The Pathfinder: February 8, 2024
Soup and Story this Lent
One of the quieter but more profound memories I have as a child growing up in the church was being in other peoples’ homes and watching my parents talk with other adults, usually on couches around a coffee table or a dinner table. I never understood how you could sit and (in my child’s mind) do nothing for so long, but I understood that something magical was happening.
Sometimes the laughter from the dining room would be so loud and would go on so long that it would cause us kids to stop our play and try to join in and laugh along, as if we could understand the joke–it all looked so fun that we wanted to be part of it.
These are some of the images that inspired Soup + Story back in Lent of 2017 when we first started this program, and remains a guiding image for me, as we look to bring back this practice for Lent of 2024. It is so good to be with others, in our homes, trying to make meaning of the stories we have lived and been given.
For those who are new to this idea, Soup + Story is just as it sounds: for the first five weeks of Lent we gather in each others’ homes to have a soup dinner and have intentional conversation around topics related to Lent. Here’s how it works:
First, you sign up for a night that works for you (you can sign-up here), or sign-up based on geography (once we have all the hosts squared away)
Next, you’ll hear from the host of your group with details such as their home address and anything you might need to know about coming to their home for the first time.
Groups begin the first week of Lent, February 18th and will run through the week of March 17th.
You do not need to attend all five weeks in order to sign up, but I do believe the time will be richer if everyone can attend as much as possible.
Your group will meet consistently on the same night of the week for those five weeks (and usually in the same spot, though occasionally folks decide to share the hosting responsibilities).
Each week, a different person/family is responsible for the soup and/or salad and/or bread, and this is usually figured out at the first meeting (though you’ll want to work through food allergies prior to that first meeting).
This is meant to be a family-friendly event. Children are absolutely welcome and desired!
The structure of the night is typically that you will gather first for conversation around the year’s theme, for about 45 minutes and then move into dinner for about 45 minutes. Groups with kids in them will often flip this order, however 🙂
This year, for the conversation part of the night, we will lean into spiritual autobiographies and stories of conversion or re-conversion. Phil will talk more about this next week, so I’ll leave that to him, but we are hopeful that it will be content that all ages can engage.
Lent is often framed as a time to put down certain things––often things that pull you away from God or from the life-affirming pieces of our lives. But it is also a season when we remember and return to things that bring us to God, that bring us life and affirm the life we have been given. It is my experience that leaning into community, into the vulnerability of thoughtful and honest conversation, and into the exchange of eating with others somehow has the power to do just that––to help us bring us into and recognize the life-affirming power of the presence of God.
And so, consider joining a Soup + Story group this Lent and enter this liminal time of the year with other All Soulsians around tables of food and conversation. If you’re new to All Souls, this is a great way to get to know more folks and to find a place and way to be known. Again, you can sign-up online (click here) or at the back of the Narthex this Sunday in person. And if you are hoping to host a group at your house, please email me, emily@allsoulsparish.org.
– Emily Hansen Curran
Mardi Gras: Feasting, Fellowship, and Fundraising!
One of my favorite things about All Souls is the way this community orients itself toward the change of liturgical seasons. From Advent wreaths to Taize to art installations, we attune our bodies, minds, and spirits to the themes of a particular time of year. This week– the beginning of Lent– is no exception.
Starting with our Ash Wednesday services, we’ll enter a time of reflection, prayer, and spiritual discipline as we prepare for Easter. But before that, we’ll mark the threshold of Lent with a centuries-old tradition and All Souls favorite: our Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday party!
With origins in medieval Europe and modern fame in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a celebration that includes feasting, music, parades, and decorations. The feast emphasizes abundance in contrast to the discipline and moderation of Lent. Here at All Souls, we take part in Mardi Gras through a communal dinner with music, fellowship, and food.
Join us on Tuesday, February 13th at 5:30p in the Parish Hall for a feast of jambalaya, pancakes, salad, and more. After dinner, around 6:45, we’ll gather in the courtyard for a bonfire, where we’ll fire our homemade clay crosses to use in spiritual practice throughout the year.
Our Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday dinner is also our annual Youth Program fundraiser. If you are able, please consider a donation of $5-10 for kids 12 and under, $10-15 for adults, $35 max for families (credit cards or Venmo accepted; QR codes will be provided on each table). If you are able to give more, please do. And if cost is a barrier, please join us anyway!
