The Pathfinder: April 3rd, 2025
2025 Holy Week For Kids: Enacting the Mystery
I can still recall the Holy Weeks of my childhood. I remember the cross, shrouded in Lenten purple (my favorite color). I remember the chill of water on my feet during Maundy Thursday, and the tickle as someone washed them.
I can still almost smell the incense wafting from the thurible– and I remember learning that strange, delightful word. I remember the readings from the Vigil service: how story after story from the Hebrew scriptures washed over me like poetry, dramatic and mysterious. And I remember joining with other voices to sing, so loud that it both frightened and thrilled me: “Christ has risen from the dead, trampling down death by death!!”
There are certain kinds of stories that are so big, so important, that you can’t fully grasp them through words or explanations. Holy Week is one of those. The mystery we’re preparing for– the emergence of death out of life that is Christ’s resurrection– is so significant that we approach it step-wise, service by service, act by act. From Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday to the Great Vigil, we’ll touch, taste, listen, smell, and see our way into a state of openness and imagination that prepares us to receive the promise of Easter.
Which is why Holy Week is so important and wonderful for children! Much of the time, children think and live through story. At All Souls, we hope that kids will take part in all aspects of Holy Week. Below, in our announcements section, you’ll find a schedule of all of our Holy Week services. Kids are very welcome at any service. It can be magical and memorable indeed to come to church in your pajamas for the Great Vigil, and hear stories around the bonfire outdoors.
But today, I want to draw your attention to two services in particular: Maundy Thursday, and Holy Week for Kids.
Maundy Thursday: At 6pm on Thursday, April 17th, we’ll kick off the Triduum– the Three Great Days– with a feast in the parish hall. This feast is called an agape meal – agape meaning love, unconditional and self-giving. There will be song and prayer and reflection. You’re welcome to stay for the 7:30pm service afterward, but we know that’s too late for some bedtimes. So, we intend for the feast to be an accessible and welcoming way for kids to enter into the mystery of the Triduum. RSVP here. (To volunteer to bring food, please email Emily HC).
Holy Week for Kids Service: On Good Friday at 4pm, we’ll gather in the nave for a service especially designed for kids. We’ll sing, hear the Godly Play story of the Passion, and wonder aloud together. Then, we’ll take turns at different interactive stations: foot-washing, watercolors, and Stations of the Cross. No need to sign up - just come! Especially for kids pre-K to 5th grade, but all ages are welcome.
Last but not least, we invite you to join us on Easter Sunday! We’ll have two services, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. In between the services, at 10:15, we’ll have an Easter egg hunt in the courtyard (so you can take part regardless of which service you attend).
–Emily B+
Plans After All Souls Parish: An Update of the Unknown
As some of you already know, after graduation, I will be moving to Washington, DC. Like many plans, this one fills me with excitement and sadness. Of course, one never really knows what lies ahead and I am no stranger to unexpected events causing massive shifts in circumstances and turns in new directions.
It’s very hard for me to articulate what it feels like leaving a parish like you all. This is a parish community where I have been situated, supported, challenged, and formed more intensely than any other. It is a parish where the participation in divine Love is easy to feel and share onward. Leaving All Souls is something I have put off as long as possible having hung around well beyond the Field Ed placement that brought me here initially. I came to learn, serve, and practise as part of my MDiv education, but I found a church that went far beyond my expectations. The richness of our communion never lost its abundant offerings in valuable skills, knowledge, and experiences, but more so in offering a complete sense of being part of what church really means. Beyond the roles, tasks, and relationships of operation, we share the beloved community of communion emergent in our life as Christ’s Body for the contexts we inhabit and become together.
It’s actually the first time since my teens that I have been making plans to leave somewhere I have lived for over four consecutive years. It is as if the polarities of excitement and sadness have such a weight to them that I can only find the middle of this seesaw and continue my daily life at the grateful centre of these big sensations.
The “plan” itself is straightforward…finish my seminary term and graduate. Finish packing up possessions and pay loads of money for it all to be shipped East. Our plan is to arrive in DC in early June and I will be involved in a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program from the Fall with a view to Diaconal ordination in July 2026. As well as CPE, I will be reconnecting to the town of my birth and all the family, friends, and neighbours. It feels daunting and uncertain because many of the abrupt changes going on in the capital are unprecedented, it is difficult to know what things will look like there moving forward. What is certain is that the Episcopal Church is involved in the conversations and work ahead so I eagerly join the never-ending ministry of repetition, maintenance, and creativity required of community.
Moving into a diocese with such a brave bishop and several cherished colleagues around feels easy. I am moving into a multi-layered story of place full of memories and possibilities. Only God knows the rest. I welcome your ongoing prayers and prayer requests. DC is a place many of you might find yourself visiting for various reasons and I encourage you to contact me when that happens.
Peace,
-Michael Drell
Marmoleum: a brand of sustainable linoleum flooring made from natural materials.
