A Brief History of the Benedictine Group at St Matthias, Whittier
In the late 80s, perhaps the early 90s, The Rev Shirley Rose arranged for Norvene Vest to come to the Adult Sunday School class, where she spoke about the Benedictine movement in the Episcopal Church. A few of us heard and remembered. A couple of us took a stab at writing a Rule of life, but nothing come of it.
A few years later, the Rev. Karen McQueen was leading Adult Sunday School. Karen told us more about the Benedictines. She led a special set of sessions on The Adult Journey, Year II: Journey as Community. This was in 2002. The original group has dwindled down to about six or seven of us. Others were pulled in different directions.
The class covered Culture, Community, Rules, and Rule-crafting, Obedience, Stability, and Fidelity. The study asked us to examine our personal lives -work, study, leisure, pray, and my relationship with God, other people, and my innermost self. We later studied other Benedictine Values. We also spend a good deal of time studying the Rule of Benedictine, particularly the prolog. 
Karen strongly encouraged all of us to write our own Rule. I believe three or four of us have done so. Several have been on retreat at Mt. Calvary, and have become Associates.
After Karen left St Matthias, the Benedictine Group chose to follow Norvene Vest's book Preferring Christ, A devotional Commentary & Workbook on the Rule of Saint Benedict. We are slowly working our way through the book at our monthly meetings.
A few of us went to a Quiet Day where Esther de Waal, Benedictine writer, was the speaker. Others of us attended a week long retreat at the Center for Spiritual Development where Norvene and Doug Vest were speakers.
As a group, the Benedictines sponsored a weekend retreat at St Matthias, and asked Karen McQueen to come back to lead us. It was very successful. Another year, led by Kathy Underwood, we asked biblical scholar David M Scholer to speak after church. Again, this was very successful.
The Benedictines at St Matthias really have no "rules". Anyone is welcome at any time. We do not require a written rule, but most of us have one. We do not require affiliation with Holy Cross, or another Benedictine Community, but several of us have done so.
The Benedictines meet on the third Sunday afternoon 2:30 until 5:00, or so. Our Prioress (or Prior) changes monthly, with all regular members taking a turn leading the monthly meeting.
Carol McCracken