August 18, 2007
10:00 AM
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
Berkeley, California
The Marriage Service
Prelude Joy Shih Ng
Lighting of Candles Elissa Chin & Eric Hirata
Seating of the Grandparent
Grandmother of the Groom: Wai Lum Gin Chin by Jason Hom (right side facing the front)
Seating of the Parents
Parents of the Groom: Norman and Deborah Chin
(right side)
Mother of the Bride: Claire Hirata (left side)
Lighting of the Individual Candles
Mothers Deborah Chin and Claire Hirata
(from votive)
Entrance of the Groomsmen & Groom
Groomsmen, Norman Cheng, Joseph Au, Daniel Tse, Rodney Tom, and Darryl Tom; Best Men Jarrett Jang and Jason Yow; Groom Christopher Chin; and Pastor Don Ng
Processional
From This Moment On Shania Twain & R.J. Lange
The Wedding Song Kenny G & Walter Afanasieff
Bridesmaids
Toni Rose Bernabe
Yumi Lee
Joanne Yee
Yura Tamaki
Genevieve Yow
Maids of Honor
Angelica Sabale
Sheri Tsukamoto
Ring Bearer Timothy Jang
Flower Girl Makayla Jang
(Congregation stands)
Bride Leslie Hirata and Father Ronald Hirata (Left side)
Welcome
I welcome you to this holy moment in the lives of Leslie Hirata and Chris Chin as we witness their exchange of marriage vows, the precious beginning of a lifetime commitment. Please be seated. For the sacredness of this moment, let me remind you to silent your phones and pagers at this time.
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 our society if not the world might rest on a firm foundation like that of your marriage today.
Leslie and Chris, the moment you have been planning for and looking forward to since you first met at an AACF meeting at San Francisco State has finally arrived. As your family and friends, we have assembled in this place of worship, at your invitation, to witness the public exchanges of your vows, the lighting of your Unity Candle and to pray for you as you make lifelong commitments to each other.
Today is not the final destination, but rather the beginning of an exciting adventure of learning to love one another. It is like when you traveled to New York City and at the top of the Empire State Building, you agreed to be married. You know that your life together will be filled with high adventure and moving drama! It is before both the people gathered here and before God that you commit yourselves to begin this journey today.
As you travel on this adventure, you will need God’s supporting strength to bring you through. Let us now pause and invite God’s involvement in your lives, to help you carry out the commitments you are about to make.
Let us pray.
Gracious and loving God, we remember that at Cana of Galilee, our Savior Jesus Christ blessed the wedding with his presence. We thank you that you bless this marriage with your presence here today. We come to this place confident that as Leslie and Chris give themselves to you, as well as to each other, their marriage will be the context through which you pour a lifetime of blessing and happiness upon them. Bless our time together as we meet in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Presentation of Bride and Groom
Leslie and Chris 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 Ronald Hirata embraces and kisses Bride Leslie Hirata and sits down.)
Parents Appreciation
As a sign of their love and respect for their parents, Leslie and Chris will present gifts to their mothers and fathers thanking them for the years of guidance, wisdom and protection in life. Each of them came with one set of parents; each will leave with two.
(Leslie and Chris present leis to parents.)
(Step up.)
Declaration of Intent
Leslie and Chris, 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.
Chris, do you willingly take Leslie to be your wife, and in so doing, give yourself to her, freely, fully, and gladly? Do you agree to take the bad with the good, the difficult with the easy, the anguish with the joy, the defeat with triumph? And do you promise to love her, come what may?
Chris: “I do.”
Leslie, do you willingly take Chris to be your husband, and in so doing, give yourself to him, freely, fully, and gladly? Do you agree to take the bad with the good, the difficult with the easy, the anguish with the joy, the defeat with triumph? And do you promise to love him, come what may?
Leslie: “I do.”
Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Rev. Chris Otani
Words to the Couple—Keep Them Laughing
If we were to try to describe the love that Chris and Leslie have for each other in a movie genre, it would be a “romantic comedy.” After seeing the characters played by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan fall in love in Sleepless in Seattle, Chris and Leslie lived out that romantic story by getting engaged at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City. Your life together is like the many movies that filled your living room because you make people laugh and you love a good adventure.
In addition to discovering that you share the same outlook for life, a love for the Lord, and a strong commitment to Christian service, you share a similar sense of humor that you called, “weird.” The sense of humor that you share makes both of you laugh together and it is a gift that you share with others. This is the reason why people like to be with you—you are a fun couple to hang out with.
In Proverbs 17:22, it reads, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Cheerfulness, a happy outlook on life, and a bubbling sense of humor are the best medicines one can have for marriage and family life.
Garrison Keillor, a brilliant humorist himself, thinks humor and laughter are gifts from God. Keillor once said, “Humor…is like the presence of Grace. When we’re merry, sometimes we are full of Grace.” By Grace, he meant the loving presence of God. I still remember the year when Leslie was the Chapel speaker at Youth Camp—we all looked forward to her sharing about her life shopping at Target and how amusing it was that she can laugh about herself and in turn invited us to laugh about ourselves too. And for Chris, an avid Giants fan, he is always hopeful and a true believer in the Field of Dreams–letting out an encouraging smile that there’s always next year!
