Tacoma Engaged Encounter

A wedding is a day. A marriage is a lifetime.


Search


Home Page


Topics

FAQ

Community Events

Community News

Marriage Candle Reflection

Registration Form

Engaged Encounter Tips - Hints from Other Couples

Participants' Comments


 

 

A Marriage Candle Reflection by Stan Ratcliff

I am sitting here watching a candle burn. The flame is made up of many colors but the yellow and orange tones seem to predominate and through it all is a background of white light. And as I watch the candle burn I see these three colors intertwined with each other, at times red dominates and then orange but always they are revealed upon a background of the white light. And together they light up the room more than any one of them would, and even more so than if they were separated and placed in different parts of the room.

How like a married relationship this candle is, the yellow and orange tones are man and wife intertwined in their married life, giving and receiving from each other. The white light is our Lord God, as revealed through Christ Jesus. How appropriate it is that in the sacrament of matrimony, the passage "where two or more are gathered, I am there" can be fulfilled.

So in our candle of marriage we become through Jesus a light that lights up the room (our community) more than any light we could be individually. It is like the song "Here I am Lord" where it is asked, "is it I Lord?".

It is within our Engaged Encounter Community that we bring our candles together to make a great light for the world to see. Ours is a community of many colors, all coming together, each unique, each so beautiful and yet each so much a part of the whole through Jesus.

If you wish to bring your candle to this community please contact Stan and Rose Ratcliff at (360) 491-2449. All married or engaged couples that have attended an Engaged Encounter Weekend or couples that wish to be a part of the Tacoma Catholic Engaged Encounter Community are welcome to come to one of our monthly meetings.

Volunteers Needed

Our community now has 6 active Team Couples who work together to present 6 Weekends a year for the Southwestern (Tacoma south to the border) and the Olympic Peninsula regions of Washington State.

We would like to increase the number of couples who present these Weekends, if you feel that you may be interested in this ministry please contact Stan and Rose Ratcliff at (360) 491-2449 or .

Also, we desire to have a priest, deacon or religious on all our weekends.  Currently Deacon Mike McGillicuddy is the only religious presenter who regularly presents on our weekends. If you are a priest, deacon, or religious, or know of one who would be interested in presenting, please contact us.

Who to Contact

Coordinating Couple
Stan and Rose Ratcliff

360-491-2449 - info only
Scheduling Couple
Pat & Elaine Keavney

253-777-0189 -- msg only


COPYRIGHT ©2007 Tacoma Catholic Engaged Encounter.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT PERMISSION PROHIBITED

PRIVACY POLICY |

| HOME

  

Quick Facts

2007 Weekend Dates:
March 9-11
April 13-15
July 20-22
September 14-16
November 2-4

2008 Weekend Dates:
January 11-13
March 7-9
April 25-27
July 18-20
September 5-7
Oct - November 31-2

Weekend Locations

Cost of Weekend:
$265 per couple

Seattle Engaged Encounter

National Engaged Encounter

More Engaged Encounter Information