Community of Peace
An ecumenical Christian monastic community
Overview for Visitors
Who are we?
Community of Peace is a Christian monastic community inspired by the Taizé monastic community in France. We are here for those who wish to experience the monastic contemplative lifestyle of a daily rhythm of sung prayer, silence, and service to the community and to the world, and to continually grow in becoming better peacemakers and servants of Christ’s love. Our lives and prayer are rooted in the teachings of Jesus in the gospel, and in the indwelling Risen Jesus as the Christ within each person to guide and transform them.
We welcome visitors with a variety of options, ranging from a day visit or personal retreat to becoming a monk, taking lifetime vows in our community.
To be clear, we are not an intentional community, as that is often commonly understood. We follow a Rule for life here that is derived from the Taizé monastic community in France, which is derived from the 1400 year old rule of Benedict. This Rule is how we operate and is not open to consideration for renovation by visitors.
The Rule shapes our monastic life, setting the daily rhythm of sung prayer, work, rest, contemplation, and our community supper. Food preparation, cleanup, and maintenance of our main house, Sophia House, are shared by all who live here or visit.
We live in quietude when not in full silence. We maintain the peace one feels here through non-violent communication and established processes for working out disagreements and conflicts. Peace for all is always the first goal.
Visiting options
All visitors must contact us first and get their visit approved at communityofpeaveva@gmail.com.
They must also read and agree to our community guidelines. Any visitor staying overnight or longer must fill out the visitor registration form. Guidelines and Registration
In particular, they must respect the silence in Sophia House during prayer times and other designated times of silence.
Day Visit. Visitors may come to walk our paths, attend our prayertime or just hangout in the peace here.
Work Exchange. Vistors may come for work exchange to get an experience of living the monastic rhythm for a week at a time. In exchange for 20 hours of service week for things we need done, the visitor receives free room and board. They are not required to attend prayer but must honor the silence in Sophia House.
Personal Retreats. Anyone may schedule a personal retreat, either contemplative or silent. We can, most of the time, offer a day or weekend of silence for your retreat. Contact us to arrange what you are looking for. We suggest a $ 75-per-night donation.
Long-term visits. We will discuss the possibility of long-term visits on an individual basis. Generally, we expect to see eager participation in sung prayer, joyful enthusiasm in service work, and a respect for our quietude and times of silence.
Long-term visits are always staged: first one month, then several, then talk about staying on longer.
Long-term Service Worker Volunteer. After an initial week visit, we will discuss the possibility of longer visits. We are looking for several leader positions, such as garden development, house manager, and handyperson who can build, repair, and work with tools.
Long-term Discernment Stay. Our Abbot, Br Stefan, will hold personal discussions for anyone wanting to stay for an extended period to tryout living as a monk to see if it fits them and we fit each other. We are open to all persons of any age over 20, and of any gender or gender orientation to begin walking the path of becoming a monk.