Drawing by Andrew Foy

Presbyterian Church of Australia in N.S.W.

Guidelines for couples desiring to be married in the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church 
 

We welcome you to our Church for this exciting and life changing experience.
All marriages are celebrated by the Minister or another Minister appointed by him.
The correct title and address of the Church heads this file and should be used for your invitations.
No booking will be taken until the Minister has interviewed the couple.

 Contact Details

Minister: Reverend Peter R. Dunstan BSc., Dip Hort Sc., BD. PO Box 42 Annandale NSW 2038 Tel. (02) 9810 7869 Email: dunstan@integritynet.com.au Link to biography

Organist: Mr. Ralph W. Lane OAM ADCM (USyd) PO Box 42 Annandale NSW 2038 Tel. (02) 4872 1193   Email: info@hunterbaillie.org.au Link to biography

Legal Requirements
In order for your marriage to be celebrated, the Notice of Intended Marriage must be completed and given to the officiating minister at least a month and a day before your wedding. When submitting, for those born in Australia, the Minister must also sight full Birth Certificates or for those born overseas either an original birth certificate or a current Foreign passport. Australian Passports are not acceptable. For those previously married,  the death certificate or divorce decree absolute must also be sighted prior to the Wedding. For further details please contact the Minister.
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Pre-marriage interview/counselling 
While not yet a legal requirement, couples are strongly encouraged to attend pre-marriage counselling with the minister who is authorised to take couples through the PREPARE/ENRICH Program for a fee of just $50. Alternatively couples may choose to organise their own counselling through an accredited counselling service 

Rehearsal  
Before the Wedding the bridal party will have the opportunity to rehearse in the Church and this can be arranged with the Minister usually on the preceding Thursday evening. 

Photographs and Videos
Video recordings may be made with the available light; artificial lighting of any kind will not be permitted. Photographers are to liaise with the Minister regarding the position from which photos may be taken.

Signing of the documents 
All the necessary documents will normally be signed in the Vestry or at a side table.  It is useful if a soloist etc. is able to entertain your guests during the completion of the legal documents.  Such people should have the necessary musical skills.  If you do not know anyone and desire suitable musicians to be employed then this can be arranged for an additional charge.
The normal fee is from $150 per musician.  

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Confetti 
Please advise all your guests that the throwing of confetti or rice is not permitted in the Church or its grounds.   The use of bubbles is suggested. Rose petals and other similar items are not permitted within the church under any circumstances, but may be used outside providing they are swept up after the service.

Music 
The music for your wedding may be chosen in consultation with the Minister and the Organist and should be finalised well before the wedding.  
You will need processional music for entering and leaving the Church.  Music will be played by the organist for about fifteen minutes before the scheduled commencement of the service.  The Hymn/s and music used in the Church for your wedding should be sacred music (classical or modern).  Current popular songs are best kept for the reception!  
The Church has sufficient copies of the Revised Church Hymnary, or the new 4th Edition, however, other hymns may be requested but the music must be provided to the Organist and the words will need to be printed for your guests.

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Order of Service
It is the responsibility of those wanting to be married to have orders of services printed. Suitable service folders can be purchased from Christian Bookshops.  

On the Wedding Day 
The Groom and his attendants should arrive at the Church at least fifteen minutes before the announced time of the service. The Vestry is available for them to wait for the arrival of the Bridal Party. The bride should be courteous and arrive as far as possible on time.     

Scripture Readings 
In conjunction with the Minister, suitable passages from Scripture to be read during the service can be selected. You may like a member of your family, or friends to read such readings during the service, or the Minister can read them.     

Ushers  
You will need to organise ushers to show your guests to their seats and to give out the orders of service (if you have them). An Usher will also need to be delegated to inform the Minister and the Groom’s Party on the arrival of the Bride and her party.   

