Weddings!

We are having two weddings this coming week, and I thought I would talk about how the Lutheran Church views the wedding of a couple.

First: we see this exchange of vows as ordained by God from the very beginning of time. God made Eve to be a helpmate for Adam. In Gen. 2:23-24 Adam states; "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,' for she was taken out of man." for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." So as we gather for a wedding we see it as a special worship service in which a man and a woman are joined together to become one flesh. One of the most asked questions is about picture taking. Since it is a "worship service" for the joining of a couple in marriage, we see picture taking with a flash camera as a distraction and we ask you not to use them during the actual service; before and after is fine. A movie camera set up in a fixed position is allowed and encouraged.

Second: the vows are considered to be sacred vows made by the couple to each other and to God. They should be keep until death of one of the couples.

Third: music is an important part of any worship service and in a wedding it should embody high standards of quality and should reflect the praise of God. It should not be trivial or distract from the mood of the wedding's worship service. The before and after music is more open to the couple's desires but should still reflect a proper mood for the worship service.

Fourth: it is desirable that the parents of the couple be involved in giving of formal consent. This is usually done before the actual service is started, and involvement of the parents during the service in different situations is encouraged. This is however optional and the choice of the couple.

Fifth: involvement in the wedding party by the attendants is a honor for them and the couple. They along with the congregation are the witnesses of the sacred vows given and they play a big part during the wedding. All those that are involved are asked to honor and pray for the couple that day and in the years to come, and to offer advice and help to the couple throughout their marriage.