The Pathfinder: September 5th, 2024
Coming Home
Over the long weekend, I went home to Corvallis, Oregon. It’s my favorite time of year to visit. The farmers market tables are laden with food of every color — zucchini, beets, kale, corn, heirloom tomatoes, the first of the autumn apples. The blackberry vines are heavy with ripe, shining fruit. The meadows are gold, and flaxen wheatgrass catches the evening light. The air is sweet and warm, and as darkness falls, the night comes alive with the song of crickets, loud and rhythmic as an ocean.
Through the years, many versions of me have returned here. I’ve come home in states of loneliness, transition, freedom, lostness, exhaustion, anticipation, joy. And each time, the landscape is steady, predictable, assuring. The seasons turn—summer to fall to winter to springtime—regardless of my own inner variations. Meadows fade from gold to brown to frost-tipped silver. Blackberries shrivel, leaving barren thorny vines. Leaves burst forth again in early spring. There are rhythms here that are larger than my self, steadier than my own hopes or needs or disappointments. And I find that comforting. There’s something to sink into, something that can hold the whole of me, something that endures.
While I was home, I reread a book, Tattoos on the Heart, by Father Gregory Boyle. It’s a collection of stories from Father Boyle’s work at Dolores Mission, a church in a neighborhood of L.A. known as the “gang capital of the world.” He founded Homeboy Industries, a rehabilitation and re-entry program for former gang members. His essays—hilarious, tragic, heart-softening and heart-wrenching—vividly demonstrate what it means to stand with those who are on the margins, to live out the Gospel in real life.
Boyle’s book is about many things: faith, hope, compassion, forgiveness, and grace. But this time, when I reread it, it struck me that this is a book about coming home.
It’s about carving out spaces of belonging within a landscape of systemic racism and poverty and trauma. It’s about offering refuge to those who have nowhere else to go. It’s about realizing that our human boundaries between insider and outsider, resident and stranger, are erased in God’s all-encompassing embrace (“How much greater is the God we have than the God we think we have,” writes Boyle).
And mostly, it’s about daring to recognize and accept our own belonging. Boyle describes ministering to people who’ve been told, all their lives, that they’re small, worthless, hopeless, broken. They’ve heard these messages—explicitly or implicitly—for so long that they’ve internalized them. He describes the universal human tendency toward self-doubt, the many ways we convince ourselves that we’re outside of love. I find this passage especially moving:
“You concede ‘God loves us,’ and yet there is this lurking sense that perhaps you aren’t fully part of the ‘us.’ The arms of God reach to embrace, and somehow you feel yourself just outside of God’s fingertips.
Eventually you may consider that ‘God loves me,’ yet you spend much of your life unable to shake off what feels like God only embracing you begrudgingly and reluctantly. I suppose, if you insist, God has to love me too.
Then who can explain this next moment, when the utter fullness of God rushes in on you— when you completely know the One in whom you move and live and have your being. You see, then, that it has been God’s joy all along to love you. And this is completely new.”
I love this description because it reminds me that home, in God, isn’t a place you “go.” It comes upon you, comes to you. The ground of all being—God—is everywhere, always. Coming home to God is a matter of returning and remembering, arriving at the self you’ve always been.
Next weekend, at our Parish Retreat at Bishop’s Ranch, we’ll talk about the theme of home. How do we create belonging without othering? What gives us courage to go to the boundaries of our comfort and understanding? What does it mean to make our home in God? I look forward to reflecting and learning alongside you.
–Emily+
Notes from the Vestry: August 2024
The Vestry meeting in August began with a reflection by Jenny Kern on “What does home mean to you?” This was an appropriate theme as we are welcomed back to our home at All Soul’s this time of year. And we are building a stronger spiritual community which we call home.
We then proceeded to the business portion with approval of the July minutes, the treasurer’s report, the June budget and balance sheet as well as the Living Waters balance sheet. The Wardens presented a recommendation from the finance committee regarding a financial shortfall. The Vestry moved to approve the recommendation by the finance committee to use recent gift funds ($80,000) to cover this shortfall ($53,715) which is due to the loss of revenue from Hearts Leap Preschool. We also moved to approve the recommendation to transfer balance of restricted funds ($1,267.07) to Living Waters to be used in restoration on the parish hall floor.
