Planning a retreat means managing lots of details from logistics to decorations. Often the schedule gets overlooked or slapped together at the last minute. As a speaker, here are some sample schedules that I’ve seen work well for weekend retreats.
The most common mistake I’ve run into is forgetting to plan time for: 1) registration and check-in, and 2) transitions (especially when the transition requires a location change).
Use these sample schedules to get your creative juices flowing and adapt them to fit your group and location.
Friday Night – Emphasis on Teaching
- Dinner on your own
- 4:00-7:00 pm – Registration
- 7-7:30 pm – Icebreakers / Meet & Greet
- 7:30-8:00 pm – Music & Announcements
- 8:00-9:00 pm – Teaching
- 9:15-10:00 pm – Small Groups
Friday Night – Emphasis on Fellowship
- 4:00-5:30 pm – Registration
- 5:30-6:30 pm – Dinner
- 7:00-7:30 pm – Icebreakers / Meet & Greet
- 7:30-8:00 pm – Music & Announcements
- 8:00-8:30 pm – Teaching
- 8:45-9:30 pm – Small Groups
- 9:30-10:30 pm – Snacks & Fellowship
Saturday – Emphasis on Teaching
- 8:00-8:45 am – Breakfast
- 9:00-9:30 am – Meet & Greet
- 9:30-10:00 am – Music & Announcements
- 10:00-10:45 am – Teaching
- 11:00 am – Noon – Small Groups
- 12:15-1:15 pm – Lunch
- 1:15-5:00 pm – Free Time
- 5:00-6:15 pm – Dinner
- 6:30-7:00 pm – Music & Announcements
- 7:00-8:00 pm – Teaching
- 8:00-9:00 pm – Small Groups
Saturday – Emphasis on Fellowship
- 8:00-8:45 am – Breakfast
- 9:00-9:30 am – Meet & Greet
- 9:30-10:00 am – Music & Announcements
- 10:00-10:45 am – Teaching
- 11:00 – Noon – Small Groups
- 12:15-1:15 pm – Lunch
- 1:15-4:30 pm – Free Time
- 4:30-5:30 pm – Open Q&A with Speaker
- 5:30-6:30 pm – Dinner
- 6:30-7:30 pm – Teaching
- 7:30-8:30 pm – Small Groups
- 9:00-11:00 pm – Movie & Snacks
Saturday – Emphasis on Rest
- 8:00-10:00 am – Breakfast
- 10:00-10:15 am – Music & Announcements
- 10:15-11:00 am – Teaching
- 11:15 – Noon – Small Groups
- 12:15-1:15 pm – Lunch
- 1:30-2:15 pm – Teaching
- 2:30-3:00 pm – Small Groups
- 3:00 – onward – Free time
- 6:00-8:00 pm – Dinner & Free Time
Sunday – Early Departure
- 7:30-8:45 am – Breakfast
- 9:00-9:45 am – Music & Worship
- 9:45-10:30 am – Teaching
- 10:45-11:30 am – Small Groups
- 11:30 am – Departure
Sunday – Late Departure
- 8:00-9:45 am – Breakfast
- 10:00-10:45 am – Music & Worship
- 11:00-11:45 am – Teaching
- Noon -1:00 pm – Lunch with Small Group
- 1:00-1:30 pm – Concluding remarks
- 1:30 pm – Departure
Please email me and let me know how this worked for you or ways you changed and improved it.
Basic Retreat Planning
Women’s Retreat Survivial Kit
7 Things to Remember When You Invite an Event Speaker
More resources for Ministry Leaders
Photo by Arthur Poulin on Unsplash
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