The evening worship included candles, carols, and communion.

Afterward Santa Claus came to visit kids young and old (Doug, our electrician was nowhere to be seen during these festivities...)!

Christmas Eve dinner in the dining hall with four Advent candles and the Christmas candle lit.

Sockeye salmon with a dill mustard sauce, freshly baked roles, deliciously sauteed kale, rice and Christmas cookies greeted us at the table before the evening worship service. Wine and sparkling cider accompanied the meal, adding to the festivities.

A Rich Christmas

Have you heard the reports of this year's "bleak" Christmas? They're hard to miss. Things are worse than they have been in decades, according to the media and the retail industry. It truly is an indictment of how we've chosen to live over the last many years that the main indicator of how good a Christmas is seems to be how much money we are spending at the mall. We're so used to hearing how great things are when the Dow is up, and how worried we should be when profits for corporations are down that we risk losing sight of what makes Christmas meaningful and rich if we listen.

Are we to believe what media reports are emphasizing?

My dear aunt died this year, but my mom is healthy and well this year, as is my dad; we are separated from long-time friends this Christmas, but they are still thinking of us and will welcome us home in 2009; my children will be paying on our outrageous national debt for decades to come, but many fellow citizens are working hard to make things better for our country.

Instead of measuring the tone of this Christmas by economic indicators, I pray that we all will kick those superficial measures out the door into the snow! Let us instead joyfully embrace and welcome in the treasures of the health and presence of family members, the warmth of friendships renewed and nurtured, the opportunity for laughter and joy in the midst of any situation, the ability to lend a hand to someone who needs help, and the hope that there are real possibilities for change and growth in 2009.

Love and blessings of joy to you!

A White Christmas

Finally we are experiencing a lot of snow at Holden Village, just in time for many guests to arrive to spend Christmas here. There will be a special Christmas Eve meal tomorrow night, and services tomorrow night as well as Christmas morning. Tonight we heard a reggae choir sing a delightful Christmas song composed by the formal village musician and all-around wonderful music maker, Rolf Vegdahl. Nate played guitar in the band, Maya sang in the 15+ person strong choir, and all in the dining hall enjoyed the spirited rhythm of the song based on Micah 5, about a leader from Bethlehem who will lead his flock.

We are so thankful that our kids get to participate in wonderful community events like this with talented folks of all ages.

Big Snow

Wonderful snow formations can be seen just outside the village, including this unusual drift atop two adjacent trees, and the snow and ice in Railroad Creek.

This is part of our daily view, just steps away from our chalet, the dining hall, and our offices. We can bundle up and head into the wilderness, take it all in, and be back in our offices in under 15 minutes.

Today it actually felt relatively warm. When we looked at the thermometer it read 14 degrees. Because it has been hovering around 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and we've been freezing during our one-minute walks between buildings, the warm-up felt great! Ah, what a difference a few degrees can make!

Our wild Christmas tree

Today we trekked into the snowy woods to find the perfect Christmas tree. Maya helped to saw down the cute, scrawny tree we found and then we hauled it back to our chalet.

Nate and Maya decorated the tree as we listened to Christmas music and thought about the Christmas festivities to come -- our first white Christmas in a long time.

Waiting, missing, hoping

Today as I walked the labyrinth in snow shoes, my thoughts turned to the dread that I have not admitted to myself until now: the impending reality of spending Christmas away from close friends and family. For over four months now we have enjoyed new experiences and have slowly adjusted to life in a tiny community. We have met a lot of very nice people who are on staff and many interesting and kind guests of the village. But our thoughts keep returning to the people back home who have known us long and know us deeply--and love us anyway.

Going off for a year to volunteer at Holden Village sounded like a vacation or an escape from the real world to some who first heard our news. "What fun it will be going to camp!" some exclaimed, or, "How nice that you can take some time off."

To others, it sounded like a way to live differently from the pace of our modern society which often puts commerce above all else and seems to have largely forgotten the importance of people and community. We are really thankful for the rest from relentless commercialism that holidays in Holden Village offer during the Advent and Christmas season. We are nestled in a warm chalet, passing kind and familiar faces as we walk around the snow-covered village, quietly contemplating what holiness means in the midst of bright candles in the darkness of the worship space.

But still there is a yearning. To sit with a friend who has known me for years, and just have a cup of tea, to go for a run around Lake Padden with a friend who doesn't mind my slowness, or to enjoy poetry and chocolate with a beloved group of women who fill my soul. To work closely with my friends at church to teach a Sunday School class or help out at a community meal.

