Saturday, September 9, 2006
1:00 PM
First Unitarian Universalist Church
1187 Franklin Street
San Francisco, California
The Wedding Ceremony
Prelude
Lighting of the Memorial Candle
Seating of the Groom’s Grandparents
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jung
Mr. and Mrs.
Seating of the Bride’s Grandparents
Chung Ying Gin
Gerald and Beatrice Chin
Seating of the Groom’s Parents (Right facing the front)
Edmund and May Jung
Seating of the Bride’s Mother (Left facing the front)
Melanie Gin
Lighting of the Individual Candles Mothers May Jung &
(from votive) Melanie Gin
Entrance of the Pastor, Groom, and Groom’s Men
Pastor Don Ng, Groom Eldon Jung, Groom’s Men Bruce Lim, Donald Chau, Eddie Lowe, Jr., Jordan Jung, Ryan Gin. William Lee, and Y-Fu Lin
Processional The Pachelbel Canon
Bridesmaids
Crystal Ng
Gloria Chin
Jamie Jung
Nicole Wong
Rebecca Der
Shauna Gin
Stacy Gin
Flower Girl Kayla Choy
Ring Bearers
Chadd Alciati
Nico Alciati
Kyle Choy
(Congregation stands)
Bride Shannon Jung and Canon in D
Father of the Bride David Gin (Left side) and Grandfather
Welcome and Greetings
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.
Friends and family, we are here to celebrate with Eldon Jung and Shannon Gin, this public declaration of their love and commitment. Friends are an important part of life and we know that Eldon and Shannon are very happy that you are all here today. All of us rejoice with you in the festivities of this occasion and pledge to you our prayer-filled support. Yet, however much we may support and encourage you, the faithful keeping of the vows you take today is ultimately your responsibility.
The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper, as his partner.” The Lord God also said, “Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.” These words form the foundation of that institution which we call marriage, and it is these words that bring us to this place today as Eldon and Shannon pledge themselves to one another.
Eldon and Shannon, you stand before your family and friends and in the presence of God to affirm the most sacred commitment two persons can make. You come here not to escape aloneness, but to embrace companionship; not to seek a helper for your own agenda, but to partner in a new agenda; not simply because you make a nice couple, but because of the desires of the heart.
Since marriage arose from the creative desire of God, its fulfillment and success can be attained only through God’s abiding presence. As you say your vows today, be reminded that God is here, that God is listening and that God is the strength who will enable you to do tomorrow what you promise today.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray. Creator God, on this day of celebration and excitement, make us aware of your continuing, renewing presence in our lives. Today, re-create us in joy, as this commitment to a new life together takes an honored place in your creation. Guide the steps of Eldon and Shannon as your rich blessings unfold before them. Show us the way in Jesus Christ who gather here, moving us to share with all around us, your blessings in our lives. Amen.
Presentation Question
Eldon and Shannon 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 them together, who has the honor of presenting them to be married today?
(Parents stand up)
Parents: “We do.”
(Father of the Bride David Gin embraces and kisses Bride Shannon Gin and sits down.)
Declaration of Intent
Eldon and Shannon, 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.
Eldon, will you have Shannon to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Eldon: “I will.”
Shannon: will you have Eldon to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Shannon: “I will.”
Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 13 Charise Wong
Words to the Couple
Marriage is frequently described as a “partnership.” But the word, “partnership” is sometimes a negative word. Horror stories abound of partnerships which have gone sour. Accountants usually recommend that one partner in a business own at least 51 percent of the business, so that if decisions must be made, the majority owner can make those decisions.
In a marriage, the idea of one of you having a 51% say in things, while the other has only 49% say, is not too attractive. Usually, marriage is, instead, described as a 50-50 proposition, a relationship which features compromise and each person meeting the other halfway. We can say much for a 50-50 relationship. For instance, it’s like one of you wants to eat Chinese and the other wants Vietnamese but you compromise and end up eating pan-Asian. That’s being 50-50!
But when it comes to a happy and productive marriage, I think it needs to be a 100-100 arrangement. Bringing 50% to the marriage will not get the job done. You must each bring it all. Everything you have, everything you are, all the energy you possess, all the creativity, all the love, all the patience—nothing held back. This is what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes in all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” When you love each other, nothing is held back but instead you give all that you are to each other. Even your own personal needs are secondary to the needs of the other because that is what true love is like.
