Godless bible readings

I know loads of people who got married in church but are not particularly religious. Sorry, cant help with reading though. When is your wedding?

August, yours?

Hello,

I'm a Catholic marrying my Atheist beloved in my church, it took a lot of talking for us to make the decision, and our families both had an influence, but we reached a conclusion we're happy with in the end.

As we're having a 'mixed' marriage (the Priest's words) we've thought very carefully about how readings can represent both of our feelings.

We've chosen Song of Songs (Chapter 2, 8-10, 14 and 16 and Chapter 8 verse 6-7) as it is beautiful and sexy and a love story

For the Gospel we are having Mark 10 verse 6-9, it's only short and is just about a man and a woman coming together

and our priest has agreed to our having another non-religious reading about Commitment.

Your minister should be able to advise, they're pretty knowlegable about bible readings and will have lots of suggestions for something that would suit you!

Hope this helps, and all the best,

ALi x

quote:Originally posted by tournesol
So many questions...

Firstly, I totally apologise for what I said, I was rude and offensive and I am genuinely sorry.

We chatted to the vicar, and explained the situation. She was more than happy to accommodate our wishes, as she feels that the CofE should encourage parishoners to join in whenever possible, despite knowing that we would not be regular attenders of church.

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Well I accept your apology, if it extends to me that is.

While I can completely understand why you don't want to be married in the register office, I just wanted to say though, aren't there other options?

My local council, for instance, offers civil weddings in the local parks, council chambers, observatory etc.

TBH the vicar you have spoken to sounds desperate for parishioners if she is willing to marry a couple that don't follow the faith, and are unlikely to return to the parish?

I also find it unfair on others I know from here and RL who really wanted to be married in their local church but because their OH's weren't christened/baptised/had been married before etc have been refused it. I know this isn't your problem though.

quote:Originally posted by tournesol
Good to know I'm not the only one! Phew! To be honest, I didn't think it was such a rare thing, I know lots of people in a similar position (sadly none with any good reading to pinch!)

Regarding the Esther readings, is old testament ok or does it count as being jewish rather than christian? Excuse my ignorance.

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generally one old testament and one new testament reading should be ok, (Jesus was a Jew after all.)

How about the marriage at Cana (water into wine miracle) for your NT reading, yes it's Jesus performing a miracle but it's really about the things you are saying, the importance of family life, of celebrating the marriage union (and there's no death, hell, destruction, women's subjugation etc.... Actually this is true of most of the NT)

As a Christian can I say I am so glad you have foud this vicar, who is supporting you, I also hope that because you will have this positive church experience to place alongside your bad ones, maybe some day your opinions of God will change.

"Many things are done in the name of God that heaven is not happy about" - I think this vicar is addressing the balance.

Thanks for your support Tilly Floss. The vicar said one bible reading and one non-bible would be ok- in that case do you think the bible one could be old testament?

Pink Alien - (although I shouldn't have used the term at all for anyone) I certainly didn't mean that you were a zealot! I was cross at the people who jumped down my proverbial throat, especially after the feck comment. You are clearly no zealot, as you were only being helpful and kind. Please don't think otherwise!

Maxi - of course that apology applies to you.
Re it being unfair that some people can't marry in a church when they want to, perhaps that is an issue that should be addressed by the Church(es), as they are the ones making that decision? And in the case of someone not being baptised, couldn't they get baptised?
You are right, I think, that the vicar is welcoming the money (£550!), as the last wedding in this church was over 4 years ago. It is the CofE though, and it is basically the right of anyone living in a parish to marry in their local church as long as at least one of them has been baptised (as it should be, I believe). With the new regualtions coming in it should be easier for people to marry in a CofE church, which should help the coffers of many other small churches.
We are getting married in a very rural county, and to marry somewhere other than somewhere very local would mean that certain elderly relatives wouldn't be able to attend. Ulitmately that is more important to me than my (non)religious beliefs.

Hope everyone had a nice day today, Wednesdays are the worst!

Never realised you were rural, sorry I was just assuming (wrongly) that you lived in a city and had many choices open to you. That'll teach me to jump to conclusions!

Bet the locals will be delighted at the thought of a wedding in their church after such a long time ?

Can we be friends now??

Don't push it ?











Of course (but don't tell anyone) ?

Oh is the devil picture supposed to be heathern me? ha ha!

quote:Originally posted by tournesol
August, yours?

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I'm August too, but not till 2010.

Your vicar sounds great!

Ours has said we don't have to have any bible readings if we don't want, as 'God already gets enough of a look in as it is' (his exact words!!), new testament or old testament should be fine - its all the bible - new just means after Jesus was born, its all one book.

Anyway, hope you've found something you like and totally glad to help.

Thank you. It seems old testament is definitely the way to go, just need to get hold of a copy! I can't find an online version apart from if I search the passages(book?) with title.

Your help greatly appreciated. xx

Have you seen www.biblegateway.com?

Or why not ask an older relative if you can borrow their bible? Am sure they would be chuffed to be asked?

Just found the very same website! Do you know which version I'm supposed to look in? Standard English?

A colleague of mine has said she'd bring a bible into work for me, but its a long book!

The C of E usually use the New International Version.

It is a long book - but has an index, and everything is done by the chapter and verse, so there are numbers everywhere which makes it OK to find things if you know where you are looking!

Thank you Pinky (I once had a cat called Pinky, she was actually pink!)

WOOO HOOO we ahve chosen a reading! We are decided on the wedding at Cana (H2B likes the idea of everyone having a drink!)

Awwww brilliant!! ?

It's a brilliant book, I'd highly recommend it?

quote:Originally posted by tournesol
WOOO HOOO we ahve chosen a reading! We are decided on the wedding at Cana (H2B likes the idea of everyone having a drink!)

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Excellent, and a good choice!