We believe that we were called to serve a year at Holden Village because it is a place of renewal and uplift for so many, including our family and many friends. We were excited for the challenge and adventure of living with limited electricity, no phones, no television, no commercial advertising in the remote wilderness of the North Cascades. What we are learning is that the wilderness goes deeper into our hearts and souls.

There is a reason for struggle and discomfort and feeling disconnected. We believe that there is a lot to learn from situations like these, and that in the end there will be a lot of good which benefits our family, our community and the larger world.

For now, however, it is just a time of quiet reflection on the paradoxical value of being apart. And we wait -- appropriately for Advent -- we wait for a time when we'll return to the warmth of familiar friendships and community.

Las Posadas

Las Posadas ("The Inns") is a Mexican tradition in which Mary & Joseph's search for an inn is re-enacted. They go to each inn and sing a song requesting refuge, only to be rejected (see mean innkeepers below who have no sympathy!).

Here at Holden, a procession of "Joseph & Mary" figurines and all people in the village went from inn to inn, finally to be let in with warm hospitality (which looked a lot like a Mexican fiesta in the village dining hall, with live music, Mexican food, and a celebratory atmosphere)!

Moon in the Mountains

The night before last as I walked toward the dining hall with a friend, we marveled at the brightness of the village at a time when it should be covered in the darkness of the night. The full moon shined down on the mountains, and without the light pollution we're used to in the cities, its blue light uplifted the people and illuminated the buildings and pathways of the village. Truly we are in a place set apart for seeing life differently, as though seeing somehow with the eyes of our hearts.

Prayer Around the Cross

Friday evenings are a time of quiet, contemplative singing and prayer. Everyone is invited to come up to the cross, light a candle, and pray alone or with others there to pray with them. After last night's service, these candles remained burning for a few minutes, reminding us of the light in the darkness. The service was particularly powerful, as troubling news stories about riots in Greece, turmoil in financial markets, and other stories of the day were read -- and then answered with our sung prayers for God's powerful, peace-giving presence in the midst of all these things.

Here is a sampling of work that I've been able to create for the village. These two banners were dyed blue (Advent color) and I added the portions of scripture from the readings during Advent, brushing on the words using acrylic ink. One banner will be added to the worship space each of the four weeks of Advent, until all four are hanging the Sunday before Christmas. One of the blessings of Holden is that we have a talented, artistic worship assistant, and a pastor with a great eye for art as well as an appreciation for its importance during worship.

Holden's Advent calendar

The Advent calendar hanging in the dining hall was custom made by dedicated folks who drew an actual map of the village with accurate pictures of each building, painted in the true colors, and then glued tiny photos of inhabitants of each chalet or building behind little doors. (Can you see the four of us behind the door to Chalet 4?)

Each day an individual, a group, or family in the village provides some Advent activity. Tonight a friend will share her personal version of the poem, "'Twas The Night Before Christmas."

Hunger Awareness

As we head into a very festive season, it is good to pause once a week, as we do throughout the year at Holden, to remember those who are hungry and give thanks that we are well fed. The village serves a simple meal of rice or potatoes for lunch each Thursday, and donates the money saved by eating simply to local and worldwide organizations that work to feed the poor and hungry. I am so thankful that my kids, Bob and I have this ritual built into our lives here, that we are prompted to remember frequently children and adults who lack adequate nourishment.

"I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in." -- words of Jesus, Matthew 25:35

Christmas caroling

19 weeks down, 33 to go

Tonight the teenagers of the village gathered to sing traditional and non-traditional Christmas carols (think "Silent Night" and "Mr. Grinch") accompanied by Nate and another friend on accordion. They visited each chalet and place of residence in the village and delighted the inhabitants with their candlelit songs. The night was cold and clear, and the full moon provided a very bright, blue glow as they made their way around the village to spread good cheer.

Second Week of Advent

Four Advent candles stand in the middle of our winter worship space, one for each week of the season preceding Christmas. It is a quiet time of reflection and anticipation, even as we await the first big snowfall of the year here in this village. By Thanksgiving, there is normally a huge amount of snow on the ground which remains until spring, but day after day, the kids in particular await the arrival of the beautiful white stuff.

Just as we know that the snow will eventually come and stay, we have the hope that Christ will come anew into our lives and we will be able to celebrate the compassionate way that God chose to reconcile himself to the world.

