A WEDDING GUIDE
St. Paul United Church of Christ, Taylor

Our Church's History and Spiritual Heritage * The Meaning of Christian Marriage
Scheduling a Wedding Date * Sanctuary Seating and Other Facility Information
Chancel Weddings * The Presiding Clergy and Pre-Marriage Counseling * The
Organist and Special Music * Photography Arrangements * Flowers arid Other
Special Decorations * The Marriage License * The Wedding Rehearsal
*Family Participation in the Wedding Service * The Words of the Wedding Service
* A Wedding 'Walk-Through' * Fees and Charges for the Wedding Service

-OUR CHURCH'S HISTORY AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE‑

St. Paul United Church of Christ provides a beautiful setting for weddings. Founded in 1883, our church is one of the oldest congregations in the Downriver communities. The present red-brick Colonial Revival building, which was erected in 1948, is our third church home on the same historic Taylor site. Our Protestant congregation has both Lutheran and Reformed roots. Today, we are a part of the United Church of Christ, a denominational family of congregations with a million and a half members nationwide.

Our church, which is active in ministry and outreach to the wider Downriver area, welcomes to worship and membership Christians from many different backgrounds. Our Sunday morning worship services are held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. from September to mid June and at 9:30 a.m. during summer months. As you consider St. Paul United Church of Christ for your upcoming wedding, we invite you to regularly worship with us.

-THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE‑

Marriage in the Christian tradition, as described by the Book of Worship for the United Church of Christ, is a covenanted commitment that has its foundation in the faithfulness of God's love. The marriage ceremony is the glad occasion, on which two people unite as husband and wife in the mutual exchange of covenant promises, publicly declaring their commitment to be faithful and loving according to the spirit of Jesus Christ. The congregation gathered for the occasion joins in affirming the marriage and in offering support and thanksgiving for the new family being created. The presiding pastor acts as an official representative of the church and gives the marriage the church's blessing.

Accordingly, a Christian marriage ceremony is in every sense a worship service, invoking God's presence, guidance, and blessing. Couples contemplating marriage should always keep this mind as they make wedding arrangements with the pastor and church staff. Those not comfortable with the religious purposes of a church wedding service may wish to consider a civil ceremony before a magistrate.

-SCHEDULING A WEDDING DATE‑

Couples interested in getting married at St. Paul United Church of Christ are not required to be church members. All couples, however, are encouraged to contact the church office (313-291-1221) as far in advance a possible. The church's administrative assistant personally schedules all wedding rehearsals and services which are to take place in the church sanctuary. Upon receiving your request for particular dates and times, the administrative assistant will forward to you by mail or fax a wedding information form to be completed and returned with a deposit. The dates and times you reserve for a wedding rehearsal and wedding ceremony will be held for ten days, pending receipt of your completed wedding information form and deposit. After that time, in the absence of a deposit, your reservation lapses and is cancelled. Rehearsal times and wedding dates can be changed depending upon the availability of the sanctuary. Also, your deposit may be refunded if you cancel your reservation with the church's administrative assistant at least forty-five days in advance of your planned sanctuary usage. All cancellations and requests for a deposit refund must be received in writing.