Winter, 2013 - Holden Village

Transcription

HOLDEN
VILLAGE VOICE
WINTER 2013
O!
G
E
W
E
R
E
H
A New Year
A New Era
HOLDEN
VILLAGE VOICE
WINTER 2013
Holden Village, in the
North Cascade mountains
of Washington state,
welcomes all people.
THE VISION
of Holden Village is the love of
God making new the church and
world through the cross of Jesus
Christ.
THE MISSION
of Holden Village, a Lutheran
ministry, is to welcome all people
into the wildreness to be called,
equipped and sent by God as we
share rhythms of Word and
Sacrament; work, recreation and
study; intercession and healing.
OUR CORE VALUES
are worship, theology, hospitality,
vocation, diversity, grace, shalom,
ecology, gifts, study, rest, place,
community and hilarity.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Chuck & Stephanie Carpenter
Your comments and questions are
invited.
Please write to:
Mary Koch, Editor
Holden Village Voice
HC 0 Box 2
Chelan WA 98816
or email:
[email protected]
PHOTOS
Front Cover: Under that snow on
Lodge 4 is a new roof, a harbinger
of things to come in the Village.
Photo by Lisa Maren Thompson.
This page: Lead cook Dean Safe
prepares rolls for a holiday feast.
Photo by Lisa Maren Thompson.
Back Cover: Buckskin Peak, forest
and footbridge ─ all dressed in a
freshly fallen cloak of snow. Photo
by Tim Wilcox.
Holden Village operates on
the Okanogan-Wenatchee
National Forest under a special
use permit. USDA Forest
Service is an equal opportunity
provider.
Printed on paper with recycled
content.
Holden Village Voice Winter 2013
www.holdenvillage.org
Page 1
When all things are possible
By Stephanie Carpenter
I
t’s crazy. It’s unbelievable. It’s just
not possible!
In our liturgical year we move
from Christmas to Epiphany. At
Christmas we celebrate the gift of
new born baby Jesus. Immanuel, God
with us. God enters into this world as
a vulnerable little child and grows to
walk with us on this earth. Crazy. We
know this walk of our God With Us
continues on to Easter and leads right
to death and new life after death. Unbelievable. In Epiphany we hear how
this Christ child, Immanuel, is the
light for the whole world. To bring
peace and salvation to all nations. Just
not possible, we say.
For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,
says the Lord. For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts
than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
As I write this two days before
Christmas, I occasionally gaze out the
window. I am mesmerized by large,
conglomerate flakes of snow falling
to the ground. This type of snowfall
accumulates fast and is adding to
the already copious amount of snow
blanketing the valley. Five fluffy,
powdery feet of snow in the past five
days! As of today, a total of 174 inches
of snowfall thus far this winter. It
truly is awe inspiring and beautiful.
On top of the posts, the chimneys, the
welcome tree and the hose houses,
snow builds up into five-foot splaying
crowns that defy gravity, physics and
logic. When you step off the bus into
this winter wonderland you might
say: It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable. It’s
just not possible.
A
ctually, there are several situations where these three little
phrases might be uttered in this valley
during a winter like this: If it’s your
job to keep the road plowed and options for where to put/move snow are
becoming more challenging. If you’re
the mechanic and watch as extreme
weather usually means machines
breaking and needing repair. If you’re
the garbologist leading the garbo
team for the day, only first you have
to find the compost and dig out the
buses. You may say, “It’s crazy.”
If you’re the communications coordinator and you are trying to meet
the deadline of this publication and
the Internet is down once again. If
you’re the IT coordinator, who plows
through snow to brush off the satellite dish to get the Internet up and
running for safety and business. If
you’re part of the utilities team hiking
up to the diversion dam, which seems
to have a loss of water flow, probably
due to snow blockage. “It’s unbelievable” might be heard.
What about those mavericks in
charge of snowshoe stomping the matrix of trails within the Village, only to
watch the trails fill in with snow falling from the sky almost as fast as they
can stomp? Then there are the students in the Holden School, wading
through the playground where the
snow is as high as the monkey bars.
Someone might say it just isn’t possible. But with God and with the wonderful people diving into the tasks at
hand with joyful hearts of service, it is
possible. And it’s beautiful.
As we move through the winter
and closer to summer 2013, it seems
Holden on the Road
events will be a multigenerational
continuation of Holden rhythms, including teaching staff sessions, Bible
study and worship, and presentations
with current information of what is
happening in the Village. It will be
an opportunity to discover what each
host site has to offer. As of Village
Voice press time, seven host sites
have agreed to welcome young, old
and new Holden community members for a week-long stay. Others
are pending. Consider adding one
of these programs to your summer
plans! Also, please watch the website
and our email newsletter, Be-Holden,
for information on more Holden on
the Road week-long, weekend and
day-long events as they evolve.
Holden on the Trail
hikes will experiment with an option
for a very limited number of people
to arrive in the Village this summer
as guests. Because of the disruption
and safety issues in the Village, and
due to the fact that beds will be full
of workers, Holden on the Trail participants will venture out with tents
as their lodging of choice.
as if thoughts, plans, visions, ideas
and theories, like the snow, are piling
up several feet high in a splaying
fashion on a firm little foundation. It
feels as if they defy logic. And like the
journey through our liturgical year,
full of thoughts and ways that seem
to be crazy and unbelievable, Holden
walks toward and into these crazy
ideas and unbelievable ways.
R
ead on and find ways to join in
this adventure. It’s an adventure
with long bouts of ambiguity, which
isn’t for everyone (take the ambiguity
tolerance quiz on page 2 to see where
you land). Inside you can read how,
as theologians of the cross, we can
embrace ambiguity. Amidst navigating through the ambiguous details
of the here and now, we lift up the
Holden Board of Directors who are
called to envision the Holden ministry beyond the now (page 13). Reflect
with Scott Kershner on the theological
reality of koinonia surrounding the
Holden community (page 16).
With the guest option unavailable
on-site at Holden this summer, please
read on and discover the experimental beginnings for alternative guest
opportunities. “Holden on the Road”
(pages 3-5) and “Holden on the Trail”
(pages 6-7) are two program options
for guests to consider.
If you have experienced Holden
Village as a guest only in the summer, we invite you to consider a new
experience as a winter guest or as a
volunteer worker for a week this summer.
Holden’s winter program is alive
and well. Consider venturing to the
Village yet this season. The winter program will remain consistent
throughout 2013-2014. It is a time of
awe and beauty.
On pages 8-9, you’ll find information about volunteering to work
on Holden’s many facilities and
infrastructure projects this summer.
Consider coming as an individual or
a group.
Here we go! It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable. But with God and with
your enthusiasm, grace, patience and
involvement it’s possible. And it’s
beautiful.
Stephanie Carpenter and husband Chuck
are co-executive directors
of Holden Village
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Experience the rhythms
of Holden Village ─
worship, learning
and recreation ─ as
we partner with
exciting venues
across the country.
Pages 3-5
Hike, learn and worship
in Holden’s backyard.
Pages 6-7
Sure, you can come to
Holden this summer.
Just plan to wear a
hard hat!
Pages 8-9
Holden’s bookstore
has always been about
more than books.
Sometimes it’s more
than meets the eye.
