Contra Costa Church of Religious Science
 

   Phone: 925.363.9070
   Fax: 925.363.9071

Ceremonies at the Contra Costa Church of Religious Science...

Wedding
Commitment
Funeral/Memorial
Baby Blessing
Burning Bowl/Forgiveness
Other Ceremonies


Weddings

Your wedding day should be one of the most precious memories you create in life's journey. Let us help you 'make it so'! Every ceremony can be personalized to fit your unique personalities. We begin with a basic wedding format and then customize it to reflect your special relationship. Wedding planning usually includes an informal prenuptial counseling session to set the stage for your new life together. We are flexible, open-minded and fun when it comes to co-creating your special day.

Where will the ceremony take place?

Be creative! Ceremonies can be celebrated at the church, in a private home, in rental halls or hotels, at the beach, in a park or any other place that is special to both of you.

What can you expect to pay?

Wedding Ceremony- $250: This includes one planning/prenuptial counseling session that usually lasts 1-2 hours, wedding rehearsal, and ceremony. Additional counseling, if desired, can be arranged at a cost of $60 per session. Travel or any related lodging costs will the responsibility of the wedding couple and will be agreed upon during the planning session.

Office Wedding- $100: Simple ceremony held in the church sanctuary with up to 10 witnesses. This does not include prenuptial counseling or use of the church for a celebration reception. This service is valuable for situations that do not give you much time for much pre-planning or situations where confidentiality or privacy is an issue.

Church Rental for Ceremony- $250: Three hours use of church sanctuary for the ceremony and any related arrival and departure times of guests. This fee includes a sound technician to support the ceremony and record your wedding. This also entitles you to hold the rehearsal in the sanctuary and prearrange access to decorate the church for your celebration. You are responsible for removing all decorations and leaving the church as you found it. Kitchen privileges are not included. No food is to be served. You may include a simple celebratory toast! Church members may use the building at no cost, but are required to pay for sound technician or any related costs to the church.

Church Rental for Ceremony and Reception- $400/ 4 hours; $600/ 8 hours: Full use of sanctuary and kitchen for the ceremony and reception. This fee includes a sound technician to support the ceremony and record your wedding and a church coordinator to assist you in use of the building. This also entitles you to hold the rehearsal in the sanctuary and prearrange access to decorate the church for your celebration. You are responsible for supplying your own tablecloths, paper products, beverages, and food service items. You are responsible for removing all decorations and leaving the church as you found it. A refundable security deposit of $250 will be charged. If you plan to serve alcohol to your guests you will be required to post a temporary liability insurance rider. Church members may use the building at no cost, but are required to pay for sound technician and any other related costs to the church.

Commitment Ceremonies

Many intimate relationships in life are worthy of honorable commitment in the company and support of loving family and friends. These include but are not limited to partnership ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples, partnership ceremonies for elders, divorcees, and widows/widowers. Ceremonies to recognize the wonderful new possibilities of chosen family through legal and/or spiritual adoption are also an option. All ceremonies will be personalized according to the circumstances and fee will include an informal counseling session in support of these unions. We will co-create with you a perfect ceremony to honor and celebrate your dedication and love for one another.

Where will the ceremony take place?

Be creative! Ceremonies can be celebrated at the church, in a private home, in rental halls or hotels, at the beach, in a park or any other place that is special to both of you. Please refer to Weddings for church rental information.

What can you expect to pay for the ceremony?

Costs are very similar to those charged for a traditional wedding ceremony. Planning/Counseling- $75: An in-depth session lasting 1-2 hours . Ceremony- $50 minimum: This fee will vary according to the couple or family's plan. Travel or any related lodging costs will the responsibility of the couple and will be agreed upon during the planning session.

How do we start planning? Contact the church office by phone @ 925 363-9070, email cccrs@earthlink.net or fax @ 925-363-9071.

Funerals/Memorials

We are spiritual beings living a human expression. In this life cycle our bodies are eventually released, but our soul or Divine Essence is eternal. In Religious Science we saying farewell to our beloved family members and friends through a recognition and celebration of their mortal lives and the many ways it has touched our own. Every one of us is born into this world as an expression of the Divine, free to choose how we will live that expression. We are committed to creating memorial ceremonies that recognize and celebrate the unique ways our loved ones have chosen to live, finding the beauty and value in every life.

