What is Love? (I Corinthians 13:4-13 NAS)

Transcription

1 What is Love? Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:4-13 NAS) Revised: August

2 Dear Friends, Welcome to one of the most special times in your life. The Christian wedding is a great moment of joy and celebration. It is a time of worship that stands out in one s memory as a key turning point in life s journey. Both for the couple and their families, these are precious moments. The members and staff of Community Bible Church (CBC) welcome you in planning a wedding in our facilities. This is an important ministry of our church which seeks to extend the grace and love of God to you. The marriage ceremony in this church is an act of Christian worship. The relationship you are about to enter is second only to your relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is not merely a social occasion, but a service in which a man and a woman receive from God the gift of marriage. In this covenant they vow to be always faithful to each other and to God. By coming to the church for your wedding, you are saying that you want this happy and sacred ceremony, and the life which shall follow to be lived in the presence of God. We, therefore, want to assure you of our desire to make this a holy, beautiful, and lasting experience. We want to extend every possible courtesy to wedding parties and assist in maintaining high standards associated with weddings in this church. In order to make available to inquiring wedding parties the accepted customs of the church, the following procedures are presented. As you read through this booklet, please remember that all of these procedures are designed with one thing in mind, to make your wedding a very meaningful time of worship. If you do not understand the reason behind some of these procedures, or if you have any questions or special requests regarding these guidelines, please feel free to discuss them with the wedding director provided by the church. We wish you every happiness in your life together and sincerely hope that your wedding in our church will be a sacred and beautiful occasion. We pray that you will make Christ the head of your home and urge you to make participation in a local church a vital part of your new relationship together. Please be assured that you would be welcome as a member of Community Bible Church. You would find our worship services to be inspiring, strengthening for daily life, and always to the glory of God. We offer special adult classes for those couples who are engaged and/or those who are newlyweds. These classes will provide support and encouragement for your marriage as well as Christian education for your spiritual growth. May God always bless you. Rev. Beau Adams Lead Pastor 2

3 Preliminary Information Concerning Scheduling Because of heavy church programming, weddings or rehearsals may not be held on Sundays, Wednesday and evenings or days that the church offices are closed for the observance of a holiday. Only in exceptional circumstances will weddings be scheduled on holidays or holiday weekends including, but not limited to: Memorial Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Weddings will not be scheduled that conflict with any worship service or event involving the membership as a whole. Weddings must be scheduled at least three months prior to the wedding, but no more than twelve months in advance. Due to the rapid growth of the church, necessary heavy church programming and lack of space, we cannot be very flexible at this time for weddings. However, if we can work with you on the dates you have chosen, we will be happy to help you host your church wedding. A prospective bride, groom or parents of the bride or groom must be an active member of Community Bible Church for three months prior to scheduling a wedding and an active member for six months before being married, or fees will be based on a non-member basis. NOTE: To avoid misunderstandings and disappointments, we suggest you do not announce your wedding date until after you have paid your deposit, and you are confirmed on our church calendar by the wedding director. Scheduling and Making a Reservation Once you have reviewed CBC s Wedding Guidelines you should contact Joyce Benton, Church Wedding Director at The director will set up an appointment time at the church to meet with you to discuss your wedding plans and also have you fill out an application for approval. You will also need to fill out a Bride and Groom Questionnaire for our Premarital Counseling Ministry. She will check the church calendar for scheduling your event. Please have two dates in mind, should there be any conflicts. A deposit of $ for members and $ for non-members is mandatory for confirmation on the church calendar. We do not accept any tentative dates. The deposit will be due at the time the application is submitted. The balance of all fees will be due two weeks before the wedding. NOTE: Please make all checks payable to Community Bible Church. Please indicate on the check the wedding date and the last name of both bride and groom. The initial deposit will be refunded to the couple within two weeks after the wedding, provided all policies have been observed and no damage was incurred. 3

