The Pathfinder: January 16th, 2025
A Dual Calling
From the beginning, my experience of faith has been shaped and sustained by my experience of writing.
At first, it was mostly the writing of others. In college, while I studied evolutionary biology, I also took classes in religious literature and poetry. We read many authors and poets, some old (John Donne, G.M. Hopkins, George Herbert) and some new (R.S. Thomas, Kay Ryan, Marie Howe, Christian Wiman, and many more). In their works, I found an expression of the interconnection and awe and discovery I felt through the practice of science. I found a kind of reverence toward the world around us– the way that material things can be bearers of the sacred, and attention to what is can point us beyond. These writings confirmed something I’d long sensed: that the “truth” of faith isn’t something you can approach purely through argument or intellect. There are some spiritual experiences – moments of epiphany, of collective religious practice, of the presence of God – that you can only express creatively, through image and rhythm and sound and gesture. And I began to try, through essays of my own, to be a translator between science and religion– to draw webs of connection between the questions, symbols, and feelings that these disciplines share.
So from the very beginning, my sense of calling has been two-fold. I feel called to be a priest, and called to be a writer. And I’m very grateful that in this season of life, I have the chance to do both. Many of you know that for the last year or so, I’ve been working on a book project– a work of creative nonfiction. The tentative title is Bearing Witness. It’s a collection of essays that interweave my experience as a biologist, hospital chaplain, and priest. It’s part memoir; the throughline is my experience of illness, recovery, and spiritual journey. But it’s larger than that. The book explores questions like these:
What does it mean to be a self in a body, seeking wholeness and belonging?
What can experiences of woundedness—in particular, the body in illness—teach us about what’s fundamentally human and shared?
How can we transform experiences of suffering into sites of connection, empathy, and resilience?
What tools and stories help us do this, and what gets in the way?
To address these questions, I’ll take the reader to many places: tidepools, chapels, islands, laboratories, libraries, classrooms, coral reefs. I’ll draw on many resources, from theology to medicine to evolutionary theory to psychology and more. The book isn’t an argument about why science and religion do or don’t agree with one another, or how they can be “reconciled.” And I don’t intend to create neat analogies between the natural world and human life. Instead, I’m interested in questions of resonance and integration between different ways of knowing. If we move beyond notions of science and religion as separate worlds, what kind of language belongs at their intersection? What kinds of concepts– connection, oneness, truth, witnessing– do both disciplines share? How is the religious imagination shaped by the physical world? And how can asking these questions teach us about what it means to be a knowing, seeking, embodied human self?
I’m grateful to be working with an encouraging, insightful editor from Simon Element, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, which focuses on writing at the intersection of body, mind, spirit. My full manuscript is due this fall, 2025. I’ll turn in chunks of writing in the spring and summer. And the book (God willing!) will likely come out in late 2026.
It turns out that writing a book is very challenging – joyful and curiosity-inspiring, yes, but also overwhelming and exhausting and time-consuming and refining. I’m slowly learning how to balance motivation and gentleness, forward progress and patience. I’m taking comfort from the many of you who’ve done this before (and from the knowledge that Rev. Liz Tichenor managed to write a whole book while being your Associate Rector… apparently it actually can be done!!).
To make time for this creative work, I’ve made the choice to step back a little from my work at All Souls this year. Beginning at the start of January, I transitioned from full time to 0.8 FTE. Much of my job is the same. I’m still the point person for Children & Family ministry, Youth ministry, and pastoral care, and you’ll still see me every Sunday in worship. But I’ve passed on a part of my job, communications, to Diana Markley, our wonderful office administrator, who’s graciously agreed to take on extra work.
What does this change mean for you? From now on, Diana will publish the Pathfinder and handle all aspects of communication: the Blue Sheet, our website and Youtube presence, our calendar (some of which she was already doing!). You can now send all Pathfinder material and announcements to diana@allsoulsparish.org. I’ll be out of the office on Thursdays (and Friday/Saturday, like all of the staff). Monday-Wednesday is the best time to reach me by email or find a time to meet. I’m grateful to the staff team for being flexible and supportive– for understanding that writing is an important part of my vocation, and cheering me on as I work toward this goal.
Finally, I want to say thanks to you, the people of All Souls Parish. I can’t imagine a better place to be doing this work. Every week, I’m inspired by your questions and your seeking– your desire to know and learn and serve and discover. You remind me of the value of spiritual community and why any of this matters. You help me keep faith living and embodied and real. Thanks for being willing to come on this wild and holy ride with me.
Peace,
–Emily B+
Vestry and Deanery Classes of 2025
As mentioned in last week's Pathfinder, our Bylaws permit nominations of members of the congregation to serve as Vestry members and as members of the Deanery.
All nominations were due by Tuesday, January 14th at 9pm. As no additional nominations were received, the slates of candidates will be as follows.
Vestry Nominees: Molly Nicol, Sarah Bakker Kellog, Joe Garrett, Jesse Kadjo, and John Gearen. I am excited for the group as they take the lead in guiding us into the future. Last week’s Pathfinder includes brief bios from each of the five nominees.
Deanery Nominees: Erin Horne, Gretchen Donart, Annie Hayes, Alan Schut, and Kathleen Summerland Heuser! On behalf of the Nominating Committee, I’m pleased and proud to share this slate of candidates to be considered for election at this year’s Annual Meeting. Thank you to each of you who have said yes to the call to serve our congregation and the broader Episcopal community of the East Bay.
–Sarah Kern, Senior Warden
Annual Meeting
The 121st Annual Meeting of the Congregation is Sunday, January 26th, 2025 immediately following the 10:30 service.
All are welcome to attend. We will provide sandwiches and encourage everyone to bring sides to share!
