The Pathfinder: February 5th, 2026
Lenten Invitations: Community and Practice
The Lenten season is a time for us to slow down and turn our gaze inward. Often, we think of "penitence" as being placed before the judgment of others or forced to amend ourselves to rigid rules. But in its truest sense, Lent is an invitation to acknowledge—before ourselves and the Divine—where we may have lost our way: in our communities, our personal lives, our strivings, and our relationships.
Lent is a time to quiet the noise that fills our consciousness. While Lent is often associated with fasting, fasting and other practices are simply concrete ways to turn mundane patterns into intentional prayer. Whether we fast from certain foods or from habits that occupy too much of our attention, we do so to make room for reflection and spiritual growth.
At All Souls, we engage this season together through two intentional offerings: The Catechumenate and our Soup and Story home gatherings.
The Catechumenate: Examining the Roots
Sundays in Lent | Feb 22 – April 19 | 12:30 PM | Common Room
The Catechumenate is a foundational class designed to help us explore our spiritual roots within the Episcopal Church, whether you are preparing for Baptism or Confirmation, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of this tradition, please join us.
Many of us at All Souls arrive here from other Christian traditions—some of which we had to leave behind. Others return after years away, and some walk through our copper doors as their very first entry point into Christianity. No matter how you arrived, there is always more to learn.
In this class, you will explore Episcopal theology, the Book of Common Prayer, Church history, and the meaning behind our Sunday liturgy. You’ll learn from an incredible line-up of teachers—including the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, the Rev. Dr. Mark Richardson, the Rev. Dr. Paula Nesbitt, the Rev. Michael Lemaire, and the Revs. Phil Brochard and Emily Boring.
How to Join: If you are wrestling with the idea of "putting down roots," I invite you to join us. To sign up or ask questions, please email Mother Rachel at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
Soup & Story: Camino Groups
Weekly for Five Weeks | Beginning Feb 22 | Various Locations
One of the essential ways we connect is through our Lenten home groups. This year, we return to the lens of the Camino—the Spanish word for "walk," "path," or "way."
Using a "Camino Map" to visualize the journey, groups will meet in homes for a meal and conversation. Each week offers a "traveler’s check-in" where we share:
An Oasis: A moment of joy or goodness.
A Desert: A moment that felt hard or heavy.
A Traveling Mercy: A time when you gave or received grace.
The Logistics:
Sign-ups: You can sign up based on a night that works for you or by geography. We hope to host groups in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, San Leandro, Hayward, and the Lamorinda area.
The Meal: Groups share responsibilities for soup, salad, and bread. (We will coordinate around food allergies!)
The Flow: Typically, we gather for 45 minutes of reflection followed by 45 minutes of dinner.
Attendance: While you don't need to attend all five weeks to join, the experience is much richer when the whole group travels together consistently.
Next Step: If you would like to join, host, or facilitate a group, please email Mother Rachel at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
Let’s journey together this Lent.
–Mother Rachel
Youth at All Souls: A Program Update
What makes something “just”? Who gets to decide? Where do our values come from? Can our faith help us face our fears of failure? How is the Trinity different from polytheism? How does someone become a saint? Can we forgive someone if their actions have harmed a lot of people? Someone at school said I can’t be queer and Christian. How do I respond?
These are just some of the questions we’ve talked about in Youth Group this year. Some of the questions come from leaders; they’re topics we intentionally bring into the room to have important conversations. Most come from the youth themselves– questions that feel urgent and necessary in their own lives. Youth Group isn’t entirely serious. We spend plenty of time in pursuits like arts and crafts, baking cakes, having indoor snowball fights, and hiding rubber ducks throughout the nave (just to name a few!). But at the core of our program is a space for discussion and exploration of deep questions. We try to model a community where we listen to one another, have genuine dialogue across differences, and think critically about ethics and morals. Most of all, we try to offer our youth a space where they can temporarily let down their burdens and feel supported, accepted, and beloved.
For those who are less familiar with the lives of youth at All Souls, I want to take a chance to share a few highlights of our program. There are opportunities coming up to donate to our youth program– in particular, our Mardi Gras fundraiser (Feb. 17th, 5:30p). I hope you will consider supporting the many things we have going on.
Youth Group
The core of our program is our weekly Youth Group, which meets from 7-8:30 on Sunday evenings. We regularly have 15-20 youth taking part. We meet in our newly renovated Youth Room in the undercroft– a cozy space of couches, chairs, art supplies, games, and seasonal decorations. We alternate between a Middle School Youth Group (grades 6-8), and a High School Small Group (9th-12th). A few years ago, we developed a vision for our program centered on three main questions:
Who is God? (Thinking theologically)
How Do I Experience God? (Developing spiritual practices)
What Does God Call Me to Do? (Acting ethically in community)
At the center is our guiding belief: “You Are A Beloved Child of God.”
