Hymn for the closing devotion at this wedding:

O Bride of Christ, rejoice! Exultant raise thy voice
To hail the day of glory, Foretold in sacred story.

Hosanna, praise and glory, Our King, we bow before Thee.

Let shouts of gladness rise Triumphant to the skies.
Here comes the King most glorious To reign o’er all victorious

Hosanna, praise and glory, Our King, we bow before Thee.

He wears no kingly crown Yet as a king He’s known;
Though not arrayed in splendor, He still makes death surrender.

Hosanna, praise and glory, Our King, we bow before Thee.

Thy heart now open wide, Bid Christ with thee abide;
He graciously will hear thee, And be forever near thee.

Hosanna, praise and glory, Our King, we bow before Thee.

Luthersan Service Book 335

Sermonette at the close of this wedding day:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near! 

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.

And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4,4-7

Dear friends and family of our Lord and Savior IX – especially You dear wedded couple: Liki & Ian.

Rejoice: Your wedding is accomplished. What God has joined, let man not pull asunder. Rejoice: You are no longer alone, but together, a team, unit, one.

Old South Africans know: “Ex unitate vires!” New South Africans know what it takes to make world champions – just ask Sia and Rachel Kolisi.

Rejoice bride, rejoice bridegroom.  Rejoice wife, rejoice husband.

Asking a bridal couple to rejoice is like reminding South Africans to be happy as we won the World Cup in most dramatic style. Off course a bride rejoices when her groom draws near, when she hears his voice, his footsteps, his tell-tale bells and whistles. If things were not so, one would rightly question the suitability of the match.

Didn´t Your pastor ask: Do You want to take this man Ian, this woman Liki as Your wedded man/wife? Is that Your wish, Your choice, Your heart’s desire – then say so before God and this congregation as witness. As a rule Christian weddings are no forced allegiance, nor some negotiated peace treaty between warring factions. No, it is a willing engagement, a very deliberate wedding, marriage of two individuals, who desire being together for the rest of their lives, eternally even. Therefore, rejoicing in its fulfilment and consummation is the natural outcome, the intended result, the goal aimed at all along.

In our Christian faith this ancient, familiar, natural state of affairs is traced back to paradise and we compare this blissful rejoicing of married union with the union between IX and his church. Our good Lord IX came into this our world to redeem us his people, bring us forgiveness of all our sin, eternal live and blessed salvation – and bring us into holy, blessed and lasting communion with himself for now and always. Nobody can separate us. We are meant for each other always.  A wonderful mystery indeed. Reason for rejoicing and unending jubilation and gratefulness.

First, he came in all modesty and humility, in lowliness and insignificance. People ask: What good can come from Nazareth?  Is this not the son of Mary and Joseph? Who are You? Are You the promised Christ? Look at him! Hanging there on the cross. He helped others. Can´t he help himself? Surely that´s not the right one! Shall we not rather wait for another? A better, more suitable match – somebody grand, somebody on some high and mighty steed – a knight in flashing armor?

All along, his coming to his people in sore times, in great peril and danger, in throes of worry, anxiety and terrible affliction, was depicted as the coming bridegroom, who graciously covers all misery, poverty and despicability of his bride – the smallest and most insignificant of all – with voluptuous wedding garments – exquisite, precious, and most dearly beloved. The promise and message of prophets of old.

That´s our hope and confidence even today. That he will come to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end – to restore his bride – the church – his baptized people – to honor and glory, redeeming all and carrying them finally home, bringing them to that special banquet hall, where everything is prepared, ready, waiting – just for his bride. Your bridal chamber – is ready, just waiting for You  

The apostle St. Paul – that sorry bachelor, single minister in chains, innocently suffering persecution, thrown in prison, finally martyred for his faith – reminds his special congregation in Philippi, that Jesus Christ – the King of kings and Lord of Lords – our very God – is at hand. He reminds them in their daily routine, that His coming is nearer than ever before. Therefore, do not give up. Don´t despair at me in chains and offering just a sorry sight. Don’t throw Your hope out of the window when You behold the bloody cross or when it enters Your life with a vengeance. Rather: Rejoice. Rejoice – and I will say it again: Rejoice. People at a wedding rejoice naturally. There are times in life however, when the going gets tough and the Lord seems far. Then lift up Your heads. Your redemption is drawing near. The Lord is at hand. He´s about to take You home – as his bride, as his beloved, as his most precious friend and companion – to the celestial feast, the bridal hall, the heavenly realms.

There are lots of things, which fight this joyful conviction and deep emotion. Your anxieties and worries. Your daily business and many chores. Your tight schedule. Your illness. Your child´s trouble. Your parent´s woes. Your country´s ills. Our global cares of wars and many signs of the end times, our own dying throes – and that´s just the tip of the iceberg. You know this sad tune. But, remember our Lord is King. He has successfully overcome all evil, trouble, sin, death, and devil. His rule and reign is forever and overall. Now, we believe on account of His promise, but we wait patiently for its glorious fulfilment. We trust, we will see this happening soon. The Lord is near.

Yes, we trust his promise, that he is coming again in glory to fulfill his mission once and for all. He is already at hand. Closer than ever before. Standing at the gate. Knocking at Your door. Coming with his free gifts of divine grace, lasting forgiveness, eternal life and loads of salvation. Therefore, rejoice. You´ve got all reason to.

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.  Therefore, let us pray:  For Liki and Ian, prayer/petition for their wedded life. Fill it with joy, gratefulness, peace, grace, mercy and lots of goodness … We thank You for the new perspective in life, open doors, for golden opportunities and we thank You for choosing us in holy Baptism, taking us out of all misery and leading us home in joy, peace and happiness.

For mother Ingrid and all her children etc. For Manfred in Australia, for Gisela in Germany. For the many people on the road. For those at war and other trouble. For faithful congregations, loving homes and families, care and upkeep.  Please safe us from War/terror; bad weather, hunger, famine, drought, floods, plague and pestilence, corruption and iniquity; illness; loss and death; thank You for Your eternal peace, justice and care. Our Father, who art in heaven… And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.