Spend a winter weekend at Holden Village for our annual Women’s Retreat. Through teaching sessions, group conversations, reflections, crafts, and outdoor adventures like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, Women’s Retreat will provide opportunities to build new relationships, rejuvenate past relationships, reconnect with the self, and join other women in conversation and recreation.
To learn more, click here!
We have a great faculty line-up for Women’s Retreat this year:
The Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz is a biracial Asian American queer ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) who has served in congregational ministry, racial and gender justice advocacy, religious publishing, reproductive justice, and theological education. Born in California, raised in eastern Oregon and western Washington, she is a double “pastors’ kid.” Laura is a graduate of North Park University (MBA, ’11), McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div. ’05), and Western Washington University (BA in Sociology, 2000). She is the co-author and editor of “Church on Purpose: Reinventing Discipleship, Community, & Justice” (Judson Press) and co-editor and contributor to “Race in America: Christians Respond to the Crisis” (Westminster John Knox Press), and a contributor to the documentary series “Trouble the Water: Conversations to Disrupt Racism and Dominance.” She lives with her partner and their rescue dog in Oakland, CA, where Laura is the Temporary Associate Pastor at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church and the incoming Transitional Executive Presbyter at the Presbytery of San Francisco.
Laura will be leading sessions on finding purpose in our lives — in our vocation and in our calling to love ourselves and others.
Heather Murphy is a Pacific Northwest notecard artist, wildlife biologist, watercolorist, and nature writer. She holds a Forest Technology degree from Wenatchee Valley College and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Habitat Management from the University of Washington, where she also studied drawing.
Her watercolors, journal sketches and migratory bird paintings have been selected for conservation programs in the Western Hemisphere. The Sleeping Lady 2016 Calendar solely featured Heather’s art. Heather’s agency career spanned from 1974 to 2005, when she retired from the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist on the Wenatchee River Ranger District. She currently leads Citizen Science wildlife programs as a volunteer for the U.S.F.S.
Heather will lead sessions on nature journaling through art and writing.
Maria Gonzalez is a dedicated yoga teacher with a passion for helping students restore balance through the transformative power of movement and breath. With a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification, Maria brings a deep understanding of yoga philosophy, anatomy, and alignment to each class. She believes in the healing power of breath and encourages students to use their breath as a guide, fostering mindfulness and presence both on and off the mat. When she’s not teaching, Maria is committed to continuing her own education, studying various yoga styles, meditation techniques, and holistic wellness practices. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, paddle boarding, and reading.
Maria invites you to a nurturing space where you can connect with your body, quiet your mind, and cultivate a sense of inner peace. Her classes blend traditional yoga principles with a modern approach, making the class accessible for all levels.
Holden Village uses an inclusive definition of women and welcomes trans women and non-binary folks. Attendees only need to identify as a woman in a way that is significant to them.
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.
Check out a list of the 2024 Summer Faculty.
