The marriage ceremony is one of the most sacred rites pastors perform under the ordination and authority of the church. It is a service of worship and requires thorough preparation, both in the spiritual sense and in the temporal sense. It is a joyous occasion overflowing with joy, and those who celebrate it rejoice in the gifts of God: life, health, strength, sexuality, the family; all that God declared from the beginning to be "very good." The Pastor and staff of Bethany wish to extend every possible assistance to make weddings a memorable and happy experience.