Grace Telcs presented an update on Living Waters and we discussed the contingency funds, emergency egress exits, the foundation under Spruce Street steps, the elevator and awaiting the PG&E switch which should arrive by May ’25.
The Stewardship Plus Campaign members asked the Vestry to participate in a visionary activity to discuss “what flourishing would look like in the ministry teams” at All Soul’s and the needs of each ministry team. These ideas will be passed on to the Stewardship Plus Team to support their mission.
Over the past few months’ Vestry members have been reporting on the vitality and stability of the ministry teams at All Soul’s. This month Erin Horne and Bob Cross reflected on the status of these ministries: The Kyakameena Nursing Home, the Live Stream, the Parish Life, the Kinship Team and Affinity Groups.
Phil reflected on his sabbatical time and that he feels rested and grateful for the Wardens, the Rev. Dr. Mark Richardson, the staff, the Property Team and the Isaiah Project for keeping the momentum afloat.
Finally, he announced that the University of California, Berkeley is interested in the former Hearts Leap Preschool space for a child care center. There is hope that this center could be open by second quarter 2025.
Jenny Kern led us is prayer and we adjourned filled with God’s hope, peace and grace.
Welcome Home,
–Cathy Goshorn
Answering the Call: All Souls 2025
Beginning to Gather Resources
Matching resources and mission is a challenge for every church. All Souls is a strong, growing, and vibrant community with outstanding clergy and staff that has recently helped build Jordan Court, is currently in the construction phase of a capital campaign, and steadfastly supports those most in need in Berkeley and the larger Bay Area. But we are always called to do more.
If we are to continue our effort to answer the call to mission, we need to gather the financial resources to do so. Our church is beginning to plan for 2025; and to prepare the budget that will support those plans. This year’s Annual Operating Campaign (AOC), formerly called the Stewardship Campaign, will be our opportunity to step into a strong and sustainable 2025.
This fall’s pledge drive, Answering the Call – All Souls 2025, will focus on what calls each of us to All Souls and the ways that All Souls is called to live out God’s love here in the East Bay.
The Kickoff Presentation for this year’s pledge drive will be on September 22nd at 9:15 a.m., live in the nave and streaming online. Phil, Emily B, and other church leaders will share their vision for the upcoming year and invite all of us to help make that vision a reality. Please join us!
As we approach the Kickoff, we invite you to ponder the question “What Calls You to All Souls?” Over the past several weeks, at the parish camping trip and at Homecoming, the AOC team has been inviting people to share what they love about All Souls. Starting this Sunday, index cards with the responses will be displayed on the back wall of the nave. You’ll be able to read others’ call to All Souls and to add your own response. We will continue to pray with these responses as we move through the pledge drive until we gather together to celebrate Ingathering Sunday on October 27th.
Over the coming weeks, we will keep you updated under this banner here in the Pathfinder. Next week we will start a series of notes that highlight the impact of the community we support. Each week the “Because of you …” series will call out a specific way that the generous support of this congregation provides a foundation for the ministries that call us here.
More soon!
–Erin Horne and Richard Lynch for the AOC Committee
Living Waters Weekly Update
“Construction” is a general term meaning the art and science of forming objects, systems, or organizations. It comes from the Latin word constructio and Old French construction. To 'construct' is a verb: the act of building, and the noun is construction: how something is built or the nature of its structure.
And so it continues, with great progress! I know it is difficult to visualize the scope of our project as we won’t let you anywhere near it! Plans have been approved for the work and there is a large crew working every day. The tear down is less exciting than the build-up! We will stay the course and ask for your continued patience,
Entry is the same as last week, Cedar Street. Egress, in case of an emergency, is again through the sacristy and down and out. The porta potties and Jordan Court are the accessible bathrooms.
Enjoy the pics of some before and after areas of work, it is pretty empty right now!
–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.
9:15 am, Adult Formation. Gathering Silence: deepening our prayer practices in the Jordan Court Community Room.
