[rodgersorgan] Wedding music policy

For what it=27s worth=2C here=27s the wedding music policy my church goes=
 =

with for now=2E

Richard Wildhirt
Federal Way=2C WA
St=2E Luke=27s Lutheran Church
Rodgers 940/PR-300S

-------------

A Brief Guide for
Selecting Appropriate Music for Your Wedding
by Richard Wildhirt=2C Organist/Pianist
Community of Christ at St=2E Luke=92s Lutheran Church
Federal Way=2C Washington

Congratulations on your decision to get married=2C and welcome to =

Community of Christ at St=2E Luke=92s=2E  We=92re glad you=92ve chosen to=
 have =

your wedding here=2E

No doubt you have arrived at the decision to marry with much thought =

and preparation=2E  We at Community of Christ want you to consider the =

music selection for your wedding ceremony with the same care and =

attention=2E  It=92s not an easy task=2C and there is so much music to ch=
oose =

from=2E

The wedding ceremony here is viewed by our church as a worship =

service=2E  After all=2C the model for a marriage is the example God gave=
 =

us in the Bible of Jesus and His bride=2C the church=2E  A basic criterio=
n =

for choosing music for your wedding should be the same as the music =

minister uses for selecting music for our regular worship services=2E  =

The music should be inspiring and uplifting=2C appropriate for the =

occasion=2C but most importantly reverent and honoring almighty God=2E

With that in mind=2C this standard disqualifies most popular secular =

songs from being used in the wedding service=2E  We understand that you =

and your spouse-to-be may have a favorite song that holds special =

meaning for you=2C and you may have considered using it in the ceremony=2E=
  =

Unless the song=92s lyrics honor God through the celebration of your =

marriage=2C we suggest that a more appropriate place for it might be at =

your reception=2E

The subject of appropriate music also applies to pieces played before =

(prelude and processional) and after the ceremony (recessional and =

postlude)=2E  Many wedding couples have a view of a traditional ceremony =

with the =22Wedding March=22 from Richard Wagner=27s opera Lohengrin=2C a=
nd =

the =93Bridal Chorus=94 from Mendelssohn=92s A Midsummer Night=92s Dream=2E=
  =

While those pieces may be popular=2C they are not used in wedding =

services at Community of Christ=2E

Why=3F  Wagner=27s operas often depict pagan stories and themes=2E  Most =

would probably associate the song with the children=27s jingle=2C =22Here=
 =

comes the bride=2C big=2C fat and wide!=22 (which would be another good =

reason not to use it!)=2E  Aside from A Midsummer Night=92s Dream not bei=
ng =

sacred in nature=2C the couple from Mendelssohn=92s play ended up in a =

divorce=2E

Ultimately=2C the weightiest reason not to use either of those pieces is =

that there is so much more better music out there to be used at =

weddings than these vastly overused pieces=2E  If you want your wedding =

to be unique=2C pick something different from the stereotypical bridal =

music=2E  Make your ceremony special=2E

The next page has several suggestions for processionals=2C solos=2C and =

recessionals=2E  This is not a complete list=2C but it will get you =

started=2E  Your wedding organist/pianist can provide you with more ideas=
 =

if you desire=2E  There is also a 3=2E5=94 floppy disk you can put into y=
our =

computer=2C to listen to many of the processional and recessional pieces =

on the next page=2E  The pieces are in MIDI format=2C and are playable =

using the Windows Media Player=2E  The solo pieces you can obtain from =

your local Christian book store=2E

Please feel free to contact me with your questions and comments=2E  I =

look forward to meeting with you as we select the music for your =

special day=2E


!
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