Holiness/Pentecostal Wedding customs

[supernix]

Hi,

I was curious if anyone knew the customs for marriage in the holiness/Pentecostal religions?

[Lizbet]

Sorry, no clue.

But I wanted to say "Welcome to Pash!"

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

I also don't know but wanted to say hello and welcome!

[whiddle]

Hi. Welcome to Pash.

All I found was this blurb:

Protestant -- Pentecostal

Pentecostal wedding traditions are similar to those found in other Protestant faiths, including the white bridal gown and veil; the bridal bouquet; the exchange of vows; a brief sermon by the officiating Pastor; and the partaking of the sacrament, or communion. The reception is held at the church hall, a private home or hotel, and commonly includes punch and wedding cake, among other refreshments. There is usually no dancing or alcohol -- not even champagne toasts -- at a true Pentecostal wedding reception. Guests throw rice or birdseed at the departing newlyweds for good luck.

[Heather]

Hi Supernix and welcome.

Do you mean Pentecostal as in the Protestant faith, or in the Wiccan faith? I've seen the term used often within both faiths so if you can clarify I may be able to help you some more.

[Complicated Woman]

I'm guessing you're just talking about THE International Pentecostal Holiness Church? I can't say I know a lot about the marriage traditions in that particular community, I would imagine that it isn't all that unlike other Protestant low church traditions, though. I can tell you about that!

You would have set marriage vows that you could not alter/rewrite. If you wanted to make statements of commitment after the vows, you could do so.

The pastor will likely have a short message prepared (by short I mean about 10 min), and there will be Scripture readings from the Old Testament, the Gospels, and one Epistle. You should have a say in which particular texts are selected from each of these and you can have loved ones do the readings. Many times, the pastor will read the text he/she is speaking from, so then you would choose two readers for the ones left.

If you have a particular song you want sung/performed/played, that ought not be a problem, unlike high church traditions you do not have to select a hymn or song based in Scripture. Most popular songs are fine.

You will probably be given the option to recieve communion as your first meal as a married couple if you so desire. Depending on the theological bend of the pastor, they may not offer communion unless it is being offered to the entire community. Most Protestant churches are flexible if you want to incorporate something else, like a Unity candle or another symbolic gesture.

Much of the style will likely depend on the local church you choose.

I am pretty sure that this particular denomination does allow/encourage speaking in tongues as a spiritual gift. You may want to find out just how lively the particular local church is. I can't honestly imagine anyone starting to speak in tongues at your wedding, BUT I have seen things like this get carried away. Get a feel for the officiant.

I serve as a youth pastor in the Nazarene denomination, I hope that some of this was helpful...if you need more basic information or anything like that, feel free to ask.

[Heather]

Good job CW! That's some good information...

[swtdl11552]

CW YOU ROCK!! You just schooled the heck outta all of us I think. I almost feel like I am at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church lol.

[supernix]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I have found them very informative.
As for the pentecostal wiccan I didn't know they were pentecostal as I had only heard the word used in reference to christian denominations. (I just keep learning new things everyday.)

The churches that I grew up in were Church of God Of Prophecy based until 93 they split and started a new denomination called The Church Of God. I have however been attending a [please bear with me while I try to recite the name] Fire Baptised Pentecostal Holiness Church.
My problem is the few people I have had a chance to ask about their wedding it was just a matter of going to the local magistrate. So that is not exactly what I was looking for.
I got the idea then to tap the knowledge of the board.

So far everything looks about the same as a normal wedding except we will not be exchanging rings or dancing at any point. We might have our own vowes not sure if they allow that.
Me personally I wanted to find out what the traditions were about a century ago.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by supernix

As for the pentecostal wiccan I didn't know they were pentecostal

That was my bad - I meant pentecost in the Wiccan faith, not pentecostal. (Though many christian traditions are based on wicca and paganism so I think that is where my confusion came in.) Sorry!

[Complicated Woman]

Ahhhh, ok. So is this church a non-denominational church that has named itself that?

If that is the case, discard EVERYTHING I said, because while that is the basic setup (and very well still may be the structure) if the church doesn't report to any higher-ups, wedding traditions will vary immensely according to who is shepherding that particular church.

I'm sure that if you make an appoinment with your pastor or administrator, they will be able to give you a wedding service sample to look at. We include one with our contract.

Good luck and (I forgot to say this last time) congratulations on your engagement!

[Sunny]

Hi! I caught this thread or got caught up in it ... I'm a member of the Pentecostal Church of America and we are planning a late May wedding for our youngest daughter, and will be at our church. Our church does believe in 'speaking in tongues' but it won't happen during the wedding. If it happens, someone has confused the issues......

Our Pastor does a lovely ceremony, based on Covenant and not contract....what a marriage should be. The bride and groom will have the opportunity to add anything they want to the vows...we will also have a unity candle added to the ceremony.

The reception will also be at the church hall. There won't be any alcohol but who wants false joy added to real joy anyway? There also won't be any dancing...but there will be lots of fun and laughter, not to mention fellowship with people we dont' see in our regular lives....


To some. its sounds pretty straight laced, but it is a ceremony performed as God as a witness.....and, it will be lovely....

[justnmary]

These threads keep coming back to haunt us.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by Sunny

Hi! I caught this thread or got caught up in it ... I'm a member of the Pentecostal Church of America and we are planning a late May wedding for our youngest daughter, and will be at our church. Our church does believe in 'speaking in tongues' but it won't happen during the wedding. If it happens, someone has confused the issues......

Our Pastor does a lovely ceremony, based on Covenant and not contract....what a marriage should be. The bride and groom will have the opportunity to add anything they want to the vows...we will also have a unity candle added to the ceremony.

The reception will also be at the church hall. There won't be any alcohol but who wants false joy added to real joy anyway? There also won't be any dancing...but there will be lots of fun and laughter, not to mention fellowship with people we dont' see in our regular lives....


To some. its sounds pretty straight laced, but it is a ceremony performed as God as a witness.....and, it will be lovely....

Hi Sunny,
Welcome to Pash, but please check the date of a thread before responding to the poster. This is almost a year old and I'm not sure that supernix is even around any longer. Why don't you post an introduction so we can get to know you?

Thanks!

[krissy]

Hi sunny I know this thread is mega old and all but I'm just curious as to why there is no dancing at a Pentecostal wedding? I my self am a youth leader at a small AOG church in Australia and am getting married in March. There will be so much dancing at my wedding I just can’t wait! David danced before the Lord and I intend to do just that! I know the world has perverted dancing and has made it lustful but they have also perverted speech that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk it just means that we emphasis giving God all the Glory he deserves and using dancing to worship Him!

[Heather]

I dance lustfully all the time.

[munchkin]

So do I Heather! It's great fun isn't it?

[Heather]

It sure is!

[ladedah]

You perverted dancer, you!!!