Worldwide Marriage Encounter - Diocese of Orange County, California
Pulpit Talk Sample: The Gift
(Change this to fit your own situation)
Husband:
Thank you, Father, for allowing us to speak at Mass today. Good morning. My name is Husband's Name and this is my wife, Wife's Name . We thank you for giving us this opportunity to speak with you today about Marriage Encounter. Wife's Name and I are parishioners at Church Name and we’ve been married for xxx years. We’re here to invite all the married couples in this parish to attend a very special weekend called Worldwide Marriage Encounter. The weekend isn’t a retreat, a seminar or a counseling session, but rather an opportunity for the two of you to rediscover just how special you are to one another. I realize that many of you may not be married, but we ask that you pass this information on to your family and friends.
Wife:
You may be wondering about this gift we have with us. What would you think if we told you this is a gift we received 30 years ago on our wedding day, but haven’t opened yet? Many of you have a gift just like this, but don’t realize it. The gift represents the many graces of the sacrament of marriage that Jesus is willing to give us. The catch is, we have to be willing to open ourselves and our relationship to this gift. That is what the Marriage Encounter Weekend is all about, opening and discovering the many gifts of our relationship.
Husband:
The first gift we have to offer is a weekend to just be by yourselves. When was the last time the two of you got away for a weekend? A weekend without the interruptions of kids, the telephone, the TV and all the responsibilities of daily life?
Wife:
The second gift is improved communication. On the weekend you will learn a new method of communication. This technique helped us get back in touch with the couple we were when we were first married. From the weekend, we have grown in our understanding, love and respect for each other.
Husband:
The third gift is a more open and loving relationship. We have found that this gift also extends to our family and friends. We are much more loving and compassionate with them. Since our weekend, our children are more secure and our home has a more loving and peaceful atmosphere. The greatest gift parents can give their children is their love for one another.
Wife:
Another gift of the Marriage Encounter Weekend is rediscovering how special you are as a couple. On our weekend, we began to see that we have a very special love. We had some reservations about going on the weekend because we weren’t sure what we were getting into. Husband's Name and I are private people, and reluctant to share our personal experiences with others. We would like to put your fears to rest by telling you that there are no group discussions. The weekend is a private experience between the two of you.
Husband:
Right now you may be feeling like we did before our weekend. Our marriage is really good. Why does it need to be better? We found that we had to let go of our good marriage to have a great marriage. The weekend brought us closer together than we had ever imagined. Whether you have been married one year or fifty years, a Marriage Encounter Weekend can help rekindle that “just married” feeling. We had a couple on a recent weekend that had been married 46 years. They said the weekend made them feel like newlyweds. Imagine what it can do for you!
Wife:
The next weekend is scheduled for Next Weekend Date , with another weekend scheduled for Second Weekend Date . Come by our table and pick up information and a complete list of weekend dates. Our table is right outside and we will be able to answer questions. Don’t wait xxx years like we did to make a weekend. Start having that great marriage right now. Thank you.