The Pathfinder: March 6th, 2025
Mapping the Way
I love maps. I’ve loved maps for as long as I can remember. I still have the Illustrated World Atlas given to me on Christmas Day of 1987 by my Grandma Alice, though many of those maps show a world that no longer exists in the same way.
On my living room wall I have a reproduced map of New York City from 1836 that shows the prominent buildings of the day, including New York’s City Hall, Columbia College, and my alma mater General Seminary—but no Central Park, as it would still be orchards and farmland for another 20 years.
Maps are where we both memorialize our past and where we dream of what might be. They can offer us a sense of place when we are lost and can be used to exert dominion over what we covet. (say, like a renamed large shared body of water) Maps can both warn us of potential danger and at the same time betray our aspirations. Often maps surface what matters to us most––whether it is sources of drinkable water, favorable navigational passages, or rare mineral deposits.
In Michael Drell‘s sermon yesterday for Ash Wednesday, he talked about Lent both as a time that is unknowable and as a path towards an ending that we already know. I find maps to be illustrative of this tension as well. There have been more times than I’d care to count when a path through the wilderness looked relatively easy on a map, only to be profoundly challenging coming up against deep drop-offs and steep ascents. My experience is that Lent is no different.
Over centuries, the Church has created milestones to guide us through this wilderness. In a sense, Lent more often feels more like navigation by the cairns you find on less traveled trails than it does the immaculately graded trails of Yosemite Valley. We don’t actually know what will happen in the next 40 or so days we have set aside time to listen, to encounter the teachings and stories of the Christ, and allow ourselves to become vulnerable with one another. What we hope will happen is that our hearts become softer, more broken open to mercy and justice and humility, in the end ready to come close to the glorious impossible of Easter.
To create the space for intentional reflection this year we have made a map of this Camino, this pilgrimage to Easter. What we’re hoping to do this Lent is to personally and collectively reflect on this journey on this time set aside for reflection, action, and prayer. In a world where most of our wayfinding is mediated through digital screens, we wanted to get old school, with a real piece of paper to hold, to mark, and yes, perhaps to lose.
Classically the Church has encouraged the followers of Jesus to take on forms of fasting, acts of mercy towards the people around us, renewed practices of prayer, and reading and meditating on Scripture. Our hope is that on both sides of the map we will record some aspects of where we’ve been, our experiences of consolation and desolation. Maybe it will be a particularly salient phrase from a conversation, or a verse that unexpectedly moved us, or difficulty finding purchase with a new discipline.
If you didn’t pick up your Lenten Camino map at Mardi Gras or Ash Wednesday, we printed a second run that will be available on Sunday at the 8am and 10:30am services. And, if you are one of those All Soulsians who practices with us and lives far from the corner of Cedar and Spruce, you can find digital copies of the map as well as the weekly Camino group rituals here at our resources page.
Sometimes in life you don’t know where you’ve been until you take the time to write it down. Other times, especially in the most challenging parts of life, it’s important to know what is at the end so that you can keep moving down the trail. Our hope is that this Lent, through the collective practice of annotating our journey, we will find the places of unexpected wonder, consolation, and connection along the Way.
Peace,
–Phil+
Invitation to Baptism
At our Easter Vigil, we use all of our senses– sight, touch, sound, smell, hearing– to immerse ourselves in the Easter story. We begin outdoors, telling stories beneath the stars beside a Pascal fire.
We process around the block, using our voices to chant the names of saints. We burn incense and ring bells as we enter the nave and celebrate the risen life of Christ. It’s one of the most meaningful, moving liturgies of our church year – a night when we draw on symbols and practices we’ve inherited across the centuries to enact a story that’s deeper and larger than words.
We want to invite some of you to consider participating in this Vigil liturgy in a particular way: through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. This is a traditional and beloved practice at our Vigil service. Through the waters of baptism, in the presence of community, we all take on the promises of Christian life.
If you– or your child(ren)-- have not yet been baptized, we would be honored to walk this journey with you this season. Adults are encouraged to take part in our Catechumenate class: Sunday evenings (7:00-8:30pm) during Lent. If you have questions or want to discuss and explore, please reach out to Emily B or to Phil.
