The fact that you wish to be married in Bethel Church indicates your desire for a Christian service. The order of the service shall follow the approved ritual of the United Methodist Church. The Service of Christian Marriage can be found on page 864 of the United Methodist Hymnal. Those who are a part of your wedding are not simply spectators or witnesses. They are participants and worshipers. This includes those who are in the wedding party, as well as your families and guests who come before the altar of the church to celebrate this experience with you.

THE MINISTER

John L Warren, Pastor
bumcjwarren@bellsouth.net

 

It is the policy of Bethel United Methodist Church for one of the ministers to be in charge of any wedding in this church although another minister may assist, provided the minister in charge is consulted. 

 

As soon as the date is confirmed on the church calendar and with the officiating minister, the bride and groom are asked to consult the minister in charge regarding a pre-marital conference (conferences). They believe that the first session should be scheduled as near as possible to the beginning of the engagement, and that there would be one or more additional sessions.

 

Normally, the pastor who officiates at the wedding will lead the pre-marital counseling. If, however, for reasons of distance and circumstance, this is not possible, another person, whose qualifications and skills the presiding minister recognizes, may be called upon.

 
Minister's Fee

     Members - The minister's fee is left to the discretion of the bride and groom.
     Non-members - $300.00

THE MARRIAGE LICENSE

The marriage license must be secured at the County Court House in the office of the Probate Court. It should be brought to the church at the rehearsal and given to the presiding minister. No wedding will be performed without a license. On the date of the wedding, the presiding minister will have the license signed by the bride and groom.

 

ORGANIST 

Once the date of the wedding is placed on the church calendar, Greg Jones, the Director of Music/Organist should be contacted and an appointment made to discuss the music for the ceremony. Greg's email is bumcgjones@bellsouth.net.

 

Sacred music selected for this service shall be that which is considered appropriate to the traditions of this parish and the United Methodist Church. Secular love songs, ballads, etc. are not appropriate for the ceremony nor is music in the gospel, contemporary, or folk rock tradition.

 

All music selected is subject to the approval of the Director of Music in consultation with the pastor(s). No recorded music may be used. Congregational singing is appropriate at a wedding, enabling the assembled worshipers to participate in the service more fully.                                    

                                                                                                                                                

                               Organist's  Fee

                                    Member             $ 250.00
                                    Non-member      $ 350.00

WEDDING DIRECTOR
(Chancel Guild)

 

A member of the Church Chancel Guild will consult with the bride no later than two weeks before the wedding regarding rehearsal and ceremony procedures in our church, and will direct your wedding. No outside professional director is necessary. 

     Chancel Guild Fee                          Member     $200.00                   Non-Member      $200.00

SEXTON 

The sexton will ensure that the church is open, lights are on, heating/air conditioning on one (l) hour before the rehearsal and two (2) hours before the wedding.

 

The sexton will remain in the Fellowship/Church office for security reasons and will be available as needed.

 

An additional $25.00/hour charge for the sexton may be incurred if additional set-up or clean up time is required in conjunction with rehearsal, wedding, or reception needs.  

 

     Sexton Fee                                Member    $200.00                Non-Member      $200.00

 

NURSERY

Nursery arrangements can be made for a minimum fee of $50.00. Please email the church office for more information bumcchodges@bellsouth.net.

                 

SCHEDULING OF THE FACILITIES  
   
Reservations for the use of the church facilities should be made through the Administrative office with the approval of pastors and trustees.  

Weddings and rehearsals will not be scheduled for the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Holy Week (the week before Easter), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Rehearsal should be scheduled at 5:30 p.m. unless two wedding are scheduled on the same day.

 

Pre-marital counseling or music consultations will not be scheduled for the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Holy Week (the week before Easter), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

 

Weddings on the same day will be scheduled four (4) hours apart. This enables the church staff to properly prepare the building(s) for each wedding, and gives each wedding party ample preparation time. 

 

The church facilities will be open two (2) hours prior to the ceremony. 

 

All articles of clothing and items of personal property are to be removed immediately after the ceremony. Bethel Church cannot assume responsibility for any items of personal property prior to, during, or following the ceremony. 

