We gather each week around scripture, song, and ritual—not simply to tell a story, but to let a richer, fuller picture of God’s story take shape in us. Liturgy, music, and the lectionary offer their own narrative threads, and when woven with care, they invite our congregations to experience the gospel in deeper, more embodied ways. Yet this weaving doesn’t happen automatically. It asks for imagination, intention, and a listening heart.
This retreat invites you into that creative work. Through conversation and worship, we’ll explore how melodies, prayers, patterns, and texts can come together to form a cohesive arc each Sunday—an arc that surprises, deepens, and carries us toward the holy. Set within the peaceful space of the Heartland Retreat Center, with room to breathe, walk, and reflect, our time will offer both inspiration and practical pathways. Guided by retreat leader Karl Heimbuck, whose pastoral and musical sensibilities naturally blend, we’ll explore how the elements of worship can harmonize into a living story that shapes the life of the community.
View key details below and click here for a flyer with details. Register here.
When? Monday – Thursday, November 9-12, 2026
Where? Heartland Retreat Center, Parkville, Missouri
What should I expect? This retreat is a creative space that pulls us in deeper to the art of Christian worship. Through discussions, workshops, and other activities we will explore how we can tell God’s story through our worship experiences.
Who will guide us?
Karl Heimbuck is a musician, imposter poet, and the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Sheridan, Wyoming. Since childhood, music has been a primary way he has shared life with others. He played country gospel music with his family early, trained vocally at the University of Wyoming and was immersed in choral singing, and spent a dozen years playing rock and roll throughout the Rocky Mountain region. He now finds hymnody and church music to be his heart’s home whether that’s a pipe-bursting organ accompaniment, a cello’s drone under the congregation’s chant, or a bluegrass favorite. He is passionate about sharing music in spiritual communities as a means of deep connection, exploration, and reflection. If not singing, at the church, or fly-fishing, you will find Karl at home with his wife, Kendra, reading a book out loud at the bequest of their curious but demanding four-year-old.
How much does it cost?
Lodging and food are covered in this cost.
- Are you registered as a full participant in Pastoral Leadership Revitalization (PLR) ? This event was included in your PLR registration cost.
- Are you a PLR alumni? The cost is $100, double occupancy.
- Are you a registering as a regular participant and reside within OPSF’s 13 state territory ? The cost is $200, double occupancy.
- Are you a registering as a regular participant and live outside OPSF’s 13 state territory? The cost is $250, double occupancy.
- Add $150 for single occupancy. Limited spots available.
Questions? Contact Tricia Dillon Thomas at programs@opsf-omaha.org.