4 Church Requirements The following items are requirements of the church for the wedding to occur at Community Bible Church: The CBC wedding reservation form has been completed and signed and the deposit received. In signing this agreement, you are saying that you understand and agree to adhere to the guidelines of the church. The exact date and hour of the rehearsal and wedding have been decided and approved by the wedding director. One of the staff ministers has agreed to perform the ceremony. Other clergy can perform the ceremony with prior approval of the CBC pastoral staff. Completion of a pre-marital counseling program is required to be married at CBC. Premarital Counseling Ministry A qualified person other than our staff may complete your counseling. You will be required to show proof of attendance. Failure to attend or complete the counseling program will result in our canceling the use of our facilities. If for any reason you are not approved to be married in our facilities, we will refund your deposit within five working days. The wedding director will give your application and personal questionnaire to our Pastor of Caring Ministries, who will assign to you a mentor couple. The mentor couple will call you to schedule your initial interview. The CBC Pre-Marital Counseling Program is uniquely designed for you and your partner to gain insights into a satisfying, Christ-centered marriage. Your individual life and your relationship as a couple will be greatly impacted by the premarital counseling experience! Our program consists of 4-5 counseling sessions, each lasting between minutes long. Sessions are held at the church and at a convenient time for the counselors and bride and groom. If CBC is not your church home, we strongly recommend that you join a local church in your community so that you may learn to grow together in Christ Frequently asked questions about Premarital Counseling What happens at the premarital interview? The bride and groom will meet with a mentor couple to discuss the details of the bride and groom questionnaire and an overview of premarital counseling sessions. Following 4

5 the initial interview, the couple will be asked to complete a Prepare inventory. This test helps alert the premarital counselors to areas that need specific attention. They also help to identify areas of strengths in the relationship. The pre-marital counseling experience is specifically designed to meet the needs of each couple. What is the cost of the CBC Premarital counseling program? The cost for members of CBC is $75. The cost to non-members is $100. This cost covers the administration and scoring of the national, standardized Prepare inventory and other counseling materials. Our premarital counselors are not paid; they have chosen premarital counseling as a special ministry opportunity. Who does the premarital counseling? Your premarital counseling will be done with a married couple who has received special premarital training. These couples have been married for at least ten years and exemplify Christ-centered marriages. They are open and honest about sharing their experiences in their own marriage. You will work with the same counselors for the full duration of your premarital counseling. Although these counselors are specifically trained in the area of premarital counseling, they are not professional, licensed counselors. They have chosen premarital counseling as their ministry at CBC. One of the goals of the ministry is to provide all premarital couples an opportunity to establish a mentoring relationship with their counseling couple, thus encouraging their present and future connection to their CBC family. What do we talk about at the counseling session? You will discuss many subjects throughout your time together. These subjects include marital roles and responsibilities, skills for communicating and resolving conflicts, realistic management of finances, your sexual relationship, your family of origin, and much more! Your relationship strengths will be discussed, as well as areas that need growth. Although the program is designed to cover certain topics, your counselors will design your time together to fit your individual needs. Homework assignments may be given to enhance your understanding (and promote discussion) of the material. Are there any additional activities involved in premarital counseling? Individual financial counseling is available upon request through our Crown Budget Counseling Ministry. It is also strongly recommended that those involved in remarriages attend a divorce recovery program prior to entering into a new marriage. Call the church office for a current schedule of our DivorceCare meetings at CBC. Couples who are involved in step-parenting issues are highly encouraged to attend a step-family small group or parenting class. What should I expect from the premarital counseling experience? 5

