Saturday, May 20, 2006
1:00 PM
First Baptist Church of San Diego
5055 Governor Drive
San Diego, CA 92192
The Wedding Ceremony
Prelude
Seating of the Grandparents
Greg’s 1 set of Grandparents
Jessica’s 2 sets of Grandparents
Seating of the Groom’s Parents
Sherry and Perry Pang by
Seating of the Bride’s Mother
Lynn Ly Tran by
Lighting of the Individual Candles Mothers Sherry Pang and
from Votive Lynn Ly Tran
Entrance of the Pastor, Groom and Groom’s Men
Pastor Don Ng, Groom Gregory Pang, Best Man Cliff Tom, Groom’s Men Andrew Tam, Edmund Chan, and Michael Tran
Processional
Bridesmaids:
___
Ivy Nguyen
Linda Tran
Maid of Honor Nancy Tran
Ring Bearer: Kevin___
Flower Girl: Wenda ___
(Congregation stands)
Bride Jessica Tran and Father Jimmy Tran (Left side)
Welcome
Welcome to this special day! Please be seated. For the dignity of the service, we ask that all cell phones and pages 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 Gregory Pang and Jessica Tran express their love for one another. This is a day of joy, a wondrous moment of blessing and an affirmation of many seasons of love. We are here to celebrate, support and sustain Greg and Jessica in their marriage. This is a holy time—for we are in the presence of the God who created us for relationships.
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 the joining of two families we have here today.
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. This is the reason why we have bridal parties, loving and forgiving parents, your presence as invited guests, the many guests that will also participate at next Saturday’s reception in San Francisco, and the fun-filled wedding banquet planned for later tonight. In a very real sense, the health of their relationship is going to be dependent upon your love, your concern and your enduring support. And for all of your loving care for them, Greg and Jessica are most grateful.
God has brought us together 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 Greg and Jessica. 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. Guide the steps of Greg and Jessica as your ever-changing blessings unfold before them. Show us new ways to share love with one another and your blessings in our lives. We pray in the Savior’s name. Amen.
Presentation Question
Greg and Jessica 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 Greg and Jessica, who has the honor of presenting them to be married today?
(Parents stand up.)
Parents: “We do.”
(Father of the Bride Jimmy Tan embraces and kisses Bride Jessica Tran and sits down.)
Honoring the Parents
As a sign of their love and respect for their parents, Greg and Jessica will present gifts to their mothers and fathers thanking them for years of guidance, wisdom and protection in life. Each of them came today with one set of parents; each of them will leave with two.
(Greg and Jessica present gifts to parents.)
Declaration of Intent
Greg and Jessica, 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.
Greg, will you have Jessica 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?
Greg: “I will.”
Jessica, will you have Greg 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?
Jessica: “I will.”
Words to the Couple
St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, these words: “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16) This is a great thought, isn’t it? Who does not need this advice? Today, we can all become better people by being reminded to strive for harmony with others.
The words, “Live in harmony with one another.” are especially relevant for marriage and family life. Harmony means “fitting together.” It refers to fitting parts together so they are united. In music, harmony means “the pleasing combination of tones in a chord” to bring forth melody. As far as marriage is concerned, harmony means coming together as one in unity, peace and love.
Harmony requires effort. Obviously, if there’s to be harmony in your marriage, both of you, Greg and Jessica will have to work on it. Both have to strive daily, with God’s help, to make the changes and alterations necessary for two people to blend harmoniously together. It’s like when you are cooking together: Greg prepares the ingredients and Jessica does the cooking. One without the other would not produce a meal.
Those who have been driving a car for any length of time can tell when the engine doesn’t sound right. Jessica, having your family in San Diego has meant that the two of you have been doing quite a bit of driving these days. But you would know when an engine isn’t running smoothly. It may lack power. Sometimes it stalls, probably stalling in the most unlikely places inviting honking horns and nasty looks. A good-running car engine tells us that everything is going on as it should be.
But when the engine is causing you trouble and stalls, all your best thought out plans can fly out the window!
