Saturday, August 20, 2005
11:00 AM
Trinity Episcopal Church
San Francisco, California
The Wedding Ceremony
Prelude
Lighting of the Candelabras & Votive Lilliam Lau & Eugene Law
Seating of the Grandparents
*Andrew walks Po-po Mae and Uncle Toy walks Gung- gung Toy to seat on right side facing the front. Andrews goes to the right front side door; Uncle Toy sits in front.
*Brian walks Po-po Ying Lee down to seat on left side facing the front and sits in front.
*Thomas walks Ngee-ngee Siu Wan down to seat on left side facing the front and sits in front.
Seating of the Groom’s Parents
*Collin walks Mother Yenny Kwan, Father Antonio Kwan follows to seat on right side facing the front. Collin goes to the right front side door.
Seating of the Bride’s Mother
*Jonathan walks Mother Gail Wan to seat on the left side facing the front and goes to the right front side door.
Lighting Individual Candles Mothers Yenny Kwan and
from Votive Gail Wan
Entrance of the Pastor, Groom and Groom’s Men
Pastor Don Ng, Groom Kevin Kwan, Best Man Irwin Lee, Groom’s Men Collin Kwan, Andrew Toy, Jonathan Wan, and Matthew Young
Processional
Bridesmaids:
Joanna Huie
Denise Kwan
Maria Sim
Goretti Medrano-Corbett
Matron of Honor Jennifer Nash
Ring Bearer Duncan Nash
Flower Girl Samantha Huie
(Congregation stands)
Bride Jeanine Wan and Father John Wan (Left side)
Welcome
Welcome to this special day! Please be seated. For the dignity of the service, we ask you that all cell phones and pagers be silent at this time. Thank you.
In this holy place, we have gathered as a community of family and friends to witness this holy event as Kevin Kwan and Jeanine Wan express their love. This is a day of joy, a wondrous moment of blessing and a beginning to many seasons of love. We are here to celebrate, support and sustain Kevin and Jeanine in their marriage.
This is a holy time—for we are in the presence of the God who created us for relationship.
This is an awe-filled moment—for we are aware of the strong, yet fragile hearts of love which are intertwined today.
This is a joyous and hopeful day—for we celebrate another sign that relationships are truly fashioned in quality and unity evident in double happiness.
We know that marriage is not only sustained by the love which the two individuals have for one another; but by the love and concern of family and friends. For this is the reason why we have bridal parties, honoring parents, your presence as invited guests, and a big Chinese wedding banquet tonight. In a very real sense, the health of their relationship is going to be dependent upon your love, your concern and your support. And for all of your loving care for them, Kevin and Jeanine are most grateful.
God has brought us together, not only to support Kevin and Jeanine, but also to sense the wonderful mystery of love which God makes the world sing and dance. Enter a moment of silence, and feel the blessings of a loving God while you offer your prayers for this special couple.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray. Eternal and loving God, by your grace, and with the encouragement of your divine Son, we are gathered to celebrate the union of Kevin and Jeanine. Let your spirit be truly present in our worship. May this wedding service firmly seal their love while reminding them, and us, of your self-giving, all-conquering love. We pray in the Savior’s name. Amen.
Presentation Question
Jeanine and Kevin deeply appreciate the rich and warm heritage of their families and especially the love and nurture that they have received from their parents. Acknowledging that God has brought together Kevin and Jeanine, who has the honor of presenting them to be married today?
(Parents stand up.)
Parents: “We do.”
(Father of the Bride John Wan embraces and kisses Bride Jeanine Wan and sits down.)
Honoring the Parents
(Jeanine and Kevin present gifts to parents.)
Declaration of Intent
Jeanine and Kevin, in the presence of God and your family and friends, I ask you to declare your intention to enter into covenant with each other through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Jeanine, will you have Kevin 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?
Jeanine: “I will.”
Kevin: will you have Jeanine 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?
Kevin: “I will.”
Special Sharing Lee Corbett
Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Adrian Gonzalez
Philippians 2:1-2
Words to the Couple—Cleaving Together
Jeanine and Kevin, marriage is the joining of two human beings to create a new life together. Since God is always making things new, God blesses new gene combinations, new families, new ways of keeping house and of being a new home. There is joy in heaven when something new is created—and joy in this church today as we celebrate your new life together.
Marriage is a new dance between partners. You will now matter more to each other than anyone else. You will matter more to each other than the work that you do whether Jeanine is counseling a needy family or Kevin is developing the next popular phone video game. You will matter to each other’s health, each other’s daily life. You can make each other terribly happy—or terribly sad. You now hold each other’s life in each other’s hand. What you are able to give to each other will be the greatest gift you may dare to receive, outside of God’s original gift in creating you.