This is not the kind of marriage we often see, but I think you two are capable of it. And if you are, yours will be what writers call a “great love,” a love capable of overcoming difficulties, of dreaming great things and achieving them. Yours will be a love able to advance beyond the boundaries of common life to the rare atmosphere of an enduring commitment.
What makes a good partnership work? It takes being good partners in four things!
Dream together. True friends don’t spend their time looking at each other in frozen time, but look together into the future, seeing and sharing the same vision. We pray that your business adventures will not only be exciting but will lead to good fortunes and security.
Share together. Good partners come up with new ideas and perspectives that travel far and wide from and to different parts around the world. It’s like Eldon coming up with the great idea of tofu flavored peanuts! As partners, give each other your precious time, energies and resources.
Work together. Good partners know how to work together and when to divide up the labor. While Shannon is calling and making reservations to explore new things, Eldon is willing to drive Shannon anywhere.
Decide together. Decisions are not made by only one person, but rather by consensus. Some partners have a rule that if they cannot reach consensus, the idea is dropped. Take time to talk—always open to seeing the other person’s point of view.
Much of this will come naturally to you, as you begin your life together. At times, however, you may need to review what it means to be a good partner. Just like again what Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke, thought, and reasoned like a child, but when I became an adult, I put away those childish ways. For now you might still be thinking about 51 and 49 percentages or a 50-50 proposition, but in time, you will truly become good partners. In those times, you will find that dreaming together, sharing together, working together, deciding together, brings 100% to your marriage.
Eldon and Shannon, your marriage that is based on giving of yourselves fully and sacrificially would reflect how Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior gave up his life 100% so that we may have eternal life and become God’s partners in the world. May your life together in marriage as loving and creative partners contribute in remaking the world to become a better place for us all.
Exchange of Vows
Eldon: I, Eldon, take you, Shannon,
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,
as long as we both shall live.
Shannon: I, Shannon, take you, Eldon,
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,
as long as we both shall live.
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 Eldon and Shannon to be aware of this sacred moment when they receive evidence of their pledge of love and loyalty to one another. May we know your peace and your favor as they begin their new life together, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eldon: As a sign of my sincere love for you, Shannon,
I give you this ring.
Wear it in the knowledge that I cherish you
with all of my heart and will.
With God’s help,
I will live up to my promises,
I make to you today.
Shannon: As a sign of my sincere love for you, Eldon,
I give you this ring.
Wear it in the knowledge that I cherish you
with all of my heart and will.
With God’s help,
I will live up to my promises,
I make to you today.
Lighting of the Unity Candle
Eldon and Shannon’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 along with their fathers supported Eldon and Shannon to this day and will no doubt continue supporting them in the future!
Now Eldon and Shannon’s individual lives are joined in marriage symbolized by the Unity Candle. They declare that their life together will shine in the world with warmth and brightness for many. The Unity Candle, a keepsake for them to relight on their wedding anniversaries now burns, signifying their new and shared married life.
Wedding Prayer
Lord of life, Eldon and Shannon stand before you, beaming in joy and wonder. They are your own, holy and beloved. Clothe them in compassion, so they may bear one another’s burdens with strength and patience. Warm them with kindness, so that they may bless one another with the sturdy affection of best friends. Grant them meekness, so the chill winds of arrogance, blame or selfishness never blow between them. Grant them hope, that no trouble on their path cause them to stray away from you or from each other. Grant them humor, to gracefully smooth over life’s rough spots. Above all, grant them growth in love that their life together becomes a sign of the steadfast love you bear for your people. Amen.
Announcements
Eldon and Shannon along with their parents cordially invite you to the Reception in the church social hall immediately following the wedding ceremony. Family members are requested to return to the sanctuary to participate in the picture taking.
Pronouncement & Benediction
Eldon and Shannon, 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 your God. Live your life together in your relationship with God and that God will be the center of your marriage and that God will hold you together just like the way he led you to meet each other when you both worked as tellers in the bank.
Because Eldon and Shannon have publicly made their vows to each other today, have given and received rings as on outward sign of their love for each other, and have lit their Unity Candle to signify the oneness they have together in Christ, I as a Minister of the Christian Gospel now declare them to be husband and wife. And now, Eldon and Shannon, may you leave this place seeking your own place in the world , finding your place with each other, spreading your love, sharing your happiness, becoming friends with all those who need your friendship and joy.
It is my utmost joy and privileged honor to introduce to you for the very first time, “Mr. and Mrs. Eldon and Shannon Jung.”
(Permission to kiss)
Recessional
Postlude
Officiant: Rev. Donald Ng
Photographers: David & Corinne