A Community Gathers

Take a look at Holden's Fall photos to get a sense of what this village is about. During the fall work week, dozens of people came up from all over Washington, Minnesota, Oregon and California to work and serve this village which has blessed them over the years. A special kinship is formed when we all set to the work of maintaining this village which serves so many in the name of Jesus Christ who teaches us about hospitality, humility, service and love. A lot of work gets accomplished during fall and spring work weeks, as well as daily Bible study, delicious meals and treats, worship, and lots of laughter. Holden's community truly is comprised of everyone who has been here, and for many, coming back to Holden Village, if only for a week in the summer, feels like coming home.

Biology studies

Ooh, what's that smell? Can it be the bacteria which Nate has been feeding in order to study them in his dining-table biology studies? He was delighted to see various little critters under the microscope and is learning to keep a detailed lab notebook so that he'll have completed biology just as his friends in Bellingham are currently studying. Thanks to a generous homeschooling friend who is lending us her biology course this year, Nate will be able to learn all about cells, bacteria, frog eyeballs, and pungent smells, among other things.

Stained Glass Project

As part of their school art curriculum, Nate and Maya are lucky enough to be in on this year's stained glass windows project. These pieces of art will fill the upper panels of new doors in the offices. Joe Hester from the Grunewald Guild (artfaith.com) near Leavenworth has come to Holden Village to lead these nine high schoolers for a few weeks in this project which will last for years and years at the village.

Advent

It is Advent season in the church calendar which means that we spend time anticipating, waiting, and watching for God's coming. Christmas is not celebrated until Christmas Day and we get practice waiting, blissfully free of ads and commercials, traffic and shopping. It is a quiet time in the village, with only 48 people here this week! Pictured here is the bulletin cover for the Advent church services which I lettered using parallel pens in blue and turquoise ink.

Saint Nicholas day was celebrated on December 6. Each person set out his or her shoes, and St. Nick came around in the night and filled our shoes with goodies, thanks to his helpers (in the form of a few wonderful volunteers here). Here are our shoes as we found them that delightful morning!

While lettering Advent banners (one for each of the four Sundays of Advent), I was joined by some friendly onlookers who kept me company in the dining hall. The fabric is a canvas which was dyed by our wonderfully artistic worship assistant. I used Pearlescent acrylic ink to do the lettering with a brush, loving every moment that I get to spend creating art for the village.

Tropical Hot Tub Party

On this cold Thanksgiving weekend evening, the Utilities folks worked all day long to create this "tropical paradise" around the soon-to-be-closed hot tub.

There were mango smoothies, bits of pineapple to snack on, Hawaiian music and a 104-degree hot tub in which to soak.

Nate and a bunch of girls even performed a hula dance for us all. Now, that was a sight to see! This was just another example of "Holden Hospitality," which is one of the core values of the village, along with worship, study, community, grace, shalom, and others.

November "Polar Bear" Jump!

When you are living in the wilderness, it calls you to do some things that you might not ordinarily do. When Steph, the bookstore coordinator, suggested monthly jumps into the glacier-fed Lake Chelan, Bob and I immediately signed up. Here, the boat leaving Lucerne (Holden's stop) carried several delighted visitors who hooted and cheered as we leapt into the water and swam over to the ladder. It's the longest swim I've ever done, at about 10 yards!

Hidden Gifts

It is truly amazing to see sights such as these ice formations in this beautiful place. It is a reminder to me of the beautiful gifts that God gives us that we may not ever notice. Right now it is a particularly busy time of year for me in my job recording and reporting on contributions (great news! lots of generosity to witness), so I can miss these things of beauty all around me. My prayer is to efficiently get all my work done for the benefit of this wonderful ministry, but also to take some moments to notice the many gifts that surround us here at the village in the wilderness.

Bob the Carpenter Bookkeeper

In addition to doing the bookkeeping and payroll for the village, Bob has been finding some time to work with his hands. Here, he fixes a bathroom floor in a chalet (which is 60+ years old!), grinning all the while!

Thanksgiving camaraderie

The "mavericks" joined to say good-bye to two of their group. They are led by Daniel (in orange cap) who keeps them busy and somehow always keeps them smiling.

In the dining hall, we were led in a song about our daily breakfast: oatmeal! Thanks to our new electrician who arrived with his wife last week to stay for the year, the ode to oatmeal was made fun for all.

Thanksgiving was celebrated in the dining hall, with about 120 people, half of whom were guests for the weekend, feasting on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, squash, green beans and freshly baked bread. Toasts were made and the delight of celebrating with so many tempered the fact that we weren't able to be with family this Thanksgiving. We were quite thankful for visiting friends who really brightened up the weekend. Maya and her friend found several things to toast about, including their shared love for the sci-fi TV show, "Dr. Who."