Corinne Freedman Ellis, MDiv

YDS alumnae Hannah Dreitcer (MDiv '14), Kendra Joyner Miller (MDiv '14), Alanna Sullivan (MDiv '14), Miriam Samuelson-Roberts (MDiv '15), and Corinne Freedman Ellis (MDiv '14) were awarded a grant from the College of Pastoral Leaders at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary designed to "enliven, invigorate, and sustain a life of ministry."(https://www.austinseminary.edu/page.cfm?p=3502) Calling themselves the Sabbath Sisters, these five young clergywomen, representing the UCC, PC(USA), and ELCA, gather monthly on Skype for book discussions that ground them in the theology and practice of sabbath in various religious traditions. Together, they find support and grounding in their first several years of congregational ministry, a time that can be especially challenging and disorienting.

The grant provides funding for three in-person gatherings, where the group has chosen to explore groundedness practices in different spiritual communities. This photo comes from their first gathering in May at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, CO (yes, there was a 4-foot blizzard in May!).