Peace,
Emily B+
Mardi Gras Festivities
A big thank you to all who joined us for this week’s Mardi Gras and Shrove Tuesday celebration! It was a festive, uplifting, meaningful night.
Highlights:
We enjoyed 12+ homemade pots of jambalaya, courtesy of All Soulsians.
The youth were exceptional pancake chefs – on an outdoor grill!
Kids (and Phil!) had a great time burning palms around the fire.
The children decorated a banner proclaiming the “A” word (which we’re not allowed to say during Lent!), then hid it in the church to find on Easter morning.
High school youth shared the most meaningful and memorable parts of their time at All Souls.
We raised funds for our youth immersion trips and activities.
It was a heart-warming example of the kind of intergenerational community that is the core of All Souls Parish. Whether you joined us in body or in spirit on Tuesday, we are grateful and honored to start the Lenten journey with you!
In gratitude,
–Emily B+
My father was a jokester and punster. When I was a child, he referred to a book entitled “The Ups and Downs of the Otis Elevator Company”. As I got older, I realized there was no book by that title but that it was about the direction an elevator operates! I think of him every time I see the name Otis on an elevator.
Well, our new elevator is an Otis elevator! It is not here yet, but the shaft has been poured, it has passed inspection and the huge shoring steel beams are being removed as I type. Today’s accompanying pictures will give you an idea of the magnitude of work that has been accomplished so far. It is truly an engineering feat and we have been promised that it will go up and down, as all Otis elevators should.
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.
Egress continues through both Narthex doors and out the nave to the Jordan Courtyard. Remember to bundle up when the temperatures are expected to fall!
Left: Core board in elevator shaft from Foyer. Right: Fire taping of the elevator shaft along roof line.
Left: Framing and coreboard in boiler room area. Right: Removal of shoring in basement.
–Ann Myers and the Property Committee
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
SUNDAY
7:00 am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, either in person in the Common Room or Click here to join by Zoom.
8:00 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please access the Chapel through the copper doors on Cedar St.
9:15 am, Adult Formation in the Parish Hall.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here.
7 pm, Youth Group - High School Small Group
Lenten Home Group Sign-ups
This year, Soup + Story is taking on a new look: we’re calling them Camino Groups. It’ll be the same sort of gathering, but we’ll gather this year in small groups to make pilgrimage together towards Easter. In our weekly gatherings we’ll spend time noticing, journaling, and sharing with each other the moments of joy and calm, the struggles and heaviness, and the graces of the week. If you’re interested in joining a Lenten home group, put your name next to a group that works for you/your family! Click here.
Adult Formation
The Death of the Messiah
Join the Rev. Michael Lemaire this Sunday, March 9th, for the first class in this series looking at the various accounts of the Passion and Death of Jesus in the four gospels. We will explore what is known about the history and origin of the story and explore the different ways each gospel writer shapes the narrative. Classes will be held in the Parish Hall on the following Sundays: 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, and 3/30.
Catechumenate Classes
Are you hoping to be baptized, or Confirmed, Received (this means that you were confirmed in another tradition before now), or Reaffirmed (this means that you were once Confirmed in the Episcopal church, but you would like to renew your confirmation) in the Episcopal Church? Consider the Catechumenate! It's basically a 6-week crash course on the Episcopal Church. This class is also great if you're just wanting to learn more about what the Episcopal church believes about God, humanity, the Bible, or how to use the Book of Common Prayer. The class will be taught during the six Sunday evenings of Lent from 7-8:30 in the Common Room: March 9-April 13th. Reach out to Emily HC if you're interested, emily@allsoulsparish.org.
Children & Family
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.”
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 Emily B.
For Both Kids and Youth: Summer Camps!
It’s that time of year… time to sign up for camp! Kids and youth from All Souls have loved attending camp in two places: Bishop’s Ranch (the same place we have Parish Retreat, near Healdsburg), and St. Dorothy’s Rest. Both have roots in the Episcopal tradition and have programs for all ages (and some for families, too). You can find more information about St. Dorothy’s here, and Bishop’s Ranch here.
