Holden invites Villagers across the globe to come together through participation in Holden Evening Prayer. Help celebrate spring and rebirth by holding a service in your community during the week of April 26, 2026.
This year we’re recognizing the 40th Anniversary of Vespers ’86, the beloved service composed by Marty Haugen. Haugen wrote Holden Evening Prayer during the winter of 1985–1986 during a musical residency at Holden Village. A simple Lutheran vespers service that follows traditional form while using contemporary and inclusive language, this service has become beloved by many.
Even though geography may separate us, by singing and saying the same words together on the same day, we connect in spirit. May the prayers for peace and justice of the extended Holden community rise up like incense. Plan a gathering and add your event to our map of events around the globe!
You are invited to participate on any date or time during the week. Be creative in finding a venue! A family room, church, community center or senior housing. Use this form to share the date, time, and location for your event, so that we can post this information on our website and anyone in your area can join. Let us know if you’re going to livestream so we can share the link with others!
Keep monitoring this page for a list of participating congregations. You’ll also be able to view an interactive map. All information provided on the form will be public to anyone who accesses our website. If after submitting the form you need to make changes to your event, please email communications@holdenvillage.org.
18101 Fir Island Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Lent (Feb 25th, March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th at 6 p.m.)
4301 Browns Point Blvd, Tacoma, WA 98422
291 1st St SW, Wells, MN 56097
(Lent) Wednesday, February 25 at 6:15 p.m.
1401 15th St W, Hastings, MN 55033
(Lent) Mar 4, mar 11, Mar 18, Mar 25, all at 7 p.m.
University Lutheran Church of Hope (ELCA)
601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m.
No events currently planned
No events currently planned
No events currently planned
No events currently planned
Home of the Knerr Family
KM3 Via a Circasia Quintas del Bosque Casa 13, Circasia, Quindio, Colombia, South America
Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m.
Spirit of Life Lutheran church
375 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC Canada
Lent (March 5 and 19) 6 p.m. supper, 7 p.m. Holden Evening Prayer
If you’re planning a service, Holden Village is providing suggested readings.
Participants are welcome to use any number of these readings or use your own.
If you or your congregation need copies of the words and music for Holden Evening Prayer, a variety of options are available from the online Holden Village store. You can purchase a single copy for electronic download, full score sheet music for piano or other instruments, and more.
Holden Village has a legacy of creating liturgical music that reflects the Village’s commitment to inclusive, contemporary language. Vespers 23 is a continuation of that theme and was developed with the support and feedback of the 2022–23 Holden winter community.
While traditional vespers often centers “light overcoming darkness,” this service intentionally honors twilight, dusk, night, and darkness as sources of blessing and renewal—moving beyond harmful light/dark binaries that have been used to wound, especially communities of color. It weaves themes of creation, justice, and the holiness of all bodies, drawing on fresh translations from original-language scripture and inspiration from biblical texts.
Holden Village is a community where your questions are valued and encouraged. Most programs led by visiting teaching faculty occur during the summer months. However, Holden also invites faculty to teach sessions for special events and retreats throughout the rest of the year.
View upcoming summer faculty.
