WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER?
-- Effective communication in marriage leads to enhanced romance.
-- Strengthening a marriage enriches the entire family.
-- Feelings can be shared without fear.
-- Improved listening skills increase acceptance and trust.
-- A lifetime of commitment can be filled with joy.
-- Passion can continue through all of life's ups and downs.
-- Marriage is an exciting and fulfilling journey.
-- A husband and wife can be best friends.
-- Preventive maintenance makes sense in marriage, too!
Mike McMannis, columnist and author of Marriage Savers "Marriage
Encounter is an opportunity for people to rediscover the person
they fell in love with, and to fall back in love with that person.
It is something that every couple deserves. Deserves!"
-- For a husband and wife who love each other and desire to better
their communication, from newlyweds to couples married fifty or
more years
-- For those with good communication skills to deepen them
-- For those with poor communication skills to improve them
Bruce & Ila Zellmer Sioux City, Iowa
"After many years of marriage, we learned to listen and accept
each other's feelings. " - Ila "By just listening to
each other, we found healing and a new level of intimacy."
- Bruce
Oliver & Donna Nelson Innisfail, Alberta Canada
"My 'good marriage' altitude was given a re-evaluation when
I discovered that I was not the good listener I thought I was.
The Weekend was the start of a process of improved communication
for me with my wife - in fact,, it was the catalyst to a new,
fresh relationship." - Oliver "The Weekend helped me
see and accept my self-worth, and gave me encouragement and affirmation
in my role as a stay-at-home mom."." - Donna
Dr. Ken Blanchard, psychologist and author of The One Minute Manager,
The One Minute Father, and co-developer of the widely used Situational
Leadership Model
"We went about twenty years ago ... and I tell you, it gave
us a way to communicate that has served us so well ever since!"
A non-refundable registration fee is required; however, no couple
is refused attendance due to financial circumstances. During the
Weekend, there is an opportunity to invest in the future of Lutheran
Marriage Encounter by making a confidential contribution. Lutheran
Marriage Encounter is not funded by any Lutheran church body and
is entirely self supporting.
Then register today to experience a Weekend of Discovery that
leads to A Lifetime of Love.
On a Marriage Encounter Weekend!
This special weekend experience, lasting from Friday evening until
early Sunday evening, is designed to help married couples improve
their communication in order to deepen and enrich their relationship.
While couples listen to a series of presentations as a group,
there is NO group discussion.
The Weekend Provides:
-- A relaxed and private setting
-- Time away from daily pressures and responsibilities
-- The opportunity to focus on the couple relationship in private
David & Jean Fell Solon, Ohio
"Simply put, it was a wonderful gift we gave to each other
- the best single investment we have ever made to assure our love
for each other would always be fresh and growing." - David
"I now believe that a love relationship is more than just
the two people in love. The relationship can't be ignored. It
needs time and intentional nourishment." - Jean
More comments from couples.
Steve & Nydia Burdick Columbia, South Carolina
"Our Weekend was life-giving to our relationship. We literally
fell in love with each other all over again." - Steve "I'm
so glad we took the risk to make the Weekend!" - Nydia
Paul & Kathie Winemiller Deland, Florida
"Our Weekend helped us heal some hurtful situations that
were pulling us apart. We're stronger together now, with our unity
restored." - Kathie "With our empty nest, we've been
able to grow closer and enjoy life together. Because of our Weekend
and the resulting improvement in our listening skills, we've learned
how to cultivate shared interests." - Paul
Chris & Darla Phillips U.S. Army, Weinebaden, Germany "The
gift of a Weekend has given us the tools to endure job changes,
retirement, graduations, and many long-term separations due to
our jobs." - Chris "And it's allowed us to grow in our
own ways, while drawing closer to each other." - Darla
-- More details --
We want to provide a clear understanding of what the Marriage
Encounter Weekend will be like.
We suggest you stop for dinner on Friday evening, before the Marriage
Encounter Weekend starts. (If you have time, a romantic dinner
for two would be appropriate!) The Marriage Encounter Weekend
is a 48 hour interaction between husband and wife. It begins on
a Friday evening at about 7:00 PM. You're asked to be there on
time, and it's over with on Sunday evening before dinner. There
are between 25 - 35 couples on a Weekend. They meet in a conference
room, to hear presentations given by a Lutheran clergy couple
and three other Lutheran couples.
The presentations are not classes or lectures. They are presentations
that can lead to improving communications between husband and
wife. Presenting couples tell their own story of techniques they
have tried. They describe ones that have worked for them, and
ones that haven't worked for them. They talk about areas in their
life where they've had successes in communicating and areas where
they're still struggling.
After each presentation, the couples are given a question to think
about, some time for each spouse to think about it and time for
the husband and wife to share their feelings about that particular
question in the privacy of their own room. It is not a group discussion.
It is husband and wife sharing. Actually, what you will be doing
is practicing what you have just heard during the presentation.
Then, after that, you come back to the conference room for another
presentation. The Weekend is a whole series of presentations.
They're all positive. Each presentation builds on the one before
it.
There is a worship service on Sunday afternoon.
It's important to be there for the whole, complete Weekend!
To register for a Weekend, it is necessary to submit a completed
registration form and a $45 tax deductible deposit. The deposit
is a non-refundable registration fee. If something serious comes
up that will prevent you from participating in the whole Weekend,
we suggest that you postpone your attendance until you can give
it your full attention. We ask that you call the registration
couple as soon as possible and let them know. In such a case your
registration will be transferred to another Weekend. The registration
is active until you participate in a Marriage Encounter Weekend.
After your registration is received, you will get a letter with
more details of the Weekend, where it is to be held, and how to
get there.
Before the Weekend, you will be asked to confirm your intention
to attend, we would appreciate a firm commitment at that time.
We use hotel rooms and food services for the Weekend and are under
contract to pay for them. Last minute cancellations can deny attendance
of other couples and can sometimes result in charges to Marriage
Encounter for unused rooms and meals.
Marriage Encounter is a totally self-supporting, non-commercial,
non-profit organization. Toward the end of the Weekend, the cost
of a Weekend will be explained and each couple will be given a
blank envelope and will be asked to make a confidential donation.
The only source of income to allow Lutheran Marriage Encounter
to continue to offer Weekends are the donations from couples who
have experienced Weekends. The reason we ask for a donation, rather
than charging a set fee, is that we want the Weekend to be available
to all couples regardless of their financial situation. No one
is ever denied a Weekend for financial reasons.
We found our Marriage Encounter Weekend to be a richly rewarding
experience. Our marriage wasn't and isn't perfect! We have greatly
appreciated the time we had together on our weekend. It changed
our life in a very wonderful way, and we invite you to treat yourselves
to a Marriage Encounter Weekend -- A Weekend of Discovery . .
. A Lifetime of Love!
