Starting Points for Enriching Marriages
There are all sorts of creative things that can be done in the local parish to hold high the institution of marriage and to support and encourage married couples, or couples who are not married, in their relationship.
A useful downloadable publication is:
Taking Marriage Seriously in Your Church: setting out a strategy for churches, with suggestions about marriage preparation, mentoring, marriage enhancement, helping marriages in difficulties and helping second marriages.
This is available from Marriage Resource through the 2-in-2-1 website. www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/mr/mrresource.html
The best place to look for ideas is the Website 2-in-2-1. It is probably the most comprehensive website on marriage, 
advertising itself as ‘the one place to come to shape, enrich, maintain or repair your marriage’ - with areas giving information, advice, tips, resources and services to meet every need.
Couples would do best to go to the section "Preparing for Married Life" whilst church leaders would do best to go to " Resources for Church Leaders". It is run by Liz and Dave Percival and contains lots of information about marriage, besides preparation.
Here is but a small sample of topics and features listed on the 2-in-2-1 pages:
- Marriage statistics: A downloadable factsheet on the latest statistics http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/images/factsheet.pdf
- Wedding Centre: advice and information for planning a wedding; building a strong and fulfilling relationship; guidance for parents-in-law; cohabitation vs. marriage; ideas to liven up romance.
- Health Club: building closeness and intimacy; what makes a Christian marriage?; commitment, communication and conflict; keeping sexual relationships healthy; second marriages.
- Marriage Clinic: counselling resources; domestic violence; dealing with infidelity; spiritual help.
- Chapel: support for marriages of church leaders; resources for church leaders; interfaith marriages.
- University: academic articles on marriage relationships; research work on marriage; resources for schools; statistics; a brief history of marriage.
- Citizen’s Centre: legal aspects of marriage and divorce; guidance on handling divorce; handling money; support available from the DSS.
- Coffee Shop: clip art; ideas for romance; fun and laughter; sending flowers.
- Books and Articles:(18-page alphabetical list, with reviews, and facility to order from Amazon), CDs and Videos (3 pages)
- Servicing Marriage: List of organisations and courses servicing marriage (7 pages)
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