The funds we raise this year will go directly to our Youth Immersion Trip fund. This year, our middle school youth will participate in a two-day Immersion Experience using All Souls as a base and volunteering at local organizations. Our high school youth will go on a retreat to the beach or the mountains (location in progress) to focus on community-building, personal spiritual formation, and creation care. Your donations will also support next year’s Immersion Trip efforts, when we hope to return to a larger international trip. During dinner on Tuesday, you’ll hear from several of our youth as they share how the All Souls Immersion Trip program has transformed their perspective and shaped their lives. You can read more about the tenets and goals of our Youth Program here.
So– we hope that you will join us this Tuesday, bringing All Soulsians of all ages and friends from outside of our community, too. The event is family-friendly and intended to be welcoming for all.
See you there!
– Emily+
Stations of the Cross: A Global Window into Christ’s Passion
During this year of global strife, with wars raging in many weary lands, we stand in solidarity and hope that our prayers reach out to all our sisters and brothers around the world.
The Way of the Cross, often called the Stations of the Cross, offers a pilgrim’s path to observe the steps taken by Jesus during his last week on earth, and we are inviting each of us to walk and pray with our own unique Stations.
This year during Lent, each Station is represented by a country where Christians gather during this time to honor Christ’s walk to the cross. As we walk this path ourselves around the nave, may we remember and pray with those especially threatened by war, displacement, hunger and disease. We take courage in the knowledge that times of fear and sorrow and injustice will lead us to hope and forgiveness and newness of life through His resurrection.
– Diane Haavik
Stewardship Plus: This Sunday
Please join us for the Stewardship Plus Town Hall this Sunday, February 11th, at 9:15AM in the Common Room. We’ll start a conversation about how to broaden and elevate the stewardship work we already do at All Souls, and we’ll begin to generate ways to unlock new resources for us.
We hope to leave this meeting with plenty of ideas to sort through and will ultimately be putting together working groups to focus on specific stewardship areas, such as the annual operating campaign, planned giving, and time and talent.
We welcome everyone - experienced fundraisers, never-pledgers and people who would like to know more - to this conversation. Join us in the Common Room this Sunday.
If you can’t join the town hall, or just want to share your thoughts before the meeting, please fill out this form: Stewardship Ideas.
See you Sunday!
– Melissa Devereaux
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
Worship This Sunday
8:00am, Holy Eucharist in Chapel
10:30am, sung Eucharist (click here to access the live stream)
Ash Wednesday Services
7:00a in the Chapel
Noon and 7:30p in the Nave
(Note: no regular 9:00a Wednesday Eucharist this week)
Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, Sunday @ 7:00a. Click here to join by Zoom, or join them in-person in the Common Room.
Youth Group is happening this Sunday, Feb 11th, 7-8:30p in the Parish Hall.
Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday Join us next Tuesday, February 13th from 5:30-8:30p for an evening of jambalaya, pancakes, music, and a bonfire! Suggested donations support our Youth Ministry program. All are welcome!
We are seeking volunteers to help with cooking, decorating, and clean-up anytime from 1pm to 9pm Tuesday. We would especially appreciate folks with Open Door Dinner or other cooking experience on Tuesday afternoon. Please contact Emily B or Emily HC if you’re willing to help.
If you took home a cross-making kit last week, please bring your completed crosses on Tuesday evening so that we can fire them in our bonfire!
Adult Formation
Feb 4, 11, 18: The Jewish Origins of Christianity with Rabbi Harry Manhoff
Before Judaism (as we know it today) and Christianity, the people of Israel were learning how to live according to the Hebrew Bible. In the Jewish Origins of Christianity series, Rabbi Harry Manhoff will present the rabbinic traditions of the first century that are shared in the New Testament. We will see that Jesus of Nazareth, called Rabbi (in Greek letters), taught many of the same traditions as sages of the people of Israel. This class will meet in the Parish Hall from 9:15-10:15a.
Note: The Adult Formation Committee has decided to suspend Zoom access to classes due to technical issues and low turnout. Audio recordings will be posted when available.
