Most church groups run on people's evenings and weekends, and everyone's are already full. A small group has to fit around work and family, a choir around services and rehearsal rooms, a youth event around school, sports and parents' schedules. Ask in a group text and you get a thread of replies that someone has to tally by hand.
The people involved also reach out in different ways: some answer a text, some read email, some only look at the church group chat. One link that works the same in all of them, with nothing to install, means no one is left out of the decision.
How Commonhour works for church groups
Create a plan with the times you're considering, such as a few evenings for a new small group or a couple of Saturday mornings for a service day. Turn on All day if you're only choosing a day, or paint start times if the hour matters.
Share one link by text, email or in the group chat. Everyone opens it in their browser and taps when they're free. No account, no app.
Watch the ranked list fill in. The times that work for the most people rise to the top, with a note of who can't make each one.
Pick a time and send the calendar invite to everyone who's free, so it's on their calendars and not just in the chat.
What it works for
Small groups and Bible studies. Find the evening that works for a new group, or a time for a special session. Commonhour books one-off events, so once a time is picked, set up any repeats in your own calendar.
Choir, worship team and band. Pick a rehearsal or sound-check time that fits around services and work schedules.
Youth group events. Choose a date for an outing, service day or lock-in, and share the link with parents as well as students.
Retreats and weekends away. Switch to a date range and see which days work for the most people, with up to 60 dates in a plan.
Fellowship meals and social events. Settle the date for a church dinner or gathering before you plan the rest.
Tips for a better turnout
Offer two or three times, not ten. A short list gets faster answers from busy people.
Post the same link everywhere. Put it in the text, the email and the group chat so people answer wherever they're already looking.
Include parents for youth events. Ask parents to tap when their family is free, since they're the ones driving.
Check who can't make each option. Each option shows who's missing, so you can tell if a time loses the leader or the one who plays the piano.
Give a decide-by date. Say when you'll choose, and send one reminder to anyone who hasn't answered.
Calendar invites are free, always. Google Calendar, Outlook, or an .ics file, with everyone who's free already added as a guest.
What it doesn't do yet
Commonhour finds the day or time. It isn't a sign-up page: it doesn't collect RSVPs, dish sign-ups or role sign-ups, or split costs. Without an account a plan takes up to 12 responses; sign in with a free account to go past it. A free account takes up to 20 responses, so for a whole-congregation event, poll the group leaders rather than everyone.
Church group scheduling questions
Can I use it for a weekly small group?
Commonhour is built for one-off events, so use it to find the first meeting time or a special session. Once a time is picked, set up any repeats in your own calendar.
Can parents respond for a youth event?
Yes. Share the link with parents and ask them to tap when their family is free. Nobody needs an account or an app.
Does everyone need an account?
No. They open the link and tap when they're free, with nothing to install. Without an account a plan takes up to 12 responses; sign in with a free account to go past it.
Can I use it for a retreat or weekend away?
Yes. Switch to a date range and tap the first and last day to see which days work for the most people, with up to 60 dates in a plan.
Is the calendar invite free?
Yes. Sending the calendar invite is free, with Google Calendar, Outlook or an .ics file, and everyone who said they're free is already added as a guest.