premarital inventory and handling other questions.
Visits Two, Three and Four... If you choose not to attend the Engaged Encounter, the clergy who will perform your marriage ceremony will work with you for three sessions after the initial conversation. We usually use the marriage preparation resource entitled: Only Love Can Make it Work.
This resource is available from the Churchmouse Resource Centre. You can also phone The Churchmouse at (306) 352-6808. Preparation sessions normally last an hour.
The Wedding Rehearsal... The last visit happens on the day before the big day, and takes the form of a rehearsal. Only those essential for the wedding party should be present. Then, we're ready for the wedding!
Build on a Sure Foundation... We, at St. Luke, encourage all who plan to be married here to begin or continue a practice of regular worship. There is no obligation to join the congregation upon the completion of your marriage preparation; however, enquirers are always welcome. We believe that the best help for marriages is a steady diet of God's gracious love, and we look forward to working with you as we join you in building strong relationships in the love and grace of God.
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