The Pathfinder: October 31st, 2024
Happy Halloween!
The Call Is Being Answered
All Soulsians are stepping up to respond to this year’s pledge drive and the exciting opportunities ahead in 2025. Last Sunday was Ingathering Sunday, the day our community gathers to collect pledges and celebrate the season with a potluck dinner. Both the pledging and the meal were truly inspiring.
With our Parish Hall under construction, we are grateful to Saint Mary Magdalen for hosting us in their parish hall. Deirdre Nurre shepherded the potluck with grace and humor and welcomed over 100 people for delicious food and great company. The evening featured the world premier of large-team Bible story charades, which was a resounding success! Participants of all ages showcased their creativity through dance, human pyramids, and lively scenes, all set to musical accompaniment by Associate for Music, Matt Wolka. It was a fantastic time!
I'm pleased to report that the initial response to the Answering the Call pledge drive is very encouraging! We’ve set an ambitious goal of $878,000 to expand and support our ministries, particularly Welcome and Kinship, as well as our building efforts. Based on Ingathering Sunday, we are making solid strides toward meeting this goal and embracing the opportunities of 2025.
By the end of Sunday, we had received 109 pledges totaling $627,088, about 90% of last year’s total. This is a remarkable first step toward achieving our goal!
To maintain this momentum and reach our goal, I encourage you to make your pledge now. You can use our 2025 pledge form today or a physical pledge card at church this Sunday.
In the coming weeks, the staff and Vestry will rely on the pledge totals to shape their budget decisions, so the sooner you pledge the better we can plan for the upcoming year.
For more details about the pledge drive and the opportunities available in 2025, please check out the Pledge Packet here. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your individual pledge, feel free to reach out to me at rflynch@sbcglobal.net.
This is a wonderful start, and we’re on our way to fully answering the call!
–Richard Lynch, for the Annual Operating Campaign Committee
When Absence Becomes Presence: An Invitation from Arts at All Souls
Being a saint means living in intimate closeness to God, spending each day in God’s light, and having sacrificial, unconditional love for those nearby. This sort of Agape love is not motivated by the value of its loved one. It is not possessive, jealous, or controlling. It is the highest form of love in scripture.
On All Saints Day we celebrate those dear to us who have left us to live in the fullness of God’s glory. They were given to us as companions to enrich our journey, and look upon us now with love and protection as they intercede for us every day.
“Think of someone who impacted your life for the good. Someone who stood by you, pushed you, believed in you, maybe even sacrificed for you. Odds are they weren’t doing it because it served them. They were doing it because they cared about you. Because they wanted life’s sweetness to open wide for you.” - Bishop Michael Curry
This year we are invited to write a brief prayer to someone who brought us into a greater experience of God’s love. Writing directly to this person creates a space of connection, where an absence can turn into a presence. We are invited to pen a message to someone who has died, someone for whom we perhaps had never completely conveyed our appreciation and admiration and love.
We will have pens and paper available before and after the Sunday service, where you might find a quiet place to write your thoughts and prayers to this important saint in your life. We will then pin them to the ribbons on the columns beside the pews, and then save them to add to our Easter vigil fire, sending them heavenward with our love and prayers.
–Diane Haavik
Reflections from Diocesan Convention
Last Saturday, the Diocese of California gathered for its 175th Convention. There was business to transact – resolutions, the diocesan budget, elections for diocesan Standing Committee and Executive Council. But the heart of convention is our gathering. We come together from different congregations, to listen and discern together, to renew our connections to one another, to remember who we are as the Body of Christ in the Bay Area.
We began by celebrating the eucharist, and as the service started, Bishop Austin Rios formally opened the convention. We concluded with evening worship, the great doors of Grace Cathedral opened to remind us that the gospel is proclaimed to the world, and near the end of the service, Bishop Austin declared the convention adjourned. It was a powerful reminder that our work is rooted in worship.
A highlight of this convention was a report on the strategic vision process that began this summer. Over the past two months, over 400 people have participated in listening sessions, telling their stories of interactions with our diocese, expressing their hopes and concerns. The Strategic Vision Committee has distilled those stories into themes. At the convention, we met in small groups to reflect on those themes and to find common ground. The plaza at Grace Cathedral was filled with energetic conversation. I came away with renewed appreciation for our connections in the diocese and our common commitment to Christ – and curiosity about where the strategic vision process will take us as a diocese. Our leaders reminded us that this is a mutual discernment process with no predetermined outcome but with trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us.
As the day concluded, I felt deep gratitude for the lay and clergy leaders of our diocese and hope for our future.
–The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers
Pumpkin Fun!
Recently, our 20s and 30th group gathered for a pumpkin-carving competition! We ranked the pumpkins in categories: scariest, most creative, best traditional jack-o-lantern, best technical skill… See some of our favorites below!
If you’d like to join our young adult group for future gatherings, email Tommy Belgum.
Happy Halloween!
–Emily+
Living Waters Weekly Update
Excitement: something that arouses enthusiasm and eagerness
It’s been a banner week for our construction project!
The Spruce Street stairs were poured this afternoon. Our downstairs hallway is currently being painted. Next week, the concrete floors in the undercroft are going to be polished. And, the concrete pour in our courtyard is coming in the next couple of weeks.