We build our Youth Group sessions around these themes. We hope that by the time youth graduate from our program, they’ll have spent time exploring all three. You can read more about our program vision here.
Our weekly program is supported by myself and three outstanding leaders: Tim Hausler, Annie Hayes and Kelsey Byers.
Immersion Trip
Each summer, we offer an opportunity for youth to deepen their faith outside the setting of All Souls.
This year (July 12th-18th), we’re excited to travel to San Diego for an Immersion Trip: a mixture of service, learning, and engagement with community. Our topic is timely: we'll visit the Mexico/U.S. border area to explore the topic of immigration justice and learn from inter-religious organizations who are doing the work of advocacy, service, and healing.
Some of our activities include:
Volunteering with Border Angels
A mural walk in Chicano Park
Multilingual worship with The Border Church
Visiting the St. Francis Migrant Resource Center
To make this trip happen, we need your help! We are hoping to raise enough funds that all youth can attend without cost being a barrier.
We invite you to support this trip by attending our Mardi Gras fundraiser! (See the article below). The event is on February 17th at 5:30pm. Suggested donations are $5-10 for kids 12 and under; $10-15 for adults; $35 for families. Please give more if you are able! Cash, checks, cards, and online pay (via Realm) are all welcome.
If you want to give in advance– or at any time throughout the year– you can do so here.
Donations will support our Immersion Trip, weekly Youth Group activities, Parish Retreat scholarships, and more.
Thank you for supporting the youth of our parish!
Peace,
–Emily+
Making Lemonade… and Pancakes. Mardi Gras 2026
Six years ago, All Souls Parish had never streamed a worship service. We had not consistently held meetings via video conference. And we had not regularly held evening services in our courtyard. Six years later, these are all now common practices of our congregation.
Once we started streaming our services we found it to be a really helpful way to continue making church with people who could not be at All Souls in person. And we realized that it was easier for some groups of the parish to meet over Zoom, especially for night meetings and while members were traveling. And we learned that holding our Advent Lessons and Carols service in the courtyard meant that when we read from the book of Amos about the Maker of the constellations, we could look up and see those stars as we prayed.
In short, we found that the lemonade we made out of the lemons that had been forced upon us was actually something good that we wanted to continue making. Which brings us to this year‘s Mardi Gras. As you may remember, last year, because of construction, we didn’t have a kitchen to cook in for our celebration. This year, because of our seismic work, we don’t have use of our Parish Hall. But have no fear––the creativity of All Soulsians continues.
This year‘s Mardi Gras will be a house party in the undercroft. We will be cooking pancakes in the kitchen, and like last year, asking some All Soulsians to bring jambalaya to the feast. To eat the feast, we will be setting up rooms in the undercroft – the Common Room, the Chapel, the Godly Play room, the Youth Room, and one of our meeting rooms. While the spaces may be different than what we are used to, we believe that all of the connection and celebration will remain the same. And who knows? Maybe we’ll want to do it again.
Following last year, we will continue the tradition of many cooks! If you’re able, we invite you to bring a batch of jambalaya to share with our parish community. We are looking for about eight volunteers to bring batches (serving size ~16 people), including regular, vegan, and no-shellfish options. Sign up here if you can contribute a batch.
Here are some other details about the night:
We’ll gather at 5:30p on February 17th. Jambalaya will be provided by your fellow All Soulsians. We’ll provide salad and drinks, and the youth will cook everyone pancakes! (There will be gluten free options). Food will be served in the downstairs hallway outside of the Common Room. You can enter through the courtyard doors, or the doors down by the Chapel.
After dinner, around 6:45, we’ll gather in the courtyard for a bonfire, where we’ll fire our homemade clay crosses to use in spiritual practice throughout the year. If you’ve taken some home to decorate, please bring them back on Tuesday night.
Some practical ways you can help:
Sign up here to bring jambalaya.
Come early (~4:00) to decorate and set up
Stay late (~8:30) to clean up!
Finally: our Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday dinner is also our annual Youth Program fundraiser. If you’re able, please consider a donation of $5-10 for kids 12 and under, $10-15 for adults, $35 for families (cash, checks, credit cards, and online donation are all welcome). If you’re cooking jambalaya, feel free to consider the cost of materials as your donation for the evening! And if cost is a barrier, please join us anyway. You can donate in advance (or anytime throughout the year!) here.
