Marriage workshops offered to Norfolk couples
More Loving for Life marriage workshops are set to be made available from this spring in the Norwich Diocese after more facilitators have been trained to help run them.
A further 12 people have been trained as Loving for Life facilitators by Mothers’ Union Norwich Diocese. “This now means that from Spring 2011, we shall be able to offer more Loving for Life marriage workshops for couples planning to marry in church, across the diocese,” says Barbara Bryant, Loving for Life Co-ordinator for Norwich Dicoese.
“This is offering hard-pressed church ministers an opportunity to enabled trained facilitators to engage with couples marrying in their churches and encourage them to take a little time to consider the commitment they are making.”
The facilitators have been equipped to select appropriate content and methods of delivery for marriage workshops and relationship support and to learn to identify the key skills needed to create a welcoming, non-threatening environment.
 Working with local clergy, the facilitators deliver a programme which enables couples to consider some of the common issues within a marriage relationship and gives them a variety of tools to use when negotiating any difficulties they may face.
One facilitator said: “On a personal level I realised how important a role Loving for Life can play in society and I was reassured by the backup provided through Mothers’ Union.”
“It was also good for me to sit alongside the facilitators from my church, and see them so positive about making this happen,” added a member of the clergy who joined the second training day.
Would you like to book a Loving for Life couples workshop?
A workshop could be run over two evenings or one half day, perhaps at a weekend and ideally fairly soon after couples have booked their dates, as the closer the wedding is the less time they have available. A minimum of four couples is recommended to run a workshop successfully and you can have an input into the content. Not enough couples in your parish? Try a joint workshop with another parish or suggest one for all the smaller parishes in your deanery. Costs will be kept to a minimum and will depend on any venue hire costs, catering arrangements and course material printing.
To book a couples’ Loving for Life course, please contact Barbara Bryant, Mothers’ Union Loving for Life Co-ordinator, on 01603 882003 or email: barbara.munorwich@googlemail.com
Pictured above: Loving for Life facilitators from the training day | 