Sunday Outing

Wanda and I rode our bikes down to to the lake again this morning. Our third musketeer, Debi, from the last ride was working today and we had to leave her behind.

The main excitement on the way down was a bear sighting. We of course stopped to let the bear and her cub have all the room they wanted. We also took the opportunity to take pictures. Here is a picture that Wanda took of me taking a picture of the bears.


Here is the picture I was taking at the time. It was so cool because it's my first fairly close up bear sighting in the more than two years that I have been here.

If you read my last entry about our bike ride to the lake, you will remember that we only rode to the top of the switchbacks and waited for the bus to take us down those last two miles (which is about a 1000 foot drop in elevation down nine switchbacks.)

Today we rode down the whole way....more to the point we braked those last two miles. It was a little hard on the hands, but other than that it was a lot of fun. We left the village at 9:35 a.m. and got to the lake at 11:10 a.m.
Here I am at the top of the switchbacks getting my picture taken before the ride down.

At Lucerne, the boat landing, we boarded the ferry going uplake to Stehekin. Stehekin is the end of the lake going north. (Chelan is at the south end of the 55 mile long Lake Chelan.) Stehekin is mostly National Park Service land, but has about 80 year long residents. It's a popular place in the summer for visitors. The boat stays in Stehekin for an hour and a half before heading back "downlake." This was just enough time to eat a scrumptious hamburger and fries lunch, visit the craft shop and head back to board the boat. When we got back to Lucerne we got a ride back up to Holden on the bus......didn't see any bears on the way back.

Jubilee!

Many years ago I read a cartoon that I still haunts me occasionally. In the cartoon a fellow was sitting under a tree talking with his friend and said very thoughtfully, "Sometimes I just want to ask God why God allows hunger, poverty and war in the world." His friend says, "Well, why don't you?" The fellow answers, "Because I'm afraid God might ask me the same question!"

The old testament reading about Jubilee in Leviticus is the basis of the celebration here at Holden that takes place the third Thursday in July. It is a day of fun and food and joyful activities, but it is also a day of giving. The highlight of the day is an auction of items donated by staff, guests and friends of Holden. All the proceeds from the auction are given away to a worthy organization doing the work of God in the world. This year we are donating the proceeds to L'arche Tahoma Hope, a L'arche organization in Tacoma. The total numbers are not in yet, but as of this evening we raised around $6,000.

The day was punctuated by a Eucharist service on the village green. The sermon was given by one of the guest teaching staff, Ingrid Christenson. She preached on the text from Luke 4 where Jesus reads from Isaiah, "I have come to preach good news to the poor and proclaim freedom for the prisoners and free the oppressed." Ingrid works with prisoners in Cook County Jail in Chicago and had an inspirational message about that.

Holden is all about learning about peace and justice issues and this day brings a message of hope that we all need to hear as often as possible. We are challenged to learn about and discuss many related issues and we are challenged to work for these in the world.

Maybe we all need to ask the question, "Why do we allow hunger, poverty and war in the world?" And try to do something about it.

"Manna and Mercy"

Those of us who were here the first two weeks of July are still talking about the Bible Study leader who was here during that time. I have been reflecting on what to write about this experience for a few days now and I know I can't do it justice. This was probably the best and most inspirational speaker I have ever heard here--or anywhere for that matter. The Fireside room, where these sessions were held was overflowing with people wanting to hear him. They brought in extra chairs, people sat on the floor, the balcony was filled two and three deep, and some people were standing in the hall. We even closed our offices, the store and the post office for an hour so we could attend the sessions. It's hard to explain to those who weren't here what happened during those two weeks...hard because you had to experience it.