The funds we raise this year will go directly to our Youth Program as a whole: Youth Group, acolyte program, deanery-wide activities, immersion trips and retreats, and more. You can read more about the tenets and goals of our Youth Program here.
So– we hope that you will join us on Tuesday, Feb. 17th, bringing All Soulsians of all ages and friends from outside of our community, too. The event is family-friendly and intended to be welcoming for all.
See you there!
–Emily+ and Phil+
January Vestry Update
The Vestry of All Souls gathered for a meeting on January 21, 2026 in the Common Room. The meeting began with a review of the agenda, followed by a reflection session conducted by Sarah Bakker Kellogg that helped set the stage for our meeting.
Phil shared his Rector’s report and started by sharing the good news that there was a 5% increase in attendance across all the Christmas services. It was noted that the last of the pulpit sweeps occurred, and there were 30 All Soulsians at that Friday service at Congregation Beth El. Phil also let us know that a Preschool Taskforce has been created to help with the process of identifying a future tenant for the preschool space. We hope to have the preschool space rented by the 2nd half of the year.
Phil closed his report by noting that we finished 2025 with a budget surplus of over $20,000, and the Vestry unanimously passed a motion to transfer those surplus funds into the parish’s reserve fund.
We then moved on to have a discussion regarding a potential financial gift to St. Lucy’s. The conversation encompassed the early germination of the concept for St. Lucy’s at All Souls to ways we currently provide non-financial support, to what All Souls philosophy should be on supporting church plants as well as existing parishes that may be struggling. Eventually, the Vestry agreed that many important questions were raised, and this topic needed further discernment.
Vestry also spent significant time reflecting during this meeting. We reflected upon our 2025 goals and saw places where we achieved our goals and places where we may not have fully achieved those goals. The four outgoing Vestry members, Grace Telcs, Mark Wilson, Ryan Greene-Roesel, and Michael Lewis, shared reflections on their 3 years on Vestry, which were heartfelt and meaningful.
Lastly, we had an update on Living Waters, the seismic project, and the organ refurbishment. There are very few items left to complete for Living Waters. The landscaping should be completed by July, and there have been challenges getting the elevator to work consistently. Otis has been at the church numerous times to try to diagnose and fix the elevator; we are hopeful that the elevator will be operable in the coming weeks. The seismic work has begun in earnest, and we are prayerful that the project will be completed by July. The organ refurbishment is underway, and the organ should be ready by Holy Week.
We ended our Vestry meeting a few minutes ahead of schedule and closed with prayer.
–Michael Lewis, 2025 Senior Warden
Announcements & Events
Sunday
7:00 am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
8:00 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
9:15 am, Adult Formation in the Common Room and Chapel.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here. Sunday School in the Godly Play room.
12 noon, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard.
12:30 pm, Vestry Meeting in the Common Room.
7:00 pm, Youth Group - All Grades Group.
Tuesday
8:00 pm, Taize in the Chapel.
Thursday
5:30 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION
Berkeley Reparations Panel Discussion - Feb. 8th
For several years at All Souls Parish, we have been studying about, discerning with, and acting to be “repairers of the breach and restorers of the streets to live in.” From our class on a Christian understanding of racial reparations in the fall of 2021, to the Isaiah Project’s report about some of the long-felt effects of racism in the East Bay, to the grants of the Isaiah Project and our growing relationships with four local organizations working towards repair, this work of repair has been an essential practice of our communal life.
Our work continues in the weeks to come, with a class in the Common Room with Dr. Jennifer Snow on Sunday, February 1st, on “Episcopal Resistance & Resilience.” On Sunday, February 8th, in the Common Room, we will have a panel discussion about reparations in Berkeley with two leaders in the Berkeley Reparations Coalition, Kad Smith and Maya Lawton. You can read more about the Berkeley Unified School District’s Task Force and the work of the Coalition here.
This will be an opportunity to learn more about the findings of the Task Force and what the Coalition is moving forward with in the year to come, especially a possible measure for the November 2025 ballot. Join us at 9:15 am for this timely and important conversation.
Dante’s Inferno - Feb. 1st, 8th, 15th
Not only one of the most famous poems in history, Dante’s Inferno (Part I of the Divine Comedy) is also one of the greatest pieces of Christian art ever accomplished. Join Jack Shoemaker as he leads us through this three-week series. Together, we will read our way through the poem, taking turns reading from different translations, and discovering the inspired wisdom of this remarkable work. A few of us may have read this before; many of us may never have, but always intended to. This is our chance! The first two classes will meet in the Chapel at 9:15 am. The final class in this series will meet in the Common Room.
