Life Events
Share your life with Ladue Chapel.
Baptisms
Baptisms are scheduled as needed to adopt infants and adults into the family of God. In baptism we rejoice in God’s gift and promise of new life, acknowledge God’s claim upon us, and commit ourselves to the journey of faith. To schedule a baptism, please fill out the form below, and our Administrative Assistant will contact you.
FUNERALS
Funeral and Memorial Service Planning Guide
The Resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians’ attitudes and responses to the event of death. Death brings loss, sorrow, and grief to all. In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel. Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith. The church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve.
– The Directory for Worship
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection provides comfort to the grieving by testifying to our faith and hope in Jesus Christ. The Directory for Worship and the Session of our church offer the following guidelines for a service that is appropriate, meaningful, and healing.
Read More Here
Setting
The service on the occasion of death ordinarily should be held in the usual place of worship in order to join this service to the community’s continuing life and witness to the resurrection. When there are important reasons not to hold the service in the usual place of worship, it may be held in another suitable place such as a home, a funeral home, a crematorium, or at graveside.
The Session, because of its affirmation of faith in the resurrection and commitment to providing a community of concern and support, urges that members of the congregation hold funerals or memorial services in the church sanctuary. The sanctuary is the environment in which the church family normally gathers for worship, and that space reminds us that God is the God of all the times of our lives.
Arrangements for a service to be held in the church can be made through your funeral director and with the Administrative Assistant in the Church Office.
Service
The service shall be under the direction of the pastor. Others may be invited to participate as leaders in the service at the discretion and invitation of the pastor. The service may be observed on any day, and may take place before or after the committal of the body, but before is preferred.
The service includes Scripture, an exposition of the Word, recollections of aspects of the life of the one who has died, and prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication. It is appropriate for hymns to be sung which affirm God’s power over death, a belief in the resurrection to life everlasting, and the assurance of the communion of the saints.
The service may include other actions common to the community of faith and its cultures when these actions do not detract from or diminish the Christian understanding of death and resurrection. Any fraternal, civic, or military rites should be conducted separately.
When a casket is present, it is ordinarily closed in order that attention during the service is directed to God. For a memorial service it always appropriate to have the urn present. Pictures of the deceased are not allowed in the sanctuary, or in the place of worship, but may be displayed in the Gathering Place.
Scripture
It is the pastor’s responsibility, and authority, to select the readings of scripture for the service. The pastor will select scripture readings that are in keeping with a Witness to the Resurrection, and which offer comfort to the bereaved, healing to the community of faith, and hope in the Christian proclamation.
Hymns and Music
It is the pastor’s responsibility, and authority, to select the hymns that are sung in the service,
and to approve other musical selections that may be played as part of the prelude or postlude.
Normally the pastor consults with the family about the selection of hymns that are appropriate to the occasion of death, and below is a list of those that may be considered.
Speakers (Reflections)
At the pastor’s discretion, family members and friends of the deceased may speak in the service to remind the congregation of the character, commitments, and faith of the deceased. The number of speakers should be three or fewer, and the remarks of each should not exceed five minutes. The pastor may ask to review the remarks ahead of time to ensure that they are appropriate to the worship of God.
Reception
Following the service, at the discretion of the family, a reception may be held in the Gathering Place. Arrangements should be coordinated with the Administrative Assistant in the Church Office. Alcohol may not be served at the church.
Pictures, Photo displays, and Videos
Pictures, photos, and videos of the deceased may be displayed in the Gathering Place. Arrangements should be made with the Administrative Assistant in the Church Office.
WEDDINGS
Are you interested in getting married at Ladue Chapel? The first step is to apply, using this form. After the form has been submitted, a staff member from the church will contact you.
The Christian Wedding Service
The Christian Wedding Service
Weddings are occasions of both joy and reverence—joy because of the gifts of love and happiness that the bride and groom have found in each other, and reverence because of the deep commitment they have made to live out their vows under the grace of God. The staff of Ladue Chapel is eager to help make your wedding a lovely and meaningful event and asks your careful attention to the following guidelines to facilitate planning and provide clarity both for you and for the church.
