Professor Sharon

Today we hosted a lovely afternoon meeting of the Boston Area Shaker Study Group.  The group is closing in on 30 years of folks meeting several times a year and learning about the Shakers (and for those who wonder or are ill-informed – yes, there are people living in community as Shakers).

Lunch spread...

We enjoyed a pot-luck feast of several salads, turkey breast and amazing desserts!

You’ll see from previous posts that hubby and I generally attend the Shaker Seminar each summer.  There’s much to learn about this quite unknown slice of American history – there’s so many aspects: theology, history, communal living, business aspects and more.  (I’m not even going to list furniture – which is what I think everyone thinks of when they hear the word Shakers.)

As a college instructor, I often give students the advice of forming a study group.  Study groups are known to increase the likelihood of retention of information.  And, at the college level it helps form friendships – some  will become life-long.

This study group (about 40 strong) all have different interests in the Shakers; but all have a love of learning more and sharing that knowledge.  And, for hubby and I, a comradery in learning — talking and sharing knowledge on a subject of passion is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  Try it sometime!