In each other, you will find what completes you. When Kevin may be talking about something that no one else in the room fully understands, Jeanine amazingly can make sense of it. When Jeanine is all excited and stressed out beyond reason, Kevin listens patiently and calms her down, makes her laugh, and helps her to feel good about herself again. While Kevin is lay back and casual, able to welcome life as it comes; Jeanine is very organized and neat; deliberating going about in the world planning for the next phase of life. You once told me that everything seems right when you are together. That’s because you are meant for each other.
In Genesis 2:24, we read that it’s God’s plan from the beginning of time, that we leave our mother and father and cleave to one another. Cleave means to cling and get stuck on each other. Cleaving for you is sitting on the couch at home talking together and enjoying each other’s company. In your cleaving, you will give to the other what you need most. As your friends, your parents, your siblings, we will let you go now to each other—and know that we will also get you back—stronger, more satisfied, more complete, and more blessed people.
We can have what we give away. God knows that—which is why God gave the world and earth to us so that we may give it back to God. In your cleaving, know the source of your power, know your Creator, and enjoy the chance to be as creative as God was in nurturing your marriage and letting it be a beautiful display of love, commitment and dedication to one another.
The Bible said, “God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” May God bless you as you cleave to each other in love.
Exchange of Vows (Memorized)
Kevin: I, Kevin, take you Jeanine,
To be my wedded wife.
To have and to hold,
In sickness and in health,
In joy and in sorrow,
Through laughter and tears.
Promising to faithfully love,
Honor, and cherish you,
From this day forward.
Jeanine: I, Jeanine, take you Kevin,
To be my wedded husband.
To have and to hold,
In sickness and in health,
In joy and in sorrow,
Through laughter and tears.
Promising to faithfully love,
Honor, and cherish you,
From this day forward.
Exchange of Rings
For many centuries, a wedding ring has been a symbol of a pledge that those who give a ring intend to live up to the vows and promises made at the time of marriage. A ring is a visible sign of an inward grace which signifies the givers and receivers becoming one in holy marriage through the church of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray. O Lord, enable Kevin and Jeanine to be aware of this sacred moment when they give evidence of their pledge of love and loyalty to one another. May they know your peace and your favor as they begin their new life together, through Jesus Christ or Lord. Amen.
Kevin: I give you this ring
In token and in pledge
Of our constant faith and abiding love.
Jeanine: I give you this ring
In token and in pledge
Of our constant faith and abiding love.
Special Music I Will Be Here Steven Curtis Chapman
Bill Leach
Lighting of the Unity Candle
Jeanine and Kevin’s mothers lit individual candles to symbolize the precious gift of life that they were given when their children were born. Spanning across the years, they supported Jeanine and Kevin to this day and will no doubt continue supporting them in the future!
Now Jeanine and Kevin’s individual lives are joined in marriage symbolized by the Unity Candle. They declare that their new life together will shine in the world with warmth and brightness for many. The Unity Candle, a keepsake for them to relight on their anniversaries now burns, signifying their new, shared married life.
Wedding Prayer
Holy Lord, you teach us that two are better than one. If one falls down, the other can help one stand up. If two lie down together, they will keep warm. Two can defend themselves better than one. Because you have taught us these things, we know that the choice that Kevin and Jeanine make today is a good one. May they help one another if they falter. May they keep each other warm; especially for Jeanine when she is always cold in the Bay Area. May they protect and defend each other. May they intertwine their hearts together with you, Lord as a strong and ever-presence power that will hold them from whatever may come. Give them all that can be theirs because of this commitment they are making. Give them grateful hearts to understand the blessings they have received. In Jesus’ name, your Son most holy. Amen.
Announcements
(Rose petals)
You may proceed to the New Asia Restaurant at 772 Pacific Avenue in Chinatown for their Wedding Banquet at 5:30 PM when Jeanine and Kevin will greet you.
Pronouncement
Kevin and Jeanine, the special joys of this day will long be remembered as your vows are kept and your love is fully shared. So it is through love that you are united in this ceremony today. And it is through loving that you will find many blessings in the years to come. Whether you are going on weekend or day trips spending precious time together or traveling to Europe, may all your excursions be safe and warm as you like them to be. I see that Kevin is wearing patent-leather shoes for today is very special. But when today is over, Kevin will put back on his sneakers and Jeanine will know once again that it is in his casualness is how he completes her. And in Jeanine’s well-intentions is how she completes Kevin.
So at this time, with the authority given to me as a Minister of the Christian Gospel, I now declare that you are husband and wife.
(Nod to give permission to kiss. Embrace and kiss.)
It is my joy and honor to introduce to you for the very first time: “Mr. and Mrs. Kevin and Jeanine Kwan.”
Recessional
Postlude
Wedding Coordinator: Evelyn Wan
Officiant: Pastor Don Ng