 
 

AVAILABLE FACILITIES

Weddings               
           Sanctuary                                  Seats @ 500                                                  

           Chapel                                      Seats @ 100

Receptions             
           Fellowship Hall                           250 Standing / 125 Seated   
                                             

Church Parlor                                        25 Standing 

 

 

Fees:                                                                 Members                Non-Members

    Sanctuary .............................                       - 0 -                         $ 1500.00

    Chapel .................................                         - 0 -                             250.00

    Chapel (with no rehearsal).......                  - 0 -                             100.00

    Fellowship Hall ......................                     - 0 -                               75.00

    Church Parlor .......................                       - 0 -                                50.00

 

To qualify for no rental fee for use of buildings, the bride, groom or their parents, must be active members and have been on the membership rolls of Bethel Church for one year prior to application.

 

NON-REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT
 
Non-members are required to complete the wedding application and submit a deposit of $500.00 to secure their desired date on the Bethel wedding calendar.  If application is submitted on-line, the date will be secure once the deposit is received. 

Members are required to submit a deposit of $250.00 to secure their desired date.

 

If a wedding is cancelled, the security deposit will be forfeited. This includes non-members and members. All other deposits will be applied to the final bill.

 

FINAL PAYMENTS

Final payments must be made thirty days PRIOR to the rehearsal date. Checks should be made payable to Bethel UMC for the total amount and individual payments will be disbursed.

 

PHOTOGRAPHS

 

No flash photography will be taken inside the church during the ceremony. Guests can take pictures as long as flash is not used.

 

A photograph of the bride and her father may be taken in the Narthex as they arrive and a photograph of the bride and groom as they leave the church following the ceremony.

 

Photographers should refrain from distracting movement during the ceremony. 

 

The bridal party may return to the church after the ceremony for as many pictures as they wish. 

 

It is important that the bride and groom tell their friends that no picture taking is allowed in the sanctuary. The wedding director reserves the right to restrict any photographer who does not abide by the church’s policy. The wedding director will contact the photographer to insure he/she understands the rules.

 

DECORATIONS
  

The following regulations are given to preserve the proper atmosphere of the church and to safeguard the furnishings. 

 

No pew or regular furniture, with the exception of the pulpit chairs, may be moved. Under no circumstances will the pulpit, communion table, the bible, cross, or candelabra be moved.

 

Within the Chancel proper, there should be no decorations except Altar candles and if desired the two (2) 7-branched candelabra (furnished by the church) and two (2) vases of flowers on each side of the Altar. These flowers will in no way hide or overshadow the Cross. These church vases are not to be removed from the building; however, if approved, may be used in the reception area after the wedding. Flower girls will be allowed to drop flowers only when a runner is used.

 

No decorations may be used on the pulpit stand or on the Communion table.

 

Bethel’s candelabras may be used and Bethel will supply all candles used for the wedding. Absolutely nothing shall be attached to any of the brass candelabra. No nails, tacks, wire, gummed or scotch tape, or thorny vines or evergreens, may be put in or on the walls, woodwork, columns, pews, chancel rail, furniture, or choir rail of the church building or any other building.

 

All wedding decorations whether in the sanctuary or elsewhere, must be done under the supervision of and with the approval of a representative of the Chancel Guild. The florist/decorator must contact the Guild representative concerning the time desired for decoration. The bride must also inform the florist/decorator of rules for the floral decorations.

 

The sanctuary has hardwood floors. An aisle cloth can be acquired through your florist. If desired for evening weddings, the church will place a white candle encased in a clear glass globe in each of the side windows. Only church supplied equipment may be used in the windows.

 

Additional decoration such as greenery in the windows is the responsibility of the bride or her florist.

 

All decorations should be removed from the sanctuary immediately after the wedding unless special permission is sought, and granted, to postpone removal and cleaning until the following day.

 

If the couple desires to leave the altar flowers for the following day’s worship service, this should be cleared well in advance with the church secretary so that proper recognition may be given in the church bulletin.

 

 

OTHER REGULATIONS
  

No alcoholic beverages are allowed on church property at any time.The minister has complete authority to cancel a wedding at the last moment for any deviation from this rule. 

 

No rice may be thrown in the church, chapel, or on the grounds.

 

Smoking is not permitted.

