August 19, 2026
Learn how group recess now automatically updates volunteer schedules, including options to cancel affected meetings and assignments, notify volunteers, and review changes in the group change log.
Group Recess Now Updates Volunteer Schedules
When you add or edit a recess period for a group that is tied to a volunteer schedule, Realm now tells you a schedule exists and asks whether to cancel the scheduled meetings and assignments that fall inside the recess dates. If you cancel them, you can also choose to notify the affected volunteers by email or text. Either way, the change is recorded in the group's change log. See Put Your Group Into Recess.
-
Handle the recess in one place instead of cleaning up the schedule separately in Volunteer Management.
-
Keep volunteers from showing up for a meeting that isn't happening.
-
Stay in control. You decide whether to cancel and whether to notify.
-
Look back at the change log to see which meetings and assignments were removed.
This feature is for Connect, Multiply, and Office versions.
Realm Texting is Back!
We paused new texting enrollments for a while, and they're back open as of today!
Use texting to reach your congregation with group notifications, volunteer reminders, and one-way announcements from a number that’s dedicated to your church.
We’ve published a new Getting Started guide to walk you through your first steps. It covers plans and approval (3-5 business days), how opt-in and opt-out work, the different ways your organization can send texts, troubleshooting, and more.
Combined with our recent feature releases for the Opt-Out Dashboard, you now have updated tools that give you a complete picture of your communication strategy. Everything you need is on the Help Center under How-To >Communications.
If you already use texting, nothing changes. You can keep sending texts the same way you do now.