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The Wedding Service
Planning Your Service
You and the St. Mark’s clergy will plan your wedding ceremony together. We use an order of worship for all weddings which may or may not include Holy Communion. Your input on scripture readings, hymn selection and the language of the vows is encouraged. Cultural wedding customs can be included in the service. Please make an appointment with the officiating Pastor at least one month prior to your wedding day.
Holy Communion
Some couples wish to celebrate the Eucharist at their wedding. This is very appropriate. The Eucharist is for all, not merely the wedding party. The method usually employed is intinction. Arrangements should be made with the Pastor if this is desired.
Lay Lectors
If you wish to have a lay person assist in the service (e.g. reading a scripture passage), you should discuss this and make arrangements with the Pastor.
Music
The Director of Music and Liturgy for St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Dr. Timothy Zerlang, will assist you in the selection of appropriate music for the service. All music must be cleared with him to assure its appropriate character. Music cannot be changed within 30 days preceding the wedding. It should be understood that only "live" music may be used at the wedding: no taped music or CDs are allowed.
Dr. Zerlang is the primary musician for all services. In the event he is unavailable to play for your ceremony, he will provide a suitable replacement. He does not attend the rehearsal.
Only sacred music is allowed. Sacred music is defined as traditional hymns, classical or contemporary instrumental pieces, including contemporary Christian music. Secular songs are better suited to the reception. If you have a question as to the acceptability of a particular piece, please ask Dr. Zerlang.
If you choose to have a soloist or any additional special music, you are asked to discuss this with Dr. Zerlang. St. Mark's can provide a soloist. Many weddings include a congregational hymn, and we are pleased to encourage this.
Please contact Dr. Zerlang as early as possible to plan your music selections.
The Wedding Liturgy
This is the basic outline of a wedding service at St. Mark’s.
Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and flash cameras during the ceremony.
GATHERING
Prelude music title composer
Processional music title composer
Pastoral Welcome
Greeting
Declaration of Intention
Prayer of the Day
WORD
Readings 2-3 scripture readings
Sermon
Hymn of the Day hymn title
MARRIAGE
Vows
Giving of Rings
Acclamation
Marriage Blessing
Prayers of Intercession or Lord’s Prayer
Holy Communion (optional)
Introduction of the Newlyweds
SENDING
Blessing
Recessional music title composer
Evangelical Lutheran Worship copyright © 2013 | All rights reserved
Suggested Scripture Readings
If you would like your wedding liturgy to include certain scripture passages that are meaningful to you, then please feel free to discuss them with your officiating minister. Otherwise, listed below are some suggested scripture readings. Should you wish to use some secular readings, your request must be made to your assigned pastor and approval is solely at her/his discretion.
It is appropriate to include up to three readings, which may be done by family members or friends. It is not necessary to include a Gospel reading (in italics) in the liturgy. If you do choose a Gospel reading, then please note that they are usually read by a pastor and typically read last.
Genesis 2:18-24
Ruth 1:16-17
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Song of Solomon 2:10-13
Psalm 33
Psalm 100
Psalm 113
Psalm 127
Psalm 128
Psalm 136
Psalm 150
Romans 12:1-2
1 Corinthians 13
Ephesians 5:21-33
Philippians 1:3-11
Philippians 2:1-8
Philippians 4:4-7
1 John 4: 7-12
Matthew 19:4-6
John 2:1-10
John 15:9-12
Wedding Music Selection Ideas
Prelude
Prior to the beginning of the wedding ceremony, there is a prelude consisting of about 15 minutes of instrumental music as guests arrive and are seated.
Canon
La Grâce
Four Seasons - Winter: Largo
Xerxes: Largo
Johann Pachelbel
Georg Philipp Telemann
Antonio Vivaldi
George Frideric Handel
Processional
The processional is usually played by the organ alone as members of the wedding party walk down the aisle. Several wonderful possibilities are listed here. Since St. Mark’s main aisle is relatively short, it is customary to choose 1-2 pieces of music.
Trumpet Voluntary.................................................................... Jeremiah Clarke
Trumpet Tune............................................................................. Jeremiah Clarke
Trumpet Tune in D................................................................. David N. Johnson
Trumpet March......................................................................Jean-Baptiste Lully
Prelude to the Te Deum.........................................Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Rondeau............................................................................. Jean-Joseph Mouret:
Minuet............................................................................................ Jeremiah Clark
Royal Fireworks Music: Overture............................ George Frideric Handel
Canon....................................................................................... Johann Pachelbel
Allegro marziale.............................................................................. Frank Bridge
Rigaudon........................................................................................ André Campra
Sonata No. 3: Allegro maestoso...................................... Felix Mendelssohn
Prelude in E-flat major.......................................................... Johann Sebastian Bach
Recessional
The wedding recessional, played as the newly married couple and wedding party march up the aisle, is usually the liturgy's most joyous of musical expressions. Most often played by the organ alone or with trumpet(s) or other instruments, there are many possibilities.
Trumpet Voluntary........................................................................... John Stanley
Trumpet Voluntary.................................................................... Jeremiah Clarke
Trumpet Tune............................................................................. Jeremiah Clarke
Trumpet Tune in D................................................................. David N. Johnson
Water Music: Hornpipe.............................................. George Frideric Handel
Royal Fireworks Music: The Rejoicing.............................................................................................. G.F. Handel
Rondeau.............................................................................. Jean-Joseph Mouret
Symphony No. 9: Ode to Joy.................................... Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 1: Final.................................................................... Louis Vierne
Symphony No. 5: Toccata............................................... Charles-Marie Widor