Houston

Monday, February 9, 2026

A ONE-DAY RETREAT

This year we continue to experiment with One-Day PP&G retreats. Same heart. Same hospitality. Same focus on rest, connection, and re-imagination. Same basic flow...all in a six-hour experience.

Location: gather houston Guides: rev Stephanie Spellers, Aaron Niequist, Josh Hilburn

In early January, we’ll share the full 2026 theme for Pastors, Priests and Guides. There is so much bubbling and we can't wait to invite you into it. But for those who plan to come to the Houston retreat, can we give you a little sneak peak of the theme?

2026 is A Year of Re-enchantment.
Deconstruction is important and can be soul-saving…but we can’t stay there.
We also can’t go back to pre-cynical magic;
We must be born again into post-cynical mystery.
The journey is often from the heart of a child…to a heart of stone…to a heart of flesh.
Finally letting go of what has already ended so that newness can grow.
May this be a year of courageous, joy-filled, tear-soaked, holy re-enchantment.

Again, we’ll share much more in January, but this is our desire. And in Houston on Feb 9th, we’ll explore practices, conversations, prayers, and ideas that open us to the new life trying to get born in our hearts, in our church communities, and in our world.

We will worship at the intersection of multiple traditions…learning from the brilliance and particularities of the wider Christian family. May God comfort and stretch us in healing and expansive ways.

You will be given plenty of holy space—both for silent reflection and for spiritual conversation—to notice the Spirit’s movement in and among you. Don’t forget your journal!

Rev Spellers will bring our desire for Re-enchantment into conversation with her timely new book Church Tomorrow? What the ‘nones’ and ‘dones’ teach us about the future of faith. There is so much we can learn from the stories of others. And yet, in the spirit of retreat, Rev Steph will help us bring those insights into prayer and into God’s ongoing work in and through us.

At the very end of the retreat, we’ll gather around the Eucharist table and receive the broken and living Bread we need for life and ministry. Friends, we really hope you’ll join us.

May the Spirit of Christ give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to receive.

Basic Schedule

MONDAY, february 9th

8:30am Coffee and Registration
9:00am Morning worship, liturgy, embodied prayer, and contemplative practice 10:00am Rev Stephanie Spellers invites us to reflect on our own story with the Church and invite the Spirit to breathe new life into these dry bones. Prayerful. Insightful. Communal. Swept into God’s good River. 12:00pm Lunch and Full Practice of Solitude 2:00pm Josh Hilburn and team help us respond to God’s voice, dream together, and look forward.
3:00pm Closing Eucharist and Sending Service.
4:00pm Retreat Ends

4:15—5pm Optional Add-on: Musical Improv Experience with Rev Will Parker (no cost, just stay!)

5:30pm Optional Add-on: Many of us are going out for Tex-Mex. Please plan to join the feast and continue the conversation.

Come to exhale and learn a few spiritual practices
to re-center your soul in the unforced rhythms of Grace.
Come to meet other Christian leaders and be reminded that you're not alone.
Come to worship and learn at the intersection of multiple Christian traditions...
allowing God to fire your imagination for what could be.