Something similar happens when harmony is not in a marriage. When a marriage is not running smoothly, when there may be some conflict and misunderstanding, then the marriage loses its power and stalls in its place.
Greg and Jessica, I know that both of you eagerly strive for harmony in your marriage. It requires more effort to work together in order to accomplish your goals and realize your dreams. While you have traveled to many beautiful places together already, your dream of visiting Japan will only come true when you are in harmony together. When the two of you are at a baseball game, Greg is watching the play by play while Jessica is buying garlic fries to eat. This is working together in harmony.
One of my favorite Chinese Proverbs goes like this:
If there is light in the soul,
There will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
There will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.
Keeping harmony in a marriage means that each of you sees in the other the divinity of being created in the likeness of God and when you see that, you will continue to see how beautiful each of you are in the sight of the other. Harmony comes when you are communicating together. It takes the willingness to forgive. It takes thoughtfulness, respect for one another, comforting each other, being dependable and responsible in every way. It takes everything necessary to make the marriage hum along happily like a smooth running engine.
Greg and Jessica, your love for each other leads to the creation of harmony in the house, order in the nation, and peace in the world. Imagine the significance your marriage has in the bigger scheme of things! I know you love your little pocket beagle, Snoopy. Snoopy already knows the love your have for each other by the harmony and order that he has experienced in your home.
Greg and Jessica, God has blessed you with a loving relationship that will only grow in your life together for the rest of your lives. Harmony happens when you make each other your best friends. Harmony happens when you make your marriage vows mean what they say. Harmony happens when you do things together like eating out, watching movies, reading books at Borders, and walking your dog. You can have harmony by simply doing the simple things in life and you will soon realize that the song that your life is singing together is blending harmoniously to make sounds pleasing to you, to your family and friends and also to God.
Exchange of Vows
Greg: I, Greg, take you, Jessica,
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.
Jessica: I, Jessica, take you, Greg,
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 Greg and Jessica to be aware of this sacred moment when they receive 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 our Lord. Amen.
Greg: As a sign of my sincere love for you, Jessica,
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.
Jessica: As a sign of my sincere love for you, Greg,
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
Greg and Jessica’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 Greg and Jessica to this day and will no doubt continue supporting and guiding them in the future!
Now Greg and Jessica’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 anniversaries now burns, signifying their new, shared married life.
Wedding Prayer
God of joyful things, we relish the warmth of your smile upon Greg and Jessica today. As they lay their lives on the altar of love, give them the deep pleasure of knowing your will involves their dreams coming true. Let us all with joyful hearts celebrate your love for the church and human communities made manifest in the love that we see in Greg and Jessica. Let us remember our love for you as we see the love of this man and this woman. Bless this melding of hearts, spirits, families and friends with the delight of your heart. Give them this joyous moment, etched in their memories, so that they may return to this happy day time and time again, knowing that it is for this joy that you brought them together. We pray in the name of Christ who taught us true love on the cross. Amen.
Announcements
Greg and Jessica have requested that all family members remain in the sanctuary for wedding pictures.
They will look forward to meeting each of you at the Wedding Banquet at the Jasmine Chinese Seafood Restaurant at 6:00 PM. If you need directions, they are available from the groomsmen.
Pronouncement
Greg and Jessica, 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 new life together in harmony by practicing trust and good communication. And when you find yourselves at odds with each other sometimes, may you have the hope and reassurance that a “computer geek” like Greg can solve any problems! When you are enjoying good food, continue to order complementary dishes so that you can share your food in harmony.
Enjoy the many good things in life such as going out to the movies, preparing your meals, loving animals especially those who are in need of help, and establishing a harmonious home.
Because Greg and Jessica have publicly made their vows to each other today, and have given and received rings as an outward sign of this harmonious unity, I as a Minister of the Christian Gospel now declare them to be husband and wife together. Joined as one, Greg and Jessica, you will continue to be blessed by the love you share, the love you have for God and the love God has for each of you.
It is my joy and honor to introduce to you for the very first time, “Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and Jessica Pang!”
(Permission to kiss.)
Recessional
Postlude
Wedding Coordinator: Lori Tan
Officiant: Rev. Don Ng