Life Events

The unity of the members of the church is expressed most fully in the liturgy, the traditional expression of God’s presence in our lives.

Liturgical milestones in the lives of families, including weddings and funerals, are important in the Episcopal Church in general and at St. Martin’s in particular. They are among the occasions when we connect most genuinely and celebrate most profoundly.

Weddings

Getting Started

At St. Martin’s, a wedding is the sacred rite of marriage. In the Episcopal Church, it is also a sacrament — the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony — and so the church requires that at least one of the parties be a baptized Christian, that at least two witnesses attest the ceremony, and that the marriage conforms to the laws of the state and the canons of the church.

When a couple wishes to be married at St. Martin’s, the first step is to speak with clergy of the church. The second step is to check to see if the desired date and time are available. Please contact the church's Parish Administrator for confirmation at admin@stmartins.org or (404) 228 - 0752.

Premarital Workshop

Meetings with a member of the clergy for three sessions of premarital counseling are expected. Scheduling will be determined on times agreeable with both the couple and the clergy. If either party has been divorced, permission from the Bishop of Atlanta must be obtained before the couple can wed.

Wedding guidelines

St. Martin’s has guidelines for wedding music, church fees, and honoraria. Please contact the Parish Administrator at admin@stmartins.org or (404) 228 - 0752 for details, or see the document below.

Follow the links below to find out more information about weddings at St. Martin’s and to fill out the Wedding Information Form. An image gallery of the church’s Bridal Suite is also available.

Funerals

St. Martin’s conducts the traditional Episcopal Burial Office for funerals and memorial services. This Easter liturgy celebrates Christ’s victory over death. Its central theme is of Christian joy in the midst of death and loss, bearing witness to the living of the faith and hope of the Christian community.

When a death occurs or is imminent among St. Martin’s membership, the parish clergy should be notified right away. A priest will want to join family and friends to offer comfort, guidance, and prayers and to consult on plans for the service and burial. The priests are available 24 hours a day — don’t hesitate to call at any hour in such a situation. They can be reached during office hours (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday - Friday) on their office phones, and any time in an emergency.

burial services

Burial services can be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, or 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Clergy are available for support and they will work with you to plan your service after you fill out the two forms below – the Burial Information Form and the Burial Service Planning Form. You may fill out both of the forms digitally or print the PDFs, fill them out, and scan them over to admin@stmartins.org.

All information regarding burial services at St. Martin’s can be found below, in addition to the application for reserving columbarium niche(s).


Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers

St. Martin’s encourages family and friends who want to pay tribute to a loved one to donate a memorial gift to the parish or another good work that was important to the person. Gifts to the parish are acknowledged with a card to both the donor and the family. A specific memorial can be set up at a later date. To make a gift to St. Martin’s, visit Give or contact Leslie Rose, Business Administrator, at (404) 228 - 0755 or via email.