Holden Evening Prayer Around the World

Plus, Isaiah Vespers and an in-person retreat

From a university in Edmonton, Canada to a private home in Circasia, Colombia. From a Lutheran church in Arcata, California to a monastery in the Netherlands, communities around the globe are lending their voices to Holden Evening Prayer Around the World.

During the week of April 26-May 2, nearly 60 communities will take part in a worship service and celebration of Vespers ‘86, colloquially known as Holden Evening Prayer, the beloved arrangement composed by Marty Haugen. (If you’re in the Minneapolis area, you’ll have a special chance to hear Marty Haugen himself at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.)

Even though the Village is closed to guests, and we continue to assess damage to Forest Service Road 8301, we still believe Holden is a gift and an invitation to build and practice community both within the Village and in the greater world. Holden Evening Prayer Around the World is one way you can remain connected to the Holden Community. Participants can hear updates and reflections from current and former Holden Village staff at events in Eugene, OR, Kirkland, WA, and Evanston, IL.

Holden Village will be sharing video of its event, put on by the current 12-person in-village crew, on Sunday, April 26 at 6 p.m. PDT. The Holden Village B&B will also host a potluck and service on Saturday, May 2 during Work Weekend. You can register for the volunteer work weekend here.

Explore all Holden Evening Prayer Around the World events, and register your community to the list, on the Holden Village website.

Isaiah Pacific Northwest Tour

As a prelude to Holden Evening Prayer Around the World, Holden is holding a Pacific Northwest Tour of “Isaiah Vespers: Is This the Fast We Choose?” Isaiah Vespers debuted in the Village in 2025 and was created by award-winning singer-songwriter John Hermanson and editor/arranger, cellist, and vocalist Maren Haynes Marchesini.

Holden has created many Vespers services since Marty Haugen’s Vespers ‘86. You can hear Vespers ‘86, Isaiah Vespers, and Vespers ‘23 during a special celebration of Holden Village Music at Peace Lutheran Church in Tacoma on April 26.

You can view all stops on the Isaiah Concert Tour on our website.

Loving Kindness Retreat

In-person at the Christine Center in Willard, WI

Join us June 18-21, 2026

Hello villagers,

As we await the repair of Forest Service Road 8301 and the reopening of the physical village, we are working hard to coordinate events and gatherings of all forms “downlake” (that is, everywhere that is not the village itself!) Holden Village is more than a place—it is a way of being and of relating to ourselves, the Earth, and spirituality. At Holden, we cultivate our capacity to be human, which includes our capacity to be in community, to extend hospitality to friends and strangers, to live gently, and to allow transformation.

While the village itself, nestled in the Cascades, is a sacred place, the power of being human together is not limited to this setting. Now that Holden is “off the road,” we are exploring the possibility of gathering in new places and hoping that our community will continue to courageously come together.

We would like to invite you to experience Holden away from Holden this summer, June 18-21, at the Christine Center in Willard, WI. This is an exciting opportunity to bring our community together in a fresh way and keep the Holden spirit alive wherever we may go! Dr. Pema Antoniotti and Rev. Dr. Amber Mattingly will be leading this retreat, which centers around the theme of “loving kindness.” They will be joined by Holden’s People and Culture Team members Maddie Pohl and Izzy Delaney. It is sure to be a wonderful experiment in flexibility, connection, and transformation!

You can find more information on the Holden Village website, and we would greatly appreciate your spreading the word to friends and family who may be interested.

National Independent Bookstore Day

Order through Bookshop.org and Libro.fm

Just in time for national Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 25, we are thrilled to announce that you can now support Holden Village by ordering all of your books - physical, ebook, and audio - through Bookshop.org and Libro.fm. These reputable sites were created to support independent bookstores like ours and your purchases through our links will directly support the Holden Bookstore, and Holden Village.

Check out our recommendations or search for your latest interest. The possibilities are endless. Happy Reading!