Holden Village: A Place Apart
Holden Village: A Place Apart, is a faith-based community with hydropower, fire service, public education, and a paid pastor. It resembles a theocracy that nurtures a faith-based balm for our bruising lifestyles.
Holden lies at the feet of Buckskin and Copper Peak mountains near the west end of Lake Chelan. Pilgrims reaching Holden’s boat dock endure a faith-inducing ride up nine hairpin curves in ‘Honey,’ a groaning school bus long ago surplused by a prudent school district. Holden’s mechanic had said, “This one’s a honey,” making me wonder what he tattooed on Holden’s two other refugee buses.
Eleven of us from our Methodist church experienced Holden’s spirit when we disembarked to the applause of village residents. We’d never been applauded for stepping off a bus. Maybe they welcome anybody with the faith to ride up on the bus.
Holden has no keys for rooms, where we trustingly deposited our personal keys and cell phones. Buckskin blissfully blocks cellular signals. We bussed our tables, slid food waste into compost cans and stacked dishes into tubs. Volunteer staff, primarily young adults, cooks meals, chop wood, and teach classes. A few paid staff with a maximum five-year contract shares all the workload. Every thing had its place and everybody had roles to fulfill. We were free to do everything we wanted, within expectations.
Everyone is expected to attend matins at breakfast, where announcements and scripture readings or hymns give thoughts for the day, and a half-hour 7:00 pm ecumenical vespers conducted within the guidelines of former director John Schramm. He said Holden is “where Jesus as Lord is not up for vote, but we try to make it welcome for all those who have another affirmation.”
At the vespers on Halloween we witnessed Holden’s marvelous infusion of humor, which may have arrived with the gift of the abandoned village and copper mine. Mine owners had received three letters from a student at the Lutheran Bible Institute requesting a discounted price to LBI, but who never informed LBI he was negotiating on their behalf. When the mining company counter-offered to donate Holden, LBI thought the student was joking.
Eventually LBI accepted it and transferred joint ownership to three Lutheran denominations for a youth retreat. These denominations are so at odds over the ordination of women and administration of the Eucharist that one denomination withholds ministry and fellowship from members in other denominations. Nevertheless these disputants transformed Holden to a lighthearted restorative community that hosts people of all ages and faiths.
At the vespers on Halloween, a teenage soloist stood with arms sticking out of her costume, a silver box named after “Aunt Alice,” the legendary, cantankerous washing machine. Attendees in Halloween costumes chuckled, she giggled and the pastor behind a Robin Hood mask laughed, until we settled down to a reverent worship.
Maybe we saw that lively spirit because costumes didn’t reveal which faith people affirmed. More likely the spirit prevails because villagers believe and practice a faith of service to others despite differences. We brought back a renewed faith that religion can serve collaboratively.
Holden lies at the feet of Buckskin and Copper Peak mountains near the west end of Lake Chelan. Pilgrims reaching Holden’s boat dock endure a faith-inducing ride up nine hairpin curves in ‘Honey,’ a groaning school bus long ago surplused by a prudent school district. Holden’s mechanic had said, “This one’s a honey,” making me wonder what he tattooed on Holden’s two other refugee buses.
Eleven of us from our Methodist church experienced Holden’s spirit when we disembarked to the applause of village residents. We’d never been applauded for stepping off a bus. Maybe they welcome anybody with the faith to ride up on the bus.
Holden has no keys for rooms, where we trustingly deposited our personal keys and cell phones. Buckskin blissfully blocks cellular signals. We bussed our tables, slid food waste into compost cans and stacked dishes into tubs. Volunteer staff, primarily young adults, cooks meals, chop wood, and teach classes. A few paid staff with a maximum five-year contract shares all the workload. Every thing had its place and everybody had roles to fulfill. We were free to do everything we wanted, within expectations.
Everyone is expected to attend matins at breakfast, where announcements and scripture readings or hymns give thoughts for the day, and a half-hour 7:00 pm ecumenical vespers conducted within the guidelines of former director John Schramm. He said Holden is “where Jesus as Lord is not up for vote, but we try to make it welcome for all those who have another affirmation.”
At the vespers on Halloween we witnessed Holden’s marvelous infusion of humor, which may have arrived with the gift of the abandoned village and copper mine. Mine owners had received three letters from a student at the Lutheran Bible Institute requesting a discounted price to LBI, but who never informed LBI he was negotiating on their behalf. When the mining company counter-offered to donate Holden, LBI thought the student was joking.
Eventually LBI accepted it and transferred joint ownership to three Lutheran denominations for a youth retreat. These denominations are so at odds over the ordination of women and administration of the Eucharist that one denomination withholds ministry and fellowship from members in other denominations. Nevertheless these disputants transformed Holden to a lighthearted restorative community that hosts people of all ages and faiths.
At the vespers on Halloween, a teenage soloist stood with arms sticking out of her costume, a silver box named after “Aunt Alice,” the legendary, cantankerous washing machine. Attendees in Halloween costumes chuckled, she giggled and the pastor behind a Robin Hood mask laughed, until we settled down to a reverent worship.
Maybe we saw that lively spirit because costumes didn’t reveal which faith people affirmed. More likely the spirit prevails because villagers believe and practice a faith of service to others despite differences. We brought back a renewed faith that religion can serve collaboratively.
Posted by JSR at 11/5/2009 4:27 AM 
Categories: Compassion,Serving Others,Build Better Communities,Travel,Humor
Tags: American Lutheran Church Lutherans Missouri Synod Holden Village Lutheran Church of America
Categories: Compassion,Serving Others,Build Better Communities,Travel,Humor
Tags: American Lutheran Church Lutherans Missouri Synod Holden Village Lutheran Church of America
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