Wedding Plans?

If you are thinking about getting married in

Grace Church here is our

"How to" manual:

WELCOME

We are pleased that you have chosen Grace United Methodist Church of Valley Stream for your wedding. Marriage is strengthened greatly when God is made a partner to the covenant. Your wedding in the church will signify to all how sacred you deem this event.

HOW TO PROCEED

First, call the Pastor to secure a date on the Church calendar. Since there is some demand for specific dates, and since marriage should be carefully and thoughtfully prepared for, you are requested to make your initial contact with the Pastor far in advance of the preferred wedding date. Non-members must find someone who is a member of Grace Church who will be willing to act as a sponsor, who will personally accept responsibility for the fulfillment of the requirements set forth in this brochure, and who will be present at the wedding.

THE PASTOR

The Pastor, by agreeing to officiate at your wedding, is thereby accepting responsibility for your marriage. The Pastor wants to help you in making the very best beginning possible. Accordingly, you -- both bride and groom -- will be expected to meet with the Pastor at least once, and preferably twice, before the actual wedding date. If you would like to have a guest pastor assist or officiate at the wedding, such an arrangement will be made with the pastor’s consent and at his written invitation.

MUSIC

The wedding ceremony is an act of divine worship. The music should therefore be selected with this purpose in mind of making this a holy and reverent event. Since the ceremony is both a joyous celebration and a worship service, music which is Scriptural and which gives glory to God is most appropriate. Hymns are being used increasingly, giving the wedding guest greater participation in the service through such music. Hymns like “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” “Now Thank We all Our God,” and “O Perfect Love” are appropriate for use as processionals, recessionals or at some other point in the service. There is a wealth of music, both classical and modern, which is suited to the wedding service. You are most welcome to make an appointment with the organist to discuss the music for your wedding, including any request you may wish to make. The Organist's telephone number is 516/825-1940. The conference with the Organist should take place well in advance of the wedding date. In the absence of such an advance conference the choice of music will be at the sole discretion of the organist. Soloists are available to sing at your wedding. Arrangements should be made through the organist.

SOME HELPFUL HINTS

The couple should bring the marriage license to the Pastor at the time of the rehearsal. The fees for the use of the church, and the services of the pastor, organist, and custodian should also be presented at the time of the rehearsal. Bulletins appropriate to the proposed wedding ceremony are available to list the order of worship, the participants and greetings from the couple. These are available through the Church Office. Again, we are happy that you have chosen this Church. We join you in the prayer that your wedding will be a most beautiful beginning to an even more successful marriage.

DECORATIONS AND FLOWERS

The Church needs very little to decorate it. One or two bouquets will be sufficient for floral decorations. The Communion Table, Pulpit, Cross, and Baptismal Font should not be hidden in any way. Flowers may be affixed to the pews only with ribbons or rubber bands. If you wish to leave the flowers for the Sunday service, notice will be given of your gift in the Sunday announcements. The flowers will be taken to shut-ins after the service, and delivered with your best wishes. No colored rose petals are to be thrown on the carpets.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The very special significance of your wedding service should not be intruded upon by a photographer who, in doing his job, walks about the Church to get the right angle. You will want a wedding, and not merely the record of a wedding. Therefore, photos of the wedding ceremony will be posed following the actual wedding. Only at that time may photographers, professional and amateur, snap and flash away to their heart’s content. The ushers will inform all guests with cameras of this rule. The officially designated photographer may, as the one slight modification to this rule, take pictures from an unobtrusive location during the ceremony, using existing light. You will receive along with this brochure two copies of an agreement to be signed by the photographer, one of which is to be submitted to the Pastor at the time of the rehearsal. The same rules apply to video taping.

WEDDING VOWS

You are encouraged to read and consider carefully the following wedding vows you will exchange, bride and groom, during the wedding service: “I, N., take you, N., to be my wedded wife (husband), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinances and thereto, I pledge you my faith.” When exchanging rings, the couple says: “In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I wed you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

COSTS

There is a $200 fee for the Pastor’s time and a $200 fee to cover the cost of the Church’s expenses. The fee for the organist is $250. If a soloist is desired, an additional fee will be charged for his/her services. The sexton will be given $100.

DIVORCED PERSONS

Persons who have been divorced and now wish to remarry are welcome at Grace Church. THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE of the United Methodist Church provides that Pastors may remarry divorced persons when they [the Pastors] are satisfied by careful counseling that (1) the divorced person is sufficiently aware of the factors leading to the failure of the previous marriage; (2) the divorced person is sincerely preparing to make the proposed marriage truly Christian; and (3) sufficient time has elapsed between the divorce and the contemplated marriage for adequate preparation and counseling. More simply put, come and talk with the Pastor.

WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED

1. Smoking in the Church.

2. The serving of alcoholic beverages at receptions or other gatherings in the Church buildings.

3. Confetti. It is very difficult to sweep up on damp or rainy days, and it can stain the sidewalk.

4. Rose petals. They stain the carpet.

John H. Cole, Pastor

George J. Simmons, Organist

21 South Franklin Avenue Valley Stream, New York 11580

Telephone: 516/825-1182