Rites of Passage - Weddings and Memorial Services

Many people turn to Unitarian Universalist ministers for life's rites of passage, especially weddings and memorial services. People come to us who have had no association with an organized religion and find ours closest to their belief system, or if they no longer wish to associate with the religion they were brought up in, or if they want to be sure that multiple faith traditions will be honored, for instance in an interfaith wedding.

One thing that attracts people to our services for rites of passage is the fact that we do not require you to become a member. And since we are passionate about our creedlessness, we certainly don't expect you to believe anything in particular. Another thing that people like about our weddings and memorial services is the services themselves. Because we are not bound to any specific religious traditions or structures, our services are creative efforts that can be adapted to the people involved, each one a unique expression that the minister helps articulate for those people. And yet another thing people like is that we can perform weddings and memorial services anywhere you like.

Because a lot of work goes into the creation of a wedding or memorial service, and because Unitarian Universalist ministers are called on often to perform these services, it is customary to charge a fee for the services to non-members of the congregation. My fee is $300, with rehearsal $350, plus mileage if not in Midland County. A funeral or memorial service is $200, with committal $250, plus mileage if not in Midland County. The fees are negotiable in cases of hardship; I would not want cost to be a barrier to my services. Preparing a wedding usually requires two meetings with the couple before the event; a memorial service requires one long one with as many family members as possible. I offer premarital counseling as an option (not a requirement). If premarital counseling is desired, it entails a few more meetings, and a $30 fee to process the instrument I use to facilitate the sessions.

If you are interested in having me perform a wedding or memorial service, please contact me at the Fellowship: (989) 631-1162, or by email: Jthickstun@aol.com.

In Faith,
The Reverend Jane Thickstun, Minister
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland is recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation. We welcome, affirm, promote and celebrate the full participation of all persons in all of our activities without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, race or any other such category of exclusion.

Please feel free to contact us with any feedback, corrections or questions at jaham1729@gmail.com