Greetings! 

 

Thank you for including St. Luke’s in your wedding plans. I look forward to meeting you and discussing your marriage preparation.

 

At our meeting I hope to learn more about you. I try to make the service as informal, personal and purposeful as possible. In my short sermon I usually make reference to Luke 14, and the wonderful way the Spirit works through us when we reach out in love to the world.

 

The Service of Christian Marriage I prefer to use is enclosed (there is much room for compromise and flexibility). If you would like we can also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Several readings from Scripture are provided. To personalize the service you are encouraged to find friends or family members to read these. Also, there are a variety of ways to organize the entrance. Parent(s) can escort one partner into the church, both sets of parents can escort the couple into the church, or the couple can enter together. Please feel free to choose the method that reflects your wishes.

 

I would ask that you please fill out the marriage questionnaire and bring it and the license with you to our church office administrator as soon as possible. Also, please read over the other sub-sections under the Wedding heading including: Service, Hymn & Scripture, Form, Financial Aspect, and most importantly our new Marriage Policy approved on June 16, 2010. Do take note of this statement found in our new policy, “Here at St. Luke’s the Covenant of Marriage is open to all people committed to the life of faith regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender or cultural background.”

 

Although this is not part of the church policy statement, there is one justice issue on which I will personally not negotiate. I do not use language that refers to giving people away. That practice goes back to a time when women were property handed down from father to husband. We in the United Church affirm that God created us all as equals and not as property. In its place I ask the family and friends of the couple, “Do you promise to affirm and care for them in their marriage?” It is more inclusive.

 

As you move toward your sacred celebration we at St. Luke’s stand ready to work with you to make this one of the truly meaningful times in your life.  

 

Blessings,

 

Kevin C. Little, Minister