Marriage
Calvary's Marriage Preparation Program
"And the two shall become one." ~ Genesis 2:24
If you wish to be married by a pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, you must complete the marriage preparation process. There is a $200 fee to cover the cost of materials. (The facility fee and honorarium for the pastor are not included in this fee.)
Calvary Marriage Ministry Mission
~Leading Couples into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ~
We believe God is calling us to prepare couples for a life-long Christian marriage and provide couples with opportunities to heal, learn, and grow. Therefore we seek to:
- Inspire couples with God's vision for a life-long Christian marriage and provide couples with opportunities to heal, learn and grow.
- Assist couples in preparing for a joyful wedding while upholding the values of a Christ-centered ceremony.
- Surround couples with dedicated pastors, faithful mentors, and a caring community to support their relationship.
- Provide couples with post-wedding opportunities to nourish and sustain their marriage.
How do you get started?
~Call Kathi Miller at 763.231.2987 to set a tentative date (date must be at least 6 months out to complete the marriage preparation process).
~Once your tentative date has been set, you must complete and return the following questionnaires to have your date approved and a pastor assigned to your wedding date.
Bride Marriage Application Questionnaire.
Groom Marriage Application Questionnaire.
If you do not return the questionnaires within two weeks, your date request will be removed from the calendar.
Marriage Preparation Process
Click here to download a copy of our Marriage Preparation Checklist!
~ Complete our Marriage Application Questionnaire.
~ Take the Prepare/Enrich Relationship Inventory.
~ Participate in our one day retreat/workshop. This workshop is scheduled for the last Saturday of January and April, 2009 from 10am to 5pm.
~ Meet with your assigned pastor for three or more sessions.
(The pre-marriage process needs to be completed at least one month prior to your wedding date).
Values Surrounding Calvary's Marriage Preparation Program
Calvary's Marriage Preparation Program leads engaged couples into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and into a thriving marriage by instilling the following values:
1. Vision: "We've explored God's vision for our marriage and have learned that our marriage covenant can be an instrument and an advertisement for God's Kingdom."
Calvary's Method: The Before I Do Class.
Rationale: This course provides couples with a retreat/workshop experience in which they begin to reflect on how the dimensions of their relationship intersect with biblical truth.
2. Community: "We've developed relationships with other engaged couples and shared our experience with them as we pursued God's vision together."
Calvary's Method: The Before I Do Class.
Rationale: By providing a forum for engaged couples to encourage one another, we equip them with an essential form of fellowship, thereby decreasing the likelihood of isolation after the wedding.
3. Scientifically Proven Tools: "A Calvary Pastor used our Prepare Inventory results to help us develop our strength and growth areas in our relationship."
Calvary's Method: Administering the Prepare Inventory to be used during pastoral counseling sessions.
Rationale: The Prepare Relationship Inventory is a scientifically proven tool which helps empower high-level pastoral counseling that is tailored to the couple's unique dynamics.
4. Mentoring: "We have enjoyed opportunities to be prayed for and supported by a trained mentor couple. We can still contact our mentor couple for support, and we feel more connected to the congregation."
Calvary's Method: Trained marriage mentors are available to each couple getting married at Calvary.
Rationale: Our committed marriage mentors are eager to support engaged couples preparing for marriage and beyond the wedding ceremony. On an informal basis, this fosters a meaningful connection between engaged couples and the Calvary community.
5. Investment: "We learned that we must invest in our marriage as the top priority, especially amidst the overwhelming details and demands of wedding plans. As the Parable of the Sower reminds us, we must prevent the cares, pursuits, and concerns of life from eroding our commitment to Christ and to each other."
Calvary's Method: Required investment of 12 hours of pre-marital counseling and education (the states recommended minimum) and a cost of $200 for the marriage preparation program.
Rationale: The stress of wedding plans, similar to the distractions couples will face for the rest of their lives, requires couples to intentionally invest in their relationship. For couples wanting to make that investment, the Marriage Preparation Program at Calvary is a wonderful opportunity to prepare for a life-long Christian marriage.