Your Wedding at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension

A Message from the Pastor: We are delighted that you want to begin your life together at the Church of the Ascension. We want to be a home to you, a place where we can rejoice as we celebrate together the central events of your lives, as part of the family of God. This booklet is not so much a set of rules as it is a guide to help you plan your wedding at Ascension. These guidelines have been approved by the Congregational Council and are the policy of our congregation. If you do not understand them, I am here to answer your questions and explain why we do things as we do. Be certain that you have carefully read these guidelines before you begin to plan your wedding service. Again, we are delighted that you want to share your wedding with us. We know how important it is to you, and we will do our best to make it the meaningful and joyous experience it should be.

1. WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP? The marriage ceremony is a worship service. At the Church of the Ascension we take that very seriously, and it should remain foremost in your minds as you plan your wedding. The Lutheran Church of the Ascension is available for the marriage of its members and marriages of non-members. Contact Kathi Wood (912)352-2111, our wedding director, from 9a.m. to 5p.m, and she will determine which dates are open. Many activities are scheduled far in advance at our church, and the staff has many commitments. You should receive approval of your date and time in writing from the wedding director. Before contacting a florist or ordering invitations, be sure you have this written approval. We cannot assume any responsibility for misprinted invitations, etc. 2. SHOULD WE COME AND TALK WITH THE PASTOR? Careful preparation and prayerful thought should be an important part of your marriage planning. For this reason, the pastor will want to see you for several conferences prior to your wedding. Needs vary, and each couple’s situation will be evaluated independently. However, these conferences with the pastor will not be eliminated under any circumstances.

All persons marrying at Ascension Church will be required to engage in premarital counseling. Appointments for premarital counseling must be scheduled by the bride and groom three months in advance of the wedding with the pastor who will be officiating at the ceremony. Our Pastor is available for counseling during his regular office hours. A letter from your counselor must be submitted to Kathi Wood. 3. WHO DOES WHAT AT ASCENSION? The staff of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension is prepared to assist you with your wedding plans. The staff includes the Pastor, Director of Music, Wedding Director, Office Administrator and Sexton. Securing others outside the staff of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension is not usually necessary. The church phone number is (912) 232-4151. Our Pastor will preside at all weddings. Involvement of other clergy, as assisting ministers, can be arranged in consultation with the pastor. Our organist will play for all weddings. Being familiar with the organ and with music appropriate to Lutheran worship, our Director of Music will help you choose music that will complement your plans. The wedding director will book a date for your wedding and provide guidance to you as you plan your wedding at Ascension Church. Our wedding director can also be retained to serve as your wedding coordinator. The sexton will provide for all physical arrangements--opening and closing the church, and general cleaning after the wedding in preparation for the Sunday services. HE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS OR ANY OTHER DECORATIONS PUT OUT BY THE BRIDAL PARTY/FLORIST. The sexton will be happy to work with you to satisfy your individual needs. 4. WORSHIP IN THE LUTHERAN TRADITION A wedding within the Lutheran tradition is first and foremost an act of worship. You are coming together to ask God’s blessing upon your life together. Those who will celebrate this joyous occasion with you are not merely spectators or partygoers. The wedding party and congregation are participants and worshipers with you. Your behavior should reflect the reverence we share for the church and what takes place within it.

5. THE SERVICE The order of the service will be the one prescribed either in the Lutheran Book of Worship or the Service Book and Hymnal or Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The Pastor must approve adaptations of the service. Readings from the Bible help us understand marriage in the context of God’s creative love for his people Consider the following suggestions as you select readings for your wedding: Genesis 1:26-31 Male and female made in God’s image

Genesis 2:18-24 Song of Solomon 2:10-13 Song of Solomon 8:7 Isaiah 63:7-9 Romans 12:1-2 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Ephesians 5:21-33 Matthew 19:4-6 John 2:1-10 John 15:9-12

God creates male and female for each other Love in the spring Unquenchable love God’s love for his people A living sacrifice to God Paul’s hymn to love Marriage reflects Christ’s love for the Church One flesh Jesus at the wedding at Cana Love one another

