Creating a women’s retreat agenda is key to making sure time is well spent. Begin with asking yourself and those planning with you this question: “What do we want the women to be saying about the retreat when they leave?” After brainstorming responses which describe a successful retreat, you can put together a retreat schedule to help fulfill the vision. See the samples below as you pray about how to organize the time.

An Example Agenda for Resting in Christ Themed Retreat

Length: Friday evening to Sunday morning

Friday Evening
4:00-6:00 Arrive and check-in, light meal
7:00 Welcome, worship & first session on Matthew 11:28-30 (limit talk to 20-30 minutes)
8:00 Dessert, scavenger hunt

Saturday
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Quiet time with reflection questions from first session
9:30 Worship & second session
10:45 Small groups
12:00 Lunch
1:00-6:00 Activities for individuals and groups

6:00 Dinner
7:00 Worship & third session (limit talk to 20-30 minutes)
8:00 Small groups
9:00 Game night

Sunday Morning
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Personal reflection time
9:30 Worship, missional moment or communion, and fourth session
11:00 Pack up and goodbyes

An Example Agenda for Joining God’s Harvest Themed Retreat

Length: Friday Evening to Saturday Afternoon

Friday Evening
4:00-6:00 Arrive and light meal
7:00 Welcome, worship & first session on Luke 10:1-2 (limit talk to 15-20 min)
8:00 Story from a woman about coming to faith in Christ
8:15 Ask the group for volunteers to share who was instrumental in coming to faith
8:30 Pray in groups of 3-4 for God to raise up laborers
9:00 Get to know you and icebreaker/games

Saturday
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Prayer walk in small groups for various countries and for individual needs
9:30 Worship, second session Luke 10:3-7 & story from a woman about someone in her world who came to faith in Christ
10:45 Personal reflection focusing on identity as a sent laborer with guided questions
11:30 Sharing in 2s and 3s about the above
12:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Free time (creative outlets, exercise, chair massage)
3:00-4:00 Worship, third session on Luke 10:8-11 and interaction in groups
4:00 Prayer and commissioning to go into the harvest

An Example Agenda for Write Your Story of God’s Faithfulness Retreat

Length: Saturday Morning and Afternoon

8:00 Check in, breakfast treats and coffee
9:00 Welcome and introduction
9:30 The Gospel Heals and Frees devotional
10:00 Sharing a chapter
10:20 Connecting in twos
11:10 Introduction to organizing and writing your story
11:25 Time to write
12:15 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Story coaching, writing, storyboarding, chair massage
3:00 Sharing with one another
3:25 Story from a sister
3:40 Next steps and vision for making a difference
4:00 Closing prayer

Frequently Asked Questions About Retreat Schedules

• How long should the retreat be?
  A shorter retreat can be easier for women to attend. But a longer retreat provides more time to grow relationships. If your community has never taken a retreat, you may want to start shorter; once women enjoy the experience, you can build it out longer next year.
• How much of the time is structured versus free time?
  In general, it’s best to begin mornings and evenings with structured time at an overnight retreat. Intersperse organic opportunities for the women to interact or enjoy down time. Since women’s schedules tend to be busy, some women may need to be refreshed by time alone to nap or read. Optional fun activities lead to building community.
• How can the retreat be meaningful with as little programming as possible?
  Traci Martin, Director of Engagement at Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry, emphasizes the importance of clear goals. “If your retreat is information-driven, build in time for women to mingle; if it’s relationship-driven, plan activities that help women connect to others; and if it’s pastoral-driven, like a silent retreat, carve out time for journaling and reflection.”
• What is the best way to handle negative feedback?
  Michele Moore, former Director of Women’s and Marriage Ministries at Christ Community Church in Idaho Falls, ID, comments, “You need to have a thick skin when it comes to criticism. I’m not sure anyone has done anything in women’s ministry without negative voices. It’s impossible to please everyone, and most women who complain have their focus on the wrong things or have never planned anything similar. People will always have comments about your agenda and whether or not you included the things they wanted to do, but ultimately, they alone are responsible for what they get (or don’t get) out of the experience.”
• How can the specific needs in a woman’s life in terms of singleness, marriage, and children be addressed?
  One way is to build in voluntary breakout sessions to address the specific challenges and longings which accompany a woman’s unique situation or stage of life.

Planning a retreat agenda with prayer and intentionality paves the way for success. After the retreat, take time to evaluate the agenda so that you can gather insight for future retreats. Your courageous step of faith to spearhead the retreat experience will result in changed lives!