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Marriage Enrichment -
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In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis tells us that a couple’s wedding “…is just the beginning. By saying “I do”, they embark on a journey that requires them to overcome all obstacles standing in the way of their reaching the goal. The nuptial blessing that they are receiving is a grace and and incentive for this journey. They can only benefit from sitting down and talking to one another about how, concretely, they plan to achieve their goal.” 218 Furthermore, he asks us as the People of God the important question: “…who is making an effort to strenghthen marriages, to help married couples overcome their problems, to assist them in the work of raising children and, in general, to encourage the stability of the marriage bond?” (Paragraph 52)
Intro / Overview:
The following “Marriage Enrichment Program and Resources” answer Pope Francis call by providing parishes with an opportunity to journey with newlyweds and married couples and to give them the tools and support they need to survive and thrive in today’s world. They also provide a teachable moment in which to catechize and evangelize newly married couples as they work to achieve the goal of a healthy, happy marriage and family life centered in God. They also help to assist married couples, on all stages of their journey, to grow and enrich in their relationship and that of their family.
(Attention All Parishes: Please help the Office of Marriage & Family Life to build this resource! If you have any further parish or community programs or resources that you would like to recommend contact: Joan Vienna, at [email protected])
Marriage Enrichment Programs:
The following programs have been piloted at parishes in the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and have proved effective in helping couples in all stages of marriage. They are also an important resource to help evangelize married couples and their families into the parish community!
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A FREE Catholic Marriage Enrichment Video Series as a gift from the Office of Marriage & Family Life. -
Marriage Enrichment Programs
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The Choice Wine: Seven Steps to an Abundant Marriage (English)
The Choice Wine: 7 Steps to a superabundant marriage is a pathway to authentic marital happiness. Couples will learn how to virtually divorce-proof their marriages, experience the superabundant love and mercy of God and realize a foretaste of paradise in their marriages and families.The Choice Wine is a nine week, interactive, multi-media program specifically designed for married couples. The timing is flexible, though it is ideally suited to be offered during the Fall in the nine weeks preceding Thanksgiving and again during the Spring, coinciding with Lent
Married couples meet once a week for approx. 1.5-2 hours, including refreshments, opening and closing prayers, material presentation, and small group discussion. This program can be used for the newly married (first five years) or with married couples of all age groups. The program consists of DVDs presentation with trained parish facilitator(s) help to lead the group sharing that are a part of each presentation.
The Choice Wine, can be used in:
- a parish setting with newly married couples in their first five years of marriage
- a parish setting for all married couples.
- small groups in the home.
- a parish weekend retreat
- home study for Individual couples
For more information, please visit the program website at www.thechoicewine.org, or call (281) 974-3541.
Program Costs
The Choice Wine Home Version – $99.95
The Choice Wine Book – $16.95
(Prices as of 7/2016 and may be subject to change without notice.)
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Dynamic Catholic – Better Together: Helping Couples Create Great Marriages
Dynamic Catholic presents, Better Together Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Program, which helps couples create great marriages. You dream about your wedding day, your honeymoon, and growing old together. What about everything in between? BETTER TOGETHER equips you with the tools you need to build a lasting, happy, and faith-filled marriage. The program includes short and engaging videos, Marriage Prep/Enrichment Inventory, and a Couple’s Guide Package.
For more information, please visit the program website or call (859) 980-7900.
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Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage (English)
A 12 session DVD and manualized presentation used in a group or individual couple setting that explores the realities of marriage, and different aspects of the sacrament of marriage.
In twelve sessions, Beloved explores the essential realities of Marriage, dealing with the deepest spiritual, emotional, and practical aspects of what the sacrament means for those preparing to get married as well as those who yearn for a richer married life. Through an exploration of Scripture, Tradition, and Church teaching, God’s plan for Marriage will come alive.
This program will help you with that exploration, giving time-tested tools and advice to make the experience informative, inspirational, and life-changing through:
- Effective use of the videos and guides
- Impactful discussion questions
- Detailed teaching
- Outlines and insights for leadership
- Helps for marriage preparation
- Helps for marriage enrichment classes and retreats
The Beloved Parish Edition has been structured for flexible use in either a Marriage Preparation or Marriage Enrichment setting.
The Beloved Home Edition has been structured for use by couples at home with more focus on personal reflection.
