This six-part series will focus on the unique group of devotional writers at the end of the fourteenth century called The English Mystics. The writers are Richard Rolle (d. 1349), author of commentaries on the perfect life; the lawyer and Augustinian canon, Walter Hilton (d. 1396), author of theological works; Julian of Norwich (d. after 1415), author of two versions of A Revelation of Love, a work of speculative theology developed after a set of visions experienced in 1373; the author of The Cloud of Unknowing; and Margery Kempe (d. after 1438), author of The Book of Margery Kempe. Each wrote from a different background and perspective, but all spoke to a burgeoning lay audience about the life of faith and prayer. This series outlines who they are as a group and what their individual lives and writings have to say to us today which can be surprisingly relevant and rewarding.  The class meets on Sunday morning, January 12 through February 16, at 9:30 a.m. in the Library.

After 15 years of ordained ministry, I will be taking a Sabbatical. A sabbatical is an extended time away from work to rest, refresh, and renew. When I came to Christ Episcopal Church, I had placed in my contract that I would be given a sabbatical this upcoming year and that I would receive $10,000 towards the upcoming sabbatical. Melinda and I applied for a Lily grant with the help of some parishioners, and we did not receive the grant, so we will be traveling with a grant from the Quinn Foundation for $7500 and $10,000 from the parish, of which a parishioner has donated to cover. We will take off after January 5th and return on the 23rd of March. Here are some highlights of our upcoming trips: We will be visiting with my mother, who is coming down in early January to visit. We will take small day trips in Texas with our granddaughter. We will be sailing out of Los Angeles on a 49-day cruise that will take us to Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Mauritius, and we will end the cruise in Cape Town, South Africa. Christ Episcopal Church will be covered well, Mother Janice Jones will cover Sundays in January and March, and Fr. Dave Scheider will cover Sundays in February. Mother Rachel will take care of the Wednesday service while I am gone. We look forward to returning to you at the end of Lent Refreshed, refocused, renewed, and ready for a fabulous 2025! Sincerely, Rev. Keith Pozzuto