The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) says the following about marriage and weddings in the church:
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- Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges.
- The Christian marriage ceremony is a service of worship before God, normally conducted within the church. Dignity will be expected on the part of all present, and the service shall be under the sole direction of the presiding minister.
Planning & Scheduling
Planning Your Wedding
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- The first step in arranging for your wedding to be conducted at Ladue Chapel is to apply using the form at the top of this page. Non-members must write a short (500 word minimum) response detailing their interest in getting married at Ladue Chapel. Once the form has been submitted electronically, the clergy will review your application and the Administrative Assistant will reach out to you with a copy of this handbook. You should then read this handbook thoroughly and then complete and return the Wedding Information Sheets and to read and sign the Facilities Use Agreement, keeping one copy for your file and returning the other to the Administrative Assistant.
- Any wedding service conducted at Ladue Chapel is under the sole direction of the presiding minister. If a pastor other than a member of the Ladue Chapel Pastoral Staff is to participate in the wedding service, arrangements need to be made with the presiding minister, who will extend an official invitation to the guest minister.
- Ladue Chapel wedding hostesses assist the clergy in directing the service and are particularly knowledgeable in wedding etiquette, as well as in the special regulations governing the use of Ladue Chapel. Once the wedding is officially scheduled, the wedding hostess will contact the bride to arrange a planning meeting.
- The wishes of the bride and groom are paramount in all decisions regarding their wedding service, providing those wishes are considered appropriate for Ladue Chapel by the presiding minister and the wedding hostesses, who have final authority in all matters related to the use of the church for a wedding.
- The assistance of a wedding consultant of the bride’s choosing is welcome; however, it is requested that his or her involvement be limited to the reception and other non-church activities. The rehearsal and wedding service are the responsibility of the staff of Ladue Chapel. The official photographer, video operator, and florist are also under the direction of the presiding minister and wedding hostesses.
Scheduling
A non-member wedding must be approved by the presiding minister before it can be scheduled. Weddings normally are held on Saturday, with rehearsal on Thursday or Friday preceding. The time frame allowed for a wedding is two hours before the service begins and one hour following the conclusion of the worship service. To select the date and time for the wedding, contact the Administrative Assistant, who serves as wedding coordinator.
Music
The bride should arrange for a conference with the Minister of Music, who must approve all music for the service. If he is unavailable to play for the wedding, he will suggest an alternate organist or accompanist. Arrangements for vocalists or instrumentalists must be made through and/or approved by him, also. A list of available and popular wedding selections are listed below.
Processionals
Trumpet Voluntary/Prince of Denmark’s March
Trumpet Tune
Trumpet Voluntary
Trumpet Tune in D
Rondeau
Trumpet Voluntary
Prelude to a Te Deum
Overture to Fireworks Music
Trumpet Voluntary
Trumpet Voluntary
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Canon in D
Bridal Chorus
Recessionals
Allegro Maestoso (Water Music)
The Rejoicing (Fireworks Music)
Rigaudon
Psalm 19
Wedding March
Toccata
Final (Symphonie I)
Prelude Music
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Sheep May Safely Graze
Air (Water music)
Toccata
Rhosymedre
Aria
Sarabande
Finale from Concerto 5
Minuet (Berenice)
Aria
Rehearsal, flowers, & program
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- Rehearsal for a wedding service in the Sanctuary is usually scheduled about 5:00 p.m. the day before the service; rehearsal for a wedding in Woods Chapel is optional. A rehearsal usually lasts about an hour and should be attended by all members of the wedding party, including ushers and parents of both bride and groom.
- The wedding hostess and the presiding minister will discuss the procedures of the service with the bride and groom prior to the rehearsal. This enables the rehearsal to run smoothly. It is essential that the rehearsal begin on time. It is the obligation of the bride and groom to have the wedding participants ready to begin the rehearsal as scheduled. Arrival at the church fifteen minutes before the scheduled rehearsal time is advised.
