“It is held in a non threatening environment.” (married 23 years)
“It made us make time for each other.”(married 9 years)
“This course is the best thing we have done in 23 years of marriage.”
“Learning communication skills and spending/making time to be alone together.” (married 4 years)
“Taking time to look at yourself and be aware where I am going right/wrong.” (married 10 years)
“Just to listen properly and verbally share my feelings.”(married 21 years)
“Put us on the same page and keep us thinking of ways to keep improving our marriage.”(married 2.5 years)
“Allowed us to sort out issues in a non threatening environment.” (married 18 years)
An Experience on The Marriage Course
My husband and I thought our dating days were over when we got married. So we were surprised to find ourselves back in the dating game when we joined The Marriage Course – dating each other, that is. Every Wednesday evening for seven weeks, we left home together to spend an evening in each other’s company, and during the following week we consciously set aside time to spend together. Along the way, we discovered much more about ourselves and each other, and learned how to make the most of our marriage.
We went along to The Marriage Course simply because we were curious, as two people who had met and married rather later in life than usual, to learn what we could do to strengthen our relationship and learn to live together well. We felt no need for formal counselling, and certainly didn’t want to get involved in an encounter group situation, sharing our private world with strangers.
Being married for 4 years there were no glaring problems with our relationship but with our 1 year old son being our main focus, we were beginning to realise how little time we were making for us.
Seeing an advert for the Marriage Course, we decided what did we have to lose? Some people thought that because we were on the course meant that we were having problems but we saw it as a pro-active approach to keep our relationship strong.
The first night we turned up a little apprehensive but quickly relaxed with the yummy selection of desserts on offer as we mingled with everyone. Couples varied in age from early twenties to late fifties, with kids or not, married or in committed relationships.
Take time to invest in your marriage on The Marriage Course. Starting in term 3 at 7pm and running till 9.30pm each night The Marriage Course will be held at St Barnabas over 7 consecutive nights. There is a cost of $40 per couple to cover the course materials.
After a yummy dessert on the first evening and coffee and cookies at the following evenings, a video presentation is interspersed with discussion between husband and wife.
There is no group discussion! Couples will sit at individual tables.
Topics include:
Building a strong foundation
The art of communication
Resolving conflict
The power of forgiveness
Parents and in-laws
Good sex
For further information please contact Alister or Barbara Brown on 233 1054.
Next Course Starts 26th July, 2010. 