Page 11
Page 2
Ambiguity
and being theologians of the cross
By Christian Scharen
blessed and the forsaken goes right through
each of us. Martin Luther used the image
of yeast in the lump of dough. Like yeast in
artin Luther spoke not about “the
making a loaf of bread, Christ is at work in
theology of the cross” but about being
us. Our whole lives are like rising dough;
“theologians of glory” or “theologians of
our baking is being born to eternal life.
the cross.” Being a theologian of the cross is
Deeply rooted in our confession of faith
not some heady thing one needs a Ph.D. to
we find the conviction stated in Holden’s
understand. It is all about how you see the
vision: “the love of God making new the
world, and therefore how you live in it. It is
church and world through the cross of Jesus
a perspective that shapes a way of life. At
Christ.”
root, it is about
Heidelberg
our willingness
Disputation 20: That
to admit our
person deserves to be
ways are not
called a theologian,
God’s ways, to
however, who comadmit we are all
prehends the visible
too human.
and manifest things
Heidelberg
of God seen through
Disputation 18: It
suffering and the
is certain that one
cross.
must despair of
What does it
one’s own ability
mean to “make
before one is prenew the church
pared to receive the
and world through
grace of Christ.
the cross”? Here
Luther
we come to the
does not mean
deepest mystery
despairing about
of our confession
our ability to
of faith in God:
make cod and
God works not by
kale. This is not
power but by love,
despair about
Koinonia reredos and cross draped for Advent
Lisa Maren Thompson photo utterly surprising
human ability
us by facing the
in relation to the
worst of human sin and evil and mercifully
ordinary things of this world. Here we are
forgiving us, promising new life beyond
talking about human ability to know with
brokenness, fear and death.
certainty God’s relationship to the world,
Out of such love, we have faith to go
and to us. However, the way we underout with good courage. Out of such love, we
stand God’s relationship to the world and
have hope in God to lead us though we do
to us impacts how we relate to the ordinary
not know the way. This sets up the fundathings of this world.
mental logic we follow as theologians of
Heidelberg Disputation 19: That person does
the cross: not “if we . . . , then God . . . ,” but
not deserve to be called a theologian who looks
“because God . . . , therefore we . . . .” One
upon the invisible things of God as though they
leads to the logic of anxiety and judgment,
were clearly perceptible in those things which
while the other leads to the logic of trust and
have actually happened.
openness.
The divide is between a naïve and triI Corinthians 13:12-13: For now we see in
umphant confidence in our ability to know
a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face.
God is on our side, and a realistic admisNow I know only in part; then I will know fully,
sion of our need for compassion, mercy and
even as I have been fully known. And now faith,
grace, as Fred Niedner put it so well in a
hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest
document he wrote for the Holden board of
of these is love.
directors in 2006.
If we are so sure we’re right about what
Christian Scharen, vice president of the
God is up to in the world, we might be
Holden board of directors,
tempted to draw lines between sides: the
made this presentation to the board
blessed and the forsaken. The theologian
at its October meeting
of the cross confesses this line between the
M
How much ambiguity*
can you tolerate?
Instructions: Please respond to the following statements
by indicating the extent to which you agree or disagree with
them. Fill in the blanks with the number from the rating scale
that best represents your evaluation of the time.
Rating Scale
1. Strongly disagree
2. Moderately disagree
3. Slightly disagree
4. Neither agree nor disagree
5. Slightly agree
6. Moderately agree
7. Strongly agree
_____ 1. An expert who doesn’t come up with a definite
answer probably doesn’t know too much.
_____ 2. I would like to live in a foreign country for a while.
_____ 3. There is really no such thing as a problem that can’t
be solved.
_____ 4. People who fit their lives to a schedule probably
miss most of the joy of living.
_____ 5. A good job is one where what is to be done and
how it is to be done are always clear.
_____ 6. It is more fun to tackle a complicated problem than
to solve a simple one.
_____ 7. In the long run it is possible to get more done by
tackling small, simple problems rather than large
and complicated ones.
_____ 8. Often the most interesting and stimulating people
are those who don’t mind being different and
original.
_____ 9. What we are used to is always preferable to what is
unfamiliar.
_____ 10. People who insist upon a yes or no answer just
don’t know how complicated things really are.
_____ 11. A person who leads an even, regular life in which
few surprises or unexpected happenings arise really has a lot to be grateful for.
_____ 12. Many of our most important decisions are based
upon insufficient information.
_____ 13. I like parties where I know most of the people
more than ones where all or most of the people
are complete strangers.
_____ 14. Teachers or supervisors who hand out vague assignments give one a chance to show intiative and
originality.
_____ 15. The sooner we all acquire similar values and ideals
the better.
_____ 16. A good teacher is one who makes you wonder
about your way of looking at things.
Scoring the Scale
To score, answers to the even-numbered items must be
reversed. That is, the 7s become 1s, the 6s become 2s, 5s
become 3s and the 4s remain the same. After reversing the
even-numbered answers, add the scores for all 16 statements for your total score. Higher scores indicate a greater
intolerance for ambiguity.
Your Score _________
Average Range: 44-48
Average scores for comparison:
New York psychology students Engineering students
Advanced sociology students
Nursing students
High school honor students
Eastern medical students
Midwestern medical students
50.9
48.9
49.3
51.9
48.2
44.6
45.2
*Tolerance of Ambiguity Scale ─ Budner (1962)
Page 3
Holden on the Road
Experience the rhythms of Holden Village ─ worship, learning and
recreation ─ as we partner with exciting venues across the country
Camp House
Mt. Cross Camp
Donated by the House family, Camp House is a former railroad camp set in Minnesota’s
Northwoods by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The 120-acre site near Brimson, Minn.,
is about 30 minutes north of Two Harbors and 60 miles from Duluth. The accommodations are rustic in a scenic setting. As at Holden, Camp House is away from the hustle and
bustle of the technological age, with no cell phone or Internet service. There is, however,
the opportunity to experience seeing the stars in their full glory and, when the sun’s out,
enjoying rest and recreation on the beach.
Nestled in a grove of redwood trees, yet just a 15-minute drive from famous Monterey
Bay, Mt. Cross offers access to the beautiful scenery of the California coastline. The redwoods act as a natural host for the camp’s high ropes courses and provide the opportunity
for environmental education. A favorite activity is the Big Tree Hike, which leads hikers to
the largest redwood on-site.
Brimson, Minn.
June 23-28, 2013
Dining hall and lodge provide gathering spaces to connect with fellow guests, and
meals are served buffet style.
Nine cabins are available. A few of the cabins can be divided to create a total of 14
private cabin quarters. Each cabin quarter has one queen-size bed with several twin beds
and/or twin bunks. Camp House does not provide linens but does have a quilt for each
bed. The cabins do not have indoor plumbing. Separate bathhouses for males and females
are located nearby.
Another lodging option, Canoe House, can be separated into five living quarters with
a queen-size bed plus either twin or bunk beds in each. Canoe House rooms share one
bathroom each for men and women.
Camp House is one of three lakeside sites operated through Green Lake Lutheran
Ministries, with a main office in Spicer, Minn. Camp House is GLLM’S most rustic location
and most similar to Holden. GLLM anticipates expanding its program at Camp House, looking to Holden as a model for intergenerational ministry. Green Lake Lutheran Ministries
welcomes an infusion of Holden energy and programming as the organization broadens its
ministry from being youth-oriented to welcoming campers of all ages.
A special site coordinator will run the program at Camp House during the Holden week,
and staff from other GLLM sites will be brought in to provide programming. The schedule
will be tailored to Holden Villagers accustomed to a full spectrum of activities for all ages,
to include worship, study and recreation.
9916 Lake Ave. S.
Spicer, MN 56288
Phone: 320-796-2181
www.gllm.org
Ben Lomond, Calif.
