Saturday, October 9, 2004
10:30 AM
All Souls Episcopal Church
Berkeley, California
The Wedding Ceremony
Prelude Joy Shih Ng
Seating of Family
Seating of the Grandmother and Parents
Groom’s Grandmother Cecelia by _______ (Right side facing the front)
Groom’s Mother Sharlene Chew and Groom’s Father Douglas Yow (Right side facing the front)
Bride’s Mother Pui Ha Lau by Brother Alvin Lau (Left side facing the front)
Lighting of Candles
Alvin and Grace Lau light the candelabras
Mothers light the side candles
Groom’s Men
Pastor Don Ng, Pastor Chris Otani, Groom Jason Yow, Best Man Frank Alfonso, Groom’s Men Chris Chin, Chin Lau, Jim Gunderson, Gino Gemignani, Tom Pellicer, and Norm Cheng
Processional
Bridesmaids Anderall Beltz
Christina Kato
Sherri Sakamoto
Jennifer Yow
Kim Chang
Alesa Quock
Matron of Honor Serena Jang
Children Katharine Ho & ___________
Timothy Jang & Father Jarrett Jang
(Congregation stands)
Bride Genevieve Lau with Father Koon Pak Lau
Greeting and Opening Prayer Pastor Chris Otani
(For the dignity of the service, we ask that all cell phones and pagers be silent at this time.)
Presentation Questions
Acknowledging that God has brought together Genevieve and Jason, who today has the honor of presenting them to be married on this happy day?
Hi bing go, Yun yee, Jeung, Lee gall sun leung, Ga bay, Lee gall sun long?
(Parents stand)
Parents: “We do.”
(Father Koon Pak Lau kisses the Bride and takes his seat)
Parents Appreciation
Every one of us has parents. They bring us into the world; give us our identity by naming us and provide us with a sense of belonging by creating for us a family. We know that if it wasn’t for our parents, our lives would not have been as rich and blessed.
Genevieve and Jason wish to share their appreciation for their parents for all the things that they have done for them and especially, for all the love and care that they have received that has led them to this special day.
Giving Leis to Parents
Declaration of Intent
Genevieve and Jason, here, in the presence of God and your friends and families, I ask you to declare your intention to enter into covenant with each other through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Genevieve, will you have Jason to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Genevieve: I will.
Jason, will you have Genevieve to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Jason: I will.
Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 13 (English & Chinese)
Steven Yow
Yvonne Pon
Kit Wong
Messages to the Couple
*Pastor Chris
Friendship in Marriage
Genevieve and Jason, it is a wonderful privilege for Pastor Chris and I to join you in this joyous occasion, your wedding. Certainly all of us who have gathered here are honored to be with you as you make your vows before God and unite in holy marriage. We call it “holy” because it is a very special, unique occasion during which we ask God to be involved in your marriage and in your home. It’s “holy” because this is different from anything else you do in daily life. Genevieve, you are in a beautiful wedding gown and Jason is not in shorts but finally in a tuxedo! We pray for God to join you together so that you are truly one and remain in that oneness “until death do you part.”
Over the long eight years that you have been a couple, you have been growing ever closer to one another. You started out as being just acquaintances. Then you became friends, then good friends, then really good friends, then so much of a couple that when one of you is invited to an event, your friends know well enough to invite the other too. You bonded so well that you decided you would rather be with each other than anyone else on earth. Gradually you grew so deeply in love that the only thing that you haven’t done together yet was to get married. After an eight year marathon, you are finally crossing the finish line! Here you are. You’ve made it! Hooray for you!
As your counseling pastor, I could tell you more about all the ingredients of a good and lasting marriage. I think we have gone over all of that already. I will, however, focus on one simple word which, if you will always take it seriously, you will be greatly blessed as you journey through life together. The word is “friendship.”
Anyone who studies truly healthy and happy marriages will find that the husband and wife are great friends. They not only love each other, they like one another. Friends learn to share the burdens of responsibilities; for instance while Jason is the one who usually drives, Genevieve is the one busy making their social plans. Friends want to be together like how you spent a weekend in Yosemite, to laugh together over silly things, to work patiently together until both of you are ready to move on, to create a loving family together knowing that there would be more mouths to feed, to face all of life’s difficulties and blessings together, and yes, even to cry together when the occasion call for tears. One of the things I noticed about the two of you is that you were always ready to hold hands when one of you is unhappy. That’s being great friends.
The book of Proverbs says, “A friend loves at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17) That is what I would have you remember. Be there as a loving friend for one another at all times, in all circumstances.
There’s a poem about what true love is like that I found evidence in your life together. It goes like this.
True love is a sacred flame
That burns eternally,
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny.
True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart,
And true love conquers fear.
True love makes no harsh demands—
It neither rules nor binds,
And true love holds with gentle hands
The hearts that it entwines.
Genevieve and Jason, continue to keep strong your long-term and steadfast friendship based on true love. If you will, I promise you great joy and many blessings in your marriage and new home.
Exchange of Vows & Rings
Jason starts
Genevieve closes
Let us pray.
O Lord, enable Genevieve and Jason to be aware of this sacred moment when they pledge their love and loyalty to one another by publicly sharing their vows and exchanging rings. May they know your peace and your favor as they begin their new life together through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lighting of the Unity Candle
The two lit candles by the mothers symbolize the individual lives of Genevieve and Jason. Each candle is burning apart from the other. By lighting the Unity Wedding Candle, the flames that once burned alone are now joined by the other’s brightness and warmth in loving marriage. Joining flame to flame, life to life, it symbolizes that they who were two, have now become one. This Unity Candle may be taken out each year on their wedding anniversary and lit once again as an ongoing symbol to renew their vows and commitments made here today.
Wedding Prayer
Dear God, from the beginning you set about to warm the lonely heart. In your creation you said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” In the same way, you have brought together Genevieve and Jason that two hearts alone would be alone no more. You have led them through the joy of companionship to this place where they have committed themselves to a lifetime of togetherness. In your providential plan as the result of their love for each other, you have brought together two families to know each other because of this common bond that they share in marriage.
We pray your blessing on Genevieve and Jason. We lift them up to you. We rejoice with them that you have done a wonderful thing of making them great friends. Give them a rich adventure together. Help them not to take for granted the love you’ve planted here. Teach them to hold on to these moments as precious gifts. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Announcements
Genevieve and Jason have requested that all family members remain in the sanctuary for pictures.
Please proceed to Hs Lordships Restaurant for a Reception at 12:00 Noon when Genevieve and Jason will greet you.
Pronouncement
Genevieve and Jason, you both came to this ceremony today because of the love that you share. With sincerity you have made sacred promises to each other in the presence of your family, your friends and with God by exchanging sacred vows and the giving of rings. With the authority given to me as a Minister of the Christian Gospel, it is now my joy to declare you to be joined in holy marriage. United in this special way, face the future as husband and wife together, assured of God’s love for you always.
It is my joy and honor to introduce to you for the very first time: “Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Genevieve Yow!”
(Embrace and kiss)
Recessional
Postlude
Organist: Joy Shih Ng
Wedding Coordinators: Lauren Ng—Overall
Rodney Tom—Banquet
Nathalie Yan—Tea Ceremony
Officiants: Rev. Chris Otani and Rev. Don Ng