Many Hands

They say “many hands make light work” and that is true in preparing for a retreat.  However, many hands in the administration area make for many opinions, and that is not always expedient!  How does that translate?  Keep your planning and administrative groups small, while your work crews can be large and varied.  Take it from us–that is good advice!

A second piece of advice.  On those last frantic days of preparation, slow down.  It is more important to be accurate than efficient.  Your helpers may want to make suggestions to speed up the process.  At another time, their suggestions might be welcome.  But last minute changes to procedures allow for last minute mistakes.  Stick to the plan, devote the time, and be open to talking about procedural changes AFTER the retreat.

Flexibility in the Schedule

Our retreat booklet always contains a schedule of events.  While it may include the start time for the session, or meal times, their schedule is mostly  just an order of events that does not include the details of administrating the retreat.

Why do we do this?  It happens.  Your retreat is scheduled down to the minute.  And then a speaker goes over by ten or fifteen minutes, sending your schedule into overtime.  Or there is an equipment problem or distraction, or a myriad of other things that cause time issues.  No need to panic!

The retreat coordinator must keep track of the schedule, and if something has gotten off track, she must juggle the schedule to accommodate the revision.  Perhaps announcements will be put off until the next session.  Maybe the worship team will need to cut a song. But it is not expedient for the general attendee to be stressing out because the session is not on schedule.  It also provides flexibility in case you as a leader feel the Holy Spirit leading you to allow a schedule change.