Grow·Marriage preparation
The Marriage Preparation Course is for any couple who is engaged or looking to get engaged and who want to develop strong foundations for a lasting marriage.
The course is based on Christian principles for relationships and it is suitable for people with or without a church background.
There is no group work – discussion is only between you and your partner. It is a chance to talk about all the important aspects of marriage to make sure you are on the same page.
- For more information, please see the website of the Marriage Preparation Course.
Register and pay online for the course.
The contents
Over the five evenings spent together we will learn important tools that will help you to make your marriage successful.
We will look at:
- The importance of commitment.
- How to recognise and appreciate your differences.
- The art of communication.
- Resolving conflict.
- Spending time together.
- Nurturing your friendship.
- Making each other feel loved.
- Developing a good sexual relationship.
- The importance of talking about your goals, values and dreams.
The evening
The evenings are very relaxed, with short talks interspersed with exercises and questions for you to discuss together as a couple. Each evening begins at 7:30pm for a 7:45pm prompt start and finishes by 9.30pm.
Each evening includes:
- Talk and discussion – each evening a DVD of the talk is played. The talk is broken up with opportunities for you and your partner to talk through the issues raised as a couple.
- Homework - at the end of each session you are given a short piece of homework to do together. This will help you to build on what you have learnt and give you the opportunity to apply it to your relationship. Don’t worry – it won’t be marked! It isn’t looked at by anyone else and is just for your own benefit.
FOCCUS questionnaire
During the course you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire called FOCCUS. This questionnaire will ask about different aspects of your relationship. It is not a test nor is it a predictor of whether your marriage will succeed or fail. It is a tool to help highlight any important issues that you would benefit from discussing before you get married.
It is by no means compulsory to complete the questionnaire but most couples find it very useful. Once you have completed it you will have the opportunity to discuss the results with your support couple.
Support couples
You will be introduced to your support couple during the course. They will be a married couple who have been married for at least two years. They will invite you to a meal at their home. You will have the opportunity to talk through any issues that have been raised by the course, or through the questionnaire. Again, this is by no means compulsory but has been greatly appreciated by many couples.
Cost
The cost of the course is only £40 per couple for the whole course. This basic charge is made to cover the cost of the refreshments, manuals, online questionnaire and other materials.
Course dates
To find out when the next Marriage Preparation Course is, please email Amanda Smart on family@everynation.co.uk or call the church office.
