Saturday, June 1, 2002
3:00 PM
Old St. Hilary’s Church
Tiburon, California
Prelude
Pianist: Justina Lee
Ushers: Wyman and Larry
Seating Olaf’s mother, Ursula
(Father Karl-Ernst not attending)
Seating Rachel’s Grandmother
Pastor Don, Groom Olaf and Best Man, Eberhard Kohler come out
Processional
Maid of Honor, Grace Chuang
Flower Kids: Ellie, Taylor, and Hannah
Ring Bearers: Philip and Alex
Bride Rachel and Father of the Bride, Harry Ho &
Mother of the Bride, Linda Ho
Mothers, Ursula and Linda light the two globe candles.
Greetings & Opening Prayer
Friends and family, we are here to celebrate with Rachel Ho and Olaf Reinhartz the beginning of their journey as husband and wife. In truth, this is not a new journey, but the continuation of a journey begun many months ago—a journey that started when you first met in a hospital operation room, a casual conversation, a first date; and grew from there into a friendship, a deep caring love and a desire to share life together.
Olaf and Rachel stand here before you to declare that even though they know and love each other profoundly, two additional elements are needed if the commitments made here today are to last for a lifetime. These two elements are the blessing of God and the support of family and friends.
By holding this service of commitment at Old St. Hilary’s, a place associated with the gathering of people of faith, Olaf and Rachel acknowledge their dependence upon God and a desire to know God more dearly in their marriage.
Rachel and Olaf also ask you, their family and friends, to pray for them often. Each of you has contributed to this relationship, through your encouragement, advice and friendship.
Let us pray. Gracious and loving God, we gather at this moment and on this special day to bring together Olaf and Rachel as husband and wife. We rejoice in their love for each other, and the love they have for their families. We pray that their home will be blessed with joy and happiness, and that they will find in you a source of strength and wisdom. We pray that in each other, they will find deep friendship, caring companionship and true love. We ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Presentation Question
Acknowledging that God has brought Rachel and Olaf together, who today has the honor of presenting Rachel to be married to Olaf?
Harry and Linda Ho: “We do.”
Poetry Reading Shiva Khayam-Bashi
Message to Olaf and Rachel
One of the joys in my ministry is meeting new friends like Rachel and Olaf as we prepared for this special day. Every couple I meet, there’s always an interesting story that’s unique. Each one of us searches for meaning and happiness in life. For Rachel and Olaf, your journey began two years ago when Rachel was doing an experiment on blood and Olaf was one of her “guinea pigs!” Almost right away, Olaf must have trusted Rachel to allow her to drain his blood for the experiment! And then when Rachel was collecting data for an infant heart surgery project, she was attracted to Olaf by only seeing his beautiful eyes through his surgical gown. With these encounters, your life together began.
A wise person once wrote, “Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road—for then the journey is over and it’s too late. The time for happiness is today.” Begin today to set aside all your worries and concerns to enjoy life and the happiness you are experiencing right now. Yes, there’s still more classes and residences and obligations and responsibilities. They will still be there for you to care for. But in the midst of our tasks and responsibilities, we should also be happy.
When God first created the man, the human creature was lonely even when he had all of God’s natural creations. God made the first man a helper—a partner to care for the world and to freely love God. So when a man and a woman are married, they become one and are then happy together. I know that both of you are seeking and committed to finding happiness in your marriage. Trust each other and be happy today. Discover all the fascinating things about each other and be happy today. Find meaning in each other’s rich cultural heritages and be happy today. Let your past lives become libraries of life’s teachings and be happy today.
Your parents must have raised you well to have Olaf studying to become a cardiac surgeon and Rachel to become a research nurse. We respect your dedication to the medical vocation of helping people in need and to improve the quality of human life. As partners together, the joy and happiness that you have for each other will continue to encourage you to help others in need.
It’s been said,
“A bell is not a bell unless you ring it;
And a song is not a song unless you sing it;
And love isn’t love in you heart to stay,
For love isn’t love, unless you give it away.”
Your happiness can be found when you give of yourselves to each other as well as to the world.
Today you begin a life-long journey. And on this motorcycle trip of life, be happy as you wind around a bend to catch a beautiful scene. On your journey, smell the wildflowers and dangle your feet in the cold stream because God is blessing your life together with long-lasting happiness. The time for happiness is today.
Declaration of Intent
Rachel and Olaf, 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.
Rachel, will you have Olaf 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?
Rachel: “I will.”
Olaf, will you have Rachel 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?
Olaf: “I will.”
(Rachel gives bouquet to Grace.)
Exchange of Vows
Olaf: In the name of God
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 circumstances of life,
as long as we both shall live.
Rachel: In the name of God
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 circumstances of life,
as long as we both shall live.
Exchange of Rings
For many centuries, brides and grooms have given each other wedding rings as a pledge of fidelity. A ring symbolizes the sincere intention of the ring giver to try, with God’s help, to fulfill the vows of marriage.
Rachel: Olaf, I rejoice in putting this ring on your finger.
It is a symbol of my great love for you
and my pledge of faithfulness to you.
Wear this ring with confidence
that I will be present for you
even as I am sure you will be present for me.
I make this vow before God.
Olaf: Rachel, I rejoice in putting this ring on your finger.
It is a symbol of my great love for you
and my pledge of faithfulness to you.
Wear this ring with confidence
that I will be present for you
even as I am sure you will be present for me.
I make this vow before God.
Let us pray. Almighty God, as Rachel and Olaf pledge their lives to one another, give them the will and the strength to live up to their marriage vows. May the rings given and worn always remind them of the pledge of faithfulness made before you and all the friends and family who have witnessed the covenant they have made today. Amen.
Unity Candle
Olaf and Rachel decided to have a Unity Candle to represent their new life together. The two smaller candles represent their individual selves, each burning apart from the other as it was when Rachel grew up in San Francisco and Olaf in Germany. Their parents ignited their lives with nurture and love. They will together light the larger Unity Candle, signifying that the flame that once burned alone is now joined by the other’s brightness and warmth in the unity of marriage.
Wedding Prayer
God of love, shower your grace upon Rachel and Olaf, who come to you and pledge to live together in holy marriage. Give them wisdom and devotion in their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in confusion, a comfort in sorrow and a companion in joy. When selfishness appears, grant generosity. When mistrust is a temptation, give them patience and gentleness. When suffering happens, give them faith and abiding hope. Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that their marriage will be an example of happiness and inspiration to all. In the name of God, the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Declaration of Marriage
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.
When the two of you are on your motorcycle,
May the road rise to meet you.
May the open spaces reveal beautiful vistas and wild flowers.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sunshine warm your face and hands.
May the rains fall softly upon the fields of life until we meet again.
May God, the Creator of all life, hold you in the palm of his hand.
Olaf and Rachel, 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. Olaf and Rachel Ho Reinhartz!
Embrace and Kiss
Recessional
Olaf and Rachel
Eberhard and Grace
The Kids
Rachel’s Parents
Olaf’s Mother
Postlude
Officiating Minister: Rev. Donald Ng