June 30-July 5, 2013
Guests also have the option to visit, play, learn and serve others while enjoying the
beauty of Monterey Bay. Besides enjoying sun and surf, Mt. Cross campers have traditionally participated in environmentally oriented service projects, such as Save Our Shores.
The camp is able to help families book activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding or bay
tours.
For hikers, Big Basin and Henry Cowell state parks are located nearby. Both offer numerous half-day, full-day and overnight hiking trails.
The high ropes course, climbing tower and giant swing are operated under a rigorous
safety program. Facilitators must participate in a 40-hour training course and pass both a
written and practical exam. The high ropes course is for ages 11 and up with a low ropes
course that is fun and challenging for younger campers.
Both cabins and lodge rooms are available. All buildings have electricity, heating and
indoor bathrooms. Redwood and Evergreen cabins feature four adjoining dorm-style rooms
with bunk beds. Madrones is a collection of seven individual cabins with bunk beds, sleeping 10 guests per cabin. The lodges, Lower Jensen and Oak, offer ideal family rooms with
both regular and bunk beds.
Mt. Cross endeavors to serve healthy, hearty and tasty food. The food-services director
works to provide home-cooked meals and prefers to serve family-style whenever possible.
Special treats include occasional themed dinners with decorations and special food.
7955 Highway 9
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
Phone: 831-336-5179
www.mtcross.org
Page 4
ARC Retreat Center
Stanchfield, Minn.
Weekend Retreat:
June 28-30
(Limited Space Available)
Koinonia NY
In New York’s Delaware River Highlands
July 15-21, 2013
Koinonia NY is a Lutheran retreat ministry in the lower Catskills of New York, about
90 miles northeast of New York City. Set on 1,200 acres of old forest land just above the
Delaware River Valley, it features a mile-long lake that invites canoeing and kayaking, a
replica homestead cabin and miles of hiking trails. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013,
Koinonia has become a community grounded in daily worship, hospitality, theological study,
discussion around social and justice concerns, arts and learning of all sorts, and a strong
sense of God’s earthly gifts including its beautiful and care-worthy natural setting.
Koinonia’s intergenerational summer program, “Renewing the Family of God,” will look
familiar to Holdenites. Monday through Friday, the day begins with morning prayer and
Bible study, continuing through sessions and activities intended to spark wide-ranging
conversation and encourage discovery of the “koinonia” that comes when God’s promises
are proclaimed.
Teaching staff with varying areas of expertise volunteer time to lead and participate in
this lively gift of community. At the end of the Holden week, a weekend retreat focusing on
theology and the arts will be consistent with the weekday schedule. People are welcome to
sign up for either or both options.
Lodging choices include the Kairos Conference Center, which hosts most daily indoor
activities. It has 20 bedrooms with baths and two or three beds, mostly doubles. Outlying
cabins each house between 10 and 35 people with bunk beds, and there is also a campground. Meals are freshly prepared, and bread is made in the Koinonia kitchen. In recognition of Holden tradition, toasters will be plugged in 24 hours a day.
Former Holden directors Tom Ahlstrom and Paul and Carol Hinderlie are currently directors of Koinonia. They look forward to welcoming old friends and helping kindle a new
friendship between the two communities.
165 Lakeview Drive
Highland Lake NY 12743
Phone: 800-980-2267
www.koinoniany.org/[email protected]
ARC is located 55 miles north of Minneapolis on 90 acres of
pristine wetlands and white pine forest with trails, labyrinth,
organic gardens, extensive library and campfire ring. Offering
accommodations in a lodge, cottage and hermitage, ARC is
well known for wholesome, homemade food, using ingredients
that mirror the philosophy of the Holden Village kitchen. A
small, resident community offers hospitality and welcomes all
to this site of Action, Reflection and Celebration.
1680 373rd Ave. N.E.
Stanchfield, MN 55080
Phone: 763-689-3540
www.arcretreat.org/
Holden-Road
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Bexley, Ohio (just east of downtown Columbus)
July 21-27, 2013
Trinity is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), located just
east of downtown Columbus. The campus, located in a predominantly Jewish community
and adjacent to Capital University, is surrounded by an urban environment. Visitors can
enjoy a short walk to a variety of restaurants, four gourmet ice cream shops, parks and a
bike trail along Alum Creek. First English, an ELCA congregation and Trinity partner located
about a mile west of campus, focuses on urban ministry.The Columbus setting offers ample
diversity, including several local farmers’ markets and the quaint, cobble-stoned German
Village, home to a unique 32-room bookstore and Shakespeare in the Park.
As a site for Holden on the Road, Trinity plans to offer service project opportunities,
outings within the local community, time spent indoors and out, worship, hikes, a balance
between structure and free time, learning and play. The intergenerational component will
be incorporated into the existing Summer Seminary Sampler, a residential program that
encourages high school youth to explore vocational options in Christ’s church, participate in
service projects and think theologically. Sessions will be developed by faculty from Trinity,
nearby Bexley Hall (an Episcopal seminary) and Capital University, an ELCA school, as well
as by leaders within the wider community and those connected to Holden. An inter-faith
focus with the local Jewish community is planned.
Lodging options include guest housing, dorm-style apartments in student housing and
Capital dormitories. The food experience can include buffet, family-style meals, communal
cooking and eating low on the food chain.
Trinity offers ample worship opportunities throughout the day and week, varying between morning and evening prayer, responsive prayer with preaching, Taizé and Eucharist.
Multiple worship spaces include the spacious Gloria Dei and the smaller, more intimate
Schenk Chapel. Also available are the courtyard and campfire pit for outdoor worship. As at
Holden, the community will worship together with evening Vespers.
2199 East Main Street
Columbus OH 43209
Phone: 614-235-4136
www.tlsohio.edu
Camp Lutherwood Oregon
Cheshire, Ore.
Aug. 11-16, 2013
Camp Lutherwood is located about 30 miles from Eugene, Ore., in the coastal foothills of
the Cascade Mountains. Established in 1959 by Lutheran congregations in the area, Lutherwood has been offering programs for children, youth and adults ever since. Lutherwood
strives to offer a place and space that is accessible to all where authentic relationships with
God, others, self and the Earth are modeled and encouraged.
Guests of all ages have many opportunities to enjoy and learn about God’s creation on
the camp’s 71 diverse acres. Operating for 53 years on a 28-acre plot, the camp expanded
last year with the purchase of additional property. The site features a stream and river, varied forest habitats, as well as a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. The swimming pool and shower
house, with bathrooms and showers that are ADA accessible, were built in 2009.
There are many hiking trails to explore including a favorite hike to a nearby old-growth
stand. Activities include an archery range, craft area, climbing wall, challenge course and
wide open fields, perfect for stargazing and games. The camp’s close proximity to Fern
Ridge Reservoir allows opportunities to take canoes out for an afternoon of relaxation and
fun.
The coordinating team for the Holden week combines years of experience with both
Holden and Lutherwood and plans to integrate the two ministries, emphasizing preservation
and love for God’s creation and teaching how to integrate those values into daily life.
The camp has eight cabins and three tent cabins. All beds are bunk-style with new mattresses. Four of the cabins have bathrooms attached, and four cabins have bathrooms inside
the cabin. Restroom faciliies are a short walk from the tent cabins. Tent and RV camping is
also available. The Lodge, with a large stone fireplace, is the main gathering place. Meals
are served family style at Camp Lutherwood, which strives to offer a variety of healthy and
homemade meals. The kitchen staff is committed to offering local ingredients as available
and to using fresh and seasonal produce. Fresh-baked bread, cinnamon rolls and cookies
are favorites at Lutherwood.
