Part of Principled Commitment: A Program for Unitarian Universalist Couples

The Principled Commitment workshops can be great resources for a couples' retreat, or a short series of couples' retreats. Using the workshops at a retreat requires adaptation. The following guidelines and sample schedules can assist you in creating an effective couples' retreat with Principled Commitment.

Adapting Openings, Check-ins, and Closings

Approximately one-half hour of each Principled Commitment workshop is used for opening, check-in, and closing rituals. Each of these rituals includes elements that are repeated from workshop to workshop. When workshops are offered weekly or monthly, the repetition creates cohesiveness. However, when workshops are offered in a retreat format, the repetition can feel redundant and unnecessary. You can condense these rituals to suit your group's time constraints and purposes.

Variety and Movement

In a retreat format, participants will crave variety and movement in their activities. Selecting several of the craft projects from the workshops' alternate activities can provide creative opportunities. You may add yoga, tai chi, or other body movement activities to the retreat's program. You are also encouraged to take advantage of your retreat center's facilities and allow couples time for walking together in the woods, swimming, or whatever the center offers.

You may eliminate or adapt the Taking It Home "Affection Connection" activities, since there won't necessarily be time between the retreat sessions to complete them. However, couples will need time between the activities from Workshop 10 and Workshop 11 to write their couple covenants. Materials are provided in Workshop 10's Taking It Home section for this purpose.

Sample One-Retreat Schedule

This retreat does not use all the workshops of Principled Commitment. You may select these or other workshops to include in your retreat.

Friday: 6:30 — 9:30 p.m.

6:30 — 7:00	Ingathering and Introductions
7:00 — 8:00	Dinner Break
8:00 — 9:30	Workshop 1: Covenant

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m.

9:00 — 9:30	Ingathering and Check-in
9:30 — 11:00	Workshop 2: Humility
11:00 — 11:15	Break
11:15 — 12:30	Workshop 5: Generosity
12:30 — 2:00	Lunch Break
2:00 — 3:30	Workshop 6: Connection
3:30 — 4:15	Creating Couples Altars (from Workshop 11)
4:15 — 4:30	Break
4:30 — 6:00	Workshop 10: Love
6:00 — 7:00	Dinner Break
7:00 — 9:00	Workshop 7: Play

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

8:30 — 9:00	Ingathering and Check-in
9:00 — 10:00	Couple Covenant Writing Time
10:00 — 12:00	Workshop 11: Faith and Celebration

Sample Two-Retreat Schedule

Friday: 6:30 — 9:30 p.m.

6:30 — 7:00	Ingathering and Introductions
7:00 — 8:00	Dinner Break
8:00 — 9:30	Workshop 1: Covenant

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m.

9:00 — 9:30	Ingathering and Check-in
9:30 — 11:00	Workshop 2: Humility
11:00 — 11:15	Break
11:15 — 12:30	Workshop 3: Trust
12:30 — 4:00	Lunch and Break for Rest and Reflection
4:00 — 5:30	Workshop 4: Dignity
5:30 — 7:00	Dinner Break
7:00 — 8:30	Workshop 5: Generosity
8:30 — 9:00	Closing

Sample Three-Retreat Schedule

Friday: 6:30p.m. — 9:30 p.m.

6:30 — 7:00	Ingathering and Check-In
7:00 — 8:00	Dinner Break
8:00 — 9:30	Workshop 6: Connection

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m.

9:00 — 9:30	Ingathering and Check-in
9:30 — 11:00	Workshop 8: Collaboration
11:00 — 11:15	Break
11:15 — 12:30	Workshop 9: Commitment
12:30 — 1:30	Lunch Break
1:30 — 3:00	Workshop 7: Play
3:00 — 4:30	Couple Covenant Writing Time
4:30 — 6:00	Workshop 10: Love
6:00 — 7:00	Dinner Break
7:00 — 8:30	Workshop 11: Faith and Celebration
8:30 — 9:00	Closing