Special Services

Planning a wedding? Lost a loved one? Looking to get baptized or confirmed at Bethesda? Bethesda offers special services throughout the course of your life. We strive to assist you in the joyous times and the saddest times.

Weddings

Weddings represent one of the most significant turning points in life and bring opportunities for reflection and for a deeper experience of God’s loving presence, not only for the couple entering into marriage but for all those who join the celebration. Normally, one or both of the couple, or their parents or grandparents, is a communicant member of this parish. Other couples who live locally will be asked to begin participating in the life and worship of this parish as part of their preparation, with the expectation that this will become their church home. Couples who live outside of Palm Beach County must be currently attending and supporting an Episcopal parish. At Bethesda we strive to spiritually mentor couples by requiring they complete pre-marital preparation with the officiating clergy. Click here to review our wedding guidelines.

Funerals

The death of a loved one brings with it great sadness, grief, and stress. At Bethesda we hold the deceased and family in prayer during this difficult time while ensuring the funeral planning process is as simple as possible. Bethesda will make every effort to accommodate funeral requests. All active communicants, others, including those with historic ties and those who are in our database, who are not active communicants, may have a funeral when time and staff availability permit. Bethesda will try very hard to accommodate every funeral request within our ability to do so and within the Vestry’s guidelines for funerals. Click here to review our funeral guidelines.

Baptisms

“Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.” (The Book of Common Prayer, Catechism, page 858) Baptisms are a time of celebration as God brings new members into God’s family, the Church. Baptisms are celebrated four times a year: The Sunday after the Epiphany (in early January), The Great Vigil of Easter (on the Saturday evening before Easter Day), Pentecost (in late May or early June), and the Sunday following All Saints Day (the first Sunday in November). Parents or those seeking baptism should be Christians and active communicants or have historic ties to Bethesda.

Confirmation

“Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.” (The Book of Common Prayer, Catechism, page 860) Each year, Bethesda offers a course of preparation for youth in grade 8 or higher and another course for adults who wish to be confirmed. To learn more about Confirmation and upcoming classes contact Susan Beebe at susan@bbts.org or (561) 655-4555 x105.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact our office at (561) 655-4555 for assistance with any of these special services.

141 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480 | (561) 655-4554

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