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 new temporary location, 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
This Sunday: Gathering Silence: Deepening our prayer practices
Led by the Rev. Marguerite Judson
Strengthen your relationship with the Holy One as we explore a variety of prayer practices together. Whether you are new to The Episcopal Church or looking for a booster to your current patterns, enjoy this drop-in class exploring how and why we pray and some resources to support individual prayer.
Sept. 1: An exploration of why we pray and ways we name the Holy, and an Introduction to the Book of Common Prayer.
Sept. 8: Digging into the Book of Common Prayer for individual & family prayers; explore some online apps to support your prayer life.
Sept. 29: Using our Oldest Hymnal (aka Praying the Psalms). Discover some of the ways the psalms are built and can be built into our faith walk.
Oct. 6: Gathering Silence. Episcopalians don’t just “read to God” in our prayer life. We might listen in the silence of Centering Prayer and Breath Prayer, which will both be introduced in our final class.
We meet from 9:15 to 10:15 in the conference room of Jordan Court. If you have a copy of the Book of Common Prayer (electronic or print), please bring it with you. Hard copies will be available to use in the first three classes.
Children & Family
Sunday School begins this week, Sunday, Sept. 8th! Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) happens each week during the 10:30 service. Meet outside of main Cedar St. doors at the start of the service; teachers will lead you around the corner to our temporary classroom space. (If you’re late, ask an usher for directions). Children will return to church at the “Peace.”
Godly Play Training (originally on Sept. 7th) has been rescheduled for November 23rd, 9am to 1pm, at All Souls. All are welcome to learn about the spiritual formation of children! Email Emily B to sign up.
Donate Supplies for Sunday School: Do you have old craft supplies at home? We are seeking creative materials for our Sunday School classes: yarn, fabric, paint, collage paper, clay, sketchbooks, wood, etc… anything is welcome! Please hand off any donations to Emily B at church, or email her.
To join our Children and Family mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org
Youth Program
Youth Group Our kick-off Youth Group for the year is Sunday, Sept. 8th! Join us in the church from 7-8:30 for games, get-to-know-you, an overview of the program year, and… donuts! (Enter through the Cedar St. doors).
This year, we are following a new structure for Youth Group. We will alternate between an all-grades gathering, and a high school small group, every other week of the month:
Weeks 1, 3, and 5: All grades, 6th-12th
Weeks 2 and 4: High school small group, 9th-12th
View and download our full fall calendar (Sept. - Dec.) here.
Parish Retreat Youth are encouraged to sign up for Parish Retreat! We’ll have special youth programming and designated cabins. Register with this link and select "Youth" as your occupancy. Scholarships are available; ask one of the Emilys.
To join the weekly youth mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
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@gmail.com) for other volunteer opportunities with USMO.
Needs of the Community
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.
Everything Else
Taco Truck contributions Did the food truck deny your payment for your food on Sunday? If so, and you’re able to contribute, we’ve set up a fund so that you can do just that. It was a funny miscommunication, but where we had budgeted to subsidize the food on Sunday with about $150, we spent just over $1000 on the truck (!). If anyone is able to give to make up some of that difference that would be greatly appreciated. You can do so by clicking here, and then selecting “Homecoming Tacos” as the fund from the drop down.
Ale Souls Brewing is at it again! This time we’re brewing for our Feast of Title: All Souls/All Saints Day. The next brewing will happen on September 26th at 6:30p at David Gutfeld’s house. If you would like to participate in the brewing, reach out to David Gutfeld, davidlawrencegutfeld@gmail.com.
Parish Retreat - Last call for sign-ups! Join us at Bishop’s Ranch for our annual Parish Retreat, September 13th-15th. Sign up here, in our new Realm system. If you have trouble signing up via Realm, you can use this link instead.
Sermon Haiku Here is this week’s sermon Haiku— generated by ChatGPT!— about the Rev. Phil Brochard’s sermon on September 1st:
A radical call,
Return to God’s roots in love,
Strip the false away.
We’ve been experimenting with other forms of poetry (sonnets, limericks, and more). Stay tuned in coming weeks! You can listen to this sermon and all past All Souls sermons on our podcast channel.