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Length of service  
The marriage service, including the signing of the Register, will normally take from 30 to 40 minutes. The couple should be able to leave the Church 60 minutes after the Bride arrives.
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Church Decorations
The Church can provide end-of-pew decorations.
PLEASE NOTE that if you wish to provide your own 'end of pew' decoration, such must be attached with ribbon or string loops only and under no circumstances may blue tack, pins, glue or any sort of adhesive tape be used, as this may cause damage to the church's heritage pews.  Please ensure that your flower provider is fully aware of this stipulation.

It is the responsibility of the bridal couple to provide appropriate floral decorations for their wedding.  Normally, the flowers for such an occasion consist of two large arrangements for the  stands on either side of the Communion Table.   Suggested locations for smaller arrangements are the two alcoves above the pulpit as well as for the tables at the beginning of each aisle — six arrangements in all.

The church congregation would appreciate your willingness to leave some, it not all, of your wedding flowers in the Church to decorate it for the Sunday Worship Service(s).   Please let the Minister know if this is your wish. 

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The Marriage Service 
This is the Order of Service, which may be printed with such additional information as is desired for your guests.  (When requested please stand to welcome the Bridal party.)

• The Bridal Procession 

• Call To Worship 

• Hymn sp;  (Optional — insert details of the Hymn)
                         Would the Congregation please stand for the singing of the Hymn  

• The Statement of Intent

• Solo   (if desired)

• Reading of the Scriptures (see below)  

• The Marriage  - Declarations

Prayer
Giving of the Bride
The Marriage Vows
The Exchange of Rings
The Declaration of the Marriage
The Blessing

• Words of Counsel and presentation of Bible

• Prayer

• Hymn  (Optional — insert details of the Hymn)
             Would the Congregation please stand for the singing of the Hymn

• The Benediction 

• The Signing of the Official Documents

• The Recessional

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A selection of Bible readings for use in the marriage service.
As you are coming to the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church to be married in God’s sight it is appropriate to have God’s Word read during the service.  It is usual for there to be at least one and preferably two Bible readings during the service, ideally one from each of the Old and New Testaments. 

If scripture passages are to be read by a family member or friend it is important that the reader should have a good, clear voice.  

Old Testament  Genesis 1:26-31; 2:18-24 Ruth 1:16-22 Psalms 23, 33, 67, 118: 1-4; 128, 144: 9-15 Song of Songs 2 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Hosea 2:16-23

New Testament  St Matthew 5:3-10, 19: 4-6 St Mark 10:6-9 St John 2:1-11 Romans 12:1-2, 9-13 1 Corinthians 13 Ephesians 3:14-21; 5: 1-2, 21-33 Colossians 3:12-17 1 Peter 3:1-12 1 John 3:18-24; 4:7-13

There are many other suitable passages so please liaise with the minister.

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Wedding Vows 
The Bride and Groom may select one of the following vows for use in their marriage service.
Any variation to these vows must first be approved by the officiating Minister.  

Vows as Questions: (Groom), do you take (Bride) to be your wedded wife, and do you in the presence of God and before this congregation promise and covenant to be to her a loving, faithful and dutiful husband as long as you both shall live .......
I DO
(Bride) do you take (Groom) to be your wedded husband, and do you in the presence of God and before this congregation promise and covenant to be to him a loving, faithful and dutiful wife as long as you both shall live.

Vows as Statement:

I, (Groom) do hereby take you (Bride) to be my wedded wife .... and in the presence of God ... and before this congregation ... I promise and covenant to be to you .... a loving, faithful and dutiful husband .... as long as we both shall live.

I, (Bride). do hereby take you (Groom) to be my wedded husband, and in the presence of God and before this congregation I promise and covenant to be to you a loving, faithful and dutiful wife as long as we both shall live.
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Exchange of Rings
Mutual exchanges of rings are now very popular.  The rings can be engraved with the name of the marriage partner and the date of the wedding.  Hence, the Groom will wear the ring with the Bride’s name and Bride with the Groom’s name.  You may like to choose one of the following statements for such an exchange. a) Repeat Version

With this ring, ........ I thee wed, to have and to hold, ...... from this day forward,  ......
for better, for worse, ...... for richer for poorer; ...... in sickness and in health ......
to love and to cherish till death do us part . .......

b) Declaration Version:

(Name) as you place your ring on (name's) left ring finger 
Do you promise to take (Groom/Bride) as your wedded (husband/wife)
To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part?
I DO.  

