Parish
Worship
Pastoral
Links
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Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church
1695 Perrowville Road ╬ Forest, Virginia 24551
╬ 434.525.5511 ╬
parishoffice@ststephensforest.org
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The Sacrament of Marriage O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon these your servants, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Regarding Marriage at Saint Stephen's Scripture Lessons for Marriage Service Concerning the Service Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church. A priest or a bishop normally presides at the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage, because such ministers alone have the function of pronouncing the nuptial blessing, and of celebrating the Holy Eucharist. When both a bishop and a priest are present and officiating, the bishop should pronounce the blessing and preside at the Eucharist. A deacon, or an assisting priest, may deliver the charge, ask for the Declaration of Consent, read the Gospel, and perform other assisting functions at the Eucharist. Where it is permitted by civil law that deacons may perform marriages, and no priest or bishop is available, a deacon may use the service which follows, omitting the nuptial blessing which follows The Prayers. It is desirable that the Lessons from the Old Testament and the Epistles be read by lay persons. In the opening exhortation (at the symbol of N.N. ), the full names of the persons to be married are declared. Subsequently, only their Christian names are used. From the Book of Common Prayer, p. 422
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| Suggested Music for Weddings |
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After you have met with the Rector to discuss your wedding, you will be
meeting with the organist to select your music. Here are our guidelines
and some suggestions.
All music is at the discretion of the Rector and the parish Organist and will conform to the standards set by the Episcopal Church for public worship. Secular music should be saved for the reception following the service. Inasmuch as the entire congregation is expected to participate in the marriage service, vocal soloists are discouraged, but the singing of congregational hymns is strongly encouraged. When permitted, soloists will sing prior to the start of the service. The Lord's Prayer is a prayer offered by the entire congregation and is never sung as a solo. In addition to the organ, and with the permission of the parish Organist and Rector, other classical musical instruments may also be played during the wedding. You may invite another organist to play at your wedding, but substitute organists must first be approved by the parish Organist and Rector. The normal wedding fee for the parish Organist must still be satisfied.
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| Hymns The following hymns are taken from The Hymnal 1982, which is currently used in our parish, and are suggested as appropriate for weddings: 353 Your love, 0 God, has
called us here |
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Music for Processionals (under construction) The Arrival of
the Queen of Sheba - G. F. Handel |
