Saturday, June 29, 2002
3:30 PM
Temple United Methodist Church
San Francisco
Prelude
Manfredi Lani Higa, Pianist
Dennis Lin, Violinist
Seating of the Bride’s Grandmother
Seating of Groom’s Mother, Jane Chou by Best Man Joe Chou
Seating of the Bride’s Mother, Lea Wong by Cousin Eric
Lighting of Candelabras by Maddie Dong & Jennifer Tom
Lighting the Single Candles by Mothers Lea and Jane
Pastor Don, Groom Josh, and Best Man Joe enter
Groom’s Men Stephen Lee, Edwin Wong, and Alex Huang come up to the front
Processional
Bride’s Maid Marcia Pang
Bride’s Maid Kim Woo
Bride’s Maid Jamie Wong
Maid of Honor Joyce Wong
Flower Girl Erin Choy
Ring Bearer Evan Choy (Jewel Box)
Bride Jaclyn Wong and Father Nelson Wong
Greetings & Opening Prayer
I welcome you to this holy moment in the lives of Jaclyn Wong and Joshua Chou as we witness their exchange of marriage vows, the precious beginning of a lifetime commitment.
It was God who established marriage, that man and woman might have lifelong companionship, that natural instincts and affections might be fulfilled in mutual love, that children might have the benefit of family life, and that society might rest on a firm foundation. Marriage is blessed by Jesus’ presence at the marriage at Cana in Galilee and perpetuated by the faithful keeping of honorable men and women throughout the ages.
Josh and Jackie, the moment you have been planning for and looking forward to has finally arrived. Beginning with your first encounter at a College Retreat in LA, your friendship for each other has grown to deep love and mutual sacrifice for each other. As your family and friends, we have assembled in this place of worship to witness and celebrate the public exchange of your vows of lifelong commitment.
Today is not the destination, however, but rather the beginning of a long journey of learning to love one another. It is before both the people gathered here and before God that you commit yourselves to begin this journey today.
As you travel throughout life, you will need God’s supporting strength and wisdom to bring you through. Let us pause right now and invite God’s involvement in your lives, to help you carry out the commitments you are about to make.
Let us pray.
Thank you, God for the gift of life, for family and friends, and for the strong bond of love that exists between Jackie and Josh.
Almighty God, we pray that you are right here among us now, hearing each word of commitment, reading each thought and intention and seeing the happy faces on Jackie and Josh. Thank you, Lord that we can turn to you in faith and ask that you not only witness this ceremony, but that you will also be involved, in an integral way, by enabling Josh and Jackie to carry out their vows made here today.
Lord God, we commit to you the very sacred moments that are to follow, and we pray with thanksgiving that your blessing and love will be with Josh and Jackie in the years to come as they call upon you. With heartfelt gratefulness, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Presentation Question
Acknowledging that God has brought together Jackie and Josh, who today has the honor of presenting them for holy marriage?
Parents: “We do.”
Father of the Bride Nelson kisses the Bride and takes his seat.
Scripture Reading Joshua 24:14-15 Rev. Tom Cheng
Message—Our Household Will Serve the Lord
Jackie and Josh, the passage you selected from Joshua 24 captures the beauty of your relationship together. I know that both of you are very committed to your church involvement—even serving as the junior high youth advisors. That takes a lot of courage too! You give of yourselves generously in service to others and faithfully to God. I know that the youth that you have served as their counselors at Youth Camp think of you highly. That’s evidence of your love and care for them.
When the Israelite leader Joshua announced that “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,” I thought about your commitment to each other’s families. Both of you are coming from strong families that love you and nurtured you into adulthood. And after today, they will continue to be your family. They taught you the meaning of trusting in each other which has led you to foster your own strong relationship today. I like the fact that one of the reasons that you are having a Chinese wedding banquet is to affirm your heritage and revere your grandparents and relatives. Not only do you know your Asian American foundation, but you are also building a rich and strong foundation as you are starting your own household today.
A strong home is depended on maintaining ongoing communication and contact with each other. Jackie, when you sense Josh is lonely, you send him emails expressing to him that you’re thinking about him. Josh, when Jackie has a family event in SF, you are readily supportive in making that long drive up north. And when it’s just the two of you, continue to use your annual passes and go to Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. Go there to relax, walk around, listen to ragtime and propose to each other again and again under Cinderella’s castle.
Most of the time, we think about communication solely as talking. And contrary to popular opinion, Josh does talk, perhaps not with the many words that Jackie has—but with the same kind of depth and substance that leads to wise decision-making and mutual understanding. Your love for each is not based on the number of words that got spoken. Your love is growing from the solid substance and content that you share with one another. Continue to be thoughtful and sincere and you will find yourselves in communication with each other for the rest of your lives.
