Marriage is a daily part life so make it part of the culture of your church and local community by:
Honour wedding anniversaries in your church as you may do with birthdays
Pray for marriages and if you have an intercessor or intercessory prayer group within the church ensure that marriages are on their agenda
Host an event such as
‘A Day to Remember’ conference (Family Life Australia)
‘Married for Life’ conference (2=1 Australia )
SmartLoving Talks/Workshops which can be tailored to your parish needs such as engaged couples/ newlyweds/ school parents/ youth, a SmartLoving Marriage seminar (SmartLoving resources from the ‘ Marriage Resource Centre‘)
‘Growing Together in Marriage’ weekend (GTIM – a South Australian ministry).
Within your church recruit and train “Marriage Coaches” and empower them to run The Marriage Course, The Marriage Preparation Course – see below
Offer pre-marriage education. Don’t just limit yourself to couples getting married in your church; marriage is a time when people are open/seeking. Also Marriage Celebrants, who undertake at least 70% of marriages in Australia, are required by law to recommend pre-marriage education. Check out courses such as ‘The Marriage Preparation Course’ from RelationshipCentral Australia (http://marriageandparenting.org.au ) or ‘Preparing for Marriage’ from Family Life Australia. ( http://familylifeaustralia.com )
Offer The Marriage Course twice a year. The course is scaleable; that is it can be run just as well for 2 couples in a home, 20 couples in a restuarant or 200 in a hall. For any condition of marriage, any age of marriage, churched or unchurched. Find out more about the course from “RelationshipCentral Australia” at their web site http://marriageandparenting.org.au
In this crazy world, spending quality time at the dinner table as a family has become a forgotten pastime. The secret to making dinner time quality time is the conversation and paying attention. Put a ban all things digital. Turn off the TV. Eat together and watch your family grow closer.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
I Corinthians 13: 4-8