The Pathfinder: April 18th, 2024
Glimpses Into God
Over two decades ago, at the close of the last capital campaign at All Souls, a desire emerged to have an icon cross of the crucifixion hang over the altar in the nave. For a variety of reasons, that never happened. When I arrived at All Souls several years later, I learned one of the primary reasons––that many people in the congregation didn’t want the crucifixion to be the only way that we encountered the Christ in our worship space. So a plain wooden icon, known over time as “the empty cross,” remained as the focal point over the altar.
On the vestry retreat a few years after I’d been here, I fell into a conversation with Vestry members and staff about the empty cross. After I shared the primary reason why many All Souls didn’t want an icon of the crucifixion to be the only visual way we encounter Jesus, the late Christopher Putnam and I had the very same thought at the very same time.
What if we had a number of cruciform icons of the Christ? What if we were able to seasonally glimpse a particular truth about Christ, so that no one icon had to hold the whole truth? That moment with CP on retreat slowly but surely unfolded over time. Nine years ago on Good Shepherd Sunday, we blessed the icon of the Good Shepherd, an icon written for All Souls by the Reverend Dr. Paul Fromberg. Our icon of the Good Shepherd, the only icon we are aware of in this form, has served as a focal point for liturgical seasons, funerals, and Taizé services ever since.
A couple weeks ago at the Easter Vigil we blessed the newest icon cross at All Souls, an icon of the Resurrection. But, you may ask, how does one depict a moment that no one witnessed? We have stories about the empty tomb and accounts of the Risen Christ at table and in the Upper Room, but none of the Resurrection itself. How could we visually encounter this essential truth of Christ? In what way could we glimpse what we believe about God?
Enter: visual metaphor. And enter once more, the Rev. Dr. Paul Fromberg, still the Rector of St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, and a remarkable iconographer. Thanks to a generous gift by an All Soulsian, Paul began to imagine what an icon of the Resurrection might look like and found the seed of this new icon in our previous icon of the Good Shepherd.
When Paul created the Good Shepherd icon, he created a design within the gold of the halo of Christ. What if, we wondered, the whole of an icon of the Resurrection was gold leaf, and there was a subtle design underneath? Over iterations the lily came to be the central image, and Paul experimented with both the design as well as the method that he might use to apply it. This past year Will Boutelle cut the form out of a sheet of birch and Paul began to create.
First came the coat of gesso, then a sketch of the lily, then Paul carved the lily into the cross. Successive layers were applied to the cross, the final one being the gold-leaf, over many pain-staking sessions. The last act was the inscription in Greek of Mark 16:7 on the back of the cross, “He has gone ahead of your to Galilee.”
My hope is that this icon will be able to serve as a glimpse into the Resurrective life we find in God, and will be able to a focal point in our worship for years to come. And, that it will be joined once more, hopefully in the near future, by other glimpses into the self-giving love of God.
Peace,
– Phil+
Click through the photos above for a glimpse of the artistic process behind the Resurrection icon.
Living Waters Update: Good News, and a Town Hall to Share It!
Living Waters has taken two big steps forward in the past week. The Property Committee has received good financial and administrative news. The construction bids for Living Waters work are in from the contractor WCI and they are right on or below the cost estimates we have been using to make decisions.
After gathering bids from subcontractors, WCI submitted a bid of just under $2,800,000. The scope of the work we have been considering for months– interior elevator, power upgrade, parish hall and kitchen rehab, and upgrades for the undercroft and chapel– is on track!
There are still some costs outside the contractor’s scope of work, like PG&E’s fee for installing the new electric service, that are not fully defined yet. The total budget is not yet finalized, but it is much firmer than it has been before.
And, the City of Berkeley has returned its first set of comments as part of the permit process and are seeking clarification of only a handful of minor issues. The Property Committee does not anticipate any major material changes to the plans based on the city’s review.
There are more details to be ironed out, both in the bids and the permit process, but the Property Committee believes these two steps move us much closer to doing the work to transform our space.
The construction schedule and start date are still to come. Estimates of a start date range from early June to early August, depending on the use of space and the city’s permitting process.
To provide more detail on the financial and permitting news, the Property Committee and the Vestry will host a brief parish town hall this Sunday, April 21, from 12:15p to 1:15p in the Parish Hall. Please join the conversation then!
– Richard Lynch
A Temporary Home for Open Door Dinner
As we continue to hear updates about our Living Waters construction project, perhaps you are wondering what will happen to our Open Door Dinner when the kitchen and Parish Hall are being demolished and renovated.
We have been thinking about this as well, and last year at the All Souls A’s tailgate the issue was discussed among four of the ODD team captains and us. Here is how the process unfolded.