Program Costs
Beloved Parish Edition – $149.95 (DVD BOX SET of 12 DVDs)
Beloved Couple’s kit – Marriage Enrichment – $194.85 (Includes 1 Beloved Parish Edition DVD Set, and 2 Couples Guides)
Beloved Home Edition – DVD Set – $59.95 (The Beloved Home Edition is comprised of the first six episodes of the full Beloved Parish Edition, plus two Couple’s Guides for marriage enrichment)
For more information, please visit the program website at www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/beloved, or call (866) 767-3155.
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Parish Programs to Help Couple Grow in Faith
The BEATITUDES:A Couple's Path to Greater Joy
What The Program Is AboutThis marriage enrichent program explores the Beatitudes as the path to holiness in Christian marriage. Holiness is the source of joy in marriage.
The program invites couples to reflect on their relationship and guides them to understand marriage as their vocation. The videos and the book provide the input for each of the six sessions, and the handouts provide conversation starters to help couples reflect privately on their marriage.
Saint John Paul II taught us: "People are made for happiness... It is told in the Book of Genesis: God created man and woman in paradise, Eden, because he wanted them to be happy... The 'Sermon on the Mount' marks out the map of this journey. The eight Beatitudes are the road signs that show the way." (John Paul II - World Youth Day 2002)
https://www.happy-together.net/the-beatitudes-a-couples-s-path-to-greater-joy/
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Marriage Enrichment Inventories
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REFFOCCUS© Marriage Enrichment Inventory (English & Spanish)
The REFOCCUS© Marriage Enrichment Inventory is a packet of five questionnaires that a married couple can use and score by themselves, as part of a weekend retreat, or in five weekly evenings in which the general topical areas are discussed with other couples. REFOCCUS is ideal for married couples who wish to spend time and energy on their relationship, but desire a little direction and skill building assistance in doing so.
The REFOCCUS© Marriage Enrichment Inventory is a growth and enrichment tool, which can be taken by a married couple at any stage of their marital relationship.
Couples independently indicate their agreement or disagreement with statements presented in six different sections of the REFOCCUS© Inventory, which can be taken over the course of days or weeks to allow the couple time for in-depth discussion and consideration. The inventory is not intended for use by individuals in seriously troubled marriages.
Contact
For more information, please visit the program website at www.foccusinc.com, or call (877) 883-5422.Program Costs
REFOCCUS Marriage Enrichment Inventory Packet (Spanish or English) – $25
(Prices as of 7/2016 and may be subject to change without notice.)
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PREPARE/ENRICH Marriage Mentor Program (English/Spanish)
Implementing a marriage mentor program can be an exciting and powerful addition to the ministry or outreach of your church or community.
- For premarital and newlywed couples, Marriage Mentors provide helpful role models during the premarital stage and first year of marriage.
- For married couples, meeting with Marriage Mentors can provide hope, enrichment, and direction for their marriage
PREPARE/ENRICH is the leading relationship inventory and skill-building program used nationally and internationally. It is built on a solid research foundation and significantly improves a couple’s relationship. PREPARE/ENRICH is custom tailored to a couple’s relationship and provides couple exercises to build their relationship skills.
With PREPARE/ENRICH, you will not just get a packet of instructions to figure out on your own. With our day-long workshops, you’ll get thorough training on the program, providing you with the skills you need to use the PREPARE/ENRICH materials most effectively. You’ll learn how to:
- Administer the online assessment
- Interpret couples’ reports
- Provide useful feedback to couples
- Guide couples’ exercises
- Teach proven relationship skills
- Work more effectively with couples
For more information about the program, to find a facilitator in your area or how to become a facilitator, please visit the program website at www.prepare-enrich.com, or call 1 (800) 331-1661.
Program Costs
PREPARE/ENRICH Group Program – $35.00
Marriage Mentor Manual – $30.00
(Prices as of 7/2016 and may be subject to change without notice.)
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Marriage and Family Movements
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Christian Family Movement (CFM)
Christian Family Movement (CFM) helps establish and support small discipleship groups for couples and families. Discipleship is accomplished through teaching one to use the methodology of observe, judge, act in their daily lives – observing the situations around us, judging them in the light of Christ’s teaching and acting to make a difference. CFM is a life-charging ministry for families of all shapes, sizes and stages. #CFMACTFor more information on how to become a member and CFM groups in your area, please contact Lauri Przybysz (800) 581 – 9824, [email protected]) or visit the organization website at www.cfm.org.
Active Chapter Locations:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hermosa Beach
Contact Person: John and Mary Poprac – (310) 375-9242St. Lawrence Martyr Redondo Beach
Contact Person: John and Mary Poprac – (310) 375-9242, Denise Geltz (310) 375-7931St. John Fisher, Rancho Palos Verdes
Contact Person: Frank and Joan Lee – (310) 373-1783
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World Wide Marriage Encounter (English & Spanish)
A weekend retreat for couples with presentations, and experiences focused on improving communication between couples and strengthening marriages.
