What is Marriage Encounter? Marriage Encounter is a program that gives couples the opportunity to openly and honestly reflect on and communicate their attitudes, joys, desires, hopes, frustrations, and disappointments. We use the word "encounter" to mean "rediscovery." A Marriage Encounter weekend is strictly private. There is no group sharing, group therapy, marriage counseling, or "sensitivity training." The emphasis is on dialogue between husband and wife. The couple spends the weekend together away from distractions of everyday life, to concentrate on communicating deeply with each other. Who can benefit from Marriage Encounter? A Marriage Encounter weekend is for any married couple yearning to deepen, warm, or strengthen their relationship in a peacful and non-threatening atmosphere. Is Marriage Encounter for couples of only particular religious affiliations? No. Marriage Encounter believes that the human love between wife and husband is itself sacred. The program originated from a Judeo-Christian context and is offered by MARVA to married couples of all faiths or of no religious affiliation. MARVA Marriage Encounter is an interfaith organization. What happens on a Marriage Encounter weekend? A team comprised of three couples gives a series of presentations related to various aspects of marriage. Time is set aside for each couple to reflect on themselves individually, on the vitality of their marriage, on their marriage as it relates to God as understood by them, and on their marriage in the context of their community. Personal reflection and couple dialogue form the main thrust of the weekend. A weekend's schedule includes presentation sessions, individual reflections, husband-wife dialogue, communal meals, rest breaks and time for socializing with other participant couples. Is the purpose of Marriage Encounter to help couples solve problems? No. Marriage Encounter is not about solving problems. It is about improving loving communication and strengthening a couple's commitment to their marriage. We believe that all marriages can continually grow. Why does Marriage Encounter work? We believe that Marriage Encounter leverages three main things to help married couples communicate more deeply: 1) Everyone on the weekend has come together to improve thier marriage. This is an intangible, but strong, support. 2) The presenting team sets the atmosphere for open, loving, and respectful communication. They model the method and provide the opportunity for truly intimate husband and wife dialogue. As the team shares their life experiences, it becomes easier for couples to share with each other and to deepen the trust and confidence between them. 3) Each couple has the gift of time away from the tensions, pressures, and interruptions often found at home. The weekend provides an opportunity to communicate deeply about all areas of their life together. How much does a weekend cost? No couple is excluded because of an inability to pay. It is our policy that Marriage Encounter is available to all interested couples even at the organization's expense, if necessary. The registration fee is requested to confirm a couple's intent to attend a weekend. On the weekend, couples are given the opportunity to make a donation to cover the expenses of the weekend. Most couples make a donation in proportion to their means and consistent with their own response to the program. The cost to MARVA Marriage Encounter for 2008-2009 is $385 per couple. For more information or to discuss financial need, please call Paul Kaplan and Ellen Leiserson, 410-772-0011 or email them at leiserson@verizon.net.  |
