Suggested two day schedule:
Friday night:
4:00-6:00 Check in
6:00 - light dinner (you can opt to skip the dinner option if cost prohibitive)
7:00 - Session 1: (Honoring God) A session related to our walk with God, the challenges we face with it, such as "How to Grow Spiritually Even When You are Busy." Can be adapted for the audience.
8:30 - Small group time, questions provided
9:00- Free time, bed
Saturday:
8:00 Breakfast and private assignment time (thought prompters provided)
9:00 Session 2: (Ordering our lives) A session about time management or organizational issues, such as "Time Management, Jesus' Way."
10:15 Break with personal assignment of a fun personality test (ties in with last session.)
10:45 Session 3: (Progressing personally) A session about making progress physically, mentally and emotionally
11:45 Lunch
1:00 Check out (unless you can arrange for late checkout, which would be preferable)
1:30 Electives (stretching, healthy cooking, private spiritual time, etc...see below for suggestions. If electives are not possible, session 4 can be held here and women dismissed earlier. I highly encourage the electives, however.)
3:00 Session 4: (Engaging Well with Others) A session on understanding and relating to four key personality types
4:00 Door prizes, dismissal, encouragement to go have some fun shopping, etc.
If the host wishes to provide praise and worship time, you are free to use the first 15 minutes of each scheduled session. I will need at least 45 minutes for each separate presentation.
Electives are an optional part of the retreat and should be arranged by the host. If you have people in your organization who are talented with any of the following activities that complement the four sessions, it is a wonderful enhancement to provide these breakout opportunities. The following are approved electives that would correspond with the retreat theme. If you have additional ideas, please discuss with Beth before scheduling. I have allowed one hour for electives. All electives should be run by people you have arranged to come lead them. Please understand that I choose not to lead elective sessions and use this time for a personal break.
Note: None of the electives should be based on a business presentation or specific product or an opportunity to overtly sell anything.
- group stretching or something like Praise Moves. (I prefer it not be called yoga.)
- group walk (works well if your venue is particularly scenic)
- cooking tips/healthy eating
- spiritual retreat (option for people to spend time further time alone going over additional questions. I can provide a more in-depth sheet for this option if you like)
- home organization/decorating ideas
- money saving ideas
- fashion tips
- chair massages by licensed therapists and/or "spa" stations such as facials, nail treatment, etc.
- "craft station" opportunity to decorate "rest room" cards that are mentioned in Session 2 (provide stickers, markers, embellishments)
- game room - provide quick, fun board or card games such as Phase 10, Uno, etc.
- nap time - allow participants to take a nap! (Note: you must arrange for late check-out if using this option)
- computer tips
Tips for a great retreat:
- pray regularly and consistently about all aspects of the retreat
- work as a team to pull it off
- try to hold it in an attractive location such as a scenic lodge or hotel most women would not normally go to (understanding cost limitations) Hotels such as Embassy Suites are great.
- Don't overschedule the women...the idea is to be refreshed and challenged. (Note that the above schedule allows for several break times and a leisurely Saturday morning.)
- If possible, provide nice, healthy snack baskets for small groups to use Friday night during discussion time
- Encourage women to make a weekend out of it (go out Saturday night after the retreat, extend their stay to Sunday morning.)
- It is preferable not to offer childcare on-site so the women can truly get away.
- Provide simple goodie bags to registrants--be creative and try to provide items that tie in with the session themes (i.e. bubble bath, candles, healthy snack, etc.)
- Seek out great door prizes and do not give them out until the end of the retreat. Winners must be present!
- Be flexible and open to what the Holy Spirit may want to do.
I have found that a great approach to an event is to do my part to prepare the "shell," (think of a clay pitcher, for example) but not fill it in so much that I or the plans become rigid. I ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and the event, and allow to spill out whatever He wishes. The same thing can happen with your planning team. Do an excellent job with the overall details, and then let go and go with the flow. Generally, the event will run smoothly and the tone that I and the committee set in terms of being relaxed will go a long way to the overall environment of the event. One of the most dramatic, unexpected things to happen when I was speaking was the events of 9/11/01, yet God allowed the event to keep going (despite some interruptions.) In perspective, minor things that can go wrong are still in His hands! |
