The map
Who can do what, and when
Follow one gathering from start to finish. Along the way, the colored tags show what decides whether you can do something.
Who
Your role: in the group, or on one date
Switch
A feature turned on in Manage → Features
When
The day, the time, or how full it is
Private
Who's allowed to see it
Step 1
Start a group
Pick what kind it is. That sets which features it starts with.
Meets regularly, picks dates as it goes, or a big meeting: an ongoing group with many gatherings.
A trip or retreat, or a reunion: a one-time event, whose page is the event.
Turn anything on or off later.
Group leaderManage → Features
Step 2
Bring people in
Share the invite link, or the 6-character code.
Families answer once for everyone, kids included.
HouseholdsAlready a household in another group? Bring it in with one tap.
Add someone without the app. Leaders answer for them.
Group leader
Step 3
Plan a gathering
Set when you meet once, or plan each date as it comes.
Repeating dates fill in about ten weeks ahead, and skip your breaks.
Group leaderHand one date to a gathering leader. They run it like a leader would.
Group leader picksAsk someone to host, or let anyone offer.
Anyone can offer to hostMoved it? Telling everyone is your choice.
Day, time or place changedStill setting up? Quiet mode holds every notification for a while.
Group leader
Step 4
Everyone answers
Going, Maybe or Can't. One answer per household.
Full? Going joins a waitlist that moves up in order.
Sign-upsEvery spot takenAfter the sign-up date, only leaders can add people.
Sign-upsPast the dateA cost and a way to pay. Leaders tick who's paid.
Sign-upsLeaders
Step 5
Pitch in
Everyone sees what's still needed, and takes a piece.
Bring a dish. ×3 means three people can.
Shared mealsTake a job, or be put down for one.
JobsOffer a seat or ask for one. For trips, car by car, both ways.
Rides · CaravanSplit the gas, if the driver wants to.
Only that carMeal crews, shared gear and rooms, for a trip.
Crews · Packing · Rooms
Step 6
Reminders
On your phone, or by email if notifications are off.
A few days before, in the morning: are you coming?
9 AM, group's timeAnything still open goes to whoever's running it.
Gathering leader, else leadersThe evening before: a nudge, job reminders, and the headcount for the host.
5 PM
Step 7
On the day
Show up. The app keeps out of the way.
Tap I'm here when you arrive.
Check-inOn the dayShare photos and moments as it happens.
ReflectionsFrom the first dayEveryone's emergency contact, for a trip.
Emergency infoLeaders only
Step 8
Afterward
Remember it together.
Whoever ran it is asked who came, the next morning.
Gathering leader, else leadersReflections and prayer requests. Mark a prayer answered later.
Prayer requestsOnly your groupSomething personal? Just me and the leaders.
You and the leaders
Step 9
In between
Stay close until next time.
The group chat, end-to-end encrypted.
Only your groupMeals for someone going through something.
Care calendarsBirthdays and anniversaries, remembered for you.
BirthdaysAnnouncements, and asking which night works.
Group leader
And round again.
Who can do what
Roles stack: a host or a gathering leader is still a member.
- 1
MemberWhole group
Answers, brings a dish or takes a job, rides, chats, adds reflections, starts a care calendar.
- 2
HouseholdWhole group
One answer for the family. Adds kids or a spouse without the app.
- 3
HostOne date
Their address shows. Edits that date's plan and place. Gets the headcount.
- 4
Menu plannerOne date
Plans the menu, assigns dishes, sees dietary needs. The host, unless a leader picks someone.
- 5
Gathering leaderOne date
Runs that date like a leader: time and place, plan, jobs, menu, rides, rooms, who's paid, attendance. Can't delete it.
- 6
Group leaderWhole group
Schedule, Features, members, announcements. Picks hosts, planners and gathering leaders.
- 7
Porchlight supportWhen asked
Only when a leader asks. Everyone sees a note while support can read the chat.
Someone without the app is in the group like anyone. Leaders answer for them and can put them in a car, a room or a crew.
Who sees what
Private by design.
Chat, reflections, photos and videos
Only your group. End-to-end encrypted: not even Porchlight can read them.
"Just me and the leaders" reflections
The person who wrote it, and the group's leaders
Emergency contacts
Leaders, and that date's gathering leader, for people coming
Dietary needs, and who hasn't answered
Leaders, the host and the menu planner
A car's gas split
Only the people in that car
Venue Wi-Fi and door code
People in the group, never the invite
A host's address
The group. The invite just says "at a member's home."
What each kind of group starts with
Open one to see.
Regular group
Every week, every other week, or the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Homes, meals, jobs and looking after each other. An ongoing group: as many gatherings as you like.
Looking after each other
- Care calendars
- Reflections
- Prayer requests
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- Households
Each gathering
- A reading or topic
- Agenda
- Files
- Shared meals
- Jobs
- Anyone can offer to host
- Rides
- Caravan
Trips and big days
- Sign-ups
- Check-in
- Meal crews
- Packing list
- Rooms
- Emergency info
Flexible schedule
No set night: ask which dates work and plan the next one. A reading or topic for each time. An ongoing group: as many gatherings as you like.
Looking after each other
- Care calendars
- Reflections
- Prayer requests
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- Households
Each gathering
- A reading or topic
- Agenda
- Files
- Shared meals
- Jobs
- Anyone can offer to host
- Rides
- Caravan
Trips and big days
- Sign-ups
- Check-in
- Meal crews
- Packing list
- Rooms
- Emergency info
Trip or retreat
Sign-ups with a cost, cars there and back, rooms, meal crews, a packing list and emergency info. A one-time event: its page is the event.
Looking after each other
- Care calendars
- Reflections
- Prayer requests
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- Households
Each gathering
- A reading or topic
- Agenda
- Files
- Shared meals
- Jobs
- Rides
- Caravan
Trips and big days
- Sign-ups
- Check-in
- Meal crews
- Packing list
- Rooms
- Emergency info
Reunion or celebration
Families coming together: who's coming, what to bring, rides and photos. A one-time event: its page is the event.
Looking after each other
- Care calendars
- Reflections
- Prayer requests
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- Households
Each gathering
- A reading or topic
- Agenda
- Files
- Shared meals
- Jobs
- Rides
- Caravan
Trips and big days
- Sign-ups
- Check-in
- Meal crews
- Packing list
- Rooms
- Emergency info
Big meeting
Once or a few times a year, for a crowd: who's coming, volunteers, and checking in at the door. An ongoing group: as many gatherings as you like.
Looking after each other
- Care calendars
- Reflections
- Prayer requests
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- Households
Each gathering
- A reading or topic
- Agenda
- Files
- Shared meals
- Jobs
- Anyone can offer to host
- Rides
- Caravan
Trips and big days
- Sign-ups
- Check-in
- Meal crews
- Packing list
- Rooms
- Emergency info
Leaders can switch any of these on or off later. Switching something off just tucks it away. A one-time event can become an ongoing group (Manage → Features → Keep the group going), but not the other way round.