6. WHEN DOES THE CHURCH DO WEDDINGS? Although weddings may be held at any time during the church year, some times are more appropriate than others. Ordinarily weddings are not scheduled on festival days. Holy Week is not available for weddings (Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday). The church does not do weddings the week of July 4th. The church is closed the week after Christmas through New Year. 7. WHAT MUSIC IS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR WEDDING? You need to meet with the Director of Music before making any music plans. All music to be used in conjunction with the wedding service must to be reverent and of a quality appropriate to worship. The Lutheran Church judges the appropriateness of music on the basis of the theology it presents. Therefore, the text of vocal and instrumental music should express the Gospel of Jesus Christ and provide a setting which will enhance the worship of God. For this reason, secular compositions are not permitted. No taped music is allowed. At least one conference with our Director of Music is essential to your wedding planning., 8. WHAT ABOUT HYMNS? Congregational singing is appropriate–though not essential–at a wedding. Singing enables the assembled worshipers to participate in the service more fully. The character of your wedding can be greatly enhanced by the use of the hymns contained in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship. 9. OTHER INFORMATION FOR YOUR WEDDING PLANNING A. Service Assistants Since the wedding is a worship service, it is proper–though not necessary--to have acolytes and a crucifer. Other persons may be involved as banner bearers, book and torchbearers, and as readers. These may be selected from among your family members and friends. They will need some training, of course, to fulfill these roles. The Pastor can assist you in securing worship assistants for your wedding. Anyone who is selected should be a practicing Christian and mature enough to fulfill their assigned responsibility.

B. The Wedding Director-Kathi Wood (912)352-2111

The wedding director is provided to help you plan your wedding at Ascension. The Wedding Director is required for all weddings at Ascension. There should be no need to secure another wedding coordinator for the worship service. Our wedding director is experienced and familiar with the Lutheran Church of the Ascension and its procedures. C. The Florist/Decorations The flowers are one of those areas where our Wedding Director is available to guide you. Flowers may be placed on either side of the altar. Special liners are provided, which may be taken to the florist for the arranging of flowers. Altar arrangements should be no taller than the altar cross-- no more than 32” in height. Floral decorations should be simple and tasteful. The placing of decorations other than altar flowers should be approved by the wedding director. Altar and other chancel furnishings may not be changed or relocated. Banners, seasonal decorations, etc. that are in place on the day of your event will remain place. Please do not ask that they be removed. No nails, tacks, or staples may be used to attach any decorations to church property. If pew markers are used, pews must be protected against scratching and gouging by clamps. In order for wedding flowers to remain at the altar, it is necessary to reserve the subsequent worship date on the altar flower chart by contacting the office administrator. The wedding director can help you with this. 10. WHAT ABOUT CANDLES? The church will furnish altar candles. Any other candles are the expense of the bridal party. We have four white wrought-iron candelabra you can use at no charge. Candles cost $3.00 each Window candle fixtures may be used at no charge except for the cost of the candles--$3.00 each. There are eight windows. Again, the Wedding Director will guide you. 11. WHAT ABOUT PICTURES DURING THE CEREMONY? NO flash pictures are to be taken during the service, including the time the bride an/or the wedding party enters and leaves the nave. Flash pictures may be taken before or after the service. Professional photographers may take photographs without a flash from the balcony during the service. Guests should NOT be encouraged to take photographs during the service. 12. AUDIO-VISUAL RECORDINGS? Your wedding may be recorded from the balcony or the alcove behind the chancel, as long as this is approved by the Wedding Director and does not require supplementary lighting. 13. CAN WE DRESS AT THE CHURCH? You may want to dress at the church. Women may use the Eyler Library. Men may use room 200. The sexton will guide you. The church does not assume responsibility for any valuables left in these areas during the wedding. Wedding attire should not be kept in the church prior to the wedding day or left behind after the service is over.

14. WHAT ABOUT BEVERAGES?

Smoking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the church premises. Members of the wedding party are requested not to consume alcoholic beverages prior to the rehearsal or the wedding. Food and beverages are permitted only in the fellowship hall. 15. WHAT ABOUT RICE? Rice, birdseed, or confetti is not to be thrown in or immediately outside the church. 16. WHEN DO WE NEED TO BRING THE MARRIAGE LICENSE? The marriage license must be obtained at the County Courthouse on Montgomery St.. The license must be given to the Pastor at the wedding rehearsal.

17. WHAT ABOUT INVITING THE STAFF TO THE REHEARSAL DINNER AND THE RECEPTION? The staff does not presume that they will be invited to the social functions that surround a wedding. If you desire any member of the staff to attend any function, please issue the same invitation you share with other guests.

For weddings held at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension

NON-MENBER FEES Sanctuary - $1500.00 (non-refundable) Pastor - $500.00 Organist- $350.00 (includes the official wedding rehearsal) If extra rehearsals with a soloist are required, each rehearsal will be an additional $25.00 Wedding Director - $500.00 Sexton - $ 185.00 Altar candles are included in all services at no charge. Candles used in candelabras and windows are $3.00 each

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Non-refundable fee for the Sanctuary is due to secure the date for the wedding. All other fees are due the week of the wedding. (Please give separate payments for staff to the wedding director)

MEMBER FEES – Please contact the wedding director. Wedding Director – Kathi Wood (912)352-2111