Key Ingredients:
It's primarily composed of linseed oil (from flax seeds), wood flour (from controlled forestry plantations), jute (for the backing), and other natural materials like limestone and pigments.
Benefits:
Natural and Eco-Friendly: Made from natural, renewable resources.
Durable and Long-lasting: Offers a long lifespan and can withstand heavy use.
Easy to Maintain: Relatively easy to clean and maintain.
Did you notice the new flooring on our stairs and in the parish hall foyer? It looks so much better than the plywood! One more box we can check off on our list. We certainly have more boxes checked than unchecked at this point!
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 drop!
–Ann Myers and the Property Committee
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
SATURDAY
12:45 PM March with the Justice & Peace Team on April 5th in Oakland, Sacramento, and Berkeley. See details below.
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 PM, Adult Formation in the Parish Hall.
10:30 AM, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here. Sunday School in the classroom downstairs.
7:00 PM, Youth Group - All Grades Group
WEDNESDAY
9:00 AM, Eucharist in the Jordan Court Community Room.
Learn with Us
ADULT FORMATION
Holy Week Introduction - April 6th
The Revs. Phil and Emily B. will lead us in a Q&A style class on the origins, meanings, and practices of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. All are welcome to join in this informational session about Holy Week on April 6th at 9:15a in the Parish Hall.
COMING UP AFTER EASTER: April 27, May 4, 11
Love Thy Neighborhood: Allyship and Faith in Action
The Racial Justice Committee invites you to this workshop which will explore the critical role of allyship in working for racial justice. Grounded in Christian teachings and our baptismal covenant, we will discuss practical ways to be allies in our communities and examine how faith informs our actions.
Gather with Us
Save the Date! Maundy Thursday Agape Meal on April 17th
In this spirit, we will eat together for a Maundy Thursday Agape Meal––an ancient practice in the Christian church, recalling the meals Jesus shared with disciples during his ministry, and especially at the Last Supper before his crucifixion, and expressing the koinonia (community, sharing, fellowship) of the followers of Christ. The term agape comes from the Greek––a term for love in its broadest sense. The Agape Meal is another way of living out Jesus’ mandatum (Latin for “commandment,” as in Maundy Thursday) or commandment that we love one another with the same self-emptying love, mercy and forgiveness with which he has loved and still loves us.
As part of this service we will pray, sing a few songs, have some conversation, and we'll eat a light meal together. Our intention is for this to be a kid-friendly service, which you can attend as a stand-alone service on Maundy Thursday, or as preparation for the 7:30p Eucharistic service with foot washing. If you are able, please RSVP for this meal so that we know about how much food to bring. Click here to RSVP
Worship with Us
CHILDREN & FAMILY
Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) happens every week during the 10:30 service. Starting March 16th, we’re trying out a new way to begin our time together! Children will begin the service in the nave with their families (rather than going straight down to the classroom before the service). They’ll stay through the opening hymn and procession. Then, during the “Song of Praise” (about 5 min into the service), the kids will see a teacher holding a big wooden cross coming down the aisle. They’ll “follow the leader” as a group downstairs to the classroom. We hope that this change will help kids feel more involved with the congregation at the start of the service, and it will create an intentional transition into the start of class. Children will still 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 (April 6th) there will be an All Grades Youth Group
Coming up:
April 13th: High School Small Group
April 20th: No Youth Group - Happy Easter!
April 27th: Pilgrimage to Grace Cathedral 12-6pm
Download our Spring (March/April) 2025 calendar here. To join the weekly youth mailing list, email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
4/17 6-7:15PM - Agape Meal
4/17 7:30PM-9PM - Maundy Thursday Service
4/17-4/18 9PM-9AM - Overnight Prayer Vigil
4/18 12N-3PM - Three Hour Service
4/18 4PM - Holy Week for Children
4/18 7:30PM-9PM - Good Friday Service
4/19 9:30AM-10AM - Holy Saturday Service
4/19 8PM-11PM - Easter Vigil
4/20 9AM-10:30AM - Easter Sunday
4/20 11:15-12:30PM - Easter Sunday with Baptisms
Note: There will be no 8am service on Easter Sunday. Instead, the two services will be held at 9am & 11:15am.
Justice & Peace
April 5th - March with Us
We invite everyone to help bear Faithful Witness to the needs of our community and the world. As a first step we’ll be gathering on Saturday, April 5 at Oscar Grant Plaza (409 14th St. Oakland, CA 94612) to join one of hundreds of such gatherings across the country. We’ll meet at 12:45 pm at the southeast corner of Broadway & 14th and walk together to the plaza. Together, we can demonstrate our resolve to hold fast to our commitment to feed the hungry, heal the sick, welcome the stranger. (NOTE: there will be simultaneous gatherings across the country. Connect with Jane Vandenburgh if you’re going to Sacramento or Jenny Kern if you’re headed for the North Berkeley BART Plaza gathering.)