Coming Up in Adult Formation: Is THIS Anglican Music? with Dr. Anne Yardley
Just as the Book of Common Prayer has changed and adapted, so too has the musical repertoire in churches of the Anglican Communion grown. In this three-part class we will look at the development of English hymnody and choral music and the subsequent movement of that repertoire around the globe as the Anglican church expanded. We will then try to answer the question “what is Anglican music?” (February 25, March 3 &10)
Catechumenate Class
If you are new to the Episcopal Church, or new to Christianity, or if you have been around and are possibly looking to be baptized or Confirmed in the Episcopal Church, please consider joining the Catechumenate class this Lent! The class will meet on the Sunday nights in Lent (2/18-3/24) at 7p in the Common Room. Please RSVP with Emily Hansen Curran (emily@allsoulsparish.org) or reach out to her if you are interested.
Lenten Soup & Story
Soup + Story is just as it sounds; for the first five weeks of Lent, we’ll gather in each others’ homes around soup and conversation. Groups meet all over the east bay on different nights of the week. You can sign-up for a night that works for you and/or your family (click here).
We’re also looking for hosts (people with homes who can host 8-12 folks five times during the weeks of Lent. Please note that you will NOT be expected to make the soup for those five weeks, just host the group in your home). Please reach out to Emily Hansen Curran (emily@allsoulsparish.org) if you think you might be able/interested to host.
Children & Family
Nursery The downstairs nursery is open and available to you for your use whenever you’re at All Souls. This is not a staffed nursery, so an adult must be there with your child, but if you need a quiet place to take a time out, change a diaper, let your child play or take a rest, the nursery is open for you to do all of those things. If there is a service going on that’s being livestreamed, you will be able to watch the livestream on the computer in the nursery as well.
Children’s Ministry Sunday School continues each week during the 10:30 a.m. service for children from pre-K through 5th grade. Children head downstairs at the start of the service, then return after the “Peace.” See an usher if you need directions.
All ages attend a shared Godly Play “Storytime.” Then, our youngest kids (pre-K to 1st grade) remain in the Godly Play classroom for “wondering” and “work” time, while our older kids (grades 2-5) split off for deeper investigation and exploration.
Note to Parents: We encourage all kids to return to the sanctuary after Sunday School and save outdoor playground time for later. In the Godly Play curriculum, we view the Eucharist as an important extension of Sunday School; the sacred space that we create downstairs continues and expands as we join the whole congregation upstairs. We appreciate your help reinforcing this norm!
Read more about our Sunday School program here.
Youth Program - Youth Group happens weekly on Sundays from 7-8:30 in the Parish Hall. If you are not receiving weekly Youth Program updates but would like to, please reach out to Emily B to be added to our mailing list.
Additionally, if you are on our email list, you received updates this week about middle school and high school summer Immersion events. Please respond to those emails with your date preferences by Wednesday, Feb. 14th.
Godly Play & Faith Explorers Teachers We are actively seeking teachers and/or alternates to add to our Sunday School team for all ages. If you are interested, please reach out to Emily B. (All teachers will go through SAFE Church training and background checks).
Justice & Peace
Ways to help with the Israel-Hamas War, from Episcopal Relief & Development
Since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war, Episcopal Relief & Development has been supporting long-time partners in the Holy Land including Al Ahli Hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, to provide emergency medical support in Gaza. Despite being hit by two explosions that damaged buildings and claimed hundreds of lives, the hospital is still serving those who are in need of care. Episcopal Relief & Development stands with the brave staff of Al Ahli Hospital as they risk their lives to help others.
Please pray for peace in the Holy Land and consider making a contribution to the Episcopal Relief & Development Middle East Fund to help meet the growing needs of all people in the region.
Stay informed about the Episcopal Relief & Development response at episcopalrelief.org.
Needs of the Community
Request from Scott Garriott, All Souls sexton “As many of you know, my father is in hospice care right now. My sister in law and brother have started a Go Fund Me page to help with their travel and lodging expenses as they come out to help caretake and spend time with my family. If you could share this with the all souls community we would all be very grateful. Thank you all for the help.”
Please consider supporting Scott and his family here: https://gofund.me/07676df5
Everything Else
Girl Scout Cookie Sales
Some All Souls Girl Scouts will be selling cookies outside church this week and next week (Feb 11 and 14) before and after the 10:30a service. Support a good cause and get yummy cookies!
Ale Souls Brewing
Ale Souls - the beer drinking / seasonal brewing affinity group - will have the Easter Brew planning session next week. Join us if you are interested: 7pm Thursday Feb 15th @ Gilman Brewing Co (912 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA 94710)
We'll enjoy a pint, dream up the recipe for the Easter Ale and schedule brewing dates/times.
Reach out to Emily Hansen Curran to be added to the Ale Souls email list.