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Please note variations of above are possible, please liaise with the minister. 

Hymns for your Wedding Service
The Church has the following hymn books, Revised Church Hymnary.(1925) and the Church Hymnary Edition 4 (Canterbury, 2005) If hymns from another Hymn Book are desired then these must be approved by the Minister and Organist. The most commonly used hymns for weddings are as follows.  

Praise my soul, the King of Heaven. Praise my soul, the King of Heaven; to His feet thy tribute bring; ransomed, healed restored, forgiven, who like me His praise should sing? Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise the everlasting King. Praise Him for His grace and favour to our fathers in distress; praise Him still the same for ever, slow to chide and swift to bless. Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Glorious in His faithfulness. Father-like He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He knows; In His hands He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes: Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Widely as His mercy flows. Frail as summer’s flower we flourish; Blows the wind and it is gone; But, while mortals rise and perish, God endures unchanging on; Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise the he eternal One.  Angels, help us to adore Him; Ye behold Him face to face; Sun and Moon down before Him; Dwellers all in time and space. Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise with us the God of grace

Love Divine, all loves excelling Love, Divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down, Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, Thou are all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart. Come, almighty to deliver; Let us all Thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, Never more Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy Hosts above, Pray, and praise Thee, without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love. Finish then Thy new creation: Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see Thy great salvation, Perfectly restored in Thee, Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise. étop

Psalm 23 The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want: He makes me down to lie In pastures green: he leadeth me the quiet waters by.  My soul He doth restore again; and me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness, ev’n for his own name’s sake. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, yet will I fear none ill: For thou art with me; and thy rod and staff me comfort still. My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes; My head Thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me; And in God’s house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be.

O Perfect Love 0 perfect love, all human thought transcending, Lowly we kneel in prayer before Thy throne, That theirs may be the love which knows no ending Whom Thou for evermore dost join in one. 0 perfect life, be Thou their full assurance Of tender charity and steadfast faith, 0f patient hope, and quiet brave endurance, With childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow; Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife, And to life's day the glorious unknown morrow That dawns upon eternal love and life.     étop

MARRIAGE FEES Schedule of Wedding Fees effective 1 April 2012 Wedding, minister & organist officiating Use of Church $850 Minister (inc Notice of Intent)   $350 Organist $300 Total $1500                                        If you have your own minister approved by parish minister then minister’s fee is not payable but requires a church officer Church Officer Fee (if deemed needed)    $150   Use of Hall or Grounds for reception/light refreshments $200 plus $100 cleaning deposit. (refundable if no cleaning required)   (non-refundable deposit due with Notice of Intention: $425, balance payable at rehearsal )                                                               Pre marriage Counselling: (PREPARE/ENRICH) Recommended if by officiating minister                                               $100 if provided by non officiating minister                          $400   Use of Church Only, ie own minister and no organist     $2000 (nb minister still has to be approved by Rev P Dunstan) (includes non refundable deposit of $600, payable at booking) Change of information Please notify the officiating minister immediately of any changes to the information given or any change in date or time. étop Check list Your marriage has been booked for Date………………………………..   at …………am/pm. The Minister will conduct all the pre-marriage interviews. Please make the necessary arrangements with him. 1st Interview: Date…………………………….        Time ……………      am/pm. 2nd Interview: Date…………………………….        Time ……………      am/pm.   3rd Interview: Date…………………………….       Time ……………      am/pm  Beatitudes for a married couple   Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate considerate, loving through all the days of their life together Blessed are the husband and wife who are polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends Blessed are the husband and wife who have a sense of humour for this will be a handy shock absorber. Blessed are they who love each other more than any person in the world and who joyfully fulfil their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity as husband and wife Blessed are they who thank God for their blessings, and who set aside some time each day for the reading of the Bible and prayer. Blessed are they who never speak harshly to each other and who make their home a place of mutual encouragement and love Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out their problems without the interference of relatives.   étop