Life Events
Weddings
A wedding is—first and foremost—a service of worship celebrating the covenant of marriage—a gift from God. We believe that marriage is given by God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and sustained by the Holy Spirit. This way of life must not be entered into carelessly, or from selfish motives, but responsibly and prayerfully in order to build your marriage on the strongest possible foundation.
If you would like to talk about getting married at First Presbyterian Church, the first step would be to ready the Wedding Guidelines and submit an application. One of the pastors will then call to talk with you and discuss the schedule (all weddings must be approved by the Session). If you have any questions along the way, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to answer them.
Baptisms
In the Sacrament of Baptism we pray “Gracious God, we thank you for claiming our lives through baptism and marking us as your own.” We remember our own Baptisms as we celebrate the promises made - both congregational and individual.
The process for having your child baptized (or receiving the Sacrament of Baptism Yourself) can begin by speaking with one of the pastors or filling out the Baptism Request Form.
Funerals
At a time of loss, emotions can often be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to make decisions and to know how to proceed. The following guidelines are intended to be helpful, but they cannot anticipate every scenario, so when you are faced with having to make these decisions, please reach out to the church as early as possible. Not only can the church provide support, but it is also helpful to discuss scheduling and availability before you begin making plans.
Our funeral services are Witnesses to the Resurrection where we speak of gratitude, hope, and grief - all in the context of our faith.
If you’d like to know more about funeral and memorial services at First Presbyterian Church, the Funeral Guidelines booklet provides abundant information, as well as forms you can fill out and file at the church well in advance so we are aware of your wishes when that time comes.
Memorial Garden
Created as a place of peace and reflection, the First Presbyterian, New Bern Memorial Garden celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and remembers the lives of the saints who have gone before us.
There are spaces available in the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden. For more information and to receive the complete set of forms and policies, please contact the church office. The Memorial Garden may be used by “Eligible Decedents” who are (a) members of the congregation of the Church; (b) spouses of members of the Church; (c) mothers and fathers of members of the Church; (d) children or stepchildren of members of the Church; (e) current or former ministers of the Church, their spouses, children, and stepchildren; and (f) former members or other persons having special ties with Church upon recommendation of the ministers of the church and approval by the Committee.
It is always welcome for families or individuals to consider what they would like included at their own service. If you are working in advance, please share your intentions with the church so we can add them to your file.
If you are interested in learning more or purchasing a space in the Memorial Garden, please reach out to the church office.