Adult Formation Advisory Panel seeks your input!
The Adult Formation Advisory Panel will meet in early March to begin selecting books for our Summer Book Groups and classes for the 2026-2027 year. Now is the time for your input! Please send ideas for books and any ideas/suggestions for classes to Anne Yardley at ayardley@drew.edu, preferably by Feb. 28th. We welcome your thoughts and ideas!
Justice & Peace Events and Resources
Each week, the Justice & Peace Team will provide events and resources for All Soulsians to learn more and get involved. Please send prospective calendar items to Jenny Kern Jenkernesq@gmail.com and Martin Ortega martin–ortega@att.net
EVENTS
Event: Justice & Peace Ministry Meeting
Date and Time: February 22, 12:15 pm
Location: Chapel
Contact persons: Martín Ortega martín-ortega@att.net or Jenkernesq@gmail.com
Event: Concord Immigration Court Vigil
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 24, 7:30-9:30 am
Location:1855 Gateway Blvd., Concord
Contact person: Kaki Logan kaki.logan@gmail.com 510-367-9416
If you are interested in attending a vigil, but the time above doesn’t work for you, the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) hosts vigils multiple times a week. click on the link below to register/rsvp.
Event: Weekly Interfaith Vigils Court Vigils
Stand in solidarity with detained immigrants and their families. RSVP here
Vigils take place at San Francisco immigration courts, 100 Montgomery St. and 630 Sansome St., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 8 to 10 a.m. or 11:45 to 2 p.m.
Vigils take place at Concord immigration court, 1855 Gateway Blvd., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. or 12 to 2 p.m.
Event: No Kings Day Protests
Date and Time: March 28; various times tbd
Location: Bay Area and National
Contact: https://indivisibleeb.org
The following events are from the newsletter Together We Will Albany-Berkeley (TWWAB).
Overpass Visibility Dance Party I-80: Every Friday, 6-8 pm on the University Ave. pedestrian/bike bridge. More info here. Check out the video from last week!
TWWAB Berkeley Rush Hour Resistance: University Ave. bike/pedestrian overpass on I-80. More info here.
Face Down Fascism: Every Friday, 4–5 pm at the corner of Gilman and Santa Fe. Bring signs and noisemakers!
College and Ashby Protests: Every Friday, 4:15–5:15 pm with Indivisible Elmwood. More info here.
El Cerrito Due Process Protests: Every Friday, 3–4 pm in front of DAISO at El Cerrito Plaza. Sign up here.
Stand Up for Immigrants Protests: Every Saturday, Grocery Outlet, San Pablo, 11 am–12 pm. Sign up here.
RESOURCES
5calls.org - 5 Calls is the easiest and most effective way to make a political impact. Find information on issues that are important to you, as well as phone numbers to elected officials, so you can have your voice heard.
Stand with Minnesota - Across Minnesota, ICE continues to stop, harass, and detain people regardless of their citizenship status. Normal life in Minnesota has been interrupted, as schools have been forced to close or go virtual, as people live in fear of leaving their homes or going to work. Minnesotans are organized and activated to respond to this violence. This website has compiled a directory of places to donate/help.
Important Reminder & Rapid Response Hotlines: If you see immigration enforcement, don’t engage—document what you can safely, and call your county’s Rapid Response hotline.
Stay Informed and Take Action with the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations represents the church’s priorities to the US government in Washington, DC, and offers several ways to connect to their work:
Weekly network calls, Thursdays 10-10:30 am Pacific time, provide information about current events, policy developments, and legislation coming before Congress. Register here.
Weekly immigration update, Tuesdays, 10-10:30 am Pacific time. Register here.
Weekly prayers, released every Friday, prayed aloud on Mondays at 8:45 am Pacific time, name concerns, offer prayer for those who are vulnerable, and seek God’s guidance as we respond. More information here.
Global Partnership monthly calls, 1st Wednesday of the month, 10-11 am Pacific time, consider how the church can address human needs, engage in peacebuilding, and build healthy, mutual relationships. Register here.
Take action by writing to your legislators and other government officials, with Action Alerts. Learn more and sign up here.
Worship With Us
ASH WEDNESDAY - Feb 18th
Join us on February 18th for one of our three Ash Wednesday services. Times and locations below:
7:00 am (Chapel)
12 noon (Nave)
7:30 pm (Nave) This service will be livestreamed
TAIZE TUESDAYS
Please join us in the Chapel every Tuesday evening at 8 pm for a community-led, half-hour program of silent meditation, prayer, and chants from the Taize tradition. This spring series will run through Tuesday, May 19th.
BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
All Souls hosts two weekly Bible Study Classes each week. In addition to our Sunday morning group (meets from 7-8 am), we are now offering another group on Thursday evenings from 5:30-6:30 pm. Both groups meet in our Common Room and use the Reading Between the Lines curriculum. Join us! Drop-ins are always welcome, too!
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Next Faithful Families Dinner on 3/15. Mark your Calendars!
We are excited to bring back Faithful Families dinners! Join us for a time of intergenerational fellowship and learning. We will start with a shared meal. Then, there will be time for shared prayer practices, activities for kids, and a space for parents to connect and discuss important questions of faith. Families with children of all ages (kids, teens, young adults) are welcome to attend. Sundays: March 15th, and May 3rd, 5-6:30 pm. Please click here to email Emily if you would like to attend.
Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) happens every week during the 10:30 service. We follow Godly Play, an approach to spiritual formation that features storytelling, hands-on learning, and wondering. Shortly after the service starts, children follow a teacher, carrying a cross, downstairs to the classroom and return to church at the “Peace.”
To join our Children and Family mailing list, email Emily (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
YOUTH
Youth Group (for grades 6-12) generally happens each Sunday from 7-8:30 pm.
Join us on Sunday evenings from 7-8:30 pm for games, art, reflection, and prayer. We alternate between a middle and high school group with some all-grades events.
COMING UP:
Feb. 8th: Youth Group (All Grades Group)
Feb. 15th: No Youth Group (President’s Day)
To join the weekly youth mailing list, email Emily (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
CENTERING PRAYER IN BERKELEY
All Soulsians are invited to an ongoing prayer group which meets every Thursday morning for an hour beginning at 10 am at Newman Hall Parish. The address is 2700 Dwight Way. We meet upstairs in the Patio Room (behind the red door). There is a free parking lot directly across the street on Dwight.
We open with about 20-30 minutes of silent, Centering Prayer, and close with Lectio Divina. The group has been meeting for many years, and new people are always welcome. You don’t need an invitation, but if you have questions, talk to Diane Haavik at dhaavik@yahoo.com.
Gather With Us
Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday Dinner - 2/17
Join us at 5:30 pm on Feb 17th for a party to celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday. This festive dinner (with pancakes!) is also our annual Youth Program fundraiser. Please consider a donation of $5-10 for kids 12 and under, $10-15 for adults, $35 for families (credit cards or Venmo accepted). Funds go directly toward our Youth Group, acolyte program, immersion trips, and retreats.
In addition, we need folks to bring jambalaya! We are looking for 6-8 volunteers who can cook a batch for about 16 servings (regular or vegan/vegetarian are welcome). Please sign up here to bring jambalaya. Email emilyb@allsoulsparish.org if you want recipe ideas!
BEER GARDEN MEET UP - 2/26
Join us on the last Thursday of every month between 6-8 pm when All Soulsians meet up at a different beer garden to connect - for a drink, a bite, a chat, a game, etc. This is an all-ages, intergenerational event — we would love to see everyone there!
February location: Los Moles, 6120 Potrero Ave, El Cerrito
Serve With Us
Coffee hour isn’t just about coffee and cookies—it’s about community. After worship, we gather not only to enjoy a bite to eat but also to welcome newcomers, catch up with friends, and strengthen the bonds that make our parish family so special. To keep this ministry thriving, we invite everyone to take part, as they are able.
Each week, we ask a few parishioners to bring refreshments—homemade treats, fruit, or simple snacks—to share. Your contributions help make our hospitality warm and abundant. Please click the Coffee Hour Sign-Up link to support this ministry. We ask for someone to lend a hand (literally) as “host” in support of Scott, and folks to provide some treats (enough to feed 10-15).
Your help will make coffee hour a joyful expression of Christian community and welcome!
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, click here to e-mail Cathy G.
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, click here to email Sarah O.
Open Door Dinner (ODD) will make a warm jambalaya meal THIS SUNDAY for anyone who is hungry. If you are interested in joining the ODD team, click here to email Jennifer A.
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. They are especially seeking donations of the following items:
Bottled water, or water filtration devices
Clothing, particularly large shoes, socks, and jackets/sweaters
Hygiene supplies and toiletries, particularly wet wipes, toothbrushes, soap
Menstrual pads and diapers
Please bring these donations to the red bin in the Narthex. Click here to email Beth Christensen for donation and other direct volunteer opportunities with USMO.