6 You should expect to be challenged, strengthened, educated, and better prepared for your upcoming marriage. You will probably experience some laughs, some tears, and some pleasant surprises! You should leave your premarital counseling with some problem areas identified, some new marital skills learned, and most importantly a more realistic expectation of what marriage will be like! May God richly bless you individually, and as a couple, as you embark on this exciting journey together! For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate. Mark 10:7-9 (NIV) Facility Policies The following are facility policies for weddings at Community Bible Church: Smoking is not permitted in any of our church buildings nor on the grounds. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to be certain this policy is understood and followed by all members of the wedding party and those who service the wedding (florist, caterer, photographer, etc.). Food and beverages are not allowed in the chapel or chapel foyer. The wedding party may bring soft drinks and snacks to the atrium area or dressing rooms only for the wedding attendants to eat before the wedding. All trash must be placed in trash cans, and the rooms straightened before the wedding party exits the church after the wedding and/or reception. Members of the wedding party must refrain from using alcoholic beverages or drugs prior to and during any activity held at the church. No alcoholic beverages may be brought to the church or served on the church premises at any time. Any member of the wedding party or any guest who brings alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, in any form, will be removed from the property immediately. If the violator is a member of the wedding party, he/she will not be permitted to participate in the rehearsal or wedding. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to be certain this policy is understood and followed by all members of the wedding party and those who service the wedding (florist, caterer, photographer, etc.). At certain times of the year, special decorations or promotional items may be displayed in the chapel and church buildings for special emphasis or campaigns (Christmas, Easter, Global Impact Conference, Stewardship Campaign, etc.). These 6

7 decorations are not to be removed until the end of the celebration or campaign. Weddings during these times should be planned with the decorations in mind. The church does not have staff available to remain on the premises at all times. Therefore, all deliveries are the responsibility of the bride and/or groom and must be made only at times that are convenient for them so that they may be present to receive them. If necessary, the bride and/or groom may consult with the wedding director regarding times for deliveries and decorations. Due to church programming, we can not always be flexible. The church is not responsible for personal items brought to the church for use in a wedding or reception, nor is it liable for items if lost, stolen or damaged; however, we will use every reasonable effort to assist the wedding party in protecting such property. It is suggested that a friend of the family be asked to be responsible for valuables during the wedding service and/or the reception. Please avoid leaving any valuable items unattended. Any stationary furniture considered part of the normal church facilities may not be moved. The church nurseries are not for use during the wedding preparation, decorating times, rehearsal or wedding ceremony. They have been prepared for Sunday morning services with all toys and beds cleaned and properly sanitized. An adult must supervise children present during the wedding preparation, rehearsal or ceremony at all times. It is the responsibility of the bride and/or groom to make sure all children are cared for during these times. Running in the atrium, chapel or any area of the church facilities is not acceptable conduct. CBC will not accept any responsibilities for accident or injury that could occur. No rice, confetti, silly string, shaving cream, sparklers, etc. may be thrown anywhere in the church building or on the church grounds. It is suggested that birdseed or bubbles be used in place of rice, and these must be used only outdoors. No birdseed or bubbles should be given to guests inside the building but should be handed to guests as they exit the building. There should be no substances of any kind added to the water in the atrium fountain (i.e.) soap, bubbles etc. Should this occur during your scheduled event, you will be charged an additional $ plus your initial deposit will not be refunded. The charges are for repair and extra clean up. If cars are decorated excessively with shaving cream, you will lose your deposit due to the extra clean up it requires. 7

8 The wedding director will note any damage that is incurred, and you will be notified immediately, providing the violation has been discovered. Any damage that may result from violation of these rules but is not immediately evident will be assessed and the wedding party will be charged. Time Frames Community Bible Church is a very active church and is host to many activities. Each of the weddings performed at CBC is very special. In order to give your rehearsal, rehearsal dinner (if applicable), wedding and reception (if applicable) the attention deserved, a block of time has been allotted to you. All activities for these events must be completed within the specified time allotted. The time frame for each wedding is different because each wedding varies in the activities that are involved. The director will work out the scheduling with the bride, groom and family accordingly. Saturday Weddings with Reception Saturday weddings and receptions must be completed by 5:30 PM. The atrium and chapel will be open by 8:00 AM on Saturday. No one, including the caterer may remain in the building after 6:00 PM. This is mandatory! The clean-up crew has to have the used areas cleaned and ready for the Sunday Morning Worship Service. You must advise your vendors of this time frame. Saturday Weddings without Reception Saturday weddings without a reception at the church must be completed by 6:30 PM. The atrium and chapel will be open by 8:00 AM on Saturday. No one may remain in the building after 6:30 PM. This is mandatory! The clean-up crew has to have the used areas cleaned and ready for the Sunday Morning Worship Service. You must advise your vendors of this time frame. Friday Weddings We can offer Friday evening weddings with Thursday evening rehearsals. Due to the excessively busy schedule of the church and school, this requires special planning. The wedding director will work with you regarding a Friday evening wedding. We cannot be very flexible with the time frame; however, we will work individually with each bride in scheduling a Friday evening wedding, taking into consideration availability of the facilities on the date you request. Special plans will need to be made for the Thursday evening rehearsal as well. The atrium will not be available for receptions on Friday when school is in session due to school and daycare activities. The above allotted time frame must include: Florists and caterer to decorate, setup and clean up Wedding party to dress 8

