How to Plan a Church Retreat
Planning a retreat requires ample time, an adequate number of planners and a good quantity of creative juices. Fundraising and ticket sales can help fund the church retreat. Parishioners who want to help can aid in the planning. With careful planning a successful church retreat is possible.
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Instructions
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Planning a Church Retreat
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Put together a planning committee to make the process of planning the retreat easier. This is not a task that should be undertaken by just one person.
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Discuss the logistics: the who, the what, the where, the why and the when. Decide who will be included in the group going on retreat, where it will be held, what the focus of the retreat is, and when and how it should be announced to the members of the church.
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Make a list of several different possible locations so that you have some options. Call the various facilities and see which ones are available during the dates you are planning on holding the retreat. Decide from the available locations which is the best fit.
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Budget to cover the costs of the retreat. Decide how much money is a reasonable price to charge the parishioners for the retreat. Also discuss whether fundraising will be beneficial or needed before the retreat. Estimate the number of people who will make reservations and how much money you have to put toward the costs. Estimate the amount of money that can be put toward activities during the retreat.
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Once a price per person is determined and a facility is picked, promotion should start immediately. Announce the retreat at every church event, put a notice in the parish newsletter, and if you are holding a fundraiser, promote that as well. Ask for volunteers who would like to get involved; with more people helping out, the whole event will be easier.
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Plan events that work with the reason for the retreat. Talent shows, group prayer, a church service, workshops and educational activities are some suggestions for things to do during a retreat. Brainstorm with the committee for ideas about things to do during the retreat. Build in time for private reflection.
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Tips & Warnings
The Internet has many resources for activities that are popular during church retreats. The more volunteers you can get to help out, the smoother the whole event will go. Make sure your budget includes a margin for unexpected expenses.
References
Resources
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