The Pathfinder: August 1, 2024
Season of Creation: A Liturgy of Belonging
This week, you’ll notice a change in our Sunday liturgy. We’ve entered a time called the Season of Creation, which we’ll celebrate from now until St. Francis Day. We are still in the long season known as Ordinary Time, but the next two months will have a particular thematic focus. We join faith communities around the world who have chosen to engage in prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction.
Before Phil left for sabbatical, he gave me the task of helping to shape the liturgy we’ll use this season. The resources I’ve chosen—in conversation with our staff team and our assisting priests—come from many parts of the Anglican Communion, representing many views of what it means to be in sacred relationship with the more-than-human world. I want to share a little about the background and intention behind these choices. You are welcome to take an early look at this Sunday’s bulletin if you want to follow along.
First, you’ll notice that the response after each reading is slightly different: “Hear what the Spirit is saying to all God’s creation,” rather than just “to God’s people.” This is a way to move beyond anthropocentrism and affirm that the “good news” includes the renewal of all living things (Mark 16:15).
You’ll also notice a different form of Confession, emphasizing our overuse of resources and failure to recognize our kinship with all creatures. You’ll find a post-Communion prayer that calls us to join in God’s renewing, transforming work. You’ll find a Prayers of the People form that encourages us to extend our prayers beyond our own local community and our own species.
These elements come from the Season of Creation: A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes (2024), a fantastic resource that’s updated each year and authorized for use in most Episcopal dioceses, including ours. (Our former Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, has been a significant voice in the development of liturgical resources for creation care).
The most significant change you’ll notice in the liturgy is a Eucharistic Prayer that’s new to our community. This prayer comes from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (“First Eucharistic Prayer for the Season of Creation,” 2008). The prayer begins with a deep-time view of creation, describing the primal Word that “brought forth life in forms innumerable, including this fragile earth, and us amongst its inhabitants.” It emphasizes that, “in the mystery of Christ’s incarnation, you have gathered into one all things earthly and heavenly”—not just human beings.
This prayer stood out to me because its focus and tone is different than many of the creation-focused Eucharistic Prayers I’ve seen. Many prayers begin with an account of the sins that human beings have committed against creation, reminding us of the ways we’ve done wrong and the harm we’ve caused. I believe that there’s absolutely a place for reckoning with our selfishness, short-sightedness, and disregard for other species. In our liturgy this season, we’ll use that language in the Confession and in the Prayers of the People. But in my experience, a rhetoric of guilt—“you’ve done wrong, and so you ought to do better”—isn’t often the most effective way to cause a change of heart or empower us to alter our actions. Guilt often leads to stasis or paralysis, not transformation.
This Eucharistic prayer tells a story not of blame, but of belonging. It reminds us that human beings come from a continuous evolutionary lineage, connected through the Word to all that is and will be. As humans, we have special responsibility to act as “ministers of God’s reconciling love.” We do so not because we “ought to,” or because we’re ashamed of our actions. We do so because through the Eucharist and through the Gospel, we’re reminded anew of our own belovedness and our oneness, and we cannot help but share that abundant love with all forms of life.
Finally, at the close of our services, you’ll hear a new form of Dismissal:
“Go forth now to care for God’s world.
Use resources wisely. Share your knowledge.
Sacrifice where necessary.
Live in harmony with all creatures.
Go out into all the world as prophets of a new way of living
and preach the good news to all.”
I hope that each week, you will take these words to heart and challenge yourself to reflect and act in new ways.
–Emily+
Notes from the Vestry, July 2024
The All Souls Vestry met for our regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 17th. We began by reflecting on Mary Oliver’s beloved poem “The Summer Day.” As summer begins to give up her fight this August, I encourage you to read and reflect on that poem and enjoy the lingering stillness of summer. It won’t be long until the hectic schedules of fall come roaring back—including at All Souls.
After the Vestry reflected on those sounds of summer, we turned our attention to future seasons. Specifically, we were provided the latest updates on Living Waters and final preparations for the exciting new construction. Next, the Vestry was fully briefed by the Stewardship Committee on the “Annual Operating Campaign (“AOC”).