 

 
 Wedding Application   
(Send photo of bride and groom to Rev. Warren when submitting application. bumcjwarren@bellsouth.net

 Wedding Fees for Non-Members

 Directions & Parking
 

The choir which serves our 11:15 a.m. worship service, concretizes, and supplies music for all major festival occasions. A traditional, classically based ensemble, this group performs music of all periods of music history—ancient and modern. Membership is open to experienced choral singers with basic music reading abilities, and a desire to blend the voice into a polished ensemble. Capable music readers in the group are present to lead less confident readers. New voices are always welcome. Currently just under forty members, this group has space for about ten more singers. Our sanctuary restoration has rearranged choir loft space to accommodate a larger membership. September is the time to join, as we will be working the Christmas season and rededication of the sanctuary literatures.

Cokesbury Chorale

Bethel’s finest fellowship, this choir is built by church members “in the vicinity of retirement age.” No specific age requirement, although we do sport lots of grey, white, and balding heads. The group sings traditional and modern four-part, SATB literature. They supply the service music for about one-third to one-half of 9:00 a.m. worship services, and sing 11:15 a.m. worship about twice a year. We have enjoyed the presence of younger singers in the past, and would love to have singers of any age. No experience  necessary—just a good ear, a blending voice and personality.

 
       The Bethel Junior Choristers
Musical training for children ages 3 through middle school, this ensemble floats back and forth between 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. worship, appearing about once monthly. Singing and handbell pursuits are included for all ages. This is the group which is the core of the annual Bethel Christmas Pageant, and numerous other special worship occasions throughout the year.

 Gallery Bell Choir

A bell ensemble about thirty-five years in existence, this group plays for worship services about once monthly. Most service activity occurs during 11:15 a.m. worship, with an occasional appearance during 9:00 a.m. worship. Membership is open to folks with basic music-reading skills. With the new life and excitement which will spring forth around the re-opening of our sanctuary, the time might be prime for establishing a second bell choir at a more basic level, most likely meeting on Tuesday around sundown, or perhaps on selected Saturday mornings.

      
 

Contact Greg Jones, Director of Music
bumcgjones@bellsouth.net

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Worship and prayer are those sacred times set aside to encounter the living and vibrant God who will change our lives, and set us about the task of “thy Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in Heaven.” Worship and prayer are the keys which open the liberating door to the horrible dungeons of fear and uncertainty. Worship is when we look for God asking, “Who are you? May we see Your face, listen to Your heart, and touch the hem of Your Garment? We tell God, “You who are so mighty, we sense Your Power and Holiness. We seek Your Presence and Your Essence.” We confess admitting,  “We have fallen short of living in The Image in which we were created.” We admit our reliance upon God, begging, “Give us this day ‘our daily bread’, and deliver us from the messes we have made of all Your Perfect and Abundant Blessings.” We ask God to change our lives— “Let us be more of a joy to Your Heart and a benefit to Your Kingdom tomorrow than we were yesterday. When we look into the mirror, please let us find reflections of You, rather than a creations of our own making. We pursue God’s wisdom, declaring “We are lost without You, so reveal to us Your Purpose and Path.”

Red Bird Mission is a United Methodist mission that has been helping and serving low-income residents in the Appalachian mountains of southeastern Kentucky since 1921. The mission has a school, medical and dental clinics, a craft store and a volunteer work camp to repair homes in the surrounding area. Over the years, Bethel members and friends have made the trip to Red Bird to volunteer their time at the mission, which is usually in the fall. and last a full week. We are looking forward to returning again this year in October. Our fundraising efforts to help defray the cost of the trip will be forthcoming.

Crisis Ministries    Soup Kitchen workdays are scheduled for the 2nd Monday and 3rd Thursday of
the month. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Iona Sanders.


Red Cross Blood Drive Bethel members participate with the local Red
Cross chapter to provide blood to local hospitals when supplies are low.




School Uniform Shopping   The Missions Committee recently completed the shopping for school
uniforms and collection of school supplies for the back-to-school drive for the abused, neglected
and foster children that the HALOS organization serves. The school uniforms and school supplies
were delivered to HALOS on Tuesday, August 11^th, in time to be distributed so the children could
have new clothes and school supplies to begin the school year. Thank you to all the members and
various groups of Bethel UMC that contributed money for the purchase of the uniforms and for
donating school supplies. Six hundred (600) children received uniforms and school supplies and
another five hundred, sixty (560) children received school supplies. The members of Bethel pur-
chased uniforms for one hundred (100) of these children.

Holiday Tree Project

Foster Kids Birthday Cards


       Charity Knitting & Crocheting