Weddings

Marriage, Gods Gift > Let marriage be held in honor among all. Hebrews 13:4

Congratulations! 

Preparing couples for healthy, lasting, and God-honoring marriages is a ministry priority at ZPC. We affirm that marriage is a unique gift from a loving God who desires to reign at the heart of the relationship between a husband and a wife.

Weddings at ZPC are part of the life of our church. In a sense, the entire congregation affirms a couple's decision to be married. For this reason only members or regular attenders actively engaged in the life of our church may be married at ZPC. Because of these convictions, the pastoral staff and elders of ZPC have committed themselves to a three-part strategy to support marriages:

Spiritual Expectations
It is our aim to help couples enter marriage in right relationship with God and with each other, as God has expressed through biblical principles.

Preparation
Every couple seeking to be married at ZPC is expected to participate in a comprehensive premarital preparation program, which is grounded in a relationship with a mentor couple and the officiating pastor.

Ongoing Resources
We are committed to providing post-marital counseling, workshops, and retreats to help couples work through difficulties and continue to grow in their love for God and for each other.

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Couples who wish to be married at ZPC 

• Are members or regular attenders fully participating in the life of ZPC.
• Will participate in our premarital program.
• Must affirm the four "Affirming the Gift of Marriage" statements (see below).
• Commit to abstain from sexual intimacy until their wedding day.

• If living together, must be willing to separate and live apart until the wedding.

Our Premarital Program

• Begins at least four months prior to the wedding and includes a minimum of four sessions.
• Includes utilization of PREPARE, a nationally-calibrated couple assessment tool (seperate charge for this assessment test).
• Involves a relationship with a mentor couple trained and provided by ZPC; this relationship may include up to ten meetings.

• Anticipates at least one counseling session approximately six months after the wedding.

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Affirming the Gift of Marriage 

• We affirm that marriage was and is God's idea. See Genesis 2:18-24 & Ephesians 5:31-32. God created males and females and provided the gift of marriage - a relationship that ideally embodies a unique physical, emotional, and spiritual oneness representing Christ himself. 
• We affirm that a marriage should be grounded in a God-centered value system. See 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. Since God is the creator of marriage, its greatest joy is experienced by those who seek to honor him and are committed to following his design for their relationship.
• We affirm that sex and the sexual relationship are gifts from God to be shared only within the bounds of marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:2 & Hebrews 13:4. Along with the gift of physical intimacy, God has provided boundaries to protect its highest good. God's call is that sexual expression should occur between men and women only within the marriage relationship. Premarital and extramarital sexuality is a violation of his gift.

• We affirm that God's desire for every marriage is that the vows spoken in public never be broken. See Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 & Matthew 19:4-6. In a marriage ceremony, vows are taken not only before family and friends but before God himself. As such, the commitment of each couple should be "as long as we both shall live."

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Remarriage After Divorce                   

God's Word is straightforward in declaring that divorce is not part of his plan (Mark 10:2-12), and that it is never his desire for couples to break their promises to each other (Malachi 2:16). Divorce wounds God's heart and cannot happen apart from serious consequences to both partners and the entire body of believers (1 Corinthians 7; Matthew 18:14-17).

We realize, however, that for a variety of reasons the pain of divorce does occur. It is our conviction that God cares deeply about the hurt and trauma of divorce and desires to provide comfort, healing, and instruction for all who are affected by its consequences. It is our desire to be part of that healing process.

For those seeking remarriage, significant time is needed to heal and to learn from a broken marriage. We are committed to helping provide special counseling and support for those who are seeking remarriage.

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Facility Guidelines

Scheduling a wedding          

Wedding preparations at ZPC begin with an agreement with a member of our staff to officiate at your ceremony. In order to ensure that your desired date is open, available, and confirmed on the church calendar, be sure to collaborate with this person. Your wedding arrangments are NOT final until the required $100 deposit (applied to total fees) and wedding application have been received in the Church office. A ZPC wedding coordinator will be assigned to assist you in your preparations along the way, and will be present at both the rehearsal and ceremony.

• No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the church building or on the grounds; our building is also a smoke-free environment.
• We request that products that stay on the ground such as rice, birdseed, or any other product not be thrown on church property.
• All music in the church building live or recorded; must be appropriate for all ages.

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Fees (for ZPC families)

Use of Sanctuary                                 No fee

Use of Chapel                                      No fee

Wedding Coordinator                             $200

Sound Coordinator                                 $100

Candelabras (Optional)                             $50

Wedding Reception                                $250

It is expected that fees should be paid in full to ZPC at least two weeks prior to your wedding date. ZPC members have the option of utilizing our Gym for a reception. Tables and chairs are available for your use. The wedding party is asked to provide any table linens, serving dishes, place settings, or other accessories. The kitchen is only available for preparation. Our cooking appliances, however, are reserved for other ministries of the church. If you schedule a reception at ZPC, please provide an additional non-refundable deposit of $100.

 You may pay the following individuals directly:

• Florist
• Photographer
• Musicians
• Officiating Pastor (honorariums generally begin at $100)

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