Egress stays the same this week. Entrance is on Cedar, emergency egress is through the sacristy (follow the signs) and porta potties are available in the off street parking and at Jordan Court.
Thank you for your tolerance as this ongoing project unfolds!
Left: Concrete curb in courtyard. Right: Concrete being finished for the Spruce St. stairs
Left: A view of the courtyard with forms. Concrete will be poured next week, weather permitting. Right: Painting of walls, doors and trim in the hallway of the undercroft.
Left: Waterproof membrane for restroom floors. Right: New doors and frames for the restrooms.
Above: Sculpting the Spruce St. stairs
–Ann Myers and the Property Committee
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
Worship This Sunday: The Feast of All Saints and All Souls
7:00am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study either in person in the Jordan Court Conference Room or Click here to join by Zoom.
8:00am, Holy Eucharist in Chapel. Please access the Chapel through the copper doors on Cedar St.
No Adult Formation this week. We return on 11/10 for “Heretics and Creeds,” 9:15 in the Jordan Court Community Room.
10:30am, Sung Eucharist with baptisms (click here to access the live stream). Enter through the Cedar St. doors.
Noon to 1pm, All Saints and All Souls Potluck, Jordan Court Community Room. You are invited to bring a dish that honors someone who has passed away— perhaps a favorite family recipe, or a dish that brings up memories of loved ones who are gone.
Wednesday: 9am Eucharist Service, in the Jordan Court Community Room. Join us on Zoom here.
Adult Formation
Next Week (11/10): “Heretics and Creeds,” led by the Rev. Phil Brochard and colleagues
Every Sunday at All Souls we say or sing the Nicene Creed. You may be wondering why. Well, in a word, heresies. For four weeks in late October and into November the Rev. Phil Brochard will explain what a heresy is, why they were important to the early church, and why they continue to matter today. Come engage the tensions of a Christ that is both human and Divine, a God that is three in one and one in three, and the meaning of free will. Come to understand why you believe what you do, and quite possibly how that relates to the right belief of the Church. This class meets in the Jordan Court Community Room on the following Sundays at 9:15 am: Oct. 27, Nov. 10, 17, 24.
Children & Family
Sunday School: Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) happens every 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 Join us to learn about Godly Play, a unique curriculum of spiritual formation for children. November 23rd, 9am to 1pm, at All Souls. Email Emily B to sign up.
To join our Children and Family mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org
Youth Program
Youth Group happens each Sunday from 7-8:30 pm in the narthex.
This week, all-grades Youth Group returns with an annual favorite: our Candy Taste Test! This year’s theme is animals. Think gummy bears, Swedish fish, chocolate bunnies… We’ll taste each one and rank them in categories (“most realistic,” “worst taste,” etc.). All Souls will provide some of the candy. But, you are encouraged to bring some of your own to enter in the competition!
Coming Up:
November 10th: No Youth Group - Veteran’s Day Weekend
November 17th: All grades, “Practicing Gratitude” Thanksgiving-themed games, crafts, prayers of gratitude (with special guest leader Phil Brochard!!)
November 24th: High School Small Group
View and download our full fall calendar (Sept. - Dec.) here.
To join the weekly youth mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
Justice & Peace
Film Screening: “Crip Camp,” Thursday November 7th Join Jenny Kern, Erin Horne, and the Rev. Emily B to view an award-winning documentary about the intersection of civil rights and disability justice, followed by a discussion. 6:30-9pm, Jordan Court Community Room, snacks provided. (Note: Children and teens are welcome, but please be aware that this film is rated R and includes talk about sexual activity).
Election Day Prayer Vigil Next Tuesday, November 5th, we would like to open the Chapel of the Nativity for an election-day prayer vigil. Our intention is to provide a quiet, non-political space to reflect on our trust in God in these difficult times.
We hope that folks will sign up for an hour-long shift, so that at least one person is present at all times. Your role is simply to hold the space and welcome those who drop in.
Please sign up on this spreadsheet (it's okay to have more than one person per shift). Email Emily B with questions.
Vote Forward Update:
All Souls members, YOU are amazing!
Thirty-nine of you have taken your time to write non-partisan, personal notes to low-propensity, registered voters! (Voters registered but not regularly voting.) Then you addressed and put stamps on all the envelopes. In your notes, you have shared personal reasons why you value voting, and you have urged others to use their right to vote, too!
Well done, All Soulsians! We have mailed your personal letters to 920 citizens!
- Janet Chisholm, Vote Forward project
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. These days, they are especially seeking donations of the following items:
Bottled water, water filters or bottles, or other purification devices– anything that helps provide clean drinking water.
Basic hygiene products (toothbrushes, deodorant, bandaids, soap, etc.)
Tarps, blankets, ground covers, and other shelter items.
Please bring these donations to the red bin in the Narthex. Email Beth Christensen (beth.christensen) for donation and other direct 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
New Church Directory/Database called Realm We’re looking for some “power users” who would be willing to be trained in our new church database/directory who could then help others use the new system once we have launched it widely to the whole church. If you’re willing to be trained so that you can help others, please see Dan Hardy: danwhardy@gmail.com.
Reminder: You can listen, or listen again, to sermons on our website or our podcast channel.