9 Photographer and/or videographer to set up and take all photographs and/or videos before and after the wedding The bride and groom, in consultation with the wedding director, will determine how the allotted time for their wedding will be utilized. Failure to complete activities, including those of the florist, caterer, and photographer, within the allotted time will result in additional expenses. The Officiating Minister CBC s pastors are available to perform weddings. The pastor for your wedding should be notified directly of any changes or cancellation. The pastor s attendance at the rehearsal will depend on his schedule. If the pastor does not attend, the wedding director will have the ceremony of the pastor and will run through the ceremony with the wedding party. To avoid embarrassment to the bride and groom, the church requests that the marriage license be given to the pastor in the church office at least two days prior to the wedding. On the day of the wedding, the pastor will meet the groom and best man approximately 30 minutes before the wedding. Pastors or ministers from other churches within the evangelical Christian denomination may officiate your ceremony at our facility. When guest ministers are requested, they must be approved by one of the staff ministers of CBC. Information about the minister and his home church must by provided. Your wedding director will receive this and submit it for approval. It is understood that the visiting minister will abide by the wedding policies of the church. If counseling is done by the visiting minister, the counseling schedule and content of the counseling sessions must be submitted for approval by the counseling staff. CBC s pastors wear dark suits or black robes. If you would like your pastor to wear formal attire, all arrangements must be made by the bride or groom. The Wedding Director At the time your wedding date is placed on the church calendar, a church wedding director is assigned to work with you in making your plans. She will contact you to set up an appointment to discuss your wedding. She will direct your rehearsal and your wedding and will attempt to assist you in every way possible. You may choose to employ, at the bridal couple s expense, an outside wedding director. The church s director will serve as a consultant to the employed director. CBC s 9

10 Wedding Director will be on the premises at all times during the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner (if applicable), wedding and reception (if applicable) and will have final authority in all matters concerning the use of the facilities and policies of CBC. If you choose to do this, charges will be as indicated on the fee schedule. The wedding director will be glad to assist by making recommendations for the florist, caterer, musicians and photographer and selection of music. She can also work with the caterer in designing the layout of the reception, provided the reception is held at the church. The director will consult with the bride and groom regarding arrival times for the wedding party. There will be no changes in the wedding format during the rehearsal without the approval of the wedding director, bride and groom. The director will synchronize time with all involved parties, seat honored guests in proper order and at the proper time and make sure the processional starts on time. The director will arrive at the designated time she, the bride and groom have agreed upon. Enough time will be allowed for last minute details such as: placing printed programs (if used) in the foyer and pinning boutonnieres/corsages on ushers, groomsmen, mothers and honored guests. The director will assist in setting up a gift table at the reception (if at the church, otherwise, will collect in a central location) and in providing any other services the bride and groom may require. The wedding director will also provide an emergency kit in the bride s room, which contains safety pins, scissors, needle and thread and an assortment of other emergency items. The director will meet briefly or speak by phone with the bride and groom the week before to go over the final program format. This is very important and must be done before the designated time for the rehearsal. Selecting Your Music Music is a very important part of the wedding ceremony and should always be in keeping with the sacredness and dignity of Christian worship. Wedding music should be true to the Christian faith and contribute to the integrity of worship. Popular and sentimental love songs rarely, if ever, contribute to the worship of God, and therefore, are considered inappropriate in the wedding ceremony. The rehearsal dinner and wedding reception are appropriate times for these selections. Suggestions of appropriate music for the processional, recessional, and vocal music may be obtained from the wedding director or minister of music. The wedding director or minister of music must approve all music at least four weeks prior to the wedding. Music used at the reception if at the church should also be discussed and approved. 10

