Marriage in Christ News
WINTER 2017
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Greetings!
I have come to love the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to the blessings of health and family, my heart bursts with gratitude for all that has happened in the Marriage in Christ outreach this year. We formed an advisory board, went over 1,000 couples, started a collaboration with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and have heard from many couples who have been touched by the Lord and whose marriages have been strengthened. You can get a sense of the scope of what the Lord is doing in the article we have linked below.
On a more personal note, I am especially grateful for the delightful ways in which Adella and I have come to experience the Holy Spirit in our marriage. So,
I invite you to look back over the months, and for some, years since you attended a Marriage in Christ seminar. What changes do you see? The changes may have been dramatic. For most of us, however, the changes are subtle and easy to overlook. Perhaps you laugh a little more, forgive more readily, express more affection, and say “good morning,” “good bye,” “I love you,” a little more frequently. Maybe you are kinder to each other and pray together more often. Those are all signs of the Holy Spirit at work protecting our unity and strengthening our marriage. Make a list of those things and offer a prayer of gratitude this Thanksgiving.
In Christ,
Bill Wacker
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Give25 for Christ-Centered Marriages!
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Over 1000 couples have attended the seminar since 2011! Your contribution will go toward reaching more couples and launching more Marriage in Christ seminars around North America.
Click the button below to
Give25 today!
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Pray, Talk, Act for Advent
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We are grateful to you for your prayers and support and again we are offering a collection of Advent themed PTA for you.
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Article Highlights Growing Marriage Outreach
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The latest issue of
Vine and Branches, a magazine published by the People of Praise Christian community, features the growth of Marriage in Christ in the recent months.
See how churches and neighborhoods are experiencing a new vitalization due to an increase in MIC seminars and dedicated host couples.
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1000 Couples Have Attended the Seminar!
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Rev. Otis Kenner, pastor of Fresh Faith Worship Center (New Orleans, LA), describes his recent experience attending the MIC seminar: "My wife Tyra and I
had been happily married for 22 years, but serving in ministry and pastoring all that time took its toll on my performance as a husband and father. I needed to get myself back on track, and Marriage in Christ helped me to do that."
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MIC National Office Hosts First Advisory Board Meeting
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We had our first meeting of the Marriage in Christ Advisory Board on November 3. The Advisory Board meets once a year and receives regular updates from the MIC national office. The chair of the board is Most Rev. Peter L. Smith, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon. The other members of the board are, the Most Rev. Bernard Hebda, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the Honorable Christopher Dietzen, Anne Cullen Miller and Laurie Coleman. The role of the Advisory Board is four-fold:
- Assist the promotion of Marriage in Christ throughout North America and the English speaking world.
- Provide a periodic review of the Marriage in Christ materials and future ideas, plans, and materials to develop Marriage in Christ as a marriage movement.
- Help Marriage in Christ secure funding from potential donors so that this work can continue to grow, and even expand to a variety of audiences (youth, engaged couples, married couples, Hispanics, and Christians of other churches).
- Provide connections and introductions to other groups and organizations whose aim is to foster Christian marriages in the United States and abroad.
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Archdiocesan Program Grows
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We are excited to announce that 11 parishes in the diocese are participating in year one of the collaboration between Marriage in Christ and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. A team of 35 coach couples, host couples, and discussion facilitators is united in a mission to help newlyweds develop strong habits to keep Christ at the center of their relationship beyond the wedding day.
Starting in January, these parishes will host seminars that we hope will build communities of support to strengthen marriages. While young couples are the focus of this initiative, all couples are welcome to attend. Please pray with us that everyone involved in this initiative is open to the work of the Holy Spirit in this endeavor!
Find out when and where seminars are happening at the link below.
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MIC reunion and prayer service participants - St. Pius X Catholic Church, Granger, IN
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Help spread the good news about Marriage in Christ.
Forward this newsletter
to your friends!
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Strengthen your marriage, change the world!
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