Page 5
Outlaw Ranch
Black Hills National Forest, Custer, S.D.
Aug. 12-18, 2013
Outlaw Ranch is located in the midst of the Black Hills National Forest five miles east of
Custer, S.D. The 195-acre ranch consists of Ponderosa Pine forests, pastures, hills and a
stream. Each day, adults are challenged by speakers on topics of faith and life, including
local ecology and native culture. A guided wildlife drive is offered, allowing a chance to
view wildlife and enjoy the beauty of the hills in the early morning light. The surrounding
national forest and nearby lakes allow opportunities for many activities, including hiking,
horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, challenge course and mountain biking. Attractions in the southern Black Hills area that make great family afternoon outings include
Jewel Cave or Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, swimming at a nearby lake,
Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore and water slides.
The ranch offers four styles of lodging with heat and electricity in all buildings:
Lodge rooms: Most with one queen bed and two singles, sink in each room. Some
rooms have private shower/toilet room and some rooms share with one other room.
Barn Retreat Center rooms: Three single beds and one upper bunk (four people per
room). Bathrooms on the hallway for three rooms to share have two each of toilet,
sink and shower.
Cabins: One queen bed and three bunk beds per cabin. Cabin residents use a nearby
public shower house.
Campground: Space for a few tents or smaller campers. No hookups. Public shower
house available.
Outlaw Ranch provides home-cooked meals, served through a buffet line. The food
coordinator has been with the ranch for 11 years and has extensive food service experience. The kitchen will accommodate special diets, including vegetarian, low-fat, low-salt,
diabetic and gluten-free items. Fresh, homemade bread is served each evening. Lunches
are often packed for those wanting to head off-camp for the afternoon for hiking or other
adventures. Amenities include a hot beverage bar and fresh fruit.
The ranch represents a broad community of staff, guests and volunteers, including a
core group of local volunteers who help maintain the grounds and assist with retreats.
22960 Oregon 36
Cheshire OR 97419
Phone: 541-998-6444
www.lutherwoodoregon.org
12703 Outlaw Ranch Road
Custer SD 57730
Phone: 605-673-4040
www.losd.org/holdenvillage
Holden on the Road
Cost and registration details are available at each website, or
go to www.holdenvillage.org for direct links and updates.
Other sites may be added and will be announced as arrange-
ments are completed. You can stay up to date by reading BeHolden, the Village’s twice-monthly newsletter. Subscribe at
www.holdenvillage.org.
Questions? Email: [email protected].
Page 6
Holden on the Trail
Three sessions:
July 21-27, Aug. 4-10, Aug. 11-17
Three levels of hiking:
Basic, Medium, Challenging
Holden on the Trail, a new program being introduced this summer,
will provide three of the most popular elements of a visit to Holden:
hiking, learning and worship. It offers a one-week, backcountry experience outside the Village in the surrounding Railroad Creek Valley and
Glacier Peak Wilderness. Hikes will begin and end at Holden Village.
Three levels of hikes will be available to families and individuals
each of three sessions: basic, medium and challenging. Each group will
consist of nine guests and three leaders who are experienced hikers.
The leaders will include a pastor, a teaching staff member and at least
one person who is first-aid certified. Possible teaching session topics
may include theology and religion, ecology and environment, health
and wellness, global studies and politics, and visual arts.
Participants should be in good physical condition with no major
health problems. Food and hiking gear will be provided.
Please note: All particulars are subject to change.
Look for updates, details, trail maps and registration information
on the Holden website: www.holdenvillage.org.
Questions? Email: [email protected].
Basic Hike (approx. 27 miles): Enjoy
a week of hiking, fellowship and spectacular views. Overnights at Hart Lake
and Lyman Lake, with possible day trips
to Upper Lyman Lake, Holden Lake and
Cloudy Pass. Expect to hike 5-7 miles per
day with medium elevation gain. Hikers
must be at least 8 years old (at the time
of registration). Hikers under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult who is prepared
to carry the child’s portion of group gear if
the child is unable to do so.
Medium Hike (approx. 42 miles): Treat
yourself to an upbeat tour of some of the
most beautiful sites surrounding Holden.
Overnights at Hart Lake, Lyman Lake,
Cloudy Pass and Image Lake with possible day trips to Spider Gap and Miner’s
Ridge. Expect to hike 7-10 miles per day
with medium to high elevation gain. Hikers
must be entering their junior year of high
school or older. Those under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult.
Challenging Hike (approx. 45 miles):
Come ready for a strenuous and rewarding
challenge, venturing outside the bounds
of Holden’s usual destination hikes to
cover ground through the stunning surrounding wilderness. Depart from Holden
Village and hike a 40-mile loop that passes
through Stehekin. Expect to hike 8-12
miles per day with medium to high elevation gain. Hikers must be entering their
junior year of high school or older. Those
under 18 must be accompanied by an
adult.
Page 7
Hiking around Holden
Photos on facing page: (top) en
route to Image Lake with Glacier
Peak in the background; (below)
Resting on the boulders approaching Lyman Lake. This page: (left)
camping at Image Lake; (below)
Creek crossing on the way to
Cloudy Pass. Small photos: junction trail sign and an alert marmot.
Photos by Stephanie Carpenter
Page 8
This summer’s all about
HARD HATS
By Chuck Carpenter
B
ig changes at Holden Village
this summer! The mine remediation project is ramping up to a
level that is not compatible with
Holden’s normal guest opportunities. Will there be program? Yes.
Will there be great experiences?
Yes. Will it be a little crazy, not unlike your regular Holden? Yes. Will
there be guests? No, not during the
summer of 2013.
The mine project is expected to
impact Holden Village’s summer
season for two years. Holden will
be the same village of mountain
beauty, laughter and smiles, and
always the encouraging word. But
Holden will also be different in
some ways. In a way, the Village
will return to the days of a mining
town ─ going back to the 75-yearold bones of the Village and giving
them new life with new roofs,
pipes, wires, etc.
W
e come to Holden for renewal. Now it is time for renewal
of the Village: making things new,
except keeping them looking like
the old, well-loved Village. Holden Village will be made ready for
many years of ministry to come.
Hear the call! Come next
summer as a volunteer. Come to
work, to be together, to be a part of
a venture of which we cannot see
the ending. Come as an individual,
as part of a family group or with a
C
What
to expect
at Holden
this summer
church or other organized group.
Come and be part of the
unique community of Holden Village during this unusual time. The
rhythms of Holden will continue
in the midst of digging, heavy machinery noise and construction. The
focus of those coming will be work
projects, but as always at Holden,
the program rhythms will continue
with Bible study and teaching sessions in the evenings. Laughter and
hilarity will lighten our load as we
take on these tasks joyfully!
I
t will take many hands. Traditional villagers will share Holden
with new villagers ─ mine construction workers. Anywhere from
150 to 175 Holden staff, contractors and volunteers will share the
Village with as many or more mine
construction workers. Holden
Village will be looking for both
skilled trades workers and also
many general workers. Carpenters,
electricians, plumbers, mechanics,
machine operators and sawyers
will be sought to help with the
construction projects.
Some of the work will be
contracted out, particularly the
more complicated or dangerous
work, such as the roofing projects.
