Baker's Wedding Handbook: Resources for Pastors [Hardcover]

Paul E. Engle (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1994

Don't let the convenient pocket size fool you-these comprehensive guides to conducting funerals, weddings, and worship services provide everything from pre-planning resources to complete services for several denominations. Each book is packed with suggestions, illustrations, prayers, quotations, and ideas for special services.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul E. Engle has pastored churches in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and Michigan. He teaches on the area of worship in D.Min. programs at Reformed Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary, leads church worship seminars, and has written a number of books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (May 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801032253
• ISBN-13: 978-0801032257
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Weddings > Ceremony
  • #78 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Ritual

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wedding services for Christians, February 19, 2007

By 

book_review_grrl "book_review_grrl" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baker's Wedding Handbook: Resources for Pastors (Hardcover)

This book contains a variety of services for different Christian denominations: Baptist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Episcopalian, Evangelical, Lutheran, Methodist (including The Free Methodist Church of North America and The Wesleyan Church), Presbyterian, and Reformed (Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church in America). There are a few alterate wedding ceremonies, including two versions of a "contemporary" service and a service in recognition of a Civil Marriage. All are Christian.

One of the useful features of the ceremonies is that they are broken down into sections. Here is one example: Prelude, Music, Lighting of Candles, Processional, Welcome, Invocation, Readings, Parting from Parents, Declaration of Intent, Exchange of Vows, Exchange of Rings, Lighting of Unity Candle, Pronouncement of Marriage, Benediction, Introduction of Newlyweds. This makes it easier to create customized ceremonies by adding, skipping, or changing the order of certain sections.

Some alternative vows and wedding prayers are offered, in the event that the bride and groom want to make these sections more personal by choosing their favorite. Suggestions for wedding music are given. A sample checklist is included, to be used by the pastor or minister when working with the bride and groom to plan the wedding. And, an example is given for the proper ettiquette for the positioning of the bride, groom, and attendants during the processional.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect planning guide to wedding ceremonies!, December 12, 1999

By 

Philip Sylvester (Cherry Hill, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baker's Wedding Handbook: Resources for Pastors (Hardcover)

This handbook includes an assortment of denominational styles for wedding ceremonies. The ideas in it help in selecting vows, music, scripture, order of worship, and other elements to include in the ceremony. Helpful for couples planning their wedding ceremony and ideal for pastors that perform the wedding ceremony.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pastor Resources, August 7, 2006

By 

Gary J. Soucy (Portland, Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baker's Wedding Handbook: Resources for Pastors (Hardcover)

I found this book to be good for Christian denomination weddings. It covers a wide range of these. However, it excludes a non-denominational or non-religious wedding. Nonetheless, for someone conducting a wedding, it will provide you with some great ideas about different facets of the ceremony.