Saturday, October 23, 2004
2:00 PM
Trinity Episcopal Church
San Francisco, California
The Wedding Ceremony
Prelude Joy Shih Ng
Lighting of the Candelabras Melanie Tong & Doris Leung
Seating of Family
Groom’s Mother Susan Der by Son Raymond Der (Right side facing the front)
Groom’s Father David Der by Daughters Gloria and Natalie Der (Right side facing the front)
Bride’s Mother Elaine Tom by Sons Rodney Tom and Darryl Tom (Left side facing the front)
Groom’s Men
Pastor Don Ng, Groom Ricky Der, Best Man Michael Huey, Groom’s Men Adrian Vasquez, William Der, Darryl Tom,
Raymond Der
Processional
Bridesmaids Daisy Bertolino
Demetria Chi
Jean Won
Helen Wong
Matron of Honor Judy Won
Jr. Bridesmaids Lorraine Vasquez
Patricia Vasquez
Ring Bearers Scottie Taggert
(Jewelry boxes) Kevin Taggert
Flower Girls Kimmie Chun
Ally Chun
Nikki Chun
(Congregation stands)
Bride Jennifer Tom with Father Walter Tom
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Welcome to this special day! Please be seated. For the dignity of the service, we ask that all cell phones and pagers be silent at this time. Thank you.
We are gathered here to unite Jennifer Tom and Ricky Der in marriage, which is an honorable institution, ordained by the church, blessed by Jesus with his presence at the marriage at Cana in Galilee, and perpetuated by the faithful commitments of men and women throughout the ages. This simple ceremony is an outward token of a sacred and inward union of hearts, a union created by loving purpose and kept by abiding will.
Jennifer and Ricky, we have assembled here with you to help you give added life to this marriage that you have chosen. For nothing is greater for two human souls than to feel they are joined together in their creator’s presence to strengthen each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories of the heart, and to let their private happiness lead them into decisions and deeds that contribute to the lives of others and for the health of our world.
Jennifer and Ricky welcome you, their families and friends. Each of you has given something of yourself in their lives whether directly or through the love of their families for them. They want you to know that your love, guidance and encouragement will be forever appreciated. It is wonderful, then, that you are here to share this celebration of their commitment to each other to live their lives together.
Let us pray. Eternal and loving God, by your grace, and with the encouragement of your divine Son, we have gathered joyfully to celebrate the union of Jennifer and Ricky. Let your Spirit be truly present in our worship today. May this ceremony firmly seal their love while reminding them, and us, of your self-giving, all-conquering love. We pray in the name of Christ, our Savior who taught us the Lord’s Prayer that will be sung by Rodney Tom on behalf of us all. Amen.
Solo The Lord’s Prayer Rodney Tom
Presentation Question
Jennifer and Ricky know that their lives are significant because of the love, care, and nurture that they have received from their parents. Acknowledging that God has brought together Jennifer and Ricky, who today has the honor of presenting this woman and man to be married?
(Parents stand)
Parents: “We do.”
(Father Walter Tom kisses the Bride and goes up with Father David Der to light the individual candles)
Lighting of the Candles Fathers Walter Tom and David Der
Declaration of Intent
Jennifer and Ricky, here, in the presence of God and these people, I ask you to declare your intention to enter into covenant with each other through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Jennifer, will you have Ricky 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?
Jennifer: “I will.”
Ricky, will you have Jennifer 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?
Ricky: “I will.”
Scripture Readings Genesis 2:24 Christina Drew
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Solo Agnus Dei Kim Mosler
Message to the Couple
Jennifer and Ricky, what a joyous occasion it is for us to be standing here today on your wedding day! All the planning has come together and if it wasn’t for you, these hundreds of guests would not be here today. It is because of you, the Prince and Princess for the day that we have all come to the royal ball! Jennifer, this is even better than the time when Ricky proposed to you at Cinderella’s Castle in Disneyland just about one year ago!
In the Genesis passage that was read, it said, “a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.” It’s remarkable to think that when the first man, Adam had God, it was not enough to stop him from being lonely. And after God had created all of the animals in the sea and on the land and birds in the air, the man was still lonely. God wants us to not be lonely in life so he made the woman to be a companion to the man.
The two of you have been created by God to be companions and not be lonely. You will be holding hands as you share your vows and exchange your rings. You will be in each other’s arms as you embrace and kiss when I declare you married. You will kiss and hold onto each other when we clink our glasses. And in those loneliest days of life that you will also have, we pray that you will cling to each other as God meant it to be. One of the loveliest things that I notice about you is that you always order two separate meals, eat half of it and give the other half to the other. You will never be lonely when you eat together that way.
