Weddings and Funerals

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WEDDINGS and FUNERALS

This is part of the ministry resources on Pastoral Care and Christian Counseling, with a focus on officiating at weddings and funerals. It is part of the site archive that is not updated past 2012. Please see the list at bottom of the page for related ministry resources.

Comprehensive Manuals for Church Leaders on Weddings and Funerals (in suggested order)

  • Aubrey Malphurs and Keith Wilhite, A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings and Funerals, and Other Occasions. Kregel Academic and Professional, 2003 – A comprehensive volume covering most areas of traditional funerals, weddings, dedications, ordinations, etc., from an evangelical perspective. It is compiled in a “ready-reference” style allowing the busy minister to find information quickly. The wedding section covers wedding service types, sample ceremonies, shared officiating, vow renewals, second marriages, marriage laws, wedding planning and rehearsals (e.g. ushering). The funeral section covers standard funeral service outlines and orders of service, eulogies, gravesides, and sample sermons. It also covers special needs such as untimely deaths, suicides, children, community tragedies, and memorials. The section on other occasions includes communion services, child or family dedications, baptisms, Christmas, ordinations, state of the church message, etc. It is full of suggested scriptures. Various contributors. 
  • Robert Blair, The Funeral and Wedding Handbook. CSS Publishing, 2002 – Practical, compassionate wisdom from a minister with over four decades of experience. It covers common and uncommon situations such as suicides, infant, non-Christians, etc. Blair also discusses many issues involved in working with families, with a good section on how to comfort the hurting. He discusses weddings from pre-marital counseling to the recessional. This book is full of helpful, humorous stories and advice.
  • Jim Hiscox, Star Book for Ministers. Judson Press, 1967 – The famed “little black book for ministers.” It is a brief guide to most ministerial ceremonies and special occasions, with scripture suggestions. Hiscox is outdated, but it may be a rite of passage for ministers to have a copy in their library. 🙂

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Wedding Officiating Resources for Church Leaders (See also PreMarital Counseling)

  • Pre-Marital Counseling Resource Guide – Lists several resources for this common practice associated with wedding officiating.
  • Paul E. Engle, Baker’s Wedding Handbook: Resources for Pastors. Baker, 1994Covers traditional wedding services, including wedding meditations, prayers and hymns for various faith traditions. Also includes contemporary services and civil marriages. He breaks the wedding service down into each stage from musical preludes and lighting candles to benediction and introduction of newlyweds. For ministers who do wedding planning as well as officiating, he provides a helpful checklist for the bride and groom. Engle is excellent on wedding etiquette. Recommended extensively in seminaries alongside Baker’s Funeral Handbook.
  • Jim Henry and Marilyn Jeffcoat, The Two Shall Become One: A Wedding Manual. Broadman and Holman, 2000 – Discusses wedding planning, pre-marital counseling (brief), marriage-preparation classes, and wedding coordinating. The authors provide guidelines for several wedding types: modern-traditional, classic-traditional, family blessing, covenantal, outdoor-garden, Christmas, blended family, remarriage-reconciliation, double wedding, renewal of vows,  25/50 anniversary, and congregational convenant. It includes appendices on the pre-wedding relationship with couples, wedding coordination, and music.

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Funeral Officiating Resources for Church Leaders

First Reads:

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Other Works:

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Help with Grief and Bereavement Issues

First Reads:

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Other Works:

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Related Ministry Resources

See Other Resources on Pastoral Care and Counseling:

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