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Unlock This CourseMarriage is a rite of passage that marks the start of a new life together. You have already met the vows, monogamy and the purposes of marriage in the lesson Christian Marriage: Vows, Monogamy and Purposes. Here we follow the service itself. Most Christian weddings share the same parts, although churches word them differently and put them in a slightly different order. Here is a common order.
Key terms:
Many Catholic couples marry during a Mass. They receive communion together after the vows, so the new marriage is joined to the worship of the whole Church. Catholics count marriage as a sacrament (recall the lesson on Christian marriage), so the wedding is a moment when God's grace is given.
In an Orthodox wedding the priest places crowns on the couple. The crowns show that they are becoming the head of a new household, and many Orthodox Christians also see them as a reminder of the sacrifices that married life asks of both people. The couple then share a cup of wine, a sign that they will share everything in life.
A funeral marks the end of a person's earthly life. It has two jobs: to give thanks for the person and to express Christian hope. Christians believe that death is not the end, which you met in the lesson Heaven, Hell, Judgment and Resurrection. The service usually has these parts:
Burial and cremation are both accepted by most Christians today. Many Orthodox Christians prefer burial. The Catholic Church allows cremation but teaches that the ashes should be treated with respect and buried or placed in a sacred place.
A Catholic funeral is usually a Mass, called a requiem Mass. It includes prayers for the dead. Catholics pray for the person because they believe that some souls need cleansing after death (recall purgatory from the lesson Heaven, Hell, Judgment and Resurrection). Catholics believe the prayers help the dead person, and they comfort those who mourn.
Many Protestant churches hold a simpler funeral with readings, hymns, a sermon and a eulogy. They focus on thanking God for the life and on the hope of heaven. Many Protestants do not teach that prayers for the dead can change what happens to them, so their prayers focus on comforting the living and trusting the person to God.
Recall that Catholics and Orthodox Christians count marriage as a sacrament and most Protestants do not. This changes the service: for Catholics and Orthodox the wedding itself is the holy moment that brings God's grace, while for most Protestants the service is a blessing on the couple's promises.
Churches differ on who can marry in church. As you have seen, some, such as the Methodist Church, hold same-sex weddings. Catholic and Orthodox churches do not. For divorced people, see the lesson Annulment, Divorce and Remarriage in Christianity.
(a) Outline two features of a Christian funeral. [4 marks, AO1]
(b) Explain why the marriage ceremony is important for Christians. [6 marks, AO1 and AO2]
(c) 'A Christian wedding should always be simple.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view and your own reasoned opinion. [10 marks, AO1 and AO2]
(a) A Christian funeral includes readings of hope such as John 11:25-26 (1), which tell mourners that Jesus has power over death and offer hope of resurrection (1). It also includes the committal, when the body is buried or cremated (1), often with the words 'earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust' (1).
(b) The marriage ceremony is important because the couple make their vows before God and the congregation (1), so the promise is serious and lifelong (1). The giving of rings is a visible sign of faithfulness (1) and the blessing shows that the marriage is a gift from God (1). Prayers ask for God's help in married life (1), and the community supports the couple, so the marriage is not private (1). For Catholics and Orthodox Christians it is also a sacrament, so God's grace is given in the ceremony (1).
(c) Plan. For: Baptists and many Protestants say what matters is the vows and faith, not decoration; simple weddings keep the focus on God and avoid huge cost; the vows are the heart of the service, not the decoration. Against: Orthodox and Catholic Christians use rich symbols such as crowning and the nuptial Mass because the wedding is a sacrament and deserves to be celebrated; beauty and tradition can honour God and mark an important event; many couples want a memorable day for family. Conclusion: the vows are the heart of the service, so a simple wedding is valid for all Christians, but Catholic and Orthodox Christians would argue that the symbols give the wedding its meaning, so it should not always be simple.
In a 6-mark 'explain why it is important' question, do not just describe the service. Give three or four reasons and link each part of the ceremony to a belief, such as God's blessing, a lifelong promise or the support of the Church community.