The Pathfinder: February 15, 2024
(re)turning to God
A few months ago at a Wednesday 9 o’clock Eucharist we celebrated the feast day of Clive Staples Lewis. As part of our homiletical reflection, I read a portion of his spiritual autobiography about his turning to faith.
In our ensuing discussion, a member of the group shared about her own return to faith. She had been in her 20s, and even though she had grown up in the church, had fallen away from practice. And then, when this parishioner read Madeline L’Engle’s own coming to faith story, something fell into place and as a result they began to return to practice. The story of one person’s return to God lit the way for another’s.
One of the primary lenses of Lent is that of repentance. And while repentance often has a somber and sometimes punitive tone, at its essence it’s about turning around. Turning your heart, turning your mind, turning your practices towards God. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and stretching all the way until the Great Vigil of Easter is the time that the Church has set apart for us to take on practices that help us re-turn.
The experience of that parishioner and the shared conversation that followed has remained with me, reminding me of the power of witness and story, and that the witness of others can be a light for our own path. This is why for our Soup + Story groups this Lent we will be hearing the stories of people’s coming to or returning to the Christian faith. Some of these stories will be recent (from the last decade), others ancient (from centuries ago). But each week we will be gathering in someone’s home, sharing a simple meal of soup, salad and bread, and hearing stories of return. You can sign up online here, or on Sunday following the 8a and 10:30a services.
There are many, many ways to return to God. Over time practitioners of the Christian faith have found reliable ways to turn again: regular time spent in Scripture, engaging in acts of mercy, renewing attention in prayer, fasting from distractions, practicing forgiveness. Each Lent we are invited to take on one or more of these disciplines and then pay attention to how they change us over time.
My hope is that through private devotion, shared worship, and stories of turning and returning to God, together we will make our way through this holy time, ready for new life once more.
Peace,
– Phil+
Permits, Plans and Soon to Come Bids.
There has been a flurry of Living Waters administrative action recently. Late last week HY Architects submitted our construction permit application, and an 82-page set of plans, to the City of Berkeley to start the permit process for our Living Waters work!
The city will do a quick initial review to ensure that the application is complete and then begin a thorough review of the application. In the next few months the city should be ready to issue the construction permits.
In the LW Update from January 11th, I noted the application to PG&E for upgraded electrical service had to wait for our application for a construction permit. With our application to Berkeley, we can proceed with the electrical upgrade permit. PG&E now has the upgrade application and has started to review it. PG&E reports it often takes 9 months from filing a permit to starting construction on an upgrade. We have asked for construction to start in May, so will need to see how the scheduling proceeds.
On a separate track, HY Architects is also finalizing construction drawings that will be sent to subcontractors for final bids. The drawings should be ready in the next couple of weeks and we should have bids back by mid to late March. When we have those bids we will finalize our project scope and our financial planning. This will be another pivotal point in the Living Water timeline and will firm up our plans for construction. I will look to have another town hall meeting, or similar, opportunity to share this information. Details to come.
Once the construction drawings are complete and out for bids, we will get 2 sets of the paper, large format, plans for All Soulsians to review. Details to come on this process also.
Most people never “ooh” and “ahh” over paperwork moving through large organizations. But, these are the final steps toward beginning the real world transformation of our space. After just a bit more administrative work we will be ready to move into actual construction. And that will be a blessing.
– Richard Lynch
Emily B.’s Ordination
Dear All Soulsians,
I’m delighted to share that (God willing and weather permitting!) my priestly ordination will take place tomorrow, Friday February 16th, at 7pm PST. The ceremony will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, OR.
You can watch a livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/@ecwo/streams
(The video recording will also be available at the same link afterward).
Thanks to everyone who has offered prayers, support, and blessings as I prepare for this threshold! I look forward to presiding for the first time at All Souls on Sunday, February 25th.
Thanks,
– Emily+
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)
Wednesday 9am Service. Join the Zoom call here, or join us in person in the Nave. Password: 520218.
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 18th, 7-8:30p in the Parish Hall.
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! Beginning TONIGHT, 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).
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.
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
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
Request for Assistance Teresa Vosper, a member of of our community, is seeking temporary emergency housing due to a health crisis. She is also seeking a cat-sitter so that she can travel in the wake of a family member’s death. If you can provide housing, or if you are interested in cat-sitting, please email Teresa: tlvosper@gmail.com.
Everything Else
Ale Souls Brewing
Ale Souls - the beer drinking / seasonal brewing affinity group - will have the Easter Brew planning session next week. Join us TONIGHT 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.
National Random Kindness Day
Celebrating the 30th anniversary edition of Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty by Anne Herbert and M. Paloma Pavel, art by Mayumi Oda, foreword by Desmond Tutu. Meet the RK Leadership 2024 awardees for a Zoom celebration on February 17th at 10a. Dr. Paloma and friends will host a webinar on National Random Kindness Day to award the 2024 recipients of the RK Leadership Award and to celebrate the 30th anniversary edition of Random Kindness & Senseless Acts of Beauty. We will explore the origin of the phrase “random kindness, and senseless acts of beauty,” reflect on how the phrase can help us shape a just future, and share stories of random kindness happening around us. Click here to register for Zoom link.
