WEDDINGS

A Christian Marriage
In the Episcopal Church, marriage is a sacrament. That means that we believe the commitment two people make to each other in marriage reflects God’s deep love for us. People who seek to be married in a church usually have a sense of the sacred nature of the promises they are making. In a Christian marriage, the partners seek to know and reflect the presence of Christ in their life together.

Preparation for Marriage
At St. Stephen’s, we take preparation for marriage very seriously, and we expect those married here to prepare themselves for the commitments they are about to make. Couples seeking to be married at St. Stephen’s agree to attend worship regularly while preparing for marriage.  Since marriage is a spiritual as well as a social commitment, regular attendance at worship allows couples to both explore the place of the Spirit in their lives and become acquainted with a local church.   All couples preparing for marriage will meet with one of St. Stephen’s clergy to discuss the issues that all couples face in marriage and to prepare the wedding itself.  It is common for the couple to meet with the clergy four or five times before the ceremony.

The Wedding Celebration
While your wedding is about building your memory and wishes, St. Stephen’s celebrates weddings according to the Book of Common Prayer. It is important to realize a wedding is also a worship service. The selection of readings, prayers and music is done in consultation with the clergy and parish director of music.

Contact
Please contact the Rector, Rev.Bill Osborne, at the church (448-2255) or e-mail him at revbillo@gmail.com to discuss your upcoming wedding and whether St. Stephen’s is the church for your ceremony.  Once your wedding date is on St. Stephen’s calendar, members of St. Martha’s Altar Guild will contact you and assist in planning details for the ceremony and reception.