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What is A Marriage Encounter Weekend?
Marriage Encounter is a weekend experience designed to help married couples communicate more intimately with one another in order to deepen and enrich their relationship. The weekend is orderly, informative and structured.

In a comfortable environment away from home, family and responsibilities, couples are given the opportunity to look into their relationship with God. The weekend helps couples reassess what these relationships could be as they journey together on a way of life that can be better than anything they have experienced before. More than a weekend away, it's a weekend of discovery together.
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What do couples say about the Weekend?
Dr. Ken Blanchard, psychologist and
author of The One Minute Manager,
The One Minute Father, and
co-developer of the widely used
Situational Leadership Model
"We went about twentry years ago ...
and I tell you, it gave us a way to
communicate that has served us
so well ever since!"
 		Mike McMannis, columnist and
author of Marriage Savers
"Marriage Encounter is an opportunity
for people to rediscover the person they
fell in love with, and to fall back in love
with that person. It is something that
every couple deserves. Deserves!"
Bruce & Ila Zellmer
Sioux City, Iowa

 "After many years of marriage
we learned to listen and accept
each other's feelings." -Ila

"By just listening to each other,
we found healing and
a new level of intimancy." -Bruce
 Oliver & Donna Nelson
Innisfail, Alberta Canada
"My 'good marriage' attitude was
given a re-evaluation when I discovered that I
was not the good listener I thought I was.
The Weekend was the start of a process
of improved communication for me
with my wife - in fact, it was the catalyst
to a new, fresh relationship." -Oliver

"The Weekend helped me see and
accept my self-worth, and gave
me encouragement and affirmation
in my role as a stay-at-home
mon." -Donna
David & Jean Fell
Solon, Ohio
"Simply put, it was a wonderful gift"
we gave to each other - the best single
investment we have ever made to assure our
love for each other would always be fresh and
growing." -David

"I now believe that a love relationship
is more than just two people in love.
The relationship can't be ignored.
It needs time and intentional
nourishment." -Jean
 Steve & Nydia Burdick
Columbia, South Carolina

 "Our Weekend was life-giving to our
relationship. We literally fell in love with
each other all over again." -Steve

"I'm so glad we took the risk
to make the Weekend!" -Nydia
Paul & Kathie Winemiller
Deland, Florida
"Our Weekend helped us heal some hurtful
situations that were pulling us apart.
We're stronger together now, with
our unity restored." -Kathie

"With our empty nest, we've been able to
grow closer and enjoy life together.
Because of our Weekend and the resulting
improvement in our listening skills,
we've learned how to cultivate
shared interests." -Paul
 Chris & Darla Phillips
U.S. Army, Weinenbaden, Germany

 "The gift of a Weekend has given us the
tools to endure job changes, retirement,
graduations, and many long-term
separations due to our jobs." -Chris

"And it's allow us to grow in our
own ways, while drwaing closer
to each other." -Darla
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Who is A Marriage Encounter Weekend For?
Marriage Encounter is for married persons who love each other and who desire to better their communication and marriage - 

    ...those with good communication -
          to deepen it:
    ...those with poor communication -
          to improve it:

Since the interaction and communications patterns we develop in our marriage are carried over into other relationships (children, family, friends, people at work), the discovery and use of new techniques of communication and sharing with one another have valuable, far-reaching benefits. Marriage Encounter is for couples open to being blessed by such benefits.

There is no age limit. Newly married couples, couples married over 50 years, and couples with anniversary dates in between have all been part of a Marriage Encounter weekend.

A Marriage Encounter weekend is best reserved for those who have been married for at least a few years.

The weekend is not intended as a therapy or problem solving marriage clinic. Couples are not urged to attend because they "need" a weekend. Rather, couples who wish to grow in their love for one another "deserve" a weekend.
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What Happens On A Marriage Encounter Weekend?
A series of presentations is given by a team of three Lutheran lay couples and a Lutheran clergy couple. The presentations allow you and your spouse rare opportunities to think about yourselves as individuals, to look at your marriage and relationship to one another, and to look at your relationship to God and to the world. After each presentation you will be given the opportunity to share privately with each other in your own room. The weekend starts at about 8:00 pm on Friday night and runs until about 6:00 pm on Sunday afternoon.
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Does The Weekend Respect The Couple's Privacy?
YES! The weekend is oriented strictly to each couple. You concentrate on your spouse to such an extent that you are hardly aware of the other couples present. The presentations are given to the group as a whole. After each presentation, each husband and wife have time for themselves, in the privacy of their room for their own personal discussion.
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Is There a Specific Religious Orientation to a Weekend?
There are many faith expressions in the Worldwide Marriage Encounter family - Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and a number of other Protestant denominations. All of the Marriage Encounters present God as a focus for successful marriage. However, Weekends are open to all, and all faith expressions reserve a number of spaces each weekend for couples of other faiths. The couple growth possibilities of the Weekend go beyond the boundaries of any one faith expression.
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What is The Cost?
A non-refundable registration fee is required in order to register for a Weekend. The amount varies for the different countries, but in the United States it is $45 US. Marriage Encounter is a totally self-supporting, non-commercial, non-profit organization. Toward the end of the Weekend, the cost of a Weekend will be explained and each couple will be given a blank envelope and will be asked to make an anonymous donation. The reason we ask for a donation, rather than charging a set fee, is that we want the Weekend to be available to all couples regardless of their financial situation. No one is ever denied a Weekend for financial reasons. After the presentation, you and your spouse will go to your room and you decide what you wish to do and then you return the envelope. The only source of income to allow Lutheran Marriage Encounter to continue to offer Weekends is the donations from couples who have experienced Weekends.

Contributions made on or in connection with a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend are kept in strict confidence.
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When And Where Is It?

DATE Registration
 Location
October 15th - 17h, 2004/TD>Hampton Hotel, Houston

If you are interested in dates for other cities, states or countries link to the International Lutheran Marriage Encounter Home Page.
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How Can I Get More Information?
If you have more questions about a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend, contact:

      Mike and Susan Poythress
      8914 Sedgemoor
      Tomball, TX 77375
      281-357-0356
To Email Susan & Mike Click Here

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How Can I Register for a Weekend?
You may register Online by clicking here
Or contact:

      Red and Connie Warner
      619 Whitehurst Court
      Katy, Texas 77450
      281-646-7274
To Email Red & Connie Click Here

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