After a year (or what felt like ten years) of longing to gather with friends and family, we are elated to see a light at the end of the tunnel and begin safely meeting in person with loved ones! If you’re like me, one of the things that I missed most during the pandemic was sitting with my church small group in my living room, catching up on life, and studying the Word together. As we begin to step through doors into each other’s homes, what better time to plan a gathering for your small group?
With a Lifeway Women Simulcast, you can host a Digital Event right from your living room! All you need is a space to gather, a connection to the Internet, and a few friends to invite. If this sounds like something that you’re interested in, here are some tips to help you as you plan:
When:
First, select the date that you want to host your Simulcast event. You can choose to watch with your Small Group live on the event day, or you can break up viewing over the 60-days following the event. That means that you have the freedom to think creatively about the schedule! Try using the Simulcast as a weekly Bible Study or a multi-part small group event. The choice is yours, so set a time that works best for you and your group.
Where:
Once you choose the date, you’ll want to decide where to gather. As mentioned above, a cozy living room is always a great idea! You can also think outside the box and rent a fun Airbnb (can you say, “getaway”?). No matter where you gather, the focus should be cultivating a space where your group will feel welcome and comfortable.
How:
Now that we have the logistics figured out, think through creative ways to make your event special! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Consider childcare. As you set aside time to watch the Simulcast, consider asking a college student at your church to watch your kiddos while you have the day to enjoy time with friends in fellowship. Open this up to the rest of the group and perhaps share the cost!
- Set the scene. While your friends will likely be beyond grateful to just be in a room together, you can think of ways to make your event special for your group. Find some simple decorations to incorporate like fresh flowers, candles, and balloons. With some streamers and cute props, you can create a fun photo booth for you and your friends to capture the moment together! If you want to be the ultimate planner, make a Spotify playlist to play music in the background as your friends arrive and while you’re eating lunch. You can even share the playlist ahead of time to build excitement for your time together!
- Sweet swag. Who doesn’t love a goodie bag? As your ladies arrive, think of putting together a swag bag for the day. Some items to include may be a journal, pen, chocolate, mints, tissues, and a water bottle. About a month before the Simulcast, a Digital Program Book will be available on the Simulcast Host Website. Print the Program Books out ahead of time and place them in the bags for your group to follow along.
- Foodie Fun. Planning your snacks and meals for the day is a great way to make your attendees feel thought about. Depending on how you choose to view the Simulcast, you may plan for one to two snack breaks and a meal. Think ahead of how your group will prefer to enjoy their food, whether it is a pre-packaged option or a customizable meal like a soup bar, taco bar, or baked potato bar. If you’d like to save some time in the kitchen, you can always order in and give everyone the choice for their meal! And don’t forget to have coffee and tea available for your friends.
- Prayer partners. Throughout the Simulcast, there will be opportunities to pray together. Plan ahead on how you’d like to facilitate this time, whether assigning prayer partners or praying together as a group. This time can span beyond the Simulcast and launch prayer partnerships within your Small Group.
We hope that these tips help spark creativity for hosting a Simulcast for your Small Group. Remember that no matter how you choose to plan your gathering, the most important part of the event is spending time together in the Word. Beyond this list, you will also be equipped with a host website full of tools to make planning your Simulcast gathering simple and fun!
If you’d like to host a Simulcast for your Small Group, join us for the Going Beyond Live Simulcast with Priscilla Shirer this September! It is the perfect opportunity to get your Small Group together and enjoy Bible teaching from Priscilla and powerful worship with Anthony Evans. So pick the date, the place, and get ready to plan a memorable gathering for your Small Group!