A message for Staci and David’s Wedding

Wedding sermon for Staci-David

6 years’ ago, I was overjoyed when I was officiating my only daughter’s wedding.                             
How exceptionally blessed I am today standing here in this beautiful worship sanctuary,        
In front of my only son and his wife to-be in a few minutes, Staci, friends, grandparents, parents, and family members from near and far, from the East coast and even from Korea.
This wedding ceremony marks the new beginning of life together for David and Staci.
This moment also marks a new beginning for the Youn and Sohns to become one new family.  Let’s truly celebrate and gratefully witness to this sacred union between all of us.
Staci, David, you have finally made it to this sacred altar. Let us take a minute to take a deep breath and take in the magnitude of this moment. What an exciting beginning you had as you went from one surprising and joyful date to another.  And with the same intensity, how many sleepless nights you had as well! Many moments of confusion, doubt, worry, and stress. All of the usual ingredients of a passionate relationship.
And one day, David came to me and said, “Dad, I found the one!” I was immensely excited and curious as to how you found her. When you said e-harmony, I was very skeptical. But a few months later, you came back to me and said again, “Dad, this is the one!” At this time, I began to take you more seriously. You brought her to me and I have to say, I was very impressed!
So we went through intensive yet speedy premarital counselling sessions to make sure you were the right fit for one another and to see if there were any stumbling blocks for your marriage. But by watching your every steps of the journey I learned to accept the fact that somehow, God works even though E-harmony! You are meant to be! And I can assert that the invisible power that worked through your journey and brought you together is God’s presence.
The scripture lesson chosen for today is from Colossians. It speaks of the essential building blocks for staring a new life and a new household in the City of Colossae, which was known as one of the biggest and multicultural cities near the Mediterranean Sea in ancient Greece. And Six essential building blocks are needed: Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Meekness, Patience, and Love.
 These are indeed the building blocks to living together in perfect harmony. And these are universal virtues for anyone starting a new life together, not just for the Christians in the city of Colossae.
And if you read more carefully, there is another clue that can help your relationship become stronger. At the beginning of the passage, it reads: you are God’s chosen ones, God’s holy beloved.
Often we tend to think only of preachers and pastors or other special holy people like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Mary and of course Jesus when we think of God’s chosen ones. But I want you to know that just as God chose Joseph for Mary and Mary for Joseph, who are the parents of Jesus, our savior and prince of peace, God chose you for one another in the same way!
When God chose for you, God chose the most excellent partner to make life more complete for you. God chose someone exceptionally better than you imagined for yourself.
David, Do you remember our bedtime prayers when you and your sister were young children? And your sister wanted me to pray for her future husband. You would interrupt and ask, “what about me?!” You were also anxiously waiting to find out who your person was.
Here is the woman God chose for you and for the Sohn family. Staci, here is the man God chose for you. And God has also chosen the Youn and Sohn family for one another as well.
David, do you remember our 30 day, 400 mile backpacking trip on the pacific coast trails? Most nights we sleep in smelly outdoor dome tent, We used to read Emerson’s essay before sleep. He said “Every man is an impossibility until he is born; everything impossible until we see a success.” You are both about to be born as one complete whole now that your true halves have been joined together.
Welcome all, to the witnessing of this unity between Staci and David. In this sacred space, we are surrounded by all of our ancestors and the saints of our faith traditions who are also here, witnessing and blessing your marriage.
David and Staci, build the most beautiful life with the best virtues God has taught you, the best virtues what has shaped you by your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and from beloved friends. Have a long and happy life together.
May God bless your marriage and watch over you as you begin your new life together.
May it be so, amen.