A series of presentations made by the Presenting Team, consisting of 3 married couples and 1 priest. Each presentation builds on the last as we examine ourselves, our behaviors and attitudes, our relationship with our spouse and God. Communication tools are taught on the weekend helping couples connect in healthy, constructive ways on areas that can deepen their intimacy and connectedness.
Marriage Encounter Weekends have been given in the US since 1967. Decades of research, planning and tried and true wisdom have gone into the content of the Weekend and how it unfolds for couples and religious. We ask all participants to attend ALL talks and participate intently using the tools with their Spouse in order to maximize their experience.
All sharing between spouses is PRIVATE, and this is NOT a weekend to solve problems! This Weekend will help couples in good marriages communicate even better.
- There are some “Non-residential” parish-based Weekends (held Saturday and Sunday only) currently being piloted at parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In these programs the participants return to their homes Saturday evening and resume the program early Sunday morning.
For more information about cost and program specifics, please visit the program website at www.wwme.org. To find an upcoming Marriage Encounter weekend in your area, please visit the website at https://wwme.org/for-couples/.
Organizing Couples:
Vinny and Tanya Calingasan [email protected]
Hector and Gloria Reyes: (562) 832-0460 (Lakewood, Cerritos, Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Downey
Tony and Lynn Fernandez: (818) 383-6399 (San Fernando)
Antonio and Irma Guerra (Spanish): (562) 868-4658Call any couple on the list, they will be glad to help or direct you to the correct organizing couple.
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Marriage Encounter and Family Life Movement of California (English)
The Marriage Encounter and Family Movement of California (MEFM), previously known as the Marriage Encounter in the Filipino Perspective (MEFP), is a spiritual movement dedicated to promote, support and strengthen the Sacrament of Marriage. The weekends start on Friday evening and conclude Sunday evening. Weekends are facilitated by trained team of married couples and 4 deacons, with presentations focused on improving communication and examination of the relationship. Supplemental functions and meetings are held throughout the year to support couple’s progress.
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Couples for Christ
CFC provides a continuing program of pastoral and spiritual formation which includes Church teachings, Scriptures, Christian relationships, recollections and retreats. We are one with the Church and regularly seek her guidance through our Spiritual Director. Its members support their parish priests and are available for parish services. CFC is a working model for the development of Basic Ecclesial Communities and can hasten the formation of a strong and vibrant parish community.
For more information, please visit the organization website at couplesforchristusa.org.
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Marriage Enrichment Books and Publications
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THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES: THE SECRET TO LOVE THAT LASTSDr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mate’s love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return. Skillful communication is within your grasp!
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THE FOUR KEYS TO EVERLASTING LOVE: HOW YOUR CATHOLIC MARRIAGE CAN BRING YOU JOY FOR A LIFETIMEDrawing on real-life stories, scriptural principles, and the timeless wisdom of St. John Paul II to help you celebrate the sacrament of Marriage without downplaying the difficulties of married life. In doing so, they will inspire you to stay in love with each other, Christ, and the wisdom of the Church. (Ave Maria Press)
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PROJECT HOLINESS: MARRIAGE AS A WORKSHOP FOR EVERYDAY SAINTSProject Holiness: Marriage as a Workshop for Everyday Saints celebrates the holiness of the ordinary and the goodness of married discipleship. Vatican II’sLumen Gentium reminds Catholics of the universal call to holiness. Each person-lay and ordained alike-shares this vocation to holiness, this call to sainthood. For most adult Catholics, it is within the context of vowed, married life that the joyful and challenging path to sainthood is traveled.
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A much richer understanding of the meaning of Christian marriage as a sacrament has evolved. This book…in concrete, practical ways tries to show how that can make a difference in the day-to-day lives of the couple striving for a happier, more fulfilling and holier marriage.” —From the Foreword
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THRIVING MARRIAGES: AN INSPIRATIONAL AND PRACTICAL GUIDE TO LASTING HAPPINESSA must read for every couple, dating, engaged or married of any age, and for the every faith & marriage leader! In this inspirational book, Dr. John and Claire Yzaguirre share a beautiful model of Christian marital unity and a practical roadmap of skills to achieve joyful and lasting unity. With helpful questionnaires and easy to apply “try this” exercises, along with inspiring “soul chapters” that integrate our faith seamlessly, this book helps couples (even those with little or no faith background) learn how to prepare for their marriage and grow their marital unity at every age and stage of their journey. Ideal for faith formation and for marriage ministries and couples small group discussion.