A continual flow of volunteers who
are talented in a variety of tasks
will be sought to participate in a
program that is much like Habitat
for Humanity. They will be directed by Holden project leaders in
onstruction season will
begin May 1, 2013, and end
sometime in late November. We
will stop having guests in the
Village by the end of April and
will start having guests again
at the end of November. During
this time we will attempt to
make a uniform schedule. To
make the most of the opportunity for construction, a number
of changes will occur:
• Bus runs will be limited to
Saturday (departures) and
Sunday (arrivals).
such things as landscaping, light
construction, painting, milling and
moving things. If you have always
come as a guest, maybe you’d like
to experience Holden as a volunteer?
P
lease spread the word. We
welcome all and want as many
as possible to participate in this
renewal. This will require much
organization, cooperation and
grace. Our target is to begin regis-
• Minimum stay for a volunteer
will be one week, instead of the
usual three-week minimum.
• For work site safety (in keeping with policies during Holden’s
days as a mining town) and
extending hospitality as we
interface with remediation
workers and their remote camp
protocol, the entire Village will
be alcohol free during the construction season. Yes, you read
that correctly – a dry village
from May 1 through November.
tering volunteers in February. Job
descriptions and volunteer applications will be posted on our website sometime in January. We are
currently updating our database
system, so you will also be encouraged to provide information that
will help us keep in contact with
you all.
• Volunteers must be at least
15 years old, and those under
18 accompanied by a parent or
guardian.
• All volunteers will go through
a thorough safety orientation
before being assigned to a
project.
• The Holden day will begin
earlier and end later, but will
include Bible study and teaching sessions.
Chuck Carpenter and wife Stephanie
are co-executive directors
of Holden Village
A number of things will not
change:
• Worship every day.
•The ministry of welcome to all
and hospitality will continue to
be at the heart of the experience.
• The conversations will continue.
• There will be program activities in the evenings.
• Access to hiking trails for time
off.
• It will be Holden.
WHAT WE’RE DOING
AND SOME OF THE
FOLKS WE’LL NEED
Four main utilities are scheduled for installation this summer:
◊ New potable water system
◊ Raw water system
◊ Underground electrical distribution system
◊ Communications conduit and
fiber.
Utilities projects are expected
to take most of the summer and
into fall. Both short-term and
long-term volunteers are needed.
Some skills needed to accomplish these projects:
◦ Skilled backhoe operators for
digging trenches
◦ People familiar with installing
HDPE pipe with fused joints
◦ People familiar with installing schedule 80 PVC electrical
conduit
◦ Journey level electricians ─
both for house wiring and medium voltage distribution wiring. It
may be difficult to find someone
with both, but we can use any
journey level electrician.
◦ Pipe fitters
◦ Plumbers
◦ People familiar with pulling
fiber optic cable and splicing
◦ Cable pullers for electrical
distribution cable
◦ Sprinkler system installers
Other projects outside of
utilities for which volunteers are
needed include:
◦ Grading, delimbing, peeling
and sorting logs
◦ Prefab replacement porch
railings in a shop area: pre-finish
ready for future installation
◦ Continue sawmill operations
◦ Mill lumber for exterior porch
decking, trim boards, skirting,
siding and other projects
◦ Rebuild existing windows and
doors, repair, repaint and reinstall
◦ Construct new storm windows, prime and paint, install
◦ Pre-prime and paint exterior
wood products before installation
◦ Build garbo area platform and
roof
◦ Repair and repaint siding,
trim on some of the buildings on
the south side of the main road.
We will begin accepting
volunteer applications
in February
at www.holdenvillage.org
Page 9
Beginning with the Forerunners
of 1961, volunteers have been the
mainstay of Holden Village and
will be essential to the Village’s
plans for refurbishing infrastructure and facilities. These are a sampling of the volunteers who turned
out for June Work Camp and Fall
Work Week in 2012. Summer 2013
promises to be like Work Camp on
steroids.
Photo on facing page by Brent Diamond
Photos this page by Tommy Gibson
Page 10
Facilities planning meeting with SHKS Architects
Tommy Gibson photo
When all is said and done,
what will the Village be like?
By Mary Koch
“You might not come for five, 10 or even 20
years. But when you do come back to the Village,
it’s always the same.”
T
hat sentiment or a variation of it was voiced
repeatedly by Villagers who participated
in the 50th Anniversary “Story Corps” project
at Holden last summer. For some, there was a
hint of trepidation: how will mine remediation
alter Holden Village?
“The Village itself will look fresh, but not
really change,” assures facilities manager Bob
Hewitt, who is working on plans for infrastructure and building upgrades within the Village.
Bob points out that the Village is required to
abide by federal regulations governing historical sites. Holden, which operates under a
special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service,
must retain the original, “industrial” look of its
mining era.
That said, the Village is taking advantage
of remediation upheaval to upgrade infrastructure and some facilities. The project list
includes water main replacement, fire suppression installations, burying electrical lines, rebuilding porch railings and re-roofing lodges.
Facilities demolished because of remediation
will be replaced, including the garage, Portal
Museum and garbo/recycling center. Developing plans for much of the change is a Seattle
firm, SHKS Architects, chosen because of its
substantial experience working with government regulation of historic sites.
Much of Holden’s infrastructure is underground, installed 75 years ago when builders
anticipatedthat it need last only the lifetime
of the mine. Because Holden Village operates
year-round, upgrading various systems while
trying to accommodate guests would raise serious safety issues.
“There’s going to be a lot of digging
around the Village next summer,” notes Bob.
Yellow caution tape will be a predominant visual, and the Village itself will be “a construction zone,” he says.
“All of these projects with utilities are very
disruptive. This mine remediation is an opportunity,” says Chris Shultz, public works manager. “The plan right now is to put new water
mains throughout the village. That involves
ditches that will go pretty much everywhere.”
B
esides upgrading the domestic water system, the plan includes a system to enhance
protection against forest fires ─ one of the most
serious, ongoing threats to the Village. In 2007,
when the Domke Lake fire forced evacuation
of the Village, fire fighters “had hoses running
everywhere” with sprinklers on porches as
makeshift protection, recalled Chris. Even that
level of protection was limited to the 125,000
gallons of water available through the domestic water system and a series of small pumps
drawing from Railroad Creek.
The new system will use untreated surface
water from Copper Creek with large irrigationstyle sprinklers situated at strategic places
around the village. If a fire were threatening
the Village, the hydroelectric plant would be
shut down, and water going through the pen
stock would be available for protection. The
raw water system will also be used for irrigating lawns and gardens in the summer, eliminating chlorine from entering the soil ─ not to
mention the need to haul hoses around every
morning.
O
pen ditches will give the Village an opportunity to put power lines underground.
Overhead lines are susceptible to snow and
falling trees, plus the Village does not have
trained pole climbers for repairs. Whether
underground power will change the look of
the Village is just one item on a long list of
unknowns. With U.S. Forest Service permitting
processes yet to be completed, there’s a question of whether the overhead lines will be removed or retained (even if inactive) to preserve
the Village’s mid-20th century look.
Behind it all is a legion of teamwork involving a wide range of Villagers and professionals planning and scheduling construction
amidst the maze of government regulation,
heavy construction across the creek, hosting
those construction workers and coordinating
the Village’s own projects.
“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle,” says Chris.
Page 11
You can visit the Holden bookstore on-line at
www.holdenvillage.org. Follow the link in the
Community tab and yes, you can use your credit
card. On-line sales are limited to goods that are
not readily available elsewhere, such as Holden
Village publications, cards and calendars.
