The Pathfinder: December 19th, 2024
A Moment for Wonder
Just over 15 years ago on Christmas Eve night an All Soulsian took a photo that has stood the test of time. It shows our nave that night full of people and lit only by candles. And in the midst of a host of all kinds of All Soulsians singing “Silent Night,” there is a small boy holding his camera, looking straight into the lens, and at the viewer.
His face is caught in a halo of his candle’s light and it seems as if a sense of wonder from the service has been distilled into that one moment.
I’ve come back to that photo over and again as I believe that it points to what we are hoping to do in a season like this––turn our attention to wonder at the profound and moving Mystery of God-with-us. It’s what the Advent calendars and wreaths, the carols and the crèches are trying to help us do: slow down and pay attention, even for a moment.
There are myriad ways to walk right past this great Mystery of Emmanuel. We do it all the time, even at the “most wonderful time of the year.” Perhaps because of the “most wonderful time of the year.” In the frenzy and rush we allow ourselves to become distracted or make ourselves numb, and in the process find it difficult to come to those moments of wonder.
The thing about those moments is that you never quite know when and where you will find them. Sure, there are some reliable ways we have found over time––enacting the Nativity story, singing “O, Come All Ye Faithful,” and entering into a glowing darkness for “Silent Night.” And we will be doing those things and more at 4pm, 8pm, and 10:30pm on Christmas Eve and 10am on Christmas morning.
But my hope for all of us this Christmas, including me, is that in it all we take the time to become still at some point in this Feast of the Incarnation. Listen to the words of the story as if we didn’t already know them by heart. Lean into the carols, especially the less-familiar third and fourth verses. Open ourselves up to the story told and broken open. Ask God to be present with you.
Perhaps we, too, will find that moment, that distilled wonder welling up from within.
Peace,
–Phil+
Surprised By “Yes”
For our Taize services this Advent, we have asked parishioners to share reflections about a time when they said “Yes” unexpectedly to something in their lives. Below is the reflection by Kathleen Summerland, which she shared on Tuesday the 17th.
“When I first joined the Episcopal Church in the early 1990’s, I attended a Newcomer’s class, like the one here at All Souls. My small group leader was Michael Cunningham. He was not yet ordained, but he was married to a priest serving in the parish. I was impressed by Michael’s knowledge of theology and the Bible, his kindness, and his very grounded approach in relating to others.
Fast-forward 14 years.
In the summer of 2008, after 20 years of teaching piano at a private school for the performing arts in downtown Los Angeles, I lost my job. Although there had been discussions with the Dean the previous year about expanding the program for beginning pianists which I helped coordinate, she ultimately decided to shut it down, and lay off the teachers running that program.
The loss of my job happened to coincide with the arrival of a new Rector at our church, St. Matthew’s Episcopal in Pacific Palisades. Despite being in a state of shock – as my termination was totally unexpected – we attended church and met the Rev. Howard Anderson. After the service I commented about the blessing he used, and we discovered we both had connections with the Lakota Nation.
As the weeks passed I was busy building my private piano studio and didn’t think much about that initial conversation. I was surprised to receive a call from Howard asking if I would serve on a Diocesan committee for Native American ministry that our Bishop, Jon Bruno, was currently forming.
My immediate reaction was “no”. I had limited committee experience and no Diocesan level experience. I’d learned from my birth mother in the late 1980’s that I was one eighth Oglala Lakota, but I still had had no interaction with any Lakota communities: my cultural knowledge was based only on reading, and I didn’t believe I was qualified. Despite my arguments Howard was quite persistent. He explained the goal of having a variety of people involved – both lay and clerical. I realized that as I was no longer working for the school, I could set my own hours and thus attend an occasional Saturday meeting. The loss of my job, which felt like a dead end – had created an opening. I said yes and became excited at the prospect of joining the committee.
At the first meeting we went around the table introducing ourselves, what parish we were from, and in many cases, what Nation we were a part of. The head of the committee was the Rev. Debbie Royals. It was then that I discovered Michael Cunningham, who had been a discussion leader for my Newcomer’s class, sitting across the room. He was now a priest, and the rector of St. Mary’s in Lompoc, CA. He and the Rev. Robert Two Bulls ran the Red Shirt Project, a mission activity that brought together Episcopal teens from across the U.S. every summer. The teens would fly to Los Angeles and embark on a 2 week pilgrimage by van, traveling together caravan-style through California, Utah, and Wyoming, ultimately ending in Red Shirt, South Dakota, a part of the Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation. Both teens and chaperoning adults would then connect with members of the Native community to work on repairs such as rebuilding the stairs to the Episcopal Church, and to create community through worship and breaking bread together.
Our Committee met several times over about 18 months. Many of us participated in cultural events hosted by parishes throughout the 5 counties that the LA Diocese supports. One particularly memorable event took place at the Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, which had previously been a part of the government-run Indian Boarding Schools, initiated in the 19th century. Although I knew these schools existed in the Eastern U.S and the Mid-West, I was not aware of any in California, yet here was one less than 70 miles from my home.
