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Registration at Church

Posted by Debby on September 13, 2010

Registration for the retreat at our church begins about 7-8 weeks out from the retreat. (Retreat registration packets are sent to sister churches about 10-12 weeks prior to the retreat.) We normally give ladies within the church about 4-6 weeks of opportunity to register for the retreat. No matter when we start registration, however, we can count on the majority of the women registering the last full week before the deadline. Our ladies seem to always wait until the last minute!

We set up a registration area at the Welcome Center, where the information sheets and registration cards can be picked up. Before we had a Welcome Center, we actually set up a small table in the church foyer where registration for the retreat would be convenient (and obvious!) after services.

At the retreat planning meeting, ladies can sign up to help with registration. We staff the registration area after each Sunday service during the weeks of registration. The ladies who staff it are available to answer questions and also to encourage women to come to the retreat. These ladies are also responsible for receiving the filled out registration cards and recording any deposits or monies paid up front for the retreat. As you will note on the registration card, there is a section to record every retreat payment.

Posted in: Registration, Retreat and Event Planning

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The Greeting Ministry–Making Ladies Feel Welcome

Posted by Debby on September 10, 2010

In our efforts to do our best to welcome and make people feel comfortable at the retreat, we have “greeters” at every retreat and women’s event. To “greet” means to meet or receive demonstratively, as with expressions of kind wishes and welcome.” We want every woman who attends our retreats and women’s events to know that we are so glad that they have come. So “greeting” has become a ministry of its own.

Kelly has been our leader in charge of the greeters for the past few years. For our retreat, Kelly usually asks four girls (who are able to be at the retreat early) to serve as greeters. Two will be at the door to the meeting room when registration begins, and two will be available inside the meeting room. The registration table normally opens about an hour before the first session begins. At that time, ladies can pick up name tags and booklets, and the doors to the main meeting room are opened. There are always ladies there, ready to register early, and the rest trickle in all evening. The greeters have the job of welcoming the ladies as they register. The girls at the door just welcome the women as they enter the meeting room. The girls inside the meeting room wander around the room and engage women in conversation. It is often the case that a woman will arrive and check in alone–either because she is new or because her friends have not arrived yet. Since we include sister churches, it is possible that some arrive, knowing no one. Those ladies are the ones particularly targeted by our inside greeters.

We find that there are women who are especially suited for the ministry of “greeter.” They have a heart for women, and a desire to draw them into fellowship, and a gift for talking to new people. These women may also enjoy being a table leader.

Posted in: Ministry at the Retreat, Retreat and Event Planning

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Books Need to be Recycled!

Posted by Debby on September 7, 2010

An alternative to the book table at the retreat (where selected books are offered for sale) is to have a “donations” table, where books are available for a donation–“whatever you can afford”. We actually do this in addition to a regular book table, giving our ladies the option of either buying a new book, or giving a small donation to obtain a used book.

During the month(s) prior to the retreat, we ask ladies in our women’s ministry if they have good books that they have read and would like to donate. These books are carefully reviewed and either accepted or rejected, as we know that all so-called “Christian” books are not profitable reading (see our guidelines here). Often people have extra Bibles lying around at home too, and we welcome those donations as well.

At the retreat, these books are displayed on a table with a money box labeled “whatever you can afford.” One year, someone expressed that she was so blessed that she was able to pick up a special Bible–something she would have been unable to afford–for just a small donation. This is a blessing for the women, especially those who love books and can’t afford to buy them. The income from this table can cover a shortfall at the book table or can provide cash to purchase books for the book table next year.

What a great “recycling” program!

Posted in: Book Table, Retreat and Event Planning

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Books – A Matter of Discernment

Posted by Debby on September 6, 2010

Have you ever had someone recommend a movie and when you went to see it, you were disappointed or even shocked that they would recommend it? Of course you have. Even within our churches, individuals vary greatly not only in taste but also in what they think is morally acceptable. While some restrict themselves to G-rated, others may allow themselves to see certain R-rated movies. It is no different with books. You may find that women read and recommend books, but they are not discerning readers. If you don’t have time to read every word of every book, how do you trust that you are offering pure and Biblically sound books?

We have several guidelines we use. They are not infallible. But I will list them anyway.

There are a couple publishers that I trust. Among them: Thomas Nelson, Word, Harvest House.
Since we are a Calvary Chapel, we trust that books sold through Calvary Distribution (www.calvaryd.org) are doctrinally sound. Often, before we select a book to offer on our book table, we check to make sure that it is offered on their website (whether we actually purchase from them or not).
We refer to book lists from conferences/retreats within Calvary Chapel. We have compiled an extensive list on this website (see Resources).

We never want to offer a book for sale or for donation that is questionable or that could stumble or lead astray a young or unknowledgeable believer.

Posted in: Book Table, Retreat and Event Planning

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Why Have a Book Table at your Retreat?

Posted by Debby on September 4, 2010

There are very few substitutes for spending time reading a good book. And godly reading material is far superior to other forms of entertainment such as watching TV and surfing the web. However, choosing reading material can be a challenge, especially when you cannot even go into a Christian bookstore and trust that what you come out with will be profitable and based on truth. This is the reason that we like to have a book table at our retreats. We like to provide books that the women can trust to be Biblically sound. A secondary goal is to make every effort to make those book as affordable as possible.

Establishing a book table does require some money to be spent up front; if done prudently, however, your profits will cover any cash outlay. The key is to estimate as closely as possible the number of books ladies will purchase and not overbuy. Choose books that are affordable, for the women have just spent money to attend the retreat. Your women have varied interests, so the book table should have some variety–Bibles, godly books for singles, marriage, parenting, devotionals, biographies of godly men and women, and even some Christian fiction that is uplifting. As our retreats have grown in size, we have expanded our offerings to include teen and children’s books. Scheduling time for book recommendations during the retreat schedule is a way of letting the women know what is available.

Back in our early days, when we had no budget for buying books up front, we established a relationship with a Christian bookstore, and they allowed us to take books on consignment for the weekend.

Posted in: Retreat and Event Planning

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