What typically happens at a Christian women’s retreat? Expect to find the elements of most Christian gatherings: fellowship, worship, and teaching. You’ll also usually find workshops that supplement the teaching or introduce new skills. Throw in good food and often a beautiful natural setting, and expect to grow in your faith, hang out with friends and have fun.
Fellowship
A Christian women’s retreat brings together women with a common love for Jesus. “Retreats are one of the BEST things I know to bring women together,” says Nancy Abbott, YMCA Chaplain in San Antonio, Texas, and former Women’s Ministry Director at Grace Covenant Church in Austin, Texas. For women who are planning retreats, Abbott suggests activities that encourage women to find out unique things about one another.
Sometimes a simple idea can make a huge impact. Courtney Garrett, founder of 101 Christianity and former Women’s Ministry Director at Grace Bible Church in Houston, TX, suggests giving women different colors of name tags at arrival. The colors can be used to group women randomly so those who arrive not knowing anyone will leave with connections.
Worship
Although worship is not limited to music, expect worship through music and singing at a women’s Christian retreat. “God has both created and called us to sing for three principal reasons: to help us praise … pray … and proclaim,” explains Dr. Rob Smith, Lecturer in Theology, Ethics and Music Ministry at Sydney Missionary & Bible College in New South Wales, Australia.
Encourage worship leaders to sing in a range suitable for women of average musical abilities. Along with singing, worship music may be used in times of personal reflection. Retreat worship planners may ask women attending to contribute instrumental string, brass, or woodwind music for a unique worship experience during prayer and reflection or along with singing.
Teaching
Along with fellowship and worship, expect Biblical teaching at a Christian women’s retreat. The women’s ministry team will likely choose a theme for the retreat, and the speaker’s topic will probably align with that theme. Sacred Story Ministries hosts retreats that combine Biblical teaching with practical tips to help women reflect on and record personal stories of God’s faithfulness in their lives.
Workshops
Many women’s retreats offer workshops that go deeper on the retreat theme or teach new skills or helpful information on a specific topic. Workshops may develop Christian disciplines, such as daily devotions, or practical skills, such as meal planning on a budget. Or retreat themes and workshops may center around improving communication in families and other relationships.
Food
Unless you are going to a fasting retreat, expect good food at a Christian women’s retreat. If you are planning a women’s retreat, don’t underestimate the value of quality food. “Food brings people together on many different levels,” says Italian American chef Giada deLaurentiis.
Often women supervise or implement meal planning, shopping and cooking for their families. A retreat can give them a much-needed break! It’s hard to find a better way to refresh women than by providing delicious, balanced meals with fresh ingredients. Venues that offer really good food are well worth some extra costs for many women attending a retreat.
Activities
Expect to have some fun at your next women’s retreat! If you’re on the planning team, don’t forget that fun activities for women’s retreats add pizzazz, sparkle and laughter. Activities that appeal to different personalities and interests are offered at women’s retreats, whether it’s shopping in a nearby town, playing pickleball or board games, or joining a group manicure or creative art outlet.
How do you prepare for a retreat?
This is my first retreat. What should I do before I go?
If you are attending a retreat, plan ahead by helping your family be aware of how long you’ll be gone. You may need to plan meals or arrange childcare. Inform the retreat coordinator of any special medical or dietary needs that may need to be accommodated for you. Some retreat planners ask attendees to make their own travel arrangements and lodging reservations at the chosen venue.
What do you bring to a church retreat?
The most important thing to bring to a women’s church retreat is an expectation and commitment “to focus on personal spiritual growth and building community,” says Christine King, women’s ministry team member at Trinity Presbyterian in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ask God to help you lay aside distractions and fears so you can show up—not just physically, but spiritually and socially, open to hearing from God and making the effort to get to know other women.
Of course, make sure to bring any personal medications, along with other items to go away for the day or the weekend. Bring a Bible, pen and journal. Some women bring laptops for notetaking or working on stories, such as at a Sacred Story retreat.
How do I prepare as a planner of a women’s retreat?
If you’re a women’s ministry director or serving on the retreat team, begin planning from 6-18 months ahead. The larger your group, the more time you need to plan ahead. Learn more at How to Plan a Women’s Retreat: A Step-by-Step Guide. You can also check out Christian Women’s Retreat Resources for other ideas.
What to do after a church retreat
Did you learn a new skill or make a fresh commitment in your relationship with God? Did you meet a new friend you’d like to have lunch with? The first two weeks after a women’s retreat are the most important for follow through. Call your friend to schedule lunch and put it on your calendar. Or ask another friend to check in with you on your new commitment to take a few minutes every day for reading the Bible and prayer.
If you attend a Sacred Story Retreat, send in your story rough draft in the first few weeks after the retreat to benefit from complimentary editing and polishing of your personal story of God’s faithfulness.
If you are a member of the retreat planning team, take note during the retreat of those who are well-engaged. Gather feedback from these women in that crucial two-week period.
When it’s time to plan your next retreat, the personal stories from this year’s retreat will spark desire and interest for future women’s ministry events.