Unity

What does unity look like? It appears as a Light in an historic chapel in the Shaker Village of Enfield, New Hampshire.

We were twelve women along with our husbands (those who could make it) who spent three nights in the ‘retiring rooms’ of the Great Stone Dwelling built in 1841. The clattering of Shaker dishes filled the dining hall with its Shaker furniture. And talk. Though we were middle aged, a little bit old, and young; though we came from different parts of North America; though all of us had never known everyone gathered, the conversations flowed. Sunrise found Ed and Landon in the kitchen brewing coffee. Small group visits continued long after sunset in simple gathering places at the end of wide halls. (Early morning coffee for us and no late night visits.) The men toured in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and experienced fall beauty in Vermont while we ladies met in the Great Room to improve our writing techniques. (Which somehow meant we needed Kleenex boxes on the table.)

However, the most anticipated part of the day were the morning and evening devotionals – that time of singing and scripture – in the ornate stone chapel. The glory of the Lord literally filled that gathering place. (This happened the fall before the Pandemic. I often thought how God knew we would need this time of fellowship to reflect back on.)

The next summer during vacation, Laurence and I stopped at Enfield Shaker Village. Precious memories flooded back, and it hurt to be there without our friends. We toured the dwelling house before going up the steps to the chapel. To my surprise, instead of Light and Glory, a dark, dank sanctuary greeted us. Our brothers and sisters of like precious faith weren’t there.

God bless you with Light as you gather with His people today.

Berniece

P.s. A total of two members, down from thousands,  live in Shaker communities today.