11 The church has pianists, organists, vocalists and instrumentalists available upon request. The wedding director will be glad to provide referrals. The wedding director will provide phone numbers to the bride and/or groom so that appointments may be arranged. It is the responsibility of the bride or groom to contact the wedding director with the music that will be used during the ceremony. It is very important the wedding director have this information for proper seating. Vendors/Support Services Audio/Sound Sound amplification will be available but is not necessary for all weddings in the chapel. A sound technician will be provided by the church if requested. The sound technician will arrive one hour prior to the time of the wedding to set up sound equipment needed and to meet with vocalists for a sound check. If sound is requested for the reception, an extra charge will be incurred. The sound technician does not attend rehearsals. A cassette tape of the wedding ceremony will be provided by CBC if a sound technician has been retained. The tape will be given to the family immediately following the ceremony. Photography/Video Because of the sacredness of this occasion, please be sure the photographer and video technicians adhere to church policies regarding flash photography and placement of cameras. Flash photography is not allowed after the bride has entered the altar area. All pre-wedding photography in the chapel must be completed one hour prior to the ceremony. This will allow for music sound checks and the prelude music to begin on time. Florist Decor used should be in good taste and furnished by the florist. In an effort to preserve the beauty of our facilities, we ask that anyone decorating the church sign a contract, provided by the wedding director, which states our church guidelines for decor. Please note that seasonal decorations hung in the chapel or atrium will remain in place. The flower girl may drop silk petals on the bride s aisle. No live flowers may be dropped as they will stain the carpet. The church will gladly use wedding flowers for the worship services when this is possible. Floral arrangements that are too large to be moved cannot be used and must be removed by your florist. Please discuss your desire with your florist and advise the wedding director of your plans to leave the flowers. 11

12 Caterer Due to the number or worship services scheduled at this time, we are limited to the amount of time the caterer can have to do his/her work for the reception. It is suggested that the caterer do as much as possible before the arrival time at the church since time will be limited. The church will be open by 8:00 AM on Saturdays. All clean up must be completed by 6:00 PM on Saturdays. The bride and groom must have a contract with their florist, caterer, photographer and video technician. We recommend the use of a professional florist, caterer, photographer and video technician if possible. Contracts will be supplied to you that must be signed and returned to the wedding director indicating the vendors received and understand what is expected of them while they are in our facilities. Contracts must be received at least two weeks before the wedding date. It is important you have a contract with your vendors. It is the bride s and groom s responsibility to see that all vendors adhere to CBC policies. A vendor s failure to sign and return a copy of CBC s policies will result in the vendor not being allowed to use CBC s facilities. The bride or groom will be notified. This is for protection of the bridal party, vendors and Community Bible Church. Equipment Rental The church has candelabras and other equipment available for use at no charge to members. A non-member fee of $25.00 will be charged. Since the candles in these pieces must be replaced for each wedding, the church does not supply them. Chase candles must be used and may be rented from most florists and rental stores. Wax candles may only be used on the unity candle. Adequate plastic sheeting must be placed beneath all candles. The florist, bride and groom will be responsible for any damage that occurs by wax that drips or is spilled on carpet or furniture. Available pieces include: (1) fifteen light arch candelabra (2) seven light adjustable candelabra (1) unity candle (2) memorial candles (1) prayer bench (2) large and (2) small candle lighters Rehearsal It is helpful at the rehearsal if all that are taking part in the wedding, including those who are to be formally seated, are present to rehearse. It is not necessary for vocalists to attend the rehearsal. Vocalists and musicians should schedule a separate time to practice for the wedding since time is limited at the rehearsal. 12