It seems that once you met and started studying together, your friends began noticing that there was something special between the two of you that went beyond just being friends. Instantly you began to think and pray for this special day to come. Jackie flew all the way down to a college retreat at Big Bear. That truly impressed Josh. And when Josh attended CBC’s Family Camp that Jackie loves, he quickly discovered that his future extended family will be in San Francisco.
Your marriage will be wonderful because you know to revere the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness. Your future home will be traditional and cozy and filled with rich wood furniture. Kids will be running around and Josh will finally get his black Labrador. People will know the blessings you received have come from God because you will say to them, “For me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Declaration of Intent
Josh and Jackie, here 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.
Jackie, will you have Josh 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?
Jackie: “I will.”
Josh, will you have Jackie 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?
Josh: “I will.”
(Jackie gives bouquet to Joyce.)
Exchange of Vows
(Take ring from Joyce.)
Josh: In the name of God, I, Josh,
take you, Jackie, to be my wife.
I offer you my strength and my support.
I pledge my loyalty and faith.
I offer my hope.
I will trust, respect, and encourage you.
I give you my love in all the circumstances of life,
as long as we both shall live.
(Take ring from Joe.)
Jackie: In the name of God, I, Jackie,
take you, Josh, to be my husband.
I offer you my strength and my support.
I pledge my loyalty and faith.
I offer my hope.
I will trust, respect, and encourage you.
I give you my love in all the circumstances of life,
as long as we both shall live.
Exchange of Rings
From the early days of the Christian church, rings have been given and received as a pledge by those entering marriage. They are a symbol that the bride and groom pledge their love and loyalty to one another as long as life shall last.
Josh: Jackie, I offer to you this ring
as a symbol of my intention and hope
to be married to you as long as God will allow.
May it symbolize our love,
faithfulness and dependability
from this day forward.
I make this pledge in the name of Christ our Lord.
Jackie: Josh, I offer to you this ring
as a symbol of my intention and hope
to be married to you as long as God will allow.
May it symbolize our love,
faithfulness and dependability
from this day forward.
I make this pledge in the name of Christ our Lord.
Let us pray. O God, you have brought us to this happy day, this hour of joy, when we celebrate the wedding of Jackie and Josh. As they make their vows and give their rings, may they know your loving presence and be assured that you have joined them together in marriage. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Unity Candle
Josh and Jackie will now light the Unity Candle. The two smaller candles lit by their mothers represent their individual lives, each burning apart from the other. They will together light the larger Wedding Candle, signifying that the flame that once burned alone is now joined by the other’s brightness and warmth in the unity of marriage. And every year when they take out this Wedding Candle and light it to celebrate their anniversary, they will always remember the blessings of love and support that they received from their parents and now have united them in holy marriage.
The Scriptures said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one.”
Solo I Only Want to be with You Lani
Wedding Prayer
Dear God of everlasting love, we ask your blessings on Jackie and Josh as they begin their journey. Help them to tap into your unwavering power and help them to face their life together with patience and endurance. Reveal yourself to them as the journey unfolds so that they will find in you the determination to overcome every obstacle.
Give them your own perseverance and sacrificial love so that they can sustain steadfastness through whatever life holds in store. Give them power to live resolutely, as you have loved them. Walk before them and bid them to follow, for we know your path for them is the one and only way. In the name of God who has given us everlasting life in Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Announcements
In order to facilitate the important task of taking wedding pictures, Josh and Jackie have requested that family members that have been contacted to remain in the sanctuary and not recess out. All other guests are kindly invited to proceed to the Wedding Banquet at Far East Café on Grant Avenue in San Francisco Chinatown where Josh and Jackie will greet you.
Charge & Benediction
Go forth in joy, and as you do:
Josh, go out and buy that 36” TV at Best Buy when Jackie is not looking.
Jackie, go out to eat pink hot dogs and New York style pizza with Josh.
Go and abide in faith, that God may empower your love.
Abide in hope that God may guide you all your days.
Abide in love that God may shelter you from this day forward.
Go to proclaim that “As for me and my household, I will serve the Lord.”
In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Josh and Jackie, I pronounce you husband and wife.
Presentation of the Bride and the Groom
Now it is my privilege and joy to introduce to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua and Jaclyn Chou!
Embrace and Kiss
Recessional
Josh and Jackie
Evan and Erin
Joe and Joyce
Stephen and Jamie
Edwin and Kim
Alex and Marcia
Nelson and Lea
Ming Chi and Jane
Postlude
Officiating Minister: Rev. Donald Ng
Wedding Coordinators: Jon and Florence Jang