You notice that God was not able to easily and quickly fill Adam’s need. This will be true for you sometimes. Although you will do your best to meet each other’s needs, you sometimes will fail. When that happens, take a clue from God. God did not go away or pout. God was patient with Adam as you can be patient with each other. When Jennifer has to work late, Ricky, you will need to patiently keep dinner warm for her. When Ricky is busy working with the lion club, Jennifer, you will need to also share his excitement for this beautiful and powerful Chinese art form.
It won’t always be easy but such times call for greater love and creativity than ever before.
I have not met a couple as more athletic than the two of you. Whether Jennifer is playing volleyball or Ricky is kickboxing in the ring, it takes dedication and hard work to succeed in sport endeavors. It takes demanding attention to keep a marriage going like the time when Jennifer hoola hooped for hours to win an X-Box for Ricky. Being loving companions in marriage will also require this same kind of dedication and hard work. As you have excelled in your sports, you will succeed in your marriage when you won’t give up when the game is down to the last point or when you still have enough strength to make just one more kick.
The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” Be traveling partners as you enjoy seeing the world together. Be dining partners as you enjoy eating Asian fusion food whether it’s out at a restaurant or cooking at home. Be movie theatre partners as you stay out to watch late movies. Be fitness partners as you work out together at the gym. Be partners hand in hand as you walk your dog Penny everyday. And finally, be married partners as husband and wife joined by God as you patiently stay with each other so that never will you ever feel loneliness.
Jennifer and Ricky, may God continue to bless you with the deep friendship and companionship that you have for each other for God has planned this for you all along.
Exchange of Vows
Ricky: I, Ricky, take you, Jennifer, to be my wife.
To have and to hold from this day forward,
For better, for worse;
For richer, for poorer;
In sickness and in health;
To love and to cherish,
As long as we both shall live.
Jennifer: I, Jennifer, take you, Ricky, to be my husband.
To have and to hold from this day forward,
For better, for worse;
For richer, for poorer;
In sickness and in health;
To love and to cherish,
As long as we both shall live.
Exchange of Rings
Wedding rings have been used for centuries. Rings are visible signs of a pledge of commitment and loyalty on the part of those who give and those who wear them. They are evidence of marriage between husband and wife. They say to the world, “Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”
Ricky: Jennifer, I give you this ring
as a sign of my love
and faithfulness.
Jennifer: Ricky, I give you this ring
as a sign of my love
and faithfulness.
Let us pray.
Grant, O Lord, that Jennifer and Ricky may be truly blessed as they show their intentions before you and all who have gathered here. May they know your grace and peace in their marriage and home through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lighting of the Unity Candle
The two candles lit by the fathers symbolize the individual lives of Jennifer and Ricky. 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.
The symbol of the Unity Candle also serves as an enduring symbol of renewing their commitments to each other as they light their candle during their anniversary celebration.
Solo Flesh of My Flesh Rodney Tom
Appreciation of Parents—Giving of Gifts
Solo Liam McCormick
Wedding Prayer
Creator God, you show us that two are better than one in your creation. If one falls down, the other helps the one to get up. If two are close together, they will keep each other warm. Two can defend themselves better than one. Because you have taught us these things, we know that the choice that Jennifer and Ricky made today is a good one. May they help one another if they falter. May they keep each other warm. May they protect and defend each other in times of danger. May they interact their lives together with you as like the powerful coordinated precision of a lion dance or the teamwork of volleyball players so that whatever may come, they will hold firm. Give them all that can be theirs because of this commitment they are making. Give them the grateful hearts to understand the blessings they have received. As recorded in Mark 10:8-9, “The two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” In Jesus’ name, your Holy Son, we pray . Amen.
Announcements
Jennifer and Ricky have requested that all family members remain in the sanctuary for pictures.
Please proceed to the Empress of China Restaurant for refreshments at 5:00 which will be followed by a banquet at 6:00 when Jennifer and Ricky will greet you.
Pronouncement
Love is a gift from God. Jennifer and Ricky, you have chosen to share with each other that gift of love that God has created in you. Therefore, you have exchanged vows and rings, you have lit a candle together, you have declared publicly to the whole world what you are feeling in your hearts.
With the authority given to me as a Minister of the Christian Gospel, it is a joy for me to now pronounce you united in marriage and to say that you are husband and wife together.
It is my joy and honor to introduce to you for the very first time: “Mr. and Mrs. Ricky and Jennifer Der.”
(Embrace & Kiss)
Recessional
Postlude
Organist/Pianist: Joy Shih Ng
Officiant: Rev. Don Ng