Hello Holden,

As winter darkness expands and slushy cold increases, an undeniable warmth binds the Village together. Staff huddle under cozy quilts and sip on cocoa, tea and coffee. Villagers stack firewood in preparation for the months ahead.

It is a time for great Thanksgiving. On November 25, the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton of the Shackan First Nation returns to Holden to help us to reimagine Thanksgiving by following Indigenous wisdom. Join us in reading Steven Charleston’s book We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope. See details and link to the study guide below. Come to Holden for Thanksgiving!

The upheaval and unknown consequences of political change weigh heavily on the Village. How do we practice being a courageous community? We continue to wrestle with loving, being forgiven, forgiving, learning from, and doing justice with one another across every glorious difference that God could imagine to create. No matter how cold the weather or the climate, Holden remains a place affirming and welcoming for all.

We’re thankful for all the ways that you and the entire Holden community contributes to make Holden Village such a special place. We welcome you to the Village in the months ahead. Join in the hope and contemplation.



Faithfully,

Stacy Kitahata, Mark Bach, and Kathie Bach

Celebrate Thanksgiving at Holden!

November 27-29, 2024

Registration is Open!

Schedule your Holden visit now! The Village is ready to welcome you.

• Thanksgiving is open
• Christmas is open
• New Year's Registration is full
• January-May 31 Registration opens November 27
• Summer Registration opens January 1

Holden Village is preparing for an updated booking platform. IT and Registrar teams are working to improve the guest experience with new software ready by year's end.

Village Happenings

Spiritual Life: Letter from the pastor

A letter from Abby d'Ambruoso, Village Pastor:

As snow blankets Railroad Creek Valley, we savor the quiet hush that accompanies winter. We spend the precious sunlit hours making the swish of cross-country skis or the crunch of snowshoes, our eyes watching for snowshoe hares and pine martens. The liturgical season of Advent keeps our hearts watchful and vigilant, too, on the lookout for what needs mending and healing, restoration and renewal, justice and mercy. With a growing number of faith communities, we are again observing an Expanded Advent which began November 10, seven Sundays instead of four. These additional weeks give us time to prayerfully contemplate the heart of our faith and act for peace to be born into our world.

Here is an NPR story from former Holden Board member Jason DeRose about Expanded Advent: 

Holden Village is ready to welcome anyone longing for renewal. I invite you to plan for a winter retreat at Holden, either for yourself or a group.

May peace prevail on earth, beginning with each of us, 

Pastor Abby

Live and work at Holden

Join the Holden team and experience a community and work environment like no other!

Open Volunteer Positions:

• Village Musician
• Fire Systems Technician
• Maverick
• IT Associate

Open Employee Positions

• Director for Advancement

The Holden Board welcomes applicants for Executive Director. Deadline for submission December 20. Term begins September 1, 2025.The primary responsibility of the Executive Director(s) is to nurture the Village’s Mission, Vision, and Values, animating them and keeping them central to Village life and work.

Tax-Free Ira Distributions

A special note to all Holden retirees: At 70½, you are eligible to make charitable gifts from your IRA without the distribution counting as taxable income! This qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a wonderful way to give directly to Holden Village from your IRA. Many types of IRAs are eligible for QCDs, including Traditional, Rollover, Inherited, and inactive SEP and SIMPLE plans, but there are specific requirements, and we recommend speaking with a tax professional or financial advisor.

Note that the distributions must occur by December 31. Give before Dec. 15 to beat the end-of-year rush for IRA custodians and help ensure that your gift can count for the current tax year.

Reference herein to any specific commercial products or services does not necessarily constitute or imply its

endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Holden Village.



PHOTOS: Carl Norquist, Ellen Callender, Tristan Ipock