To help heal the trauma experienced by parents and grandparents of the community - including ancestors of students now enrolled at the school – there was a gathering with an opportunity for many people to share their stories. For five hours we listened to elders tell of heart-breaking, abusive experiences at the Indian School, and younger Natives recounted similar stories they had heard from their grandparents. Afterward, a meal was shared between the Native community and those of us who were visitors.
The following summer I had the honor of joining the Red Shirt Project in South Dakota along with my oldest son. We participated in service projects involving cleaning, painting and repairing Christ Episcopal Church and caring for the nearby graveyard. We spent time studying the Gospels with the Red Shirt youth, sat around a campfire at night sharing stories, and gathered with families in the community for potluck-style meals. We experienced the deep connection the Lakota people have in their understanding of nature when we were told one afternoon - standing in bright, afternoon sunlight beneath a cloudless sky -that a huge storm was coming later that evening. (This prediction came from the experience and knowledge of the Lakota, not from TV, radio or the National Weather Service.) The Red Shirt community insisted we visitors sleep in the church for our protection rather than in our tents and sleeping bags under the stars. They helped us move our belongings so that when heavy rain began pelting the hard earth – at exactly the hour they predicted - we were warm and dry inside the church.
Working with the Rev. Debbie Royals, attending Pow-wows and gatherings with her; learning about the Native Women’s Circle and participating in the Red Shirt Project with my son: I was gifted with all of these meaningful experiences as a result of an unexpected ‘yes.’”
–Kathleen Summerland
Advent Art Installation
When I came to the Episcopal church about a dozen years ago, one of the things that dialed me in was the liturgical calendar. It wasn’t part of my church experience growing up and it felt resonant for me and for a family practice. It makes meaning of marking time as we spiral through the years.
As I made a home at All Souls, helping to keep the liturgical calendar in our space has been a delight for me. I like to make things with my hands— I make things for comfort and beauty in my home, I make things to wear, I make things in the garden. But church provides a much bigger canvas, which is so much fun— less fussy details, more broad brushstrokes!
In Sunday school, we say that Advent is a time for waiting, a time for hoping. It takes time to come close to a mystery as big as Christmas. For me the dramatic swoops of blue overhead help me pause and step into the wonder. I appreciate how adding to the array week by week adds depth and complexity as Advent continues.
Over the years, the Arts @ All Souls crew has been an inspiring cast of co-conspirators, and this year it was extra fun to have Kate Stout step in as an improvisational engineering partner. She is a farmer by trade and an artist at heart. She is not afraid to try new things, to learn by doing. When I asked her for help securing our rigging system to improve an Advent installation, she asked, But what do you really want to be able to do? As a result, we have added new lines of rigging to the rafters above and we look forward to more flexibility/ingenuity/inspiration for liturgical experiences in our space in the future. Stay tuned for the next installments!
–Jeannie Koops-Elson
Advent Ingathering Week 4: Tiny House Village
Every Sunday in Advent we collect items for some of our neighbors in need. Our Justice & Peace team has coordinated lists for each week of Advent and what is needed. Please bring these items on Sunday mornings and place them in front of the altar.
Final Week (Dec. 22nd): Tiny House Project (Youth Spirit Artworks)
The Tiny House Empowerment Village, run by Youth Spirit Artworks, provides transitional living to low-income young adults. The community is preparing for a meaningful holiday celebration for the young adults who live there as they recover from housing insecurity and hardship and move into a more hopeful future.
You can support this community in two ways:
Write a check to Youth Spirit Artworks with “Tiny House Xmas” in the memo, and bring it to church on Sunday.
View their list of requested items at this link. (Click “Big Village List”). You can bring these items to church on Sunday.
Contact Jenny Kern with questions.
–Jenny Kern for the Justice and Peace Committee
3rd Annual Youth Group Gingerbread House Competition!
Last Sunday at Youth Group, we had the 3rd Annual Gingerbread House Competition! In small teams, the youth competed for awards in seven different categories:
1. Most festive
2. Best depiction of a Bible story
3. Architectural Skill
4. Attention to Detail
5. Sustainable Design
6. Best Landscaping
7. Most Magical
Here are some of the highlights:
From left to right: 1) An aerial view of All Souls church, complete with solar panels, an Episcopal flag, and an external creche scene; 2) The All Souls congregation raptly watching a Nativity Story performance (the tall yellow Sour Patch Kid is obviously Phil); 3) A crucifixion scene in which Jesus is depicted as a gummy abominable snowman.
The winning design, modeled after our very own church building, is on display in the narthex this week. Try to find yourself amid the crowd of gummy bears!
Thanks to Keller Lynch for returning as an alumni judge for the evening.
Youth Group is on break the next two weeks and returns on January 5th.