The AOC is a new approach to Stewardship at All Souls. As the Parish moves to address structural revenue issues, the AOC ask all of us to view Stewardship through a different lens. Stewardship is not something that should be limited to “pledge season,” but rather incorporated into our fellowship year-round. As the AOC seeks to revamp Stewardship at All Souls, they have asked each of us to answer two important questions:
1. What makes you glad to be a member of All Souls Parish?
2. Why do you give your money and time to support the church?
For our family, it is the indefinable feeling of community, love, and belonging that we experience at All Souls that makes us glad to be members. It is also why we support All Souls in various means. In short, All Souls is a critical ingredient in our family recipe. I have strong suspicion that most of you agree. For that reason, on behalf of the entire Vestry, I ask that everyone fill out this survey to support the AOC. (See a note from the Stewardship team in the Announcements section below).
The Vestry also looked to the future by discussing the health of various ministries—including Clerical and Pastoral Care, Meals & Rides, and Lay Eucharistic Ministry. The Vestry is looking forward to assisting those ministries to ensure vitality as we head into future seasons. Lastly, we discussed the ongoing search for a the Associate for Music. I am pleased to report that the search is going well. We should expect excellent music and programing in the seasons to come!
–Mark Wilson
Celebrating 50 Years of Women’s Ordinations
This past week marked the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination of women in The Episcopal Church. On July 29, 1974— two years before General Convention officially authorized the ordination of women— eleven women were ordained priests at the Church of the Advocate, Philadelphia. The 2023 documentary The Philadelphia Eleven portrays their remarkable story.
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, an Assisting Priest here at All Souls, was invited to preach at a service celebrating this anniversary at Grace Cathedral last Sunday. We invite you to watch the recording of her sermon, below, as a way to recognize these eleven courageous women and people of all genders who have been inspired by their legacy.
–Emily+
Living Waters Weekly Update
The wait for our permit is over and work has begun in earnest! Changes are happening quickly and it is an exciting time. Here are a few housekeeping rules to follow during this time.
Church entry will be on Cedar Street only starting this Sunday!
Bathrooms are available in the foyer next to the kitchen as well as at Jordan Court. There are NO bathrooms available in the undercroft anymore.
Handicapped accessible bathrooms are available at Jordan Court. Ask an usher for directions.
Porta Potties will be in place beginning next week.
The undercroft will be closed during the week. The Chapel can be accessed via the outside door on Cedar.
Due to construction noise, the Wednesday 9am Eucharist will take place in the Jordan Court Community Room until further notice.
There have been many questions on useable exits/egress from the nave during construction. The Cedar Street doors are the main exit and other exits will change as construction changes focus. See the diagram below. We will always let you know the way out! For now, the second exit is through the door to the right of the lift, down the stairs and exiting onto Jordan Court. We are not planning any emergencies but have planned for emergencies.
There will be many “Off Limits” areas in the months to come. Please obey signage so everyone remains safe.
We will post photos showing progress! This is a time for us all to be patient and understanding for any inconveniences encountered. A new and improved building is coming!
–Ann Myers and the Property Committee
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
Worship This Sunday
8:00am, Holy Eucharist in Chapel. Please access the Chapel through the copper doors on Cedar St.
10:30am, sung Eucharist (click here to access the live stream). Enter through the Cedar St. doors.
Wednesday 9am Eucharist Service, in the Jordan Court Community Room (note the location change, due to construction noise). Join us on Zoom here.
Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, Sunday @ 7:00a. Click here to join by Zoom, or join them in-person in the Jordan Court Conference Room.
Adult Formation
Book Group: We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope, by Steven Charleston. Led by the Rev. Marguerite Judson.
If, like me, you are feeling overwhelmed by the political, social and climatic changes around us, come spend time learning from Bishop Steven Charleston about different ways in which leaders of four First Nations helped their communities to face and survive the devastation of settler invasions which remade their worlds. Drawing from the histories of individual prophets from the Seneca, Shawnee, Wanapams and Paiute nations, and the world view of the Hopi, Charleston points to our call to be prophets in our own communities - to love the earth and speak truth and compassion in the midst of the political, cultural and climatic tides which frighten us.
