Hilghlights from Holden Village

* Click here to see pix from Holden Village http://picasaweb.google.com/fritzwiese/2007HoldenVillage
* Taking a 2 hour boat ride north on Lake Chelan, followed by a half hour bus ride up the mountain to get to the Village. It's so remote, that's the only way!
* Realizing this camp is a wonderful illustration of God's grace. A copper and gold mine was established in the early part of the 1900s, in a very remote part of the North Cascade Mountain Range. A small village was built to house the miners and their families, complete with a little bowling alley, pool hall, and ice cream shop. In 1960, when it was no longer profitable to transport thee copper for sale, the mining company gave the camp--and all its contents--to the Lutheran Church for $1. A wonderful, unexpected gift--just like God's daily grace to us. Then the Lutherans had to figure out how they would respond (just as each of us does, in light of all God entrusts to us). Since 1960, Holden Village has been a retreat experience for Christians (all are welcome) to gather for a combination of worship, learning, ice cream, and some wilderness hiking that is difficult to match.
* Coming here with my family. My first (and only time) at Holden was when I came with my family in 4th grade. To bring a 6th and 2nd grader of my own, and experience camp through their eyes was a hoot. The most vivid memory I have of my own experience at Holden from 1976 was my passion for setting up pins manually in back of the bowling alleys. Guess what? You could be sure to find Luke and Morgan in the bowling alley every chance they got, setting up pins.
* Worshipping in the pew right behind Herb Brokering, author of the hymn classic, "Earth and All Stars." Herb was one of the terrific speakers/teachers for the week, and LuAnne and I enjoyed several talks with him and his family. John Marty (son of Martin Marty) talked about his position as Minnesota state senator and his work on health care reform, along with the academic dean from Luther Seminary, David Lose, teaching on the interpretation of Scripture. Wonderful, stimulating bible studies and lectures.
* Taking a hike with Luke to Heart Lake, where the flies were so bad, we didn't even sit down for lunch. Hopefully "time will heal all wounds" with Luke's memories of this hike of gorgeous scenery--much of which we couldn't see much, bc we were so busy swatting biting flies. :)
*Watching "The Sound of Music" on the first night, on a huge makeshift movie screen, out in the open, surrounded by real 9,000 foot mountains of the Cascades, and canopied by brilliant stars, as we watched Julie Andrews running through the mountains on screen.
* Experiencing, once again, old friends in the communion of saints. One of the campers that week was Jana Schofield, who many Epiphanyites remembers as ELC's youth director from appx. 1994-1996. Jana was departing for seminary just as I was arriving. It was a delight to catch up with Jana, meet her husband and extended family. Jana's doing great ministry in California, part time with a church, and part time with campus ministry.
* Countless other wonderful moments of God's grace and renewal in this gorgeous, stimulating mountain retreat village God gave to our church.
* Now it's on to Seattle, to learn from Mars Hill Church.