Saturday, May 29, 1999<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2:00 PM<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Procession<\/strong> String Quartet<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don & Joy will accompany Greg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Flower to Mary)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Larry & Mary will accompany Heather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beauty and splendor of this place, we gather as a community of friends and families. We experience ripples of excitement as we come to celebrate the marriage of Heather Brooke Giesler and Gregory Steven Ng. God has created a world of harmony\u2014dazzling flowers, soaring birds, running deer, and mighty rivers\u2014each unique, each in relationship and harmony with the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s first gift was breathing life into humans and turning us to each other to live in equality and unity.\u00a0 Greg and Heather have come to affirm their love for each other and to enter into this sacred union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us pray. Eternal and loving God, we are gathered in this beautiful place to celebrate the marriage of Heather and Greg.\u00a0 We stand small in this display of your creative handiwork.\u00a0 It reminds us that we, too, are part of your grand design.\u00a0 We know that the same God who brought these beautiful trees into being, also desires to be present with these, your children, as they begin their life together.\u00a0 Grant us renewed understanding of what it means to be in covenant with each other as Greg and Heather become husband and wife in the company of these witnesses, and in your holy presence.\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Greg and Heather told us that they have decided to get married at the Japanese Garden in St. Louis, we knew that it would be a special place. In this wonderful setting, we can see how God has gifted gardeners the skills to transform his natural creations to become a cathedral of balance and serenity. God gives each of us this ability to become artists because we have been created by him. Whether we are creating graphic designs or shaping the minds of children, we are gifted artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being married today is not necessarily an easy journey. There\u2019s a lot to worry about. As your parents, we want you to not worry so much. Jesus reminded the disciples to not worry and to see that the lilies of the field neither toil or spin, but look how they grow! Look around and see how God cares for all his creations, the birds in the air, the fish in this lake, everyone here, and especially the two of you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The power of love is demonstrated by the love you have for each other. You have brought to this sacred event your friends and family from all corners of the country: east coast, west coast, midwest, as far south as Florida, across oceans from Hawaii, and many places in between. And in the middle of the country, near the mighty Mississippi, you have joined two families to become relatives. May the hands that are joined together this weekend, continue to nurture your love for the rest of your lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some time now, and I want to also speak for Mary, Larry, and Joy, that we can\u2019t believe our little boy Greg and our little girl Heather are getting married! We are very happy because you two are so happy together. Throughout your lives, you have made your Mom and Dad laugh and have fun. And today you two are living up to your reputation of a fun-loving couple. So may your new life together be blessed with \u201cbumpers\u201d of friends who will keep your life out of the gutter. May those days that you feel you are wasted and tired that you will have \u201cspare\u201d time for each other. And when life seems to be like \u201cneedles and pins,\u201d say to each other \u201cLet\u2019s go bowling!\u201d God bless you with \u201cstrikes\u201d all the \u201calleys and lanes\u201d of your life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading <\/strong>(Ann)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acknowledging that love has united Heather and Greg, who presents this couple in the sacrament of marriage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Response: \u201cWe do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before God and this community, I ask you to affirm your willingness to enter this covenant of marriage and to share all the joys and sorrows of this new relationship, whatever the future may hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg, will you have Heather to be your wife, and will you love her faithfully as long as you both shall live?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg: I will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heather, will you have Greg to be your husband, and will you love him faithfully as long as you both shall live?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heather: I will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heather<\/p>\n\n\n\n These rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace, which unites Heather and Greg\u2019s hearts in love. And they are of special significance because the circle of these rings is a symbol of the unending and enduring quality of love which Greg and Heather are sharing today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heather: Greg, I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg: Heather, I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us pray.\u00a0 By these rings, O God, join Heather and Greg together. Bless these rings as they wear them to remain faithful to one another.\u00a0 May they remain in your peace and live and grow together in your love. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Psalm 121<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heather and Greg, because you have declared your willingness and intention to enter into the covenant of marriage with each other, and have declared the same in the presence of God and these witnesses, and have given these rings to each other as a symbol of this commitment, by virtue of the authority vested in me as a minister of the gospel, I pronounce you husband and wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the Southeast Expressway rise to meet you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the wind from St. Louis and San Francisco be always at your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the sunrise off the Atlantic Ocean shine warm upon your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the rains fall softly upon your Boston home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May God hold you now as your parents have held you and will continue to hold you in love and joy.\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is my pleasure to introduce for the first time Greg and Heather Giesler Ng!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dismissal<\/strong> String Quartet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Saturday, May 29, 1999 2:00 PM The Gathering Procession String Quartet Don & Joy will accompany Greg. (Flower to Mary) Larry & Mary will accompany Heather. WelcomeWelcome<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Invocation<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Message<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Question<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Declaration of Intention<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Vows<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Exchange of Rings<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Declaration of Marriage<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Benediction<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Embrace and Kiss<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Introduction<\/h6>\n\n\n\n