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: Rockwood Church Handbook |
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Handbook: Your Guide to Church Life |
Special Services |
SPECIAL SERVICES
Weddings and Funerals, while important rites in the Congregational
Church, are not sacraments. These services are available to all and
discretionary fees are associated with them. Church staff officiate at
these services. Visiting clergy or musicians participate only at the
discretion of the resident staff members and only if unusual
circumstances warrant it.
WEDDINGS
AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE AND HONOR. We encourage marriage as an honorable
expression of love between two people based on a recognition of the
divine love first given to us by God. As such, we do not use past
circumstance in measuring to whom we extend the service of marriage.
Whether it is a first marriage or remarriage from divorce or widowhood,
whether the couple is currently living together or has children outside
of marriage, we believe the covenant which binds one to another in
matrimony is desirable and to be celebrated. This church regularly
extends the covenant of marriage to people with no affiliation to this
church.
COUNSELING. Human relationships are often difficult and the
occasion of marriage is a time to intentionally examine the skills and
values each person brings to their partnership. It is required that
couples wanting to be married in the church meet with the pastor for at
least three counseling sessions to plan the wedding ceremony and to
bring to light potential challenges they will face in their life
together. In cases where meeting three times is impossible due to
special circumstances other arrangements are made. The number of
counseling sessions is determined by the pastor.
THE CEREMONY. While there is some flexibility in the wedding
ceremony to make it meaningful to the couple, the idea of the wedding
service as a holy occasion is paramount and will not be compromised.
Music performed or words spoken that ignore or dishonor the sacred
aspects of this ceremony are not allowed. Decisions made are at the
discretion of the clergy and minister of music.
So Faith, Hope, Love abide these three, but the greatest of these is
Love.
- I Corinthians 13:13
FUNERALS AND MEMORIAL SERVICES
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? There is little difference in the form of
the ceremony between a funeral service and a memorial service. In a
funeral service the body of the deceased is present in the sanctuary
during the service, but not during a memorial service. A funeral service
happens soon after a death. A memorial service can happen soon after or
many months later.
THE SERVICE. The service holds together the sadness of saying
goodbye to a loved one while also celebrating God’s promise of life
eternal. We believe that death is not the final word in life and that we
shall be redeemed unto God upon death, and granted new life. The service
is designed with the family’s wishes in mind but is a recognized as a
sacred ceremony honoring both God and the loved one. The staff of the
church works closely with area funeral homes to create a service that
celebrates life and faith.
GRAVE SIDE. A service of committal of the body is often held at
grave side. Weather permitting, it is often held directly following the
funeral service but may be delayed until springtime if the death happens
in the winter.
RECEPTIONS. A reception may follow a funeral or memorial service
to provide a time for family and friends to support each other and share
personal remembrances. Some families choose to invite people into a
family home. Many opt to hold the reception at the church..
A ministry of this church is to provide receptions at no charge to the
family. It is a great comfort to many not to have to worry about the
details of planning a reception in the midst of all the other details a
family must handle during a time of death.
LOCATION. Services may be held in the sanctuary of the church, at
a funeral home, entirely at grave side or in the privacy of one’s home.
This is a personal decision of the family. Services at the church
receive priority over other events scheduled at the church.
ABIDING MEMORIAL FUND. Many people ask that in lieu of flowers
for loved ones, monetary donations be made to a charity, either a
designated one or a charity of choice. Many choose to request donations
for the church’s Abiding Memorial Fund. Memorials are recorded and the
collective monies used to purchase items of a lasting value that enhance
the experience of worship or of our church facility. Many people make
annual contributions to this fund in memory of or in celebration of
loved ones.
Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of
God
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:39 |
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