Even though I went to high school in Lancaster, I’d never been to Ephrata Cloister (I stayed home when the dormies went there my Junior year).  As I grew in my faith, and in my appreciation for the heritage of Christian spirituality, I also grew in my desire to go and visit this unique place.  I satisfied that desire this morning.

The Ephrata Cloister was a community of believers which sprang from the Anabaptist tradition.  Many of the members of the actual cloister were celebates, and lived a monastic existence filled with contemplation, work, worship, and hospitality.  The cloister was supported by families which worshipped with the celebate community members, but lived on their own farms and had families.  The monastic existence died out about 50 years after the founder died, but the surrounding community (called “householders”) continued to work the land and worship at the meetinghouse in the sister’s quarters until the 1900’s.  In fact, the last member of the householder community (which was formed under the title “Seventh Day Baptists” (they held to sabbath keeping on Saturday) died only two weeks ago and her funeral was held in the meetinghouse we visited today.

The wonder of a community which looks to the good of the whole first, and yet balances the reality that not everyone is gifted for a monastic lifestyle, intrigues me.  Sure, I have some theological quibbles with the particular beliefs taught at the cloister – but I can’t fault the desire for the community to take on the image of God.  I picked up a history of the cloister while I was at the gift shop, Voices of Turtledoves.  I’ll let you all know what I think of it as I read.

If you get a chance, however, the cloister is a wonderful place to visit.