Reaffirmation of Marriage Vows for SSP’s 110th Anniversary

Reminisce this special event through this SDE video (Same Day Edit) of the ceremony:

[vimeo vimeo.com/97049734]

(Special thanks to Reality Box for this video)

———————————————————

THE READING: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

By Pastor Justin Fung and Aileen Sy

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

by Rev. Samuel Sia

Dearly beloved: we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by His presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and His Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.

The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and the love of the Lord.  Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.

THE VOWS

facilitated by Rev. Bernard Yung

For the Husbands:

In the name of God, I, <husband’s name>, reaffirm you, <wife’s name>, as my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death.  This is my solemn vow.

For the Wives:

 In the name of God, I, <wife’s name>, reaffirm you, <husband’s name>, as my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death.  This is my solemn vow.

 

Listen to “Missa in Tempore Belli” (Mass in Time of War)

Audio files of Franz Josef Haydn’s “Missa in Tempore Belli” (Mass in Time of War) from SSP 110th Anniversary Concert “Crown Him with Many Crowns” are now available for download.

Track 1: Kyrie
Track 2: Gloria
Track 3: Credo
Track 4: Sanctus
Track 5: Benedictus
Track 6: Agnus Dei

Performed by:
SOLOISTS
Stephanie Quintin, Soprano
Patricia Lim, Alto
Conrado Ong III, Tenor
Erwin Lim, Bass

SSP Church and Chancel Choirs
Manila Symphony Orchestra – Chamber Orchestra
Armando Salarza, Organist
Celia Yu Ong, Music Director and Conductor

 

ABOUT “Missa in Tempore Belli”
(From the Program Notes of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”)

Franz Josef Haydn, internationally acclaimed artist of his time, was born in Austria in the year 1732. Being a devoted Christian, he marked the beginning of his musical works with the words “In nomine Domini” (In the name of the Lord) and ended them with “Laus Deo” (Praise be to God).

It was in 1796 that Haydn composed the “Missa in Tempore Belli” (Mass in Time of War). This was a time in Austrian history when the nation was defending itself and mobilizing its troops for war. It is said to be struggling in hostile engagements and dealing with the fear of invasion.

Thus, Haydn’s piece of work was a reflection of the troubled mood of the times. “No Austrian was to speak of peace until the enemy has been driven back to its borders,” decreed the government.

References to battle are in the Benedictus and Agnus Dei movements. This mass also has joyful tones bespeaking hope and inspiration in many parts. These are enhanced by orchestral sounds, among which are the timpani, strings and wind instruments like the trumpet.

The Kyrie opens slowly, moving towards its theme, and is like a symphony in sonata form. The Gloria has its vivace-adagio-allegro, always deeply felt, with the much anticipated baritone-solo and the cello part. It is a choral symphony.

The Credo strongly declares the Christian faith, “rhythmic, joyous,” and with conviction. Very interesting are the different vocal parts as they enter, with each part singing different words of the text. The Sanctus slowly builds to a forte in the spirited “pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua” (heaven and earth are full of Thy glory). It then moves to the refined “osana in excelsis.” The Benedictus is characterized by the short phrases of the solo-quartet, said to be suggestive of the unsettling time of war.

Agnus Dei continues to depict a sense of “foreboding and anxiety,” a cry for mercy and a longing for peace. The music then “brightens up” and finally ends with a victorious celebration of peace in “dona nobis pacem” (grant us peace).

Laus Deo!

Listen to November 3 110th Anniversary Messages by Rev. Edmund Chan

Audio recording of our November 3 services are now available:

9:00 am 110th Anniversary Joint Worship Service:  Don’t Quit (Galatians 6:7-10) 

3:45 pm 110th Anniversary Thanksgiving Worship Service:  The Mission of the Church

(Click the link to listen; right-click and choose “Save as” to download)

An Interview with Mr. Lim Giok Khun on SSP’s 110th Anniversary

Mr. Lim Giok Khun is a former Senior Warden of St. Stephen’s Parish (SSP), serving for more than 30 years. At 96 years old, he is the oldest former Senior Warden among us today.  A well-respected man in the Christian community as well as in the secular society, he is a faithful servant of God.

[vimeo vimeo.com/77755482]

“Wear Red Day” for Our Church’s 110th Birthday

We are one in celebrating God’s amazing grace to our church through the years. Happy 110th birthday to us, St. Stephen’s Parish!

LISTEN to Rev. Samuel Sia’s sermon on “Preparing Our Hearts to Worship for Our 110th Anniversary.”

The Dawn Song

The Dawn Song

God’s Amazing Grace: 2013 Church Anniversary Camp

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:17

LISTEN to the camp messages:

March 27, 2013
Amazing Grace 1 by Rev. Samuel Sia

March 28, 2013
Amazing Grace 2 by Rev. Samuel Sia
Maundy Thursday Worship Service Sermon by Ptr. Don Huan
Topical Message 1 (Singles/Adults) by Ptr. Edwin Lim

March 29, 2013
Morning Prayer Worship Service Sermon by Rev. Samuel Sia
Revival Message by Ptr. Don Huan
Topical Message 2 (Singles/Adults) by Ptr. Edwin Lim

March 30, 2013
Amazing Grace 3 by Rev. Samuel Sia

Listen to “Equipping the Saints” Series

For our 110th Anniversary, we invited Rev. Edmund Chan and his wife Ptr. Ann Chan to talk about “Equipping the Saints.”

Click on the links below to listen to the messages. To download, right-click on the link and click “Save As.”

DAY 1
Session 1:  Life Essentials by Rev. Edmund Chan

DAY 2
Session 2: A Close Walk with God by Rev. Edmund Chan
Session 3: A Heart for God by Rev. Edmund Chan
Session 4:  Serving God with Intentionality by Ptr. Ann Chan
Session 5: Testimony in the Workplace (Salt and Light) by Ptr. Ann Chan

DAY 3
Session 6: Church Revival by Rev. Edmund Chan

You may also access this series’ Session Notes.

Rev. Edmund Chan also was our speaker during the Sunday Worship Service on January 27. He spoke on “The Heart of True Worship (Genesis 22).“