On Aug 4, 2023 Don and I received an email from a couple at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Church (less than a mile from All Souls) asking if we were open to a call regarding how All Souls’ monthly dinner was going since the end of Covid. We agreed and we had a lengthy call with Mary and George about how their numbers of guests had been falling in recent years. We mentioned that prior to Covid that had been true for our Open Door Dinner as well, but when we started delivering meals to the West Berkeley encampments during Covid we discovered a large group of communities that were in great need of meals, but unlikely to travel to our neighborhood. It was helpful for them to hear of All Souls’ experience and we were glad they had reached out.
Two weeks later at the tailgate, I believe it was Anne Cockle or Jennifer Akiyama who started the ball rolling with the question, “Hey, what do you think we should do about Open Door when the kitchen and Parish Hall are unavailable during the remodel?” Various scenarios were discussed, some more realistic than others. I recalled the discussion we had had with Mary & George (at SMM) and mentioned that we could reach out to them to see if we could use their kitchen once a month to prepare the meal.
From that discussion we got back in touch with Mary & George to float the idea and see if we could get a tour of their kitchen set up. We did that a few days after Labor Day. The kitchen at SMM is remarkably similar to the All Souls kitchen. We left that meeting with Mary & George telling us that they would propose our usage to their parish Business Manager for final confirmation on our proposal. We received that confirmation and are now on the SMM calendar for using their kitchen for a few hours every month on the second Saturday and Sunday, roughly June - Dec.
Our proposed plan is to have the team grill chef and support team do the prep and cooking of the jambalaya at SMM. The jambalaya and rice will be mixed together and transferred into large serving tubs and transported back to All Souls. The exact location of the meal bag production line has yet to be finalized, but the bags will be filled on sight at All Souls, with half the meals distributed from the Spruce St entrance as they are now and the rest loaded into cars to be distributed to the West Berkeley encampments we have been delivering to since April 2020.
Still to confirm: where at ASP our materials will be stored between 2nd Sundays.
As we begin this new, temporary work-around we will likely find ways to refine it. We know that there is a need for these meals to continue uninterrupted.
– Don Gates and Pat Jones, ODD Coordinators
This Sunday: Vestment Display and Farewell
In preparation for the approaching construction, we (sacristans) need to send long-unused vestments to new homes. This coming Sunday morning, April 21, will be the opportunity for us to review these as a community in the Parish Hall. A feedback sheet will be attached to each piece for you to record your recollection of occasions when that vestment was part of a liturgy or an era. A sample from 2 sets of now-unused choir robes will also be part of the display.
Following this, Emily Boring will circulate photos of the vestments within this Diocese and then further afield via a clergy Facebook group, in the hope that many will find homes in other worshipping communities. Should liturgical homes not be found, we will contact anyone expressing a wish (on the feedback sheet) for the vestment fabric for your own use.
Many items pre-date our personal recollections; one at least was current in the 1960s. Our thanks to Jeannie Koops of the Arts at All Souls team for designing the display.
– Marilyn Flood, on behalf of the sacristans
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 Youth Group is back this Sunday, April 21st, in the Parish Hall. We’ll be celebrating Earth Day and also going on a mini-pilgrimage to a fun location. See below for important info about our 3rd Annual Pilgrimage to Grace Cathedral on April 28th!
Adult Formation
Written that you May Believe: The Gospel of John with the Rev. Michael Lemaire
In this introduction to the Gospel of John, we will explore this most unique of Gospels emphasizing how its Theology and Christology enrich the Christian faith. (April 7, 14, 21)
Newcomer Class with the Rev. Phil Brochard and Emily Hansen Curran
Wondering how to learn more about All Souls and connect with our community? Join us for a newcomer class, April 21 through May 12, 9:15-10:15, downstairs in the Common Room. Email emily@allsoulsparish.org with questions.
Coming Up: Discovering Practices of Hope with William Stringfellow, taught by Dr. Scott MacGougall
Our social and political climate could easily lead us to despair. The same was true for William Stringfellow (1928–1985). Stringfellow was a lifelong Episcopalian with a fierce loyalty to God’s justice, truth, and love. For him, despair was not an option and active hope the only Christian response to suffering, chaos, and death. This series will ignite our own hope through his inspiring example. This will be our final class of the program year. (April 25, May 5 and May 12)
Summer 2024 Book Groups
The Adult Formation Committee is excited to announce the schedule for book groups in the summer of 2024. We will be offering three different books and hope that you will choose to participate in at least one of them. The groups will meet at 9:15am on Sundays.
June 9, 16, 23, and 30
Marilynne Robinson, Reading Genesis (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2024) and the book of Genesis from the Bible. Led by Jack Shoemaker.
July 7, 14, 21
Charles Duhigg, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection (Random House, 2024). Led by Raymond Yee.
July 28, August 4, 11
Steven Charleston, We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope (Broadleaf Books, 2021). Led by Marguerite Judson.
More details will follow but we wanted to share this with you now so you can start reading!
Any questions? Contact Anne Yardley at ayardley@drew.edu
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.
