Week 1: The Promise of Hope

Experience the wonder of the season as we sit down with kids to hear their Christmas memories, family traditions, and thoughts on Advent. Then tune in each week to journey through the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—anchored in Scripture and rooted in the heart of Christ’s coming. Through reflection, practical encouragement, and weekly prayers, this Advent series invites you to slow down, breathe deep, and remember the God who enters our darkness with light, our chaos with peace, our ordinary days with joy, and our world with transforming love. Join us as we prepare our hearts for Emmanuel—God with us.

In this episode, our staff unpacks the Community Workshop from Celebration 2025, discussing the four spaces of belonging and how they apply directly to UME communities. They discuss how couples naturally progress from public connections to social friendships to personal sharing and finally to intimate vulnerability, where real connection happens. Discover how understanding these spaces can help you find your place in community and welcome others in.

In this episode, the men from our Marriage Encounter staff dive into the Biblical Leadership session from Celebration, featuring Greg Smalley’s men-only teaching. The guys walk through 13 key points on what it means to lead and nurture your wife in a way that helps her thrive and become her best self. It’s a practical, honest conversation about servant leadership, love in action, and the call to reflect Christ in marriage. Don’t miss this challenge to grow as a godly husband and leader.

In this women-only episode, our Marriage Encounter staff reflects on the inspiring Godly Self-Care session by Erin Smalley from Celebration 2025. The session reminded us that caring for ourselves is a God-given responsibility—so we can love others from a place of abundance, not exhaustion. The ladies discuss what true rest and recharging really mean, and how to intentionally invest in what brings joy, creativity, and passion. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about discovering what makes your soul come alive.

Some of our Marriage Encounter staff reflect on the Safe and Secure session from Celebration 2025. In the session, Greg and Erin Smalley explored how emotional safety creates space for couples to relax, be vulnerable, and truly connect. When both spouses feel secure, they can be fully known and still fully loved—imperfections and all. Listen in as the team shares their insights and practical ways to build a marriage rooted in unconditional love and trust.

In this episode, our Marriage Encounter staff unpacks the first main session from Celebration 2025, titled Close Pursuit.  Greg and Erin Smalley challenged couples to move beyond “roommate” mode—where routine replaces romance—and reignite the passion of being true soulmates. Our team shares their biggest takeaways and the "aha" moments that struck a chord. Tune in for practical ways to closely pursue your spouse and bring fresh excitement to your relationship.

In this episode, we dive into the importance of dating your spouse—not just occasionally, but regularly and intentionally. About half of married couples report going on regular date nights, admitting that in today’s busy culture, it’s easy for quality time to slip through the cracks. We explore why setting aside time to connect, have fun, and truly talk can make a lasting difference, with couples who date more often reporting significantly higher marital happiness. The team discusses what really qualifies as a “date” and wraps up with a fun challenge: 52 dates in 52 weeks, starting on the first day of fall—are you in?

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Join the MTW crew for a lively Q/A session featuring a panel of couples sharing their journey providing wisdom, love and support across generations.  You’ll hear Greg and Erin Smalley along with Jerry and Carol Webb answer questions about raising kids, adult children, caring for parents, and other seasons of family life.

Join the MTW crew for a lively Q/A session featuring a panel of couples sharing their journey providing wisdom, love and support across generations.  You’ll hear Greg and Erin Smalley along with Jerry and Carol Webb answer questions about raising kids, adult children, caring for parents, and other seasons of family life.