Planning for Marriage Week 2003

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Reproduced below are suggestions from the National Marriage Week Web site
www.marriageresource.org.uk

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Ideas for Church Events for National Marriage Week

A Day of Prayer for Marriage on the first Sunday in Marriage Week. We provide a page on ways of observing that. Click on 'Day of Prayer' opposite

A Marriage Thanksgiving and Rededication Service for church members and friends, with a cake and drink afterwards. Suggestions for the contents of the service and other matters will be found on this website at 'Marriage Rededication Service'. We suggest that you do not call it "Renewal of Vows" so that those who had a civil wedding do not feel excluded.

A Day of Prayer for Marriage on the first Sunday in Marriage Week. We provide a page on ways of observing that. Click on 'Day of Prayer' opposite.

A Marriage Thanksgiving and Rededication Service for church members and friends, with a cake and drink afterwards. Suggestions for the contents of the service and other matters will be found on the website at 'Marriage Rededication Service'. We suggest that you do not call it "Renewal of Vows" so that those who had a civil wedding do not feel excluded.

A Marriage Enhancement Evening This could begin with a Valentine's Dinner. The heart of the evening would be a talk with humour and testimony from a gifted and experienced individual or couple. (Our Paper on Marriage Enhancement, available from us at f3 including postage, gives ideas of organisations who could supply a speaker(s) ) If the couples could be spaced out at tables and music played, the speaker(s) could give them an exercise or two in communication or some other marriage enhancing task.

A Marriage First Aid Evening: the key person you need is someone who has had experience of helping others with marriage difficulties and who could lead the evening, perhaps a minister. Details are also on this website at 'Helping Marriages in Difficulties'.

A Sermon on Marriage on either Sunday in the Week.
Begin a series of five week-night evenings, in which you show a part of our "Time for Each Other' video to couples. The videos, including two workbooks, are £25.00. (plus f5.00 for each extra pair of Marriage Enhancement workbooks for the couples involved) from the Christian Publicity Organisation, Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing BN13 1BW. Direct Order Line 01903 263354. Postage extra. Give out the Key Cards to couples in church on a Sunday and/or offer them to people in your local shopping centre on the Saturday. They cost 10p from CPO. The contents can be seen on this site at 'Enjoying Marriage'.
Have a special display of books on marriage and preparing for it. This can be done in conjunction with any one of the suggestions above.

Arrange a Stall in a Shopping Centre, not only to give out Key Cards, but to invite couples to do the Questionnaire (click on Questionnaire on the Sub Menu opposite). This is based on one devised by the Norfolk Branch of Marriage Resource. Other items on the stall could be our six "Marriage Milestones" leaflets, and also our leaflets "Living Together Successfully" and "Marriage Under Pressure", all of which are obtainable from CPO (see CPO Resources on this website) and also the leaflets "20 Steps to Happy Marriage" and "Why Pay the Earth for Your Wedding?" from our page of Resources (text on 'Enjoying Marriage' page on this site), and you could sell the Jon and Japonika book from National Marriage Week and the magazine "Getting Married" from Redemptorist Publications, Alphonsus House, Chawton, Hants GU34 3HQ,. £2.95 including p&p (written from an Anglican perspective).
The Ecclesiastical Insurance Office, Montpellier House, Montpellier, Gloucester GL1 1LF Tel: 0800 336622 would supply you with three copies of their booklet 'Your Wedding" which is a good introduction to arranging a wedding in any church or civil venue.

Take an offering for Marriage Resource, or another marriage organisation (We can supply MR offering envelopes in packets of ten. Please ring (01202 849000) or fax your order (01202 849934))

Visit the National Marriage Week website and find details of their exciting resource. the Jon and Japonika book and associated Leader's Guide with group discussion questions.

[ Printable Copy (pdf) ]

Salford Diocese Family Forum Comments:

This site has a wealth of information and ideas that Marriage & Family Life Workers will find of value.

If you are planning an evening for Marriage Week 2003 let us know and we may be able to include it in our Salford Diocesan Family Forum pages on the Diocesan Web Site.

The Salford Diocesan Family Forum welcomes ideas for future Resource Sheets.

To view information about the work of the Salford Diocesan Family Forum, log onto the Salford Diocesan Web Site: www.salforddiocese.org.uk and click on the "Family Forum" or Centre for Church & Industry links this will take you to information and news about the Family Forum .News about events, resources and the Bishops Conference Marriage & Family Life Committee are available on the site.

Salford Diocesan Family Forum
Centre for Church & Industry
Eleventh Street,
Trafford Park
Manchester M17 1JF
Telephone : 0161 848 9173

web: www.salforddiocese.org.uk/familyforum