Oxford United Methodist Church
Church Policy on Christian Weddings

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We of Oxford United Methodist Church are happy that you are having your wedding in the church. We wish you every happiness in your new life together.

• Questions are often asked concerning the arrangement of the church for weddings. These procedures for our church have been set up to help in the planning for your wedding. The church can be made as festive and beautiful as it is possible to make it, but it should keep the atmosphere of a church - a House of Worship. It should be remembered that a church wedding is a service of worship and consecration, a religious ceremony, and all preparations should be made with this in mind.
• The sanctuary is so complete in its appointments and its architectural lines, that a minimum of decorations is required or desired. Floral pieces and palms used in the chancel must always leave the altar unobstructed and in full view of the congregation. Decorations are supplementary to, and must never supplant the altar. No foliage, palm or floral arrangements may ever be placed behind or in front of the cross. There are four walnut bases that may be used to raise the cross on the altar table.
• Where it is the wish of the bride or groom to invite other clergy besides the pastor to participate in the ceremony, they should make this known to the pastor of this church, who will then extend the invitation to the guest clergy. The pastor looks upon the responsibility of officiating at the marriage of two persons "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", as a sacred privilege, and represents the church of Jesus Christ, and the local congregation.
• Care should be taken that there is no damage to carpet from candle wax.
• We now have Trustee-approved brass candlesticks, wooden bases and hurricane globes to fit in the sanctuary windows, purchased, with undesignated memorial money. These may be used for special celebrations of the church, weddings, etc. Candles with hurricane globes may be used to mark pews if attached securely to back of pew. Please contact the Altar Guild Chairman for the month about this.
• No furniture should be moved in or out of the Sanctuary. Furniture in the Church Parlor may be rearranged but never moved from that room. Because of the wear and tear, the Trustees ask that tables and chairs not be removed from the church building.
• No pictures should be taken from any position during the wedding ceremony.
• It is desired that the chairman or a member of the Altar Guild Committee approve wedding decorations after they are completed.
• If you are planning a reception in the Fellowship Hall or Parlor, please contact both the Church Office and Custodian. When a caterer is used , a fee is requested to offset costs incurred. (See Current Fee Schedule for complete list of Fees).
• The church kitchen is equipped with a punch bowl, fifty cups, and a silver ladle and crystal plates. The church parlor has a small coffee set and twenty five cups and plates.
• No charge is made for the use of the church for weddings when church members are involved. However, when both bride and groom are not members of the church, a fee is charged (See current Fee Schedule).

MUSIC

All music used should reflect and intensify praise, prayer and the meaning of the service.

The church organist plays for weddings in the church. If the bride desires some personal friend or some other organist, she should clear this matter with the church organist or pastor. The fee of the church organist should be discussed with her/him.

Since the janitor has extra duties such as opening and closing the church, ringing the bell, etc., see the current fee schedule to see what would be adequate for him.

1996 Fee Schedule
Oxford United Methodist Church

This schedule is current until changed by the action of the Church Council - current as of January 6, 1998.

The following fees are applicable for weddings and similar activities scheduled at Oxford United Methodist Church.

          Organist......................... 100.00
          Soloist........................... 75.00
          Instrumentalist................... 75.00
          Custodian......................... 35.00 
            (if Fellowship Hall is used).... 55.00 
          Sanctuary........................ 100.00
          Fellowship Hall................... 75.00
          Class Room........................ 25.00

Many of our church staff are not full-time employees of the church. The time they spend working and preparing for your wedding must be compensated directly by you. The fees for use of space in the church is to help defray electrical and heating/cooling costs. Church members should also keep these amounts in mind as they make their wedding plans. There is no charge for church facilities for the people of our worshipping community.

Planning the Worship Service for a Christian Wedding.

Your wedding service will hold a precious spot amongst your memories. It is a service you help plan with the pastor. It is a service of worship. The primary focus of any worship service is God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The uniqueness of this particular worship service is the thanksgiving for two people who come to be married. The gathered congregation not only witness the pledges made by the couple they also pledge themselves to working on the marriage.

The pages that follow come from the United Methodist Book of Worship. The first service is considered the normal service and is also found in our current United Methodist Hymnal (pages 864 to 869). Read the material carefully as you will use this booklet with the pastor in planning an order of worship.

The "pages that follow" can be found in the PDF version of this document.