The Bookstore:
When merchandising
means ministry
Sean Whalen, bookstore coordinator
By Mary Koch
T
he first-time Holden visitor
had arrived from the East
Coast, ready to volunteer for Fall
Work Week but not ready for the
early snow that blanketed the
Village. No problem. Credit card
in hand, he hastened to purchase
warmer clothes at the bookstore,
where he learned that only checks
or cash are accepted. He wasn’t
prepared for that, either.
He asked if the bookstore
would extend credit, but it turned
out he didn’t need it. Bookstore
manager Sean Whalen quickly offered to loan one of his own jackets, and later, when the volunteer
expressed a desire to learn how to
knit, others gave him needles and
yarn.
“The Village wrapped its
arms around him,” observes Sean.
“He got to experience a more
gracious community because of
that. The Village provided for his
needs; his plastic did not save
him.”
Providing hospitality, meeting
the needs of Villagers, fulfilling
the Village’s mission and adhering to its core values: those are the
business model elements for the
Holden Village bookstore. Despite
that, or perhaps because of it, the
store generates revenue.
The bookstore has been a
Holden fixture since 1975 when
Lola Deane (a current board mem-
Lisa Maren Thompson photo
ber) set it up as an adjunct to a
bookstore she and a friend opened
on Mercer Island, Wash. As Lola
recalls in her book, Holden Village:
50 Years of Memories, the Village
had a small store beneath the
dining hall, providing emergency
supplies for hikers and Villagers. Adding books was a logical
expansion of the Holden teaching
program.
“The idea of the bookstore
being a viable ministry was
paramount from the very beginning as another way for people
to confront their beliefs and the
problems of the world through
reading,” Lola wrote. The Village was clearly ready for such an
enterprise ─ the initial inventory
was bought out in two hours.
These days, bookstore customers are a little more eager for
T-shirts and jackets than books.
Clothing with Holden insignias
represents something of a status
symbol and is the bookstore’s No.
1 seller. What Sean most enjoys
selling, however, are goods that
come from the Village itself: pottery, art, photography and, as he
puts it, “stuff that comes with a
story.” He enjoyed the “You Are
Here” T-shirts created by Espen
Diamond (son of former bookstore manager Maren Diamond),
with a map of Railroad Creek Valley on the front and GPS latitude/
longitude indications on the back.
Sorry, they’re sold out.
There’s the fun of selling coffee mugs made by Grace Coffey
and being able to tell customers
about the individuals behind the
various pottery styles.
“People who shop here like
that,” says Sean. “They like to go
home not with just a product, but
with a story that goes along with
it.”
The arrival of construction
workers for the mine remediation placed new demands on the
bookstore ─ demands that Sean
and his volunteer staff are happy
to meet. When workers needed
better protection under their hard
hats against the cold of the mine
shaft, Sean pored through catalogs
to find the ideal cap. They sold
out in days.
As the Village evolved into
winter, store hours have been
extended and spaces rearranged
to allow for socializing ─ including a corner where kids can watch
“Veggie Tales.” That hasn’t led
to a big up-tick in sales, but that
wasn’t the point, says Sean. He
saw it as part of the bookstore’s
ministry, providing someplace
more intimate than the dining hall
and giving Villagers the “opportunity to come and be.”
Holden’s bookstore, adds
Sean with a smile, “is the perfect
blend of community and capitalism.”
A new knitting nook is proving popular in the bookstore.
Page 12
T
o sing in the
face of death
There is a song reaching the whole earth, wrought from
patience, love and prayer. Neither violent nor assertive,
it is peace begetting peace, love made manifest. Listen
to it with the ear of your heart; let it go deep within.
Open to the sound, to the holy words, to the life of
which it sings.
Katharine Le Mée, The Benedictine Gift to Music
By Linda Allen
A
n elderly woman is dying.
Her daughter, in the care
facility room with her, has requested music. Four women enter
the room, sit on stools around the
dying woman’s bedside and begin
singing softly. The woman and
her daughter are surrounded by
soft, affirming songs, sometimes
humming, sometimes holding a
space of silence between songs.
The patient requests a Beatles
song, and as the singers sing,
she visibly relaxes. The daughter
has joined the singing. After 30
minutes, the singers leave. The
tearful daughter follows them into
the hall, expressing how moved
she and her mother have been by
the visit.
This is the work I do as a
minister, therapeutic musician
and songwriter and as a founder
of two Threshold choirs. These are
scenes I have witnessed countless times over the past five years.
Being at the bedside and training
others to offer this gift of song are
my ministry, my calling and my
passion.
y
a
t
s
’s
h
t
c
Le tou
in
OK. So it’s not as good as a Holden hug, but you can stay
up-to-date with the Village online. Like us on Facebook.
Find us on Flickr and YouTube. Sign up for the twice monthly
e-newsletter, Be-Holden, by going to our website:
COMPASSIONATE VOICES
Linda Allen will lead a weekend
retreat, March 15-18, of songs,
conversations and training for those
who may wish to bring the ministry
of healing music to the bedside of
those who are seriously ill or dying.
Guests are welcome to come for the
bedside training or to sing for the joy
of singing.
The retreat will also offer opportunities for conversation about death
and grief.
“We will celebrate our gift of life
and our passion to serve as we take
time to sing, to play, make art, dance
and share in the rhythms of Holden,”
says Linda. “Hospice professionals,
village artists and others will join us
to teach and facilitate activities.”
To attend, register as a regular
guest for those dates on the website,
www.holdenvillage.org.
Linda is a long-term Holden staff
member, serving as a member of the
Singing at the bedside is a gift
that has been offered to those who
are suffering throughout history,
for relaxation and pain relief.
And it is a gift for both the singer
and those who receive it.
The Threshold Choir movement was begun by Kate Munger,
who noticed that her dying friend
was soothed and relaxed when
she sang for him. Kate began
meeting with circles of singers.
Together they learned and wrote
songs for the bedside and practiced singing for patients. The
movement grew into a national
movement with close to a hundred choirs around the country.
I’ve learned a few things
about singing at the bedside. First
and foremost, I’ve learned that
the most important gift is the gift
of presence. Being fully present
to the patient, to caregivers and
family members is already a precious gift. Our singers are carefully prepared. We go with one to
four singers and sing around the
bedside of one patient. We work
closely with hospice services for
referrals, and most of our singers
have taken hospice training. We
also work with hospital chaplains
and with directors of care facilities.
Our singers gather twice
monthly to learn songs and to
practice singing for patients. Singers practice blending voices and
learning harmonies. We also share
stories from the bedside. Usually
our singers will attend rehearsals
Gary Benson photo
program team and as village posti.
Her husband, Scott Slaba, is Holden’s
business manager.
for six months before going to the
bedside. Our singers also occasionally sing for churches, conferences, hospice memorials and at
the graveside.
The songs we learn come
from various spiritual traditions
and cultures. Over half the repertoire of a typical choir consists of
songs written by Threshold Choir
members. It is such a joy to sing in
a group! And it is such an honor
to be invited into the sacred space
surrounding a dying patient.
As a Holden Creative Resource Resident in October of
2011, I created a body of songs for
bedside singing that resulted in
the CD and Songbook, Carry Us
Through This Night, available at
the Holden Village website under
community/bookstore. It was my
gift for those who sing or who
may need the healing gift of song.
To learn more about the
Threshold Choir movement, you
can visit www.thresholdchoir.org.
Members gain access to a large
body of songs and resources and
links to the locations of Threshold
Choirs around the country.
To sing for someone who is
struggling, who may be in pain,
lonely or isolated, is a gift every
one of us can offer. Sing for a
friend or relative who may be
dying, sing to soothe a frightened
child, sing to settle your own
heart. Singing is your birthright.
