Greetings!

It’s hard to believe we’ve been at Holden Village for just over a month. Like so many people experience, time seems to work differently here. An afternoon in deep conversation can feel like mere minutes, yet a weekend full of activity can feel like you’ve been here for months. An invigorating teaching session can go by in a flash, while a month, especially the month we just had, can feel like a lifetime. But no matter how fast or slow time moves while you’re here, one thing is always true: being at Holden Village is a gift.

This has felt especially true this month as we navigated the nearby Martin Fire. Evacuating guests and staff was a stark reminder that the ability to physically be at Holden Village is not guaranteed. Our remote wilderness setting is part of what makes the experience here so meaningful, but it also means that at any moment, we may need to evacuate Villagers in order to maintain their safety and well-being.

But this isn’t something to fear or worry about; rather, it’s a reminder to not take this place for granted. A reminder to slow down and celebrate the gift of life together. A reminder to stop, look around at the ecosystem of people and more-than-people with whom we share this valley, and give thanks to All That Is. A reminder that the holy gift of Holden lasts much longer than your time here, and goes with you when you leave this place and return to the greater world.

So this month, we celebrate the gift of Holden Village. From the joyous return of staff and guests as we enter into our Fall season, to our profound thanks for all who kept the Village safe and running during the Martin Fire. We hope you will join us in remembering the gift of Holden and all that this place and these people have given to our lives.

With Good Courage,

Bjørn and Elise Peterson

Martin Fire Timeline

Wednesday Morning, Aug 27 - Fire reported near Holden Lake at 7:48 A.M.

Wednesday Afternoon, Aug 27 - Chelan County Emergency Management issues Level 1 Fire Advisory.

Wednesday Evening, Aug 27 - Holden Village leadership reviews plans for potential evacuation.

Thursday Morning, Aug 28 - Chelan County Emergency Management elevates fire advisory to Level 2 - Prepare to Leave. 45 Guests evacuated from Holden Village.

Friday, Aug 29 - Three fire crews move into Village lodging.

Sunday Morning, Aug 31 - Village School, along with children and their families, relocate downlake to Holden B&B. San Juan fire crew reassigned and prepare to depart village.

Monday Morning, Sep 1 - Stacy Kitahata, Mark Bach, and Kathie Caemmerer-Bach depart the Village; Bjørn and Elise begin their time as new co-executive directors.

Tuesday Morning, Sep 2 - First Day of School at Holden B&B. Firefighters meet incident objectives and complete their “punch list.” 16 Navajo hotshots depart, decreasing the firefighter population to 23.

Tuesday Afternoon, Sep 2 - Office, programming, and some guest services staff notified they will transition downlake. Short-term and seasonal staff notified they will end their service early.

Friday Morning, Sep 5 - Roughly 30 staff members depart, leaving a skeleton crew in the Village to manage operations. Long-term staff work remotely, hosted by friends, family and the Holden community in Chelan, Wenatchee, the Puget Sound region and beyond. Six firefighters remain in the Village.

Thursday Afternoon, Sep 11 - Martin Fire evacuation reduced to Level 1. Staff members are notified they can return.

Friday Morning, Sep 12 - All Fire personnel leave Village

Saturday, Sept 13 - Friday, Sept 19 - The majority of evacuated staff return to the Village.

Friday, Sept 26 - Holden reopens to guests

The Village Renews

The past few weeks, Holden has been filled with the joy of many happy returns as staff members came back to the Village to resume their duties and the daily work that keeps this place running.

When thirty of us left earlier this month because of the Martin Fire, leaving behind a skeleton crew of staff to keep things running, we didn’t know how long we might have to work remotely—or when we would see our beloved Village again. The uncertainty weighed on us, even as we kept doing what we could from a distance.

So when the news finally came that we could return, it brought a wave of relief, joy, and eager anticipation. We couldn’t wait to step back into the rhythms of community life, to welcome guests again, and to care for this place we love.

Now, as the Village is fully reopened and ready to welcome all who come here to rest, learn, and renew their relationships with God, the earth, and one another, you can help us prepare for what comes next. Please consider a gift to our Martin Fire Support Appeal today—your generosity ensures Holden is ready for the next chapter in its story.

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Jubilee Auction Postponed

Due to the disruptions caused by the evacuations and Martin Fire preparations, the Jubilee Auction has been rescheduled to the Spring. Watch this space for updates!

Support the future auction by contributing items and experiences.

Fall Calendar

Work Weeks

October 5-12, October 12-19

Staff evacuation during the Martin Fire means Holden Village has some catching up to do as it prepares for winter. Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned participant, Holden welcomes you to lend your time and talents.

Two weeks are available. Help perform essential functions around the Village to serve the community as it equips itself for the colder months ahead.

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Thanksgiving

November 26-30

Enjoy a cozy Thanksgiving at Holden Village! A feast meal with all of the trimmings is the pinnacle of the celebration. Join in a special Sacred Space service of gratitude and contemplation.

We are coordinating a special boat transport on Wednesday, November 26. Book your spot now, only 25 spots are left!

Santa Lucia

December 13

A festival of light. Celebrate Scandinavian Heritage with the feast of St. Lucy. Christmas Festivities continue through December.

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Applications Open for 2026 Teaching Faculty

Summer faculty are community organizers and poets, soil scientists and feminist theologians, printmakers and environmental chemists, pastors and gardeners, musicians and so much more. They are people learning and building relationships that create community through storytelling, play, music, and scholarship.

September arrived with transitions, departures, and reunions for Holden Village. The Martin Fire led to an evacuation that called many of us downlake, while others stayed in the Village as a part of a skeleton crew, keeping operations running and working hard to prepare for the coming seasons

Shortly after we bid a heartfelt farewell to our bridge pastor, Ben Masters, the Holden Village community looked ahead with hope, anticipating a fall shaped by familiar Sacred Space rhythms.

But with so many scattered beyond the Village, the future felt uncertain. Still, through the ambiguity and upheaval a collective act of resilience emerged. From near and far, Villagers gathered in spirit and in presence, holding fast to the tradition of nightly sacred gathering with creativity, love, and deep strength.

Thanks to the steadfast guidance and immense care of Directors Bjørn and Elise Peterson, and the dedication of the community at large, Sacred Space has remained a meaningful anchor of time and space for villagers to meet, reflect, and share with one another.

We have been moved by the inspired collaboration that villagers continue to demonstrate in shaping and offering heartfelt and meaningful Sacred Space practices each night.

Weaving in song circles, poetry workshops, and Prayer Around the Cross, September has seen the sanctity and immense value of this Holden Village tradition remembered and reinvigorated.

As the Holden Village community continues to reunite in the Railroad Creek Valley, we look forward to welcoming and working with several short-term bridge pastors to continue to foster a vibrant spiritual life for all villagers in the valley.

Ingred Lindgren

Village Musician / Spiritual Life Assistant

Village Pastor | Holden Village

We seek ordained candidates ready to design and manage the daily worship experiences of Holden Village, involving the varied gifts and talents of the community in creating sacred spaces and cultivating the life of the spirit. The pastor collaborates closely with the directors to express and practice Holden Village's mission values of learning, grace, and worship.