You've planned the perfect wedding. Your flowers were beautiful. Your wedding dress was stunning. Your ceremony was heartfelt and moving. Your reception was fun and boisterous. You're married! Now what?

The honeymoon may be over, but your relationship with your spouse is just beginning. Just like your personal walk with Jesus evolves and grows, your marriage should do the same. Parkside believes that the greatest gift a spouse could give in their marriage is a vibrant personal walk with Christ while cultivating and nurturing relationships with other believers. Our ministry for newer married couples was created to provide an encouraging environment for couples to share and learn about the everyday realities of being married.

Although the Newer Married Couples ministry does not host a regular weekly small group study, this past summer, the ministry hosted a 10-week-long study based on Dave Harvey's book, "When Sinners Say I Do." The study examined the profound truth of looking at the bitterness of sin in order to enjoy the sweetness of Christ. As Dave Harvey points out, "there’s a powerful application for marriage here: When sin becomes bitter, marriage becomes sweet. When the sin we bring to marriage becomes real to us, then the gospel becomes vital and marriage becomes sweet." Additionally, the group gathers together throughout the year for several fun and informal dinners hosted by Parkside members, Denise and Jerry Deliberato, where couples share a meal together and hear from a more seasoned married couple about the ups and downs of walking with Christ in marriage.

If you've been married for 10 years or less, please join us for our next Newer Married Couples dinner on Saturday, October 12th at 6:00pm for a time of fellowship and encouragement. Our ministry has been privileged to hear about the joys and pains from the hearts of some of our church elders and we look forward to what God will unfold as this ministry continues.

For more information or to RSVP for the October 12th dinner, please email Linn at lnash@parksidechurch.com.