And it is your gift.
Blessed be.
Page 13
‘But always, the Gospel led us’
From behind the scenes, the board looks ahead for the Village
T
hey are the behind-the-scene
volunteers, meeting without
fanfare twice each year to determine how the vision and mission of Holden Village will take
shape in the future. As a nonprofit
corporation, Holden is governed
by a 20-member board of directors whose role has been vital yet
evolving over the Village’s 50year history.
In the early years, board
members were likely to roll up
their sleeves and get involved
with both the physical and
managerial aspects of running the
Village. The very first board chair,
University of Washington law
professor Vern Rieke, and his wife
Jane even put a second mortgage
on their house to help with initial
finances.
Current board members can
still be seen putting in volunteer time as housekeepers and
mavericks, but they’re no longer
involved in running the place. Jim
Hushagen, the Village’s longtime
attorney, has a succinct description of the board’s duties: “Noses
in; fingers out.”
The board’s self-management
policies describe what that means
in more detail, requiring its
members to “emphasize outward
vision rather than internal preoccupation.” The policies also
encourage diverse viewpoints,
“strategic leadership rather than
administrative detail” and “future
rather than past or present orientation.” Board responsibilities
include selecting executive directors, approving an annual budget,
establishing policy and electing
members to fill board vacancies.
Throughout its history, the
board has grappled with tough
decisions ─ among the earliest
being whether Holden Village
would be a youth camp or an
intergenerational retreat center,
and whether the Village would be
a year-round community.
“The gift of being part of
the process of Holden, through
serving on the board, was enriching beyond words,” wrote Ellen
Gamrath, Seattle, who was on the
board from 1973 to1984 and was
president those final six years.
“Not that there wasn’t hard work
involved with the meetings. Many
times there were differences of
opinions about what would be
best for Holden.”
Decisions did not always
come easily, she wrote, “but al-
Holden board members meeting in the Village last July included: (front from
left) Osamu Matsutani, Sara Pitcher, Lois Rimbo, Dorothy Bass,* Stacey Jutila,
(middle) Karl Anderson, Norma Gallegos, Linda Kingery, Mark Mantei, Paul Tillquist,* Darius Larsen, (back) Kathy Blomker, Ann Cohan, Hans Johnson, Josh
Post, Lola Deane, Christian Scharen and Norman Metzler.* Current members
not in the photo are Pam Fickenscher, Rob Quello, Tom Smith, Dan Thorson and
Anthony Titus. (*terms ended 2012)
Tommy Gibson photo
ways, the Gospel led us.”
Duane Lansverk, Vancouver,
Wash., who first visited Holden
in 1967, joined the board in 1978
and served as president from 1985
to 1995. A major issue during his
tenure was identifying the responsible party for the mine cleanup.
That was resolved by the time
he left the board, but one of his
greatest joys, says Duane, was the
deep affection Villagers have for
Holden.
“People kept coming back,
year after year,” he says. He is
among them, having been to the
Village every year since 1978, and
he hopes to volunteer next summer.
B
y the 1990s the board had 36
members with no term limits.
People essentially were “elected
for life,” Jim recalls. Inevitably,
with a board that size, “a smaller
group runs the show,” he says.
Early in the co-directorship
of Dianne Shiner and Janet Grant
(2000-2005), the board was strenuously reorganized. It was “an
intentional time of maturing into
its role of governance,” wrote
Dianne. “The size was reduced,
meetings increased, term limits
introduced, vision, policies and
plan created, and the distinction
between board and the role of the
directors clarified.
“None of this was easy, nor
was it ever institutional, but
through prayer, conscience, study,
hard work and consensus, Janet
and I were supported and held
responsible by an extraordinary
group of Christians. Some of my
most inspiring moments were
found in the theological reflections carefully prepared by board
members for the start of each
session.”
Those reflections are not
necessarily provided by clergy.
Article 3 of the corporate by-laws
stipulates that no more than onethird of the board shall be clergy.
Jim recalls that when he came
on as attorney, the board “tended
to be a lot of professors and
pastors. That’s nothing against
professors and pastors ─ I spend
much of my life with professors
and pastors – but they do not
necessarily bring the skill sets that
a nonprofit board needs.” Those
skills, he says, include business
and finance, public relations and
development ─ all especially critical during the era of mine remediation.
The attorney credits Holden’s board with conscientiously
broadening those skill sets as well
as diversifying in terms of male/
female and lay/clergy members.
More elusive has been the search
for ethnic diversity.
“The strength of the Holden
board is also its limitation,” he
says. “If you want to get on the
board, you have to apply, and a
lot of good folks apply. The bad
news is that they don’t necessarily
represent the skill sets, ethnicity
and diversity the board is looking
for. That’s when you really have
to go out and recruit.”
J
im points out another role for
the board, not necessarily defined in the bylaws: institutional
memory. With a term limit of 12
years (three terms), any board
member could conceivably work
with three different sets of directors ─ given that directors usually
serve about five years.
“The institutional memory
rests with the board in significant
ways,” he says, especially as it
reviews and periodically renews
the foundational elements of the
Village: its mission, vision and
values.
Current board president Mark
Mantei has described a future for
the Holden board:
“Our job in the next 50 [years]
is to seek God’s direction, listen to
wild dreams, interject some holy
hilarity and not mess up this great
treasure that was secured in what
has to be one of the most remarkable transactions in the world of
business and the church.”
Portions of this article were excerpted
from Holden Village: 50 Years of Memories,
Lola Deane, editor
Page 14
50th anniversary winds up
with a neighborly celebration
Counsel
with
Continuity
H
By Mary Koch
T
Photo by Mary Koch
acoma attorney Jim Hushagen
has decades of experience
working with various institutions,
from church synods to universities. But, he says, providing legal
counsel for Holden Village since
1994 has been “particularly fun.”
That “fun” has been pretty
much pro bono ─ though Jim
starts the fee clock running when
he’s involved in the complex mine
remediation negotiations. He
clearly enjoys recalling when Martin Wells, one of the co-directors,
asked him to serve as village attorney. The directors expected to
JIM HUSHAGEN
have the mine remediation issue
“I’m a business lawyer,” he
wrapped up by the end of their
says,
“and when I look at Holden,
term in 1999.
I
look
at Holden as a business.”
“They were obviously more
That
doesn’t mean, however,
optimistic than was warranted,”
that
he
dismisses
the spiritual
Jim observes dryly.
authority
that
has
guided Holden
Still, observes current co-exfor
50
years.
The
Village
started
ecutive director Chuck Carpenter,
out
with
inadequate
resources
Jim’s many years of involvement
and was built on faith, he acwith the mine cleanup has providknowledges.
ed a “continuity that has helped
“But they had people they
all of us directors who have each
could
call on. They made it happlayed our own roles in negotiatpen.
It
wasn’t just manna coming
ing and coming up with good
down
from
heaven. God gave
plans for the Village.”
them
a
task:
How do you create a
Chuck notes that the goals
self-sustaining
village way up in
throughout remediation negotiathe
mountains?
tions have been to support the
“Our task now is a different
clean-up, maintain the Village’s
task;
God has given us a different
mission, keep Holden from suftask.”
fering financially, and improve
If anything, he suggests, the
the Village’s own facilities and
task
before the Village now is
infrastructure.
“just
the opposite” of those early
“Jim gets this and has been
days
when leaders such as Carroll
a real help in counsel and writHinderlie
and Werner Janssen
ing documents that reflect this
were
establishing
“the Holden
perspective,” says Chuck.
way.”
