St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

A vision for church weddings

Anyone who lives in the parish of Eccleshill has the legal right to be married in St Luke’s Church (provided they aren’t divorced). And also, anyone who worships there regularly has that right. This month General Synod is to debate plans to change the law in England, to give people who only have some sort of “connection” with the church the right to marry there too (the details of what sort of connection will be laid down in law). The basic reason is so that people who recently lived in the parish, or whose parents still live here, can get married in the church.

Most church people, and I’m one, feel there’s something wrong with the law at the moment. The line is drawn in the wrong place. But I must admit to misgivings about the new proposals.

From a Christian point of view, why do we want people to get married in church? I guess some people might reply that it’s a source of income and a good backdrop for the photos? I hope that’s not all!

My reason for wanting people to marry in our church is that I want God to bless their marriage. What does that mean? I pray that he will use their marriage as a way to bring them happiness and gratitude. I’d like the love which they receive from each other to teach them more about God’s love for them. I’d like them to discover constancy and faithfulness as the right and best way to live, as well as the foundation for bringing up children. I hope that as Jesus was present at the wedding in Cana in Galilee (John 4), he’ll be there in weddings at St Luke’s too.

But how can God get in? It will never work, will it, unless the couple themselves invite God into their life together, and make him part of their relationship? Sadly, most couples don’t realize God could be like that for them, and that’s partly why weddings seem so secular nowadays.

There are many ways of finding God, but one of the most important factors is meeting other people who have found him to be real. In fact, that’s what our church is all about, and why we bother to have services at all.

No matter where they live, anyone can gain the right to have a wedding at St Luke’s - by coming regularly to worship God here. We’re not doing people a favour by giving them a wedding while not sharing God with them, and if that’s what the change in the law means, I wonder if it will be a step backwards for us?

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. February 2007, Page 8.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (February 2007) Perseverance, Confirmation, Electoral Roll, Weddings. Other articles on marriage.	A vision for church weddings Anyone who lives in the parish of Eccleshill has the legal right to be married in St Luke’s Church (provided they aren’t divorced). And also, anyone who worships there regularly has that right. This month General Synod is to debate plans to change the law in England, to give people who only have some sort of “connection” with the church the right to marry there too (the details of what sort of connection will be laid down in law). The basic reason is so that people who recently lived in the parish, or whose parents still live here, can get married in the church. Most church people, and I’m one, feel there’s something wrong with the law at the moment. The line is drawn in the wrong place. But I must admit to misgivings about the new proposals. From a Christian point of view, why do we want people to get married in church? I guess some people might reply that it’s a source of income and a good backdrop for the photos? I hope that’s not all! My reason for wanting people to marry in our church is that I want God to bless their marriage. What does that mean? I pray that he will use their marriage as a way to bring them happiness and gratitude. I’d like the love which they receive from each other to teach them more about God’s love for them. I’d like them to discover constancy and faithfulness as the right and best way to live, as well as the foundation for bringing up children. I hope that as Jesus was present at the wedding in Cana in Galilee (John 4), he’ll be there in weddings at St Luke’s too. But how can God get in? It will never work, will it, unless the couple themselves invite God into their life together, and make him part of their relationship? Sadly, most couples don’t realize God could be like that for them, and that’s partly why weddings seem so secular nowadays. There are many ways of finding God, but one of the most important factors is meeting other people who have found him to be real. In fact, that’s what our church is all about, and why we bother to have services at all. No matter where they live, anyone can gain the right to have a wedding at St Luke’s - by coming regularly to worship God here. We’re not doing people a favour by giving them a wedding while not sharing God with them, and if that’s what the change in the law means, I wonder if it will be a step backwards for us? John Hartley
Top of page.	This web page was last updated on 3rd April 2007.