Here at St. Jacob’s UCC we affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We believe that God’s blessing rests upon such a marriage.
A Christian wedding takes place in the context of worship. This is an opportunity for the couple to express their love before God and loved ones, to declare that love in the context of the worship service (songs, prayers, actions, and scripture), and in the form of covenant promises. It is a time of mutual commitment to a life together, guided by the Lordship of Jesus Christ and supported by the fellowship of the Church.
We encourage Christian couples to make our sanctuary the setting for their wedding. Use the resources St. Jacob’s Church provides through which a marriage and the home can grow in every way that will make it effective and mature and will thus secure its continuity and character.
For those persons desiring to be married in St. Jacob’s United Church of Christ, we provide the flowing guidelines:

A. THE SCHEDULING OF THE WEDDING
1. Contact the pastor as early as possible because counseling is required before a wedding. A notification of six months to a year is desired. The scheduling of your wedding is very important. Don’t assume that the date you have picked is going to be acceptable. Get your proposed date on the pastor’s schedule as soon as possible.
2. If you would like to have other clergy help in the service, those arrangements must be made through the Pastor. The Pastor will call and invite other clergy to take part in the service.

B. WEDDING MUSIC
1. There are many beautiful and exciting music pieces available to help you celebrate the presence of God and Christ in your wedding service and lives. As you begin to choose music for your wedding please consult the church organist. Consultation with the organist should take place soon after your first meting with the pastor and well in advance of the wedding date.
2. The Church organist is available to play for all weddings. Other organist/pianists must be approved by the organist and the pastor.

C. PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO TAPE RECORDINGS
1. Photographs may be taken during a wedding, but neither flash pictures nor inappropriate movements of the photographer are permitted during the service. The same restrictions apply for video tape recordings.

D. WORSHIP BULLETINS
1. If you would like to use bulletins in your wedding service it is your responsibility to purchase those bulletins. If the church secretary is to prepare and print the bulletins, the materials must be provided at least two weeks in advance of the wedding date.
2. The church secretary’s fees are as follows:
• 100 bulletins or less - $25.00
• Over 100 bulletins - $45.00

E. THE USE OF RICE, BIRDSEED AND CONFETTI FOR WEDDINGS IS PROHIBITED.

F. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR SMOKING IN THE CHURCH.

G. RECEPTIONS
1. The Fellowship Hall of the Church is available for wedding receptions. The seating capacity is about 250 people.
2. Couples interested in reserving the Fellowship Hall for receptions should call the church office to reserve the Hall and receive the proper forms concerning fees and deposits.
3. If you desire the use of the kitchen facilities there are forms available in the church office regarding fees and deposits.

H. FEES AND HONORARIA
    1. There is a fee of $75.00 for the service of the Sexton for all weddings. If the Fellowship Hall of the church is used please refer to the section on Fellowship Steward in the Hall forms for fees and deposits.
2. If neither one of the couples is a member of the church there is a fee of $200.00 for the use of the sanctuary for weddings.
3. If neither one of the couples is a member of the church there is a fee of $200.00 for the services of the pastor. Members your honoraria.
4. There is a fee of $150.00 for the services of the organist for weddings. If there are extra rehearsals involved with a soloist there will be and additional fee of $25.00 per rehearsal.

*Wedding Guidelines are subject to change.