We know now that humor is good for emotional and physical therapy. A good laugh gives heart muscles a good workout. It fills the lungs with oxygen-rich air, clears the respiratory passages, stimulates hormones that in turn stimulate various tissues. It helps the brain by diminishing tension, thus aiding the central nervous system. Laughter counteracts such negative emotions as fear, anger and depression. Humor also can relieve pain and even help one sleep at night. Now that you are about to be married, you will no longer be sleepless in San Francisco because you will be laughing together for the rest of your lives.
Clearly, those who laugh are most likely to last longer. They enjoy life and want to keep on living. It’s like Leslie was willing to play basketball even though she never played before because it was okay to laugh about herself. It’s like Chris who is willing to leave a good Giants game in the 6th ending because Leslie is too cold. He knows that when they laugh together there will be many more baseball games that they will see together. Cheerfulness is a necessary ingredient in each person’s life, in each marriage and in each home. Humor brings us close to each other.
As you live together in marriage, a collection of funny happenings, cute stories, pleasant outings will fill your memory banks. Thus you will have much to smile about, much to provoke healing laughter. As a cheerful couple, your home will become a joyous place that others look forward to visiting there. People would want you to come because you will be known as a fun couple to be with! A happy home is a place of joy and laughter, watching romantic comedies and galactic adventures, and a welcoming place for all your family and friends to gather because your humor is God’s grace that you give to them. It is for that reason that a worthy goal is to work at providing humor and happiness in your family life as much as you can. After all, “a cheerful heart is good medicine” indeed.
Exchange of Vows
Chris: I, Chris, take you, Leslie, to be my wedded wife,
To have and to hold from this day forward.
And in the presence of God
And before this congregation,
I promise to love, honor and keep you
In sickness and in health;
And, forsaking all others,
Keep only unto you,
So long as we both shall live.
Leslie: I, Leslie, take you, Chris, to be my wedded husband,
To have and to hold from this day forward.
And in the presence of God
And before this congregation,
I promise to love, honor and keep you
In sickness and in health;
And, forsaking all others,
Keep only unto you,
So 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 that signifies the givers and receivers becoming one in holy marriage through the church of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray. O Lord, enable Chris and Leslie 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.
Chris: As a sign of my sincere love for you, Leslie,
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.
Leslie: As a sign of my sincere love for you, Chris,
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
Chris and Leslie’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 Chris and Leslie to this day and will no doubt continue supporting and guiding them in the future!
Now Chris and Leslie’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.
Special Music The Prayer Carole Bayer Sager & David Foster
Rev. Lauren Ng
Ten Things I Love about You Groom Chris Chin
Wedding Prayer
God of all good things and the joy of life, we come before you with grateful hearts. You have poured out your blessings on Chris and Leslie. You’ve brought them together. You’ve grown their love. You’ve brought them to this moment of commitment. It is only through your efforts to bless their lives that we are here today to witness life-building vows, between them. Lord, instill these vows deep within their hearts that they would not be soon forgotten. Send them on their way in the knowledge that it is you that has given them this gift of life and the joy of humor together. You are the giver of all good things, and so we know that you have given Chris and Leslie to each other as evidence of your blessing. We thank you, O God. Amen.
Announcements
After the recessional, Chris and Leslie have requested that all family members return to the sanctuary for wedding pictures. Jackie Chou, their wedding coordinator will coordinate this time to capture your presence on this special day in their life.
Following this service, you are invited to HS Lordships in Berkeley for appetizers at 11:30 followed by lunch at 12:00 noon. Chris and Leslie will look forward to greeting all of you there.
Declaration of Marriage
Chris and Leslie, 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 with humor and laughter and keep your friends laughing. Be close together in line when you are waiting to watch the first release of another blockbuster movie. Have fun mimicking lines from your favorite movies as a way to relive precious memories. Pray together and serve Christ together by making God the center of your marriage wherever he is calling you to go.
Chris and Leslie, because you have publicly made your vows to each other today, have given and received rings as an outward sign of an inward love for each other, and have lit your Unity Candle to signify the oneness you have together in Christ, I as a Minister of the Christian Gospel now declare you to be husband and wife. Joined as one, Chris and Leslie, you will continue to be blessed by the love that you share, the love you have for God and the love that God has for each of you.
As in the saga of Star Wars when the evil empire always outmatches the rebel forces, we live in the new hope of your new life together to be victorious and with a happy ending. The force is strong with this couple. May the force of God go with you!
It is my joy and honor to introduce to you for the very first time, “Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Leslie Chin.”
(Permission to kiss.)
Recessional The Throne Room John Williams
from Star Wars: A New Hope
Postlude
Officiant: Rev. Don Ng
Pianist: Joy Shih Ng
Wedding Coordinator: Jackie Chou