Rites of Passage
Weddings
We are delighted when a couple makes the decision to commit their
lives to one another through the ceremony of marriage, and are especially
pleased to perform legally-sanctioned marriage ceremonies for members
of West Shore UU Church. (Click this link for information about non-church member rites of passage.) We
recommend that the couple plan to meet with the minister a minimum of three meetings. Our
Ministers are trained to offer the “Prepare/Enrich Program for Marital
Enhancement.” The Prepare/Enrich survey is a tool used by many
ministers to help couples know more about one another and to be more fully prepared
for their marriage. We have found that the conversation couples have with
the officiant is an important step in the path towards marriage.
If you are a pledging member of West Shore, there is no charge for the minister's fees. You may be asked to pay mileage costs if the wedding takes place off-site. There is an honorarium asked of non-members; usually in the $300.00 range. To ask for a minister of West Shore to be the officiant, call one of the parish co-ministers directly at 440-333-2255 ext. 102 (Wayne) or ext. 115 (Kathleen). If you’d like to book a space in the building, either the Sanctuary, the Chapel or Baker Hall, please contact our administrator, Deb Lydon. There is a nominal charge for church members to use the building for weddings.
Services of Gay Marriage, Civil Union
Unfortunately, the
state of Ohio has not yet made it legal for same-sex couples to be
married. Our ministers will do services of union for same sex couples
as a celebration of their commitment to one another. There is no charge for
pledging members who wish to have their relationship celebrated in the same
way that heterosexual coulples do. The
same honorarium for non-member services of union is requested.
We find that the Prepare/Enrich process is useful for all couples.
Child Dedications & Baptisms
"Unitarian Universalists believe that every child brings new life and hope into the world. We set aside a special time, called simply the Ceremony of Dedication, for the community to bless the child and celebrate the blessing of this gift of life. When we dedicate a child we acknowledge the truth that each child's life is sacred and hold that truth in the light of our faith.
We understand that we are all part of the interconnected web
of all existence. The community is part of the fabric that holds all human
life, the story of many shared lives woven into our cultures, and
the saga of each individual. We are who we are, in part, because
of the love and guidance and the inspiration and ideals that we receive,
especially from those who parent us. And the church community has
the privileged role not only of supporting the parents in the sacred task
of nurturing life but also of weaving the threads of culture—history, values,
arts, wisdom, visions—into a fabric that can enfold the family". From
the Pamphlet “We Dedicate This Child” by Rev. Linda Olsen Peebles.
Services of Dedication are typically done for church member families twice a year, at Christmas Eve and on Mother's Day, as part of the congregation’s commitment to its children as a religious community. The child is welcomed into the world, whether by birth or adoption, called by his/her name, blessed by the symbols of rose and water, and receives a gift from the congregation. Only church members and their children may be a part of this important covenantal act. For information on our next Child Dedication Service, click here.
We will also offer private naming and blessing ceremonies for members
and non-members of West Shore who, for whatever reason, cannot participate
in the Sunday morning service. An honorarium of $100.00 is requested
from non-members and from members if the blessing ceremony is held
outside the church.
The Rite of Baptism is reserved for those members who consider themselves Christian Unitarian Universalists and who intend to raise their children with an emphasis on our historical Christian Unitarian Universalist theology, heritage and tradition. This rite if often done in the home or immediately following the church service, but has been offered in the church service as well.
Memorial Services/Celebration of Life
Unitarian Universalists generally believe that what is most important about dying is how a person lived his or her life and what made that individual unique. Our memorial services are deeply personal, which requires one of the ministers to meet with the family in advance of the service to plan and prepare an appropriate tribute to an individual’s life.
Service are often composed of favorite readings or hymns of the deceased; a celebration of life is generally given by the minister, and sometimes pictures or a Power Point slide show are part of the service. For church members, the members of the Memorial Society offer tea, coffee and light refreshments. There is no charge for memorial services for members. Any gifts of appreciation given to the ministers are placed in their discretionary funds. The minister’s request an honorarium of $200 for memorial services for non-members.
For those persons with a previous association with the church who are no longer active members, the ministers will gladly offer their services. A donation to the church’s Memorial Gifts Fund would be greatly appreciated. There is a nominal fee for members who use the space to cover cleaning closts.