For children: It can be especially fun to go to camp at the same time as other kids from church! If you’re interested in coordinating dates, please reach out to Brenna Hall, an All Souls parent (brenna.k.hall@gmail.com).
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).
This Sunday (March 9th) is the gathering of the High School Small Group.
Coming up:
March 16th & March 23rd - ALL Grades Youth Group
March 30th - No Youth Group because of Spring Break.
Download our Spring (March/April) 2025 calendar here. To join the weekly youth mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
Justice & Peace
Open Door Dinner (ODD) is happening this Sunday, March 9th. 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.
Building Interfaith Bridges invites you to a movie night on March 27 in the Jordan Court Community Room, showing "Same God," a documentary featuring Dr. Larycia Hawkins - a black, female professor at a prominent Christian college who wore a hijab in solidarity with Muslims and said that Christians and Muslims worship the Same God. The firestorm that followed exposed the rifts among evangelicals over race, Islam, religious freedom and politics. The evening will follow this schedule:
6:30pm: Gather and snack
7:00pm: Movie
8:35pm: (optional) Small group reflection and discussion
9:00pm: Adjourn
For questions, please contact Paul Mathew or Bonnie Bishop.
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. With the colder weather, 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.
Needs of the Community
A seminarian at CDSP, Karla Koon, needs temporary help with some domestic chores as she deals with medical treatment. If you are interested in joining a temporary ministry team to provide assistance (between now and the end of May), please contact bonniekbishop@myyahoo.com.
Last but definitely not Least
Lent 2025 Playlist is on Spotify. Matt Wolka invites you to click here to check it out.
"The Philadelphia Eleven" is a documentary film, airing at 9pm on Friday, March 7th on KQED channel 9. The documentary tells the amazing true story of eleven women who, in 1974, defied church law and patriarchy to be ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church. Do not miss this incredible chapter in history that was not so long ago,
Daylight Savings March 9th!! Don’t forget to change your clocks.
Upcoming Poetry Events in El Cerrito: Lovely All Soulsians! As you know I am finishing up a whiz bang year of bringing poetry to El Cerrito as El Cerrito’s poet laureate. It’s been an incredible ride! I learned that Contra Costa has long had some of the worst arts funding per capita in California, so actually getting to plan and do arts events here in the schools I grew up attending has meant the world to me. Kids write great poems! There are some very special public facing events for all ages! I’d love to have you join us! All are welcome.
The El Cerrito Community Center will be hosting two events on Community Poetry Day, March 15th.
4:30-6 pm: Tongo Eisen-Martin will be teaching an intergenerational poetry workshop.
6:30-8 pm: Eminent Bay Area poets will be giving a reading
SAVE THE DATES May 2 & 3 for a two-day youth poetry festival with all kinds of fun poetry activities. Haiku booth, zine booth, record a poem on the radio booth, poetry scavenger hunt, taco truck and more!
Tess Taylor
2024 Contribution Statements: They are already prepared and ready for download on Realm. You'll see a blue button that says "2024 Contribution Statement" on your Home Profile Page, and also on your Giving Page. If you aren't registered yet on Realm, or if you have trouble, just email, text or call Maggie Cooke, Giving Secretary, and she will have an email out to you (or a hard copy mailed if required) within an hour or so. Don't hesitate to ask... but it's a great feature of Realm to see your Giving at any time.
Maggie Cooke, Giving Secretary
Realm Support (3rd Sunday of every month): We have a new church online directory, database, and community - and you are invited to join! If you are a member here, you should already have received an invitation from Realm. If you’re new and looking to join (or didn’t get an email invite), then see Emily Hansen Curran. For anyone interested in learning more about Realm, who need help troubleshooting any problems logging in, or using different features, we’ve got folks who will be at coffee hour on the 3rd Sunday of each month after the 10:30 service with laptops ready to answer your questions and help. Come by and get the help you need.