July 28, Chapters 1-3 (82 pages)
Aug. 4, Chapters 4-5 (55 pages)
Aug. 11, Chapters 6 through Epilogue (62 pages)
Join us on Sundays at 9:15 in the Jordan Court Community Room. You are welcome to join at any time, even if you have missed previous meetings.
Children & Family
Save the Date: Godly Play Training! September 7th, 9a-1p, at All Souls. As our Children’s Ministry program continues to grow, we are actively seeking new volunteers to lead and assist our Sunday School lessons. Join us to learn about the Godly Play curriculum and train as a Storyteller. Email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org for more information or to sign up. Parents are especially encouraged to attend and consider joining our teacher team.
Youth Program is on hiatus for the summer. We’ll return after Labor Day on Sunday, September 8th. Youth are encouraged to help out at our Homecoming Sunday event, August 25th after the 10:30 service. More details to come!
Justice & Peace
Boost the Vote! “…it is the church’s responsibility to help get souls to the polls.” - Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
This important effort is still ongoing! Please consider taking part:
The All Souls Justice and Peace team invites you to help increase voter turnout by writing letters, following these easy steps:
Pick up from church 20 individual names, addresses, paper, & envelopes
(The names come from Vote Forward’s analysis, identifying citizens in low voter turnout areas)
Write non-partisan notes to encourage voting
Add postage
Return to Janet or a church basket to be mailed on Vote Forwards’s assigned dates
Ask for 20 more…?
Contact Janet Chisholm, jgchisholm@aol.com to request materials or to ask questions.
Undergraduate Street Medicine Outreach Undergraduate Street Medicine Outreach (USMO) is a Cal student group that organizes outreach events every Saturday to bring food and resources to homeless encampments in Berkeley. In addition to ongoing menstrual product donations, there is need for the following items: power banks, phone chargers, batteries, general hygiene and first aid products, and size 8 women’s shoes. Please bring these items to the red bin in the Narthex. Email Beth Christensen (beth.christensen) for other volunteer opportunities with USMO.
Needs of the Community
Stephen Ministry When you experience unusual stress or navigate a major life transition, the support of a Stephen Minister could be helpful. To explore this possibility, contact Madeline Feeley, a Stephen Leader, at 510-495-4512 or madelinefeeley@gmail.com.
Meal Train If you are in need of meals, or if you’d like to join this network to deliver food to others, please email Sarah Oneto at sarahoneto@gmail.com.
Giving at All Souls
“Hello! I am Tim Sullivan, a newish member of All Souls working on the upcoming fall pledge drive. This year we are planning to highlight the experience of All Soulsians and the possibilities for our congregation. We’ll have more information to share about the campaign soon. In the meantime, we would like to know more about what brings you to All Souls.
We have had a few conversations in our “Why All Souls” project and would like to offer the question to everyone in the congregation. We have developed a survey with open-ended questions to seek to understand the “Why” of your All Souls’ experience. I invite you to take the survey, or contact me with any questions about the project. I will be glad to hear from anyone and look forward to hearing your stories. You can contact me at sullivantim50@gmail.com.”
Everything Else
Restroom Access During Construction: At this phase of construction, the bathroom in the foyer outside the kitchen is available, and so is the restroom in Jordan Court (just outside of the Community Room). Undercroft bathrooms are inaccessible. Additional temporary toilets will be installed in the area of the Spruce Street parking spaces by next week.
Safety Notice: As Living Waters construction gets underway, please stay away from the courtyard area and respect all posted safety signs. Thank you!
Homecoming Sunday: August 25th after the 10:30 service You are invited! Whether you’ve been coming for a while and are returning from summer, or you’ve been away for a very long time and hoping to reconnect, or if it’s your first time: welcome home. Come celebrate the start of the new year with us.
Save the Date: Parish Retreat Join us at Bishop’s Ranch for our annual Parish Retreat, September 13th-15th. More info and sign-ups to come!
Sermon Haiku By popular demand, we are bringing back the weekly sermon Haiku, generated by ChatGPT! Here is the composition about the Rev. Emily Boring’s sermon from July 28th:
Human limits known,
God’s abundance overflowing,
Scarcity to grace.
You can listen to this sermon (and all past All Souls sermons) on our podcast channel.