See one of us for more info. We’ll be talking more about how we can build and hold a beloved community in this time of crisis.
The Justice & Peace Committee: Gretchen Donart, Beth Christensen, Christine Trost, Jennifer Akiyama, Janet Chisholm, Raymond Yee, Emily McDonald, Elena Ramirez, Margaret Sparks
APRIL 9th - The Diocese of California welcomes Bishop Mariann Budde to the Bay Area
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde to Deliver Inaugural Robert N. Bellah Lecture
Wednesday, April 9 | 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley
The title of Budde’s address is: Following Our North Star in Tumultuous Times.
This special event is co-sponsored and supported by the Graduate Theological Union, the family of Robert N. Bellah, the Bellah Legacy Group, the UC Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion and the Henry Luce Foundation, Grace Cathedral, and an anonymous donor. UPDATE: The event if full so if you’d like to participate, then the livestream option is open to everyone.
Get tickets here | Learn more
APRIL 9th - From Remembrance to Healing: Learning from the Holocaust and the Tulsa Race Massacre
Congregation Beth El, and co-sponsors The Beth El Belonging- Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (B-REDI), The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and Not In Our Town (NIOT) invite you to join us on Wednesday, April 9th from 5:30-7:30 pm for an evening with Widen the Circle, in person and online. Please RSVP here. In person: 1301 Oxford, Berkeley, CA or online: Zoom (link shared upon registration)
Widen the Circle uses history and remembrance to heal from past injustice and combat modern prejudice. They empower local activists in Germany and the US to create a more just world, focusing on German-Jewish history and the history of racism in the US.
Our special guests will be Joel Obermayer, executive director of Widen the Circle, and Kristi Williams, a Fellow in Widen the Circle’s Berlin Fellowship program, and a descendant from a survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Widen the Circle founder Joel Obermayer will discuss how the Obermayer Awards, a project founded by his father 25 years ago, has grown in influence and impact through the creation of Widen the Circle. He will also share how important work being done in Germany is creating understanding and reconciliation where none seemed possible, and why this type of community-based effort is so effective and holds so much hope for the future. We’ll also explore the impactful work of Kristi Williams and how the fellowship experience in Germany — along with the meaningful connections she’s built through the program — continues to inspire and shape her work. In this interactive event, attendees will share how remembrance can make a difference in healing and take action to stand against racism, antisemitism, and bigotry.
Feel free to reach out to the Widen the Circle team (events@obermayer.us) with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
BUILDING INTERFAITH BRIDGES invites you to an UPCOMING EVENT:
APRIL 13th - Please join Building Interfaith Bridges for a Passover Seder at Congregation Beth El on Sunday, 4/13th @ 5p. Register here today! (Please note: registration closes on April 3, 2025)
Led by Rabbi Ira and Cantor Elaya, friends from the Building Interfaith Bridges partnership are invited to enjoy a festive and musical Passover celebration and a delicious kosher-for-Passover meal. The seder will include singing from our Beth El Chorus and will be accessible and meaningful for participants of all ages! Let all who are hungry come and eat! There is no Zoom option for the seder - we look forward to celebrating with you in person at Beth El! Event Details:
Day/Date/Time: Sunday April 13 @ 5p
Location: Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St.
Cost: $54/person
RSVP here: https://www.bethelberkeley.org/event/second-night-congregational-seder2.html
Serve with Us
FOOD BANK collection is active. Please bring non-perishable food on Sundays and use the baskets in the Narthex. We also need drivers to deliver food. If you want to help, e-mail Cathy G. (ogoshca@yahoo.com).
MEAL TRAIN delivers food to others. If you are in need of meals, or if you’d like to join this team to deliver to others, email Sarah (sarahoneto@gmail.com).
OPEN DOOR DINNER consists of a group of All Soulsians and friends that make a warm jambalaya meal for anyone who is hungry on the second Sunday of the month. This is a meaningful way to connect with other volunteers while serving the community. If you are interested in joining this team, email Jennifer A. (akiyama.jennifer@gmail.com)
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.
Open Door Dinner (ODD) happens on the second Sunday of every month. 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.
Last but definitely not Least
BYOG (Bring Your Own Greens)
Palm Sunday is April 13th! We invite you to bring branches, fronds, or other leafy foliage to participate in our Blessing of the Palms. If you have extra, bring some to share!
Help Us Fill Easter Eggs!
It’s almost that time of year again! On Easter Sunday, we have an egg hunt for children between our two services (around 10:15). Please help us fill these eggs with goodies! Three easy steps:
Pick up some empty eggs in the narthex after church.
Take them home and fill them with candy, stickers, toys, etc.
Drop off the filled eggs in the narthex any Sunday, or during Holy Week.
(Bonus: Return any empty eggs you might have kept from last year!)
Contact Emily B with questions.
Lent 2025 Playlist is on Spotify. Matt Wolka invites you to click here to check it out.
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