–Phil+ and Emily B.+
What we accomplished this week
Elevator: essentially a platform that is either pulled or pushed up by mechanical means. A modern-day elevator consists of a cab mounted on a platform within an enclosed space called a shaft.
More amazing photos of elevator progress! The section of roof for the shaft will be completed by next week. The elevator pour will start very soon, it is a long process. Shoring will eventually be removed and the actual elevator installed. Look for travel between floors around Halloween!
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 via email at annclairemyers@gmail.com for clarification. Thanks.
Egress continues through both Narthex doors and out the nave to the Jordan Courtyard. Remember to bundle up!
Left: The new elevator shaft. Right: Elevator shaft with roof sheeting.
Left: Elevator shaft wall in Foyer area. Right: Elevator pit shoring and ongoing work.
New lights in hallway between chapel and common room.
–Ann Myers and the Property Committee
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
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 the Chapel. Please access the Chapel through the copper doors on Cedar St.
9:15am, Adult Formation: “Repairs in the Bay Area",” with Isaiah Project partners, in the Jordan Court Community Room.
9:15 Book Group, Augustine’s Confessions 2.0, with Jack Shoemaker, in the downstairs Common Room
10:30am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here.
WEDNESDAY
9:00 am Eucharist, either in the Jordan Court Community Room at 9:00 a.m., or by Zoom here.
Adult Formation
“Repairs in the Bay Area,” with Isaiah Project partners
The Isaiah Project team is introducing each of the four organizations that are receiving All Souls grants through the tithe from our Living Waters campaign. A representative from each organization has or will join us to talk about the work of repair that they are 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 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 2.0, with Jack Shoemaker
Please join our last small group as we finish 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.
Upcoming Class:
Liturgy and the Lyric: A Workshop in Reading and Writing Mysteries, with poet Tess Taylor
How do the forms of poems relate to the forms of prayer? How might the reading of poems help us more deeply engage the psalms, the Bible, and liturgical language? And how might the figures of poetry– small and large-- help us access the mysteries of the Bible and of the Divine? In this course, offered across three weeks, Tess Taylor ( author of five books of poetry and a practicing All Soulsian) will explore some of the shapes, forms and pathways of poetry in and outside liturgical texts—inviting us to use that exploration to deepen our experience of liturgy, prayer and Biblical text. Come ready to read, write, and explore. Feb 2, 9, and 16 at 9:15 in the Common Room.
Children & Family
Sunday School 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.
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. Generally, we alternate between an all-grades gathering, and a high school small group (~once a month).
No meeting this week, January 19th, due to the MLK holiday. Enjoy your long weekend!
Coming up: All-grades Youth Group Jan. 26 and Feb 2. High school small group: Feb 9.
Download our winter (Jan/Feb) 2025 calendar here. Look our for a full winter/spring calendar soon! To join the weekly youth mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
Request for collage materials: Do you have old magazines sitting around at home? We are seeking collage supplies for our children and youth programs, and we’d love to give your materials a home! Please bring them to church on Sundays and/or arrange a time to hand them off to Emily B. Thanks!
Justice & Peace
Help for SoCal Wildfire Victims
If you’d like to learn more about how to help the wildfire victims in Southern California, please click on the links below for more information.
Supporting Immigrants and Refugees: Sanctuary Training, Jan 18th
You are invited to join the Presbytery of San Francisco at a special training exploring practical ways we can all become sanctuary people. We will also explore how to organize and educate ourselves for community protection. Saturday, January 18th- 9 am-11 am. Presbytery Office, 545 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Building Interfaith Bridges January Event
Please join the Building Interfaith Bridges community for “4th Friday Shabbat in the Round” on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 6:15p at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. in Berkeley.
Congregation Beth El’s monthly extra-musical Shabbat service takes place on the fourth Friday of the month at 6:15 pm and is led by Beth El clergy. Using both the words of our historical liturgy and many wordless melodies, we welcome Shabbat with a focus on the transformative power of music. Bring your voice, your percussion and come play and sing along! Or join us just to soak up the music.
All service attendees are invited to stay after the service for a nosh and meet and greet. Guests from All Souls and Saint Paul’s are also invited to participate in a short Q + A with the Rabbi about the service.
RSVP’s to Anna Fogelman (annaleahfogelman@gmail.com) are appreciated but not required. Hope to see you there!
Questions? Please contact Beth El liaison, Anna Fogelman at annaleahfogelman@gmail.com, All Souls Parish liaison Bonnie Bishop bonniekbishop@myyahoo.com or Saint Paul AME Church liaison Joyce Dawson dawsonje@prodigy.net.
Open Door Dinner (ODD) If you are able or interested in helping put the meal together or deliver some meals to the camps around Berkeley, please email Jennifer Akiyama.
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. As the weather gets colder, they are especially seeking donations of the following items:
General hygiene products (toothbrushes/toothpaste, deodorant, soap, etc.)
Clothes/cold weather gear
Bottled water
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.
Ladies Luncheon
The second Thursday Ladies Luncheon will return when the Parish Hall is ready!
In Memorium
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the death on New Year's Day of an All Soulsian, Ellen Bracken. Please keep Ellen's children––Gabe, Kieran, Emilio, and Gisele in your prayers in the days to come. A fund to support Ellen's children has been set up here. A service to remember and celebrate Ellen's life will be held at All Souls in early February, more information in the weeks to come. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Everything Else
You might have noticed, but we have shifted our mailing service from Squarespace to Constant Contact. Hopefully this will not impact any or many of you, but in case it matters, please add allsouls@allsoulsparish.ccsend.com to your contacts. This will hopefully ensure that the Pathfinder arrives in your inbox and not your spam folder.