Books and CD’s on helpful topics are available in English and Spanish.
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WHY MARRIAGE MATTERS: THIRTY CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Why Marriage Matters reviews the relevant research on family topics and comes to three fundamental conclusions: marriage is an important social good, marriage is an important public good, and the benefits of marriage extend to poor and minority communities. The third edition pays particular attention to new research on the impact of cohabitation on children and families. It concludes with a “U.S. Marriage Index,” which compiles and presents the leading indicators of marital health in the United States. These indicators include: 1) The percentage of adults marriage (ages 20-54); 2) the percentage of married persons “very happy” with their marriage (ages 18 and up); 3) the percentage of first marriages intact (ages 20-59); 4) percentage of births to married parents; and 5) the percentage of children living with own married parents.
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NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES GOD’S WAY- FACILITATOR GUIDE
Navigating Your Finances God’s Way Facilitator Guide- is a nine-week Bible study that is done in a small group, which meets for two hours each week. Preparation for the small group takes about 15 minutes each day and consists of Bible verses to read and questions to answer, which are discussed in the small group meeting. Additionally, there are personal financial exercises to complete. No personal financial information is ever shared within the small group.
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YOUR MONEY COUNTS: GOD"S DIRECTION FOR SPENDING, SAVING, GIVING, INVESTING AND GETTING OUT OF DEBT
Your Money Counts is a companion book to the Compass Bible studies and also a great read on its own. Many people are experiencing financial challenges, such as debt, a frustrating job, or inadequate savings. Recent surveys have found that over half of all divorces are the result of financial pressure at home. Suffocating materialism is robbing people of their spiritual vitality. Your Money Counts, is a blueprint for financial sanity.
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IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD: STRENGTHENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH AND THE MONEY GETS TIGHT
In In Good Times and Bad, family counselor and relationships expert M. Gary Neuman and his wife, Melisa, take a look at one of the biggest issues couples face, money management, and give you the tools you need to deal with whatever financial challenges come your way. The Neumans explain why it's so important to talk about money in your marriage and offer strategies on how to discuss this often avoided topic. No matter what your age or how long you've been together, In Good Times and Bad will teach you how to come together when it matters most.- Learn what money means to you and how to strengthen your marriage even during challenging times
- Includes strategies for dealing with other tough times such as grieving or serious illness
- From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Truth about Cheating
In Good Times and Bad is the tool you need to ensure your relationship remains strong through all of life's ups and downs.
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WHY ENOUGH IS NEVER ENOUGH: OVERCOMING WORRIES ABOUT MONEY--A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE
This is not a book about how to make money. Or spend it. Or give it away. Rather, it s a book for anyone who has ever worried about money, about having enough, and it begins with a startling assumption: No amount of money will ever lift your anxiety. Do you often feel anxious about your finances? Do you tend to compare your own financial status with others? Do you feel like money is dictating your life decisions? Do you feel uncomfortable when you are asked for alms or charitable donations? If you said “yes” to any of these questions or just generally want to be more at peace with your finances, then consider reading this book.
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Other Marriage Enrichment
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Dr. John Yzaguirre, Ph.D (English / Spanish)
Claire Frazier – Yzaguirre. MFT, M.Div. (English)Dr. John Yzaguirre, Ph.D. and Claire Frazier – Yzaguirre, M. Div., MFT, are licensed Psychologist and Marriage and Family therapist consultants and speakers to the churches for 30+ years. They specialize in premartial preparation and maritial enrichment, anxiety reduction and stess management. They are the co-directors of their Irvine counseling practice and their Thriving Marriages program at www.ThrivingFamilies.com. They offer inspirational talks and a growing line of helpful resources, in both English and Spanish (Dr. John) on multiple topics to strengthen marriages and family life and couples of all ages and stages. Ideal for offering through Faith formation programs and as church-wide talks on Advent, Lent, Pentecost and summer programs.
Dr. John is a regular speaker at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and for the Office of Family Life and Claire is a regular speaker at the Southern California Renewal Community Conferences (SCRC) and they present annually to 50+ churches/ conferences in our Southland CA area. Churches and marriage groups all over are using their Thriving Marriage talks and resources to grow their marriage and faith ministries.
To contact them, please visit www.ThrivingFamilies.com
John Yzaguirre, Ph.D, can be contacted at [email protected] and Claire Frazier-Yzaguirre, MFT, M.Div. can be contacted at [email protected] or can call (949) 851-1572.
