New Apostolic Church
Indonesia
Silver Wedding Blessing in Kurung
regional — June 16, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 Apostle Edy Isnugroho served the children of God in Kurung, District of Surakarta. The Evangelists and ups of Yogyakarta and Surakarta area, also accompanied him. All brothers and sisters felt great joy and happiness on this service, especially for District Evangelist Sumanto (Surakarta) and Margaretha Hagniyati who had been married for 25 years.
The text for the divine service was taken from
Jeremiah 31:33 But this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
After the choir sang "God is love" (NPS 86), the apostle began his ministration by saying that we wanted to experience the love of God which was constantly new, because His love was a great deal of happiness. Love was a very important spiritual needs in our lives here on earth. God's love could not be compared with human love. As children we had to acknowledge God, the Father is almighty because our lives depend on Him. God guarantees of life and our future, if we go through life with honor and glorify Him and carry out our obligations to Him, the promises of God we will soon be fulfilled.
Apostle Edy Isnugroho at the altar
In this service, District Elder Triyanto and District Evangelist Sumarmo (Yogyakarta) also served along. District Elder Triyanto in Javanesse language, provided advice for the children of God to always perform our duties to God, which was to seek the kingdom of God by increasing our faith. District Evangelist Sumarmo added that God was faithful, no matter what was promised and said God was still faithful, then what about us as His children? we must always remember our promises to God to be faithful also to the later God sent the Son to take us all his own.
After the "Lord's Prayer", forgiveness of sins and the Holy Communion, the apostle called the silver wedding pair: District Evangelist Sumanto and Sister Margaretha (married 16 June 1985) to the front of the altar of God. Before dispensing this silver wedding blessing, Apostle Edy delivered messages from
Ecclesiasticus 34:16-17 For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling. He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life and blessing.
Silver wedding blessing
On that occasion also the Apostle said that the marriage full of blessing was that if a husband and wife supported each other, prayer of the wife for the husband would make the blessing, and if the husband fulfilled the ministry then the wife would also obtain the blessing, and these all would give blessings as well as for the benefits of the whole family and children. Apostle encouraged the couple to continue to struggle and hold fast to God, it was our goal, not just 40 years old for a ruby wedding, golden wedding 50 years, 60 years of marriage diamonds, iron or 70-year marriage, but a great marriage was the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. After delivery of the message, by shaking their hands the couple received God's blessings through the apostle.
The silver wedding couple with Apostle Edy and District Elder Triyanto
After the service, through the rector of Kurung congregation, Priest Suparmo and the elder of the community, brother Prayitno, the silver couple received a sign of love from members of the congregation, and thereafter all God's children congratulated them. During 25 years of marriage, the District Evangelist and wife bestowed with 3 children; two males and one female. District Evangelist Sumanto was ordained on January 8, 2010 to continue the work of God in the District of Surakarta, which was previously cared by District Evangelist Yusup Dwiyoto who has been called home by our Heavenly Father on October 7, 2009.