A lifelong Lutheran and
“How does the Holden way
historian by training, Jim first
apply
when for three, four, five
came to Holden in 1983 with
years
[the
Village is] a massive
his family and members of his
construction
site?” he muses. “I’ve
congregation. By 1986 he was
never
seen
anything
like it. No
visiting the Village at least once a
one
has.
I’ve
never
seen
a situayear. Besides advising
Village
But the
have
you thought about
tion
where
you
have
a
hundred
through remediation negotiations
leaving
something
behind?
million
dollar project in the front
and other legal issues,
he helped
yard
of
existing
commurestructure
the board
of directors
Consider
Holden
Village in youranestate
planning.
nity,
especially
a
community
like
and provides training for new
email: [email protected]
Holden
Village.”
board members.
So maybe you
can take it with you
olden concluded its year-long
50th anniversary celebration
Oct. 13 by hosting its neighbors for
a “Community Day” open house.
Residents of Chelan, Wenatchee
and other nearby towns filled
the Lady Express for the boat ride
to Lucerne, where three buses
awaited them.
In a sense it was history
repeating itself. In 1962, the first
year Holden began operations, 120
members of the Chelan Chamber
of Commerce visited the village at
the close of summer.
“We wanted to end our 50th
anniversary by sharing the celebration with our neighbors,” said
Chuck Carpenter, co-executive director with wife Stephanie. “It was
a successful event in every way.”
Community Day visitors had
the rare opportunity to tour the
mine remediation site. The visitors
also had their choice of a variety
of activities such as behind-the-
scenes tours, guided hikes, presentations by Holden School students
and a chance to try their hands at
various crafts.
Among the guests was state
Sen. Linda Evans Parlette (R-12th
District), who had vivid memories
of visiting the Village as a child.
It was soon after the mine had
closed, and the Village had all
the appearances of being rapidly evacuated with food still on
the tables and clothes strewn on
floors. Parlette said she has hiked
through the village on various occasions since then.
Many others were visiting
Holden for the first time and were
enthusiastic about this gem more
or less in their own back yard.
One praised “the sense of
established community combined
with an open invitation to participate.
“And no cell service ─ never
fix that!”
So maybe you
can take it with you
But have you thought about
leaving something behind?
Consider Holden Village in your estate planning.
email: [email protected]
Holden’s neighbors from around the region came for Community Day in October, culminating the 50th Anniversary Celebration
Page 15
It takes a lot of people
to make a Village
On this page are just a few of the thousands
of faces that brought life in a multitude of ways to
Holden Village last year. Villagers of 2012 included
guests and volunteers, teachers and artists, hikers and knitters, U.S. Forest Service officials and
mine remediation workers. Some came for special
events, like the neighbors (above) who helped
wind up the 50th anniversary celebration (see
story on opposite page) and the Spanish-speaking
Villagers who celebrated Las Posadas in December
(right). You can read Rachel Button’s thoughtful
account of Las Posadas on the website blog. Many
came to work, such as the Fall Work Week volunteers (below) who prepared the Village for winter.
All made a difference in the lives of the Village and
the lives of each other.
Fall Work Week volunteers prepared the Village for winter
Seeking shelter for Mary and Joseph during Las Posadas
Tommy Gibson photo
Page 16
Telling the story of our koinonia
By Scott M. Kershner
W
hat’s in a name? asks Shakespeare’s
Juliet. To her, a name is a useless convention, mere words, forbidding her love for rivalfamily Romeo. Perhaps the issue of names
would have seemed different to Ms. Capulet
had she spent some time at Holden, where exuberant naming and renaming have been part
of village tradition from the beginning—sometimes theological in nature, sometimes humorous and often both. Holy hilarity, anyone?
In the early ’60s, the newly acquired mining village itself needed a name. Eventually it
became Holden Village, a name that is both in
continuity with the mining-era past and a sign
of new beginnings. Appliances, vehicles and
buildings have been and continue to be named
and renamed. The dish pit dishwasher has long
answered to Aunt Alice. A recently acquired
transport vehicle—a decommissioned firefighting truck, complete with painted flames—is
now Elijah, taken up as he was in a chariot of
fire. The new composting tub with food-scrap
grinder (our chopping days are over but our
cranking has only begun) is, in a nod to Sesame
Street, Oscar.
Two buildings acquired new names early
on in Holden’s life that reflect the theological foundations of this ministry. The hospital
building from mining times, now staff housing
and the village laundry, is Agape, the Greek
word for divine, other-directed love. The most
significant name change is the former Lodge
Five. A dormitory and commissary during
mining days, it underwent major renovations
to create a large room with a fieldstone hearth
for teaching and learning and (during the winter season) worship, as well as a space to house
the library. Teaching and learning, conversation and curiosity, the life of the mind and the
life of faith, would be at the heart of the new
village, and this was reflected in the building’s
new name: Koinonia.
Koinonia is a Greek word meaning fellowship or shared participation in something
held in common. It can be found buried in the
third article of the Apostles’ Creed, beginning,
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic
church, the communion [koinonian] of saints.”
The koinonian of saints is the fellowship made
possible by forgiveness, the gift of God’s grace
held in common and calling our koinonia into
being, as if out of the tomb itself.
Lodge Five becomes Koinonia: from utilitarian label to grand theological charter. What
a name!
I
f you are anything like me, it’s easiest to
think about koinonia, life in community with
others, as a safely disarmed abstraction. As
long as koinonia remains mostly theoretical, I
won’t have to get down in the pit with others
and, as Jonathan Franzen writes, have mud
spatter my self-regard. Wendell Berry, farmer
and writer, reminds me that the people with
whom I share everyday life are never abstractions. They have names and stories, joys and
griefs all their own. They demand my attention
and care. They also—inevitably—suffer my
ignorance and error, and I theirs. Berry writes,
“Given human nature and human circumstance, our only relief is in this forgiveness,
which then restores us to community and the
ancient cycle of loss and grief, hope and joy.”
K
oinonia (the building and, more importantly, the theological reality) has been at
the center of life at Holden Village for these 50
years. Life in koinonia always involves the concrete and the particular, lives and relationships
and a common mission held in grace over time.
Our koinonia is, then, also a story—a story of
which we can learn to be faithful tellers. What
will it mean to tell the story of our koinonia?
The particulars will be as various as our faces,
but I suspect it will mean learning to tell the
stories of our lives and our shared mission in a
way that recognizes that we are finally not the
authors or even the center of this tale, but on
the receiving end of an ever surprising (what
else to call it?) gift. Our koinonia is born from
empty tombs, and there’s no accounting for
that.
Koinonia. As it turns out, there’s a world of
wonders—a past we can receive with gratitude
and a future we dare face with hope—in that
name.
Scott M. Kershner is village pastor
But all silver and gold
and vessels of bronze
and iron,
are sacred to the Lord;
they shall go into the treasury
of the Lord.
- Joshua 6:19
Late autumn gold frames the old mill
structure as the first snow of winter outlines
its skeletal remains. Some 600,000 ounces of gold
were processed through the mill, which is scheduled
for demolition during mine remediation.
- Tommy Gibson photo
Reasons to come
to Holden this winter
Women’s Retreat
Feb. 8-11
Snowdance Film Festival
Feb. 18-25
Compassionate Voices Retreat
March 15-18
Spring Work Week
April 21-28

Winter, 2013 - Holden Village

Transcription

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