Judith McCord, LMFT (English)
Judith McCord is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been in practice for over twenty years. She conducts parenting workshops, is a speaker at family-centered conferences. She holds degrees and certificates in Early Childhood Education, Family Therapy and Adult Education. Ms. McCord is a professor at Pasadena Community College, serving as adjunct faculty. She has taught classes in the Parent Education Department for 40 years, specializing in child development and parent child relationships.Ms. McCord has been active in a variety of ministries and is currently a member of a Women’s Ministry team giving retreats and workshops. She also gives presentations on issues of grief, couple relationships, spiritual development, and family faith enrichment.
Ms. McCord can be contacted at: (626)798-2332 and [email protected].
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Gospel of Love: 20 Secrets to a Holy Marriage
Some wonderful friends got married, and as they set out on the journey toward marriage and family, they asked for my humble advice. With their permission, I thought I would share my thoughts here, for what they’re worth. Like all advice, it’s idiosyncratic. If nothing else, say a prayer for this couple that they will be bright witnesses to the gospel of marital love.1. Remember every day that marriage is a gift from God placed like the Blessed Sacrament in your hands, hands which God has joined. You are Christophers, Christ-bearers. Every dimension of your being is to become a grace-giving sacrament, a lived liturgy, a total offering, a holy mystery of divine and human love. Your every gesture, lived in fidelity to your promises, saves the world. Rejoice that you have become God-with-us, embodying him in a way absolutely and uniquely yours.
2. Love is the bond that seals you as one, and the gift that is poured out for many.
3. Honor is the guardian of love, so you must show honor to each other and guard each other’s honor, especially teaching your children to honor their mother and father.
4. Today, you have embraced your vocation to love God by loving your beloved. Always remember you will love God best by loving your spouse first, and placing all other loves in service to the first.
5. Today, you are surrounded by family and friends, mentors and the whole communion of saints. Remember that your marriage will flourish in this web of support.
6. Let prayer be your daily bread. Mutual forgiveness your daily balm. Laughter your wings. Tears the presage of joy. Common labor a strong bond. Hope your anchor. Kindness a gentle embrace.
7. Speak the truth in love. Keep confidences, but never secrets.
8. Multiply small signs of your love, impractical gestures that reveal the sheer giftedness of your marital bond and the purposeless beauties in your purposeful existence.
9. Never let your love grow old, but permit it to mature, deepen, broaden, soar by every day begging the Spirit to kindle the fire of love between you.
10. Your marriage and, God willing, one day your family life is a Garden of Virtue where your characters are afforded the opportunity to become great and noble.
11. Never go to bed estranged, harboring hurt or anger or resentment.
12. Protect your face-to-face time.
13. Before you turn outward in self-gift toward others, turn upward toward God in petition and inward toward each other in love. Always return to each other after you have given yourselves for others.
14. Strive for a well-ordered love, because disordered love is no love. And disorder is a seedbed for conflict and stress. Plan your lives and your priorities together. Don’t let your calendar dictate to you but you dictate to your calendar. Reverence each other’s unique gifts and build on them.
15. Know each other’s weaknesses, help each other to grow, but never use them against each other. We are made in weakness that we might supply for each other. Each of your weaknesses is an opportunity for Christ to supply his sufficient grace through the other. Learn to laugh at your own foibles, to laugh with the other over their foibles; but never laugh at the other’s foibles.
16. Choose your battles wisely. Some things you can live with in patience, others require challenging, repentance, change. Seek counsel from others to help discern which is which.
17. Learn that some of the sweetest joys in life are found in trials lived through together in common trust, sacrifice, humility, perseverance, and Christ-like charity. Don’t be afraid of trials. God orders all things for good in your marriage because you love him.
18. Be unrelentingly faithful to each other in body and mind. Fidelity is the bedrock of trust.
19. Remember God, forget yourself.
20. Know you are daily gathering materials for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and nothing you do, consecrated to him, will be lost in that “eternal and universal kingdom; a kingdom of truth and life; a kingdom of holiness and grace; a kingdom of justice, love and peace.” May we all one day join again there to forever rejoice in the beauty of your life together, begun today. May it be so. Amen.
This piece was originally published on August 5, 2015 on WordonFire.org.
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The “For Your Marriage” website offers practical help and advice whether you’re seriously dating, engaged, or at any stage of married life. On the homepage check out the Daily Marriage Tips, book reviews, and blogs by engaged and married couples.
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