13 Only one hour will be set aside for the rehearsal. The bride and groom, therefore, should insist that all members of the wedding party be as prompt for the rehearsal as for the wedding. The church facility cannot be held after the scheduled time as there are often other events taking place. The wedding party is expected to vacate the facilities immediately upon conclusion of the rehearsal unless the rehearsal dinner is scheduled in the atrium. An additional fee will be charged if more time is needed and the schedule permits. Fee Schedule Tithing Members Members Non- Members Chapel $0 $100 $500 Atrium $0 $250 Not Available Kitchen $0 $0 Not Available Additional rooms (other than dressing rooms for bride and groom) $0 $25 $50 Additional Time $50/hour $50/hour $75/hour Minister $ * $ * $250 Custodial Fee Chapel $100 $100 $150 Atrium $150 $150 Not Available Pianist $125 $125 $150 Organist $125 $125 $150 Sound Technician $75 (wedding)/$100 $75 (wedding)/$100 $100 (wedding and reception) (wedding and reception) Wedding Director $275 (wedding)/$300 $275 (wedding)/$300 $300 (wedding and reception) (wedding and reception) Premarital Counseling $75** $75** $100** Candelabra Rental $0 $0 $25 Tablecloth Rental (Small Tables) $100 $100 N/A Refundable Deposit $250 $250 $500 *Ministerial fees for members are based on personal discretion. The range provided is a suggested fee guideline. **For premarital staff counseling requirements see page 4. For our members who tithe, we would like to honor their obedience to the Lord by providing a discount. Members who tithe are those members who have been actively 13

14 giving for the previous twelve months or those who have been actively giving since they became members if their membership is less than twelve months. Tithing is defined as giving ten percent of your income on a weekly or monthly basis. Fees will be based upon verification of consistent giving through the church office. Full time employees of the church or their children should check with the wedding director for employee discount information. Please make checks for all parties involved payable to Community Bible Church. The church will then redistribute the fees according to the fee schedule. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to insure that all documents are received, contracts adhered to and policies followed regarding their wedding. In the event that this does not occur, the bride and/or groom will forfeit their deposit and be financially responsible for any damages incurred. A refund will be made if the wedding is canceled 30 days or more prior to the date scheduled. If the church has incurred any expense connected with the scheduled wedding, the expense will be deducted from the fees paid, and the balance will be refunded. 14

15 COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH WEDDING RESERVATION FORM Please print all answers neatly and return to the church office and/or wedding director. Your wedding date will be placed on the church calendar when this form has been returned with the deposit and approved by the wedding director.. Bride Home Phone Work Phone Address First Marriage (Y) (N) Christian? Church Member? Where? If church member of CBC, how long? Date of Birth Groom Home Phone Work Phone Address First Marriage (Y) (N) Christian? Church Member? Where? If church member of CBC, how long? Date of Birth Address of where you will be living after marriage: Phone Date of Wedding: Time: Date of Rehearsal: Time: Church Facilities Desired: Chapel Atrium: Reception Rehearsal Dinner Kitchen: Reception Rehearsal Dinner We have read the Wedding Policies of Community Bible Church and agree to abide by these policies. We will make every effort to insure that our wedding party and those servicing the wedding will do likewise. Bride s Signature Groom s Signature Date For Church Office Use Only: Date Confirmed Pre-marital counseling set up Copy of application forwarded to: Wedding Director Music Director Accounting Building Maintenance and Custodial Crew Administrator 15

16 Map to Community Bible Church 2001 W. Jodeco Road Stockbridge, GA N I-75 South Exit 222 Jodeco Road Community Bible Church 16

17 Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33) To add Christ to our already busy life is to complicate living; to allow Christ to absorb all the elements of our life is to simplify it. Life is simplified when there is one center, one reason, one motivation, one direction and purpose. God s Abundance, Kathy Collard Miller, ed. 17