3rd Annual Pilgrimage to Grace Cathedral: Sunday, April 28th It is not too late! Join youth from the Alameda Deanery and DioCal as we travel by foot and ferry to Grace Cathedral for dinner, fellowship, and Vespers (and meet the incoming Bishop!). Email Emily B to sign up.
Here is the rough schedule:
10:15a - Meet in the All Souls courtyard for a blessing, then begin walking to Oakland
12:15p - Arrive at St. John's Oakland for lunch and connect with other deanery youth
2:30p - Take the Ferry from Jack London Square (you'll need a Clipper Card/app)
3:00p - Walk up the hill, through Chinatown and other landmarks
~ 4:00p - Arrive at Cathedral
5:00p - Dinner
6:00p - Vespers
7:00p - make our way home, by carpool or BART
All ages (including but not limited to youth) are welcome.
Justice & Peace
Earth Day Celebration and Waterfront Clean-Up: Saturday, April 20th
The City of Berkeley is organizing a cleanup of trash and plastic pollution along the Berkeley shoreline at Shorebird Park on Saturday morning, April 20, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. A group of All Soulsians will be participating in honor of the 54 th anniversary of Earth Day. We will gather at the Shorebird Park Nature Center, 160 University Avenue, at 9:00 am. This is a family-friendly event and is a great way to spend part of a Saturday morning in the fresh air, along the Bay, and in the company of many others who are honoring Earth Day. Bring gloves and a bucket if possible. Some extra gloves may be available. Please email Lewis Maldonado at Lewiscm@mac.com if you are able to join us, or have any questions. Sponsored by the All Souls Justice and Peace Ministry Team. For map and details, click here.
Earth Day Film Offerings For an inspiring Earth Day Activity, join other All Soulsians who are participating in two film events. The first is the award winning film “Common Ground” at the Metreon in San Francisco Monday April 22 at 2 pm and 6:30pm. The other is a conversation with Gabe Brown farmer featured in the film 9 am Wednesday April 24. Join other faith congregations globally during Faith and Climate week. Register for both at www.InterfaithPowerandLight.org.
Interfaith Event, April 28th: Practicing Hope in Times of Despair
The next gathering of our ongoing relationships with Congregation Beth El and St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church is coming up on April 28th at Congregation Beth El (1301 Oxford in Berkeley) from 1p-3p. The theme of this event of Building Interfaith Bridges will be, "Practicing Hope in Times of Despair." Drawing on scriptural texts, small group conversation, and a shared meal we will listen to one another's stories, and learn from one another's traditions. As this will involve a catered meal, please RSVP on this website so that we can know how much food to provide.
Menstrual Hygiene Donations In partnership with a UC Berkeley organization called Undergraduate Street Medicine Outreach, All Souls has begun a weekly collection of menstrual hygiene products for folks in the Berkeley and Oakland encampments. Please bring products on Sundays and place them in the designated basket in the Narthex. If you'd prefer to make a monetary donation, you can write a check to All Souls and indicate "hygiene donation." Contact Beth Christensen (beth.christensen@gmail.com) with questions.
Needs of the Community
Rides Ministry We are working to reinvigorate our Rides Ministry team, which helps provide rides to and from church on Sundays and to other parish events, especially in the evenings. If you are willing to be added to the list of drivers, please email Emily B and share a bit about your availability. We are also seeking a coordinator of this Rides Ministry team, who will assist in matching drivers with those who need rides. If you are interested in this leadership role or feel called to learn more, please email Emily B or Emily HC.
Call for Volunteers: Communications Team We are seeking volunteers to join our Communications ministry team. We welcome help in many areas: website design and maintenance, social media, weekly communications, livestream and Youtube, outreach to neighbors and newcomers, and more. If you have visions, skills, or enthusiasm in this area, we welcome you! Please reach out to Emily B.
Everything Else
Great Tomato Plant Sale
Come get plants for your garden, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash and more! Richmond Civic Center Library (325 Civic Center Plaza), April 27 (Sat), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All plants are $4. More info here, or talk to Joni Stickney.
Poetry Workshops with Tess Taylor Did you know… All Soulsian Tess Taylor was recently named Poet Laureate of El Cerrito! There is one more upcoming chances to explore writing with Tess and celebrate her award-winning poetry collection, Leaning Toward Light. From Tess:
Earth Day/Black Pine Circle: Want to write some poetry with your kids, and celebrate Earth Day? On April 28th join me at Black Pine Circle School in Berkeley for a family-friendly Earth Day poetry festival. Email tess_taylor@mac.com to sign up.
Weekly Sermon Haiku
Fun fact: Chat GPT can take the transcript of a sermon and generate a catchy haiku! Some are lovely, some are awful, some are worth a laugh. Below, see the poem from last Sunday’s sermon.
From The Rev. Emily Boring’s Easter 3 Sermon:
Silent room, a hand,
Comfort shared without a word—
Healing presence felt.
Watch All Souls sermons on our Youtube channel, or listen to them as podcasts here.