What should we do first?

Contact the church at once to arrange for a meeting with the family as soon as physically possible. Phone: 925 363-9070 If no one answers, please call 925 521-1569 or refer to the list of alternative contacts under Healing Ministry- Practitioners in the main menu.

How will the ceremony be planned?

We will meet with many family members and close friends to discuss possibilities and details for the service as soon as possible after the transition. We will lead them in an intimate sharing of memories, stories, and biographical details that she will use to weave a tapestry of words that will celebrate their loved one's life. This gathering is often very healing for all involved and is a sacred opportunity for family and friends to share their deepest feelings, often releasing regrets and beginning any forgiveness that feels appropriate.We can also offer any guidance for handling the many physical details related to the funeral, cremation or memorial plans.

Where will the Service be performed?

Services can be held in our Sanctuary, at a mortuary chapel, at gravesite, in a private home, park, or some other place that had significant meaning to the deceased.

What can you expect to pay for the Service?

There is no charge to church members for the Memorial Service or use of the Sanctuary. The congregation shares in your grief and does it's best to support you in this process. Services for non-members can also be held in our Sanctuary and a moderate fee ranging from $100-$250 will be charged for use of the building, sound technician, and coordinator for the service.Any travel/lodging costs to the minister for gravesite ceremonies, inurnments or scattering of ashes are the responsibility of the family.

What about Memorial gifts or other contributions?

Donations, love offerings and any other form of memorial gift in honor of the individual are always greatly appreciated in the on-going life of our church's activities and teachings in service to life. We will inform the family that contributions were made in honor of their loved one. Gifts to the church are usually tax deductible.

Baby Blessings

We celebrate the indwelling presence of God and the wonder of each life as the 'face of God'. The ceremony is short, sweet, and beautiful to accommodate our young ones. Parents are expected to provide a small, lovely bowl or chalice of their choice to contain the water for the ceremony and a de-thorned, long stem, white rose. Godparents, grandparents, and other family members are encouraged to be present.

What can you expect to pay for the Blessing?

If the blessing is held in the church at the beginning of a regular Sunday Service, there is no required fee, but love offerings are always gladly accepted. If the blessing is taking place as a separate event in the church, in a private home, hotel, restaurant, or other location a fee of $50-150 will be charged in accord with the event. Travel or any related lodging costs will the responsibility of the family.

Can an older child or adult be blessed?

Yes. It is often appropriate to bless all the children in a family at one time as many families had no spiritual community or church involvement when their older children were born. Some adults desire the ceremony for themselves in order to be publicly acknowledged and cherished as a beloved 'child of God', an expression of the Divine. This can be a poignant and wonderful ceremony.

Burning Bowl

Forgiveness and release are spiritually life-affirming and liberating. Anger, regret, and repetitive suffering over past experiences are not good for us. These emotions can cause us physical and emotional pain that inhibits or impacts our daily experience of health, happiness and well-Being. The Burning Bowl Ceremony can assist in letting go of old hurts, grudges, regrets and suffering. Ceremony is often conducted as part of a Thanksgiving or New Year service or can be done privately whenever you feel the willingness to let go of your old stuff. While this ceremony is not a normal part of the Religious Science teaching, several of the Practitioners are willing to support you in this process. You can contact them to arrange for a counseling or Spiritual Mind Treatment session and request the burning bowl ritual to support you in releasing the past and affirming the future.

Cost?

Counseling sessions with ministers have a professional fee of $60. Practitioner sessions with Licensed Practitioners have a professional fee of $35.

Please refer to Healing Ministry- Practitioners in the main menu for contact numbers or email cccrs@earthlink.net cccrs@earthlink.net

Other Life Celebrations

You may choose to celebrate many other rites of passage or celebratory events in your lives. Ceremonies can be customized for house blessings, pregnancies, animal blessings, becoming debt-free, releasing large amounts of weight, coming of age, coming out, empty nest, even divorce! Get creative and contact the church or one of our Practitioners for information.

Cost?

Counseling sessions with ministers have a professional fee of $60. Practitioner sessions with Licensed Practitioners have a professional fee of $35.