How to plan a meaningful gathering

By Apostle Shannon McAdam

Several years ago I read the book The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker and it changed the way I think about every gathering that I plan. As we move into the season of camps and retreats, then quickly into Mission Centre Conferences as well, I think Priya Parker’s work can be helpful for all of us. The book is available in multiple languages, (see links below) and is an accessible, thoughtful read, but here are a few of the main takeaways: 

1. Always begin planning with the question: “What is the purpose of this gathering?” To this I would add that your answer can’t be: “it’s just what we always do” or “we have to have it”. Those might be your initial answers, but go deeper: “why is this something we always do?” “Why do we have to do this?” Let the purpose guide everything else you do in your planning. ​
2. And then make purpose your “bouncer” or boundary. I know it is always tempting to invite absolutely everyone to every event, especially when we often feel small in numbers. However, not everyone needs to attend every gathering. Letting your purpose guide your guest list and will help ensure the gathering is meaningful for your intended audience. 
3. Create a thoughtful and persuasive invitation. Parker says a gathering begins when your attendees receive their invitation! Often our church invitations assume people know exactly what is going to happen, who the contact people are, and what the purpose is, but your invitation should be something that a complete stranger could understand and show your thoughtfulness in inviting. When I was a mission centre president we sent a physical postcard to every young person in the mission centre inviting them to camp - they loved it! 
4. Create “an alternative world” through thoughtful rules. We aren’t talking about safety rules here, we are talking about rules that help people be present and engaged. At Tiona reunion in Australia last year they had an intergenerational quiz night where there were a lot of rules about how many people from different age ranges you could have and when you couldn’t use your phone, but they all created an event that was incredibly engaging because of the rules! 
5. End your gathering with intention. I think we often do this quite well at church! We often close with sharing our takeaways and what we are inspired to do next. Make sure intentional endings are always a part of your gathering to create a great experience every time.