Yesterday, my best friend and I drove up to St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. This Trappist monastery is set in a bucolic setting in the rolling hills of central Massachusetts, covered with a variety of trees, and the ever present indicator of New England rural life, stone walls.
We visited the Holy Rood Guild to check out their beautiful vestments. We went to Noonday prayer in the chapel. We visited the gift shop and bookstore, where I am happy to report they had a copy of my colleague Tom Roberts' book "The Emerging Church" for sale as well as their delicious jams and chocolates.
If you travel through New England, put a stop on the Abbey on your itinerary. You can get more information by visiting their website here.