A few weeks ago, when pastor Abby d'Ambuoso introduced me as the Bridge Pastor during Sacred Space, the community response with Holden hilarity. "Can you do dental work? My bridge fell out!" "I'm looking for a fourth partner for my weekly bridge game." "Any new bridges you build better be up to code!"

As a vocational interim pastor, I’m not qualified to work on teeth or trestles, and my card playing prowess extends only to gin rummy. But I’m honored to build bridges in this place, such as…

A bridge to the end of summer. With Pr. Abby’s departure on August 1, I will support and sustain the spiritual life of the Village through the conclusion of the summer program.

A bridge to new directors. I’m looking forward to welcoming Elise and Bjørn Peterson, along with Magnus and Anika, and blessing their servant leadership.

A bridge to collaboration and creativity. This community is rich with gifts, skills, and passions, and so its members are well-equipped to shape Sacred Space while the search for a new Village Pastor is underway. I get to invite people to share in the shaping, drawing on their creativity to make connections across spiritual traditions. For the trust of these Villagers, I am so grateful. 

Onward in transition! Onward in the Spirit!

Ben 

Rev. Ben Masters is a member of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (PCUSA). Most recently he has served ELCA congregations in seasons of transition.

Abriendo Caminos

Almost 300 people are in the Village this week for Abriendo Caminos. This discounted week for groups helps the Village fulfill its mission, vision, and values and extend the Holden welcome to the wilderness to all. 

Abriendo Caminos features special, bi-lingual programming in partnership with Holden’s Latine community members, including a feast of community-made tamales, a friendly soccer competition affectionately called Copa de Holden as well as a week-ending fiesta. 

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Copperstock

It was a joyful evening of music at Holden's annual summer music festival.

During the first week of August, talented guests, faculty, and staff  filled the air with music. It all culminated with a late night performance under the stars. Onlookers huddled together under blankets to ward off the cool mountain air.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this year's Copperstock so special!

Isaiah Vespers

Holden Village debuts a new vespers this summer. “Isaiah: Is This the Fast We Choose?” is a liturgy composed by John Hermanson and edited and arranged by Maren Haynes Marchesini. 

The music draws from the Book of Isaiah, a collection of prophetic texts in the Jewish canon. The book is referenced frequently in the teaching of Jesus and reveals that justice, liberation, care for immigrants, release of prisoners, redistribution of wealth and critiques of power are at the heart of our theology. 

Isaiah Vespers was conceived in residencies and commissions in a variety of contexts including Holden Village. It’s available through the Holden store. You can also order your copies here.

Every year, Holden invites dozens of community organizers, writers, scientists, theologians, artists, musicians, and more to create community through storytelling, play, music, and scholarship. There’s still time to come enjoy the bounty!

This summer has reminded Holden how to live in a dynamic respectful relationship with fire. The summer theme Life Anew, identified many months ago to honor the newness that Holden and the whole valley has experienced in the ten years since the Wolverine Fire of 2015. That raging fire required Holden to be evacuated. This year the Pomas fire started by lightning strike in the Entiat River drainage, burning in the scar left behind by the 2015 Wolverine fire. The fire is consuming deadfall and making the landscape safer for visitors in the future. 

For the past eight weeks, Holden Village has been monitoring the Pomas fire, While fire activity remains low due to the natural fire break of the Copper Creek Ridge, the Village remains ever-vigilant. A Level 1 Advisory is in effect and will likely stay in place for the rest of the fire season. This is a normal part of life that comes with living in a remote wilderness community. 

While Holden Village always takes its fire preparedness seriously, the Pomas Fire has helped to reaffirm our relationship with emergency responders and other neighbors in the Valley. In July, Holden Village hosted analyst and hotshot teams from Galice, Lakeview, Cle Elum, and Northern Rockies. These fire personnel joined the Holden community and completed valuable work shoring up Village defenses including clearing brush, trimming trees, and reinforcing the fire road. 

This timber will find life anew as firewood for the Village during the winter, providing warmth and comfort for Village staff and guests. We’re thankful for the hard work of these fire crews and the welcome shown by the Holden Community.

Holden Village remains in close contact with the United States Forest Service, Interagency Incident Management Team, and our neighbors at Rio Tinto. We appreciate the patience and support of everyone within and beyond the Village. As summer comes to a close, Holden looks forward to welcoming all to the wilderness in the month ahead.

As a lead-up to this exciting event, we're offering you the chance to win this gorgeous quilt! To enter, simply fill out the form at the link below, and watch the Holden E-News for updates.