Flowers
If you would like to leave your flowers in the church to be used at the Sunday morning worship services, notify the administrative assistant in the Church Office well in advance of the wedding date. Many couples do this, placing in the bulletin the following: “The flowers in the Sanctuary this morning are in celebration of the wedding of (bride and groom) on (date).”
Program
If you choose to have programs, these are created, designed, and printed by the bride. The complete order of service should be confirmed with the presiding minister. A draft of the program must be submitted to the church office for review at least two weeks before the service, prior to printing.
License, guidelines, fees & resources
Marriage License
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- Both the bride and groom must be at least 18 years of age and both must appear to apply for the Marriage License; however, only one party need be present to pick up the license. Each applicant must provide valid government picture ID (driver’s license, state ID card, or passport) and proof of Social Security card. Blood tests are not required.
- The marriage license (and Certificate of Holy Matrimony) should be given to the wedding hostess at the time of the rehearsal or to the presiding minister at least one day prior to the wedding. Two witnesses should be designated to sign the license and certificate immediately following the wedding service.
- The Church Office will process the license to the Recorder of Deeds. The Certificate of Holy Matrimony will be filled out and mailed to you at the address provided.
- The St. Louis County Marriage License Department is located on the 4th floor of the Lawrence K. Roos County Government Building, 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. Phone recording: 314-615-7180. See Recorder of Deeds webpage here for additional information.
- The St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds’ Marriage License Office is located at 1200 Market St., Room 127 (Tucker and Market). Phone: 314-622-3257. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. See St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds’ webpage here for additional information.
Ladue Chapel Guidelines
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- No alcoholic beverages or smoking on the premises.
- In consideration of the bride and groom’s safety, church policy does not permit the releasing of balloons or the throwing of rice, birdseed, live or artificial flower petals, or confetti.
- The church and wedding hostess should be given the name, address and phone number of the bride’s florist, photographer, video operator and bridal consultant.
- The videographer and official photographer will be directed by the wedding hostesses. Guests are requested to refrain from taking pictures during the wedding service.
- Cell phones and cameras are to be silenced and turned off during the service.
- A minimum of one usher should be provided for every anticipated 50 guests. A groomsman may double as an usher.
- Arrangements are to be made by the bride to assure that any area used for dressing is cleaned up and all belongings removed immediately after the service.
- All decorations should be removed immediately after the wedding. No tacks, nails, scotch tape, or other injurious materials are to be used by the florist.
- Although we normally encourage the receiving line at the reception, one might be accommodated at the church, depending on the number of guests. Consult with your hostess.
Resources Available on Request
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- Seating for 400-450 guests in the Sanctuary of Ladue Chapel. (Smaller weddings may be held in Woods Chapel, which will accommodate 40-45 people.)
- Eighteen candle holders with glass chimneys and white candles for the center aisle.
- Window candles, with hurricane globes.
- Two silver candlesticks with white, oil candles on the Communion Table.
- Holder for Unity Candles. Candles are provided by the bride.
- Reserved signs for family pews.
- Lectern for bride’s registry book. Registry book and pens are the responsibility of the bride, as it is to assign a person to attend the lectern and book.
- Two white, wooden flower stands, one on each side of the entrance to Chancel, are available for appropriate floral arrangements for a wedding in the Sanctuary.
Bride’s Room (off the Narthex) for dressing. A designated room for the groom and groomsmen to gather and to meet the presiding minister.
Wedding Fees
- The Administrative Assistant/wedding coordinator will discuss current fees with the bride and groom.
- A nonrefundable deposit, payable to Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, is required at the time a wedding date is reserved, with the additional payment to the church and honoraria or fees for individuals due in the church office one month prior to the wedding.
Ladue Chapel Pastoral Staff
Other Church Staff