The teacher was Alan Storey who is a Methodist minister from South Africa. Several years ago he came into possession of "Manna and Mercy," a book about the Bible written by Daniel Erlander. Daniel was the village pastor many years ago and comes back to teach every year. Some of you may be familiar with Dan's books. Anyway, Alan told us that this book opened his eyes to the scripture in a new way. He has started using it as a tool to teach others. Awhile back he was teaching in Washington D.C. and Dan happened to attend his sessions. He was so impressed that he asked Alan to come to Holden and teach. Thus, we were the recipients of this wonderful gift of teaching. I can only tell you that everyone who was here was enlightened in a way we are still talking about. He has inspired a great many people to understand the Bible in a new way and to work for peace and justice in the world. What's more, Alan lives out his faith in his own life and ministry in South Africa.

Obviously I can't put 10 hours of listening and learning into this blog entry. But beginning August 15th you can listen to it on the Holden Village website, www.holdenvillage.org. All the sessions we have ever taped at Holden since 1964 will eventually be available, however this summer's sessions will be the first. Please listen to Alan's sessions if you get the chance. Use them as your own Bible study, an hour a day. It is so worth it.

Alan and Dan

Weather That Nourishes All of Creation

To all Dallasites and people in other "hot spots":

Notice my link to the Holden five day forecast at the bottom of the right hand column of this page. I wanted you to check out the weather here! It's so glorious this week. Keep checking occasionally. (The red dot on the weather map is Holden.)

Also, let me know if you are reading this blog. I'm curious.

Gail

The Foolishness of God

This is the logo for our summer theme at Holden. I think it is such a fun picture. Believe it or not, we have had some very serious discussions about the foolishness of God. I just came from a forum on the topic of war and violence. It was quite informative. We have been having sessions about all kinds of topics, from health care to energy issues; from Bible studies to dances. The Earth Ministry group from Seattle is here this week leading some sessions too.

Tonight the children of Narnia presented the vespers service along with their teachers and Pastor Eric. They also sang a song that they wrote under the guidance of one of the talented women who put it to music. I wish I could get a copy as it would be a good song for any Sunday School choir to sing.

But it's after ten and I have been going to work an hour early so I can attend the Bible study in the morning. I best call it a day.

The Buck Stops Here. . . .

. . .a couple of times a week to eat the clover in front of our lodge.

He must be used to having his picture taken because he has had it taken many times. There are usually people out with cameras when he arrives.

This is one of the perks of living in the wilderness!

Another Holden Extravaganza

Beginning with a fun run at 7:30 a.m. and ending with a talent show at 10 p.m., it was a day of busy, fun activities for our July 4th celebration. After matins we had a flag raising, a Bible study, a delicious brunch of pancakes, proclamations on the ark, and performances of American Folk Songs ranging from "Don't Fence Me In" to "If I Had a Hammer."

The parade started about 1 p.m. with various floats and costumes and, in keeping with the Holden parade tradition, after it passed by, it turned around and came back so we saw it twice. Linda Jensen, who grew up at Holden during the mining days led the band as the majorette. She is only a year older than I am and a few years ago she found she still remembered her childhood talent for twirling and has been in the Holden 4th of July parades ever since. After the parade, I practiced with her home-made baton (made from a broken pool cue, a rock, some red and blue cloth all held together with book binding tape). I discovered I remember a little about the long forgotten art of baton twirling. (I think I was about 10 when I took lessons). I practiced for awhile and it was fun. When the parade ended, we all lined up for ice cream sundaes. Yum!

At 4 p.m. we gathered by the ark again for a joke-a-thon (all in good fun) and then a picnic dinner of brats and hotdogs. I then got to rest for an hour before vespers, the band concert, the fireworks show and then, finally, the talent show. My nine year old friend, Nyrie, and I did a dramatic reading of "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss. It was my first foray into the talent show lineup. I figured I could be a little foolish too. Nyrie was great.

There were over 400 people in the village for the celebration today, including many children. It is such a good place for a family to come on vacation. It was so neat to hear the children playing and having a good time. It was another perfect old fashioned celebration that I have had the privilege of attending at Holden for the last three years.

Here are some pictures of the day.

The Proclamations begin!
We love a parade!

We also love a picnic!