–Emily+
Vision: the state of being able to see.
We have new windows in the Parish Hall, at least on one side! The old leaded windows have been replaced with new double glazed windows. The grid is between the panes of glass, making them easy to clean. (The smaller sets of windows were not in the budget to be replaced at this time.) The old windows were given to Urban Ore for someone else to enjoy. Recycling at its best!
The Christmas Eve receptions, after the two later services, will be held in the Parish Hall! The room is not camera ready but is certainly party ready. The new bamboo floor is still to be installed, there is duct work to be done, and of course more painting. Come this Sunday and see yet another part of the Living Waters vision come to life. Party with us on Christmas Eve and enjoy the full experience!
Although we are turning rooms over for use, work is still in progress! If you have questions or concerns about what you see, please contact Ann Myers @ annclairemyers@gmail.com for clarification. Thanks.
Egress continues through both Narthex doors and out the nave to the Jordan Courtyard. Remember to bundle up!
New windows in progress!
Bonus: This week our playground is open for use! (Please be careful of the fencing around the perimeter).
–Ann Myers for the Property Committee
Announcements & Events
Happening This Sunday
7:00am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study either in person in the Common 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.
9:15am, Adult Formation: “Introduction to the Gospel of Luke,” with the Rev. Michael Lemaire
10:30am, Sung Eucharist; enter through the Cedar St. doors. Join us via livestream here.
Note: There will be no 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. We will return on Wednesday, Jan. 9th.
Christmas Services:
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th:
4pm Eucharist with Nativity Story (family-friendly)
8pm Carols and Candlelight Eucharist, live-streamed here.
10:30 pm Midnight Mass
All in the nave.
Christmas Day, Dec. 25th:
10:00 a.m. Christ’s Mass with Eucharist in the nave.
Note: Of these services, only the 8pm Christmas Eve service will be live-streamed. There will be no livestream for Christmas morning, but the sermon will be available via podcast afterward.
Adult Formation
Final week: “Introduction to the Gospel of Luke,” with the Rev. Michael Lemaire
Starting in Advent, we began a new liturgical year that will follow the Gospel of Luke in our Sunday liturgies. This gospel contains some of the most memorable and beloved gospel stories from the nativity, to the parable of the Good Samaritan, to the parable of the prodigal son. As we have done with other introductions, we will explore what is known about the history and authorship of this gospel, explore its Christology as well as the particular theological concerns of Luke. (Dec. 8, 15, 22, 9:15am)
Coming Up: Repairing the Breach in the Bay Area
The Isaiah Project team will introduce each of the four organizations that are receiving All Souls grants through the tithe from our Living Waters campaign. A representative from each organization will join us to talk about the work of repair that each of these organizations is performing in our local East Bay communities. The four organizations and the dates they will join us are:
Elizabeth House (January 5)
The Center for ArtEsteem (January 12)
The American Indian Child Resource Center (January 19)
Youth Spirit Artworks (February 2).
We will meet at 9:15 am in the Jordan Court Community Room on the following Sundays: January 5, 12, 19 and February 2nd.
Book Group: Augustine’s Confessions with Jack Shoemaker
Please join our small group as we continue reading The Confessions by St. Augustine. Among the most important and influential books written in the history of Christendom, it is today among the least read of our founding texts. We will begin with Chapter 9 and read our way thru Chapter 13 in our allotted three weeks. Having not read the first half does not disqualify you from joining – all opinions and pronouncements are welcome. 9:15 in the All Souls Common Room, Jan 5th, 12th, and 19th.
Children & Family
Sunday School Join us this Sunday for our last class of 2024! Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) happens every week during the 10:30 service, in our newly-renovated classrooms in the undercroft! Enter the narthex and walk down the stairs. There will be signs, and/or an usher can help you find the way. Children return to church at the “Peace.”
Exciting news: The playground is now open! Come join other All Soulsian families and kids in the courtyard after church. Please be mindful of fencing around the perimeter.
Children’s Program Open House, January 5th All are invited to learn about the philosophy of Godly Play, meet our teachers, connect with other families, and participate in a Sunday School class!
10:00-10:30 Bagels, coffee, and mingling. You’re welcome to explore our classroom materials and talk to the leaders.
10:30 Godly Play Story. Parents are invited to stay and observe the first part of Sunday School.
To sign up for our Children and Family newsletter, please email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
Youth Program
Youth Group (for grades 6-12) happens on Sundays from 7-8:30pm.
We are on hiatus until the New Year. We return on January 5th with an Epiphany bonfire and New Year’s goals. Look our for a full winter/spring calendar soon!
To join the weekly youth mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
Everything Else
Call for Cookies! We will have receptions after all three Christmas Eve services! We’ll have an informal coffee hour in the courtyard after the 4:00pm service, and full gatherings in our new parish hall after the 8:00 and 10:30pm. Please consider bringing a sweet treat to share at any of these services.
