The Pathfinder: August 13th, 2026
Isaiah Project 2.0: You are Invited!
The Isaiah project is entering a new phase and all are welcome! The Isaiah Project evolved from the Living Waters capital campaign to improve accessibility, functionality, and beautification at All Souls. 10% of the funds raised for Living Waters were set aside as a tithe to support four nonprofit organizations in the community.
These established organizations are deeply dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of some of the most vulnerable among us. Their work is nothing short of transformational.
The four organizations were chosen by a dedicated team who researched extensively in the spirit of repairing the disparities caused by racial discrimination in the East Bay. That discrimination, often codified into redlining and other discriminatory laws and policies, has left a legacy of deep inequality. You can read more about the Isaiah Project and the history of racial discrimination on our website or click here.
Isaiah Project 2.0 invites us as a congregation to deepen our relationships with the four organizations we are supporting through acts of Christian service.
You may be wondering what this might look like!
It could look like tutoring kids at Elizabeth House or volunteering to help write grant proposals for the American Indian Child Resource Center. It could look like helping with garden support or preparing for a wellness clinic hosted by Youth Spirit Artworks (shifts available between 9/14 and 9/19) or sharing fundraising strategies for the capital campaign at the Center for ArtEsteem.
These are just some of many ways to provide meaningful support to our extended Isaiah project community. We would love to tell you more about it!
The best way to learn more is to look at the service board in the Narthex. There, you can sign up to attend the volunteer training on Tuesday, September 8, from 6-8 pm which takes place in the Common Room. This mandatory training, led by Rector Phil Brochard, Wendy Calimag, Jenny Kern, and Molly Nicol, will include dinner. The training is designed to invite us to reflect on what it means to serve in a Christian context. In addition, we will learn about how cultural humility can help us build bridges and help “repair the breach”.
Let’s join our clergy and fellow parishioners along with some Isaiah project guests to celebrate
the joy of meaningful collaboration through service.
Please RSVP for the Tuesday, September 8th training here (there is also a QR code on the bulletin board in the narthex).
-Jenny Kern, Chair of the Justice & Peace Ministry
Ministry Spotlight: Lenore and Dean Williamson
If you ask Lenore and her husband Dean about their nearly four decades at All Souls Episcopal Parish, they won’t start with the long list of committees they’ve chaired or the number of times they’ve served on the Vestry. Instead, they’ll tell you about the faces and folks they meet at the front door.
"Greeters are important," Dean says. "Someone’s presence being acknowledged is really important."
Their own story at All Souls began on a morning in May 1987, when Dean first walked into the chapel, sat down, and decided to make All Souls his spiritual home. Lenore joined him the following year, looking for a strong Sunday school community for their five-year-old daughter—a sense of refuge she remembered fondly from her own childhood in the Methodist tradition. At the time, the Sunday school was almost non-existent and in need of volunteers, while All Souls was navigating a challenging season of transition and declining attendance. But what held the couple fast wasn't the institution itself—it was the warmth of a few core parishioners who made a point to connect with them and include them.
"There were individuals in the community who really wanted us to stay," Lenore recalls, fondly remembering figures like Jan Lothrop and a few other parishioners who invited her into parish life. "It can be frightening, going into a room full of strangers."
That early experience of being welcomed shaped the next 38 years of their shared ministry.
Building Community, and Serving Where Needed
Over the years, the couple became foundational pillars across almost every facet of parish life:
Open Door Dinner: Together with a few other couples, they co-organized the parish's Open Door Dinner ministry, serving hot meals to local neighbors in need. Dean spent decades managing the kitchen, firing up the grill, and prepping meals, while Lenore coordinated volunteers and held space for guests.
Nurturing the Children: Lenore threw herself into religious education, serving as a Sunday school teacher, curriculum planner, and storyteller. She worked alongside Father Andrew during a pivotal era when children were brought front and center into the liturgy rather than kept "out of sight, out of mind” downstairs.
Connecting with the Broader Diocese: Together, they served as parish representatives to the Deanery for 30 years, traveling to neighboring churches to stay connected to the broader diocese. "It gave us a better picture," Dean notes. "You realize you're part of a wider group."
The Art of Unintrusive Hospitality
Today, among their various commitments—including small groups, pastoral care visits, and weekday services—greeting on Sunday mornings remains a cherished constant.
For them, greeting is a subtle art. It’s about offering a warm, genuine connection without putting newcomers on the spot.
"You've got to be careful not to be intrusive," Dean explains. "Some folks just want to come in, have a program, know the prayers, and be acknowledged in a respectful manner."
Lenore agrees, noting that stepping through church doors for the first time takes genuine courage. On a recent rainy Sunday, a couple seeking shelter from the weather hesitated at the entrance and asked if they could come inside out of the rain. "Well, of course!" Lenore replied. "We'd love to have you. Stay dry and get warm."
Whether it's offering a word of encouragement to a first-time visitor, helping a newcomer feel comfortable, or remembering a veteran parishioner's name, their goal is simple: to make sure everyone who steps inside knows they belong.
On Longevity and the Grace of Letting Go
When asked what has sustained them through nearly 40 years of continuous service, the couple offers a surprising piece of advice for fellow volunteers: don't let "ownership" get in the way of joy.
"The problem with ministry is ownership," Dean reflects. "Just the fact that I can do something doesn't mean I own it. You have to be careful not to exclude people."
Lenore also emphasizes the importance of knowing when to step back before burnout sets in. When managing Sunday school schedules became overwhelming, she stepped away from administration so she could focus strictly on what brought her deep spiritual fulfillment—telling Godly Play stories to children.
"Identify what brings you joy," Lenore shares. "It's a discernment process. When resentments start to grow, it’s simply time to step down so others can step in. I'm not leaving All Souls—I might just leave a particular group to keep connected to the source."
A Simple Invitation
For those considering getting involved in parish life, they point to greeting as the perfect place to start.
"Greeters have hardly any time commitment," Lenore says. "You show up a little early, stay a little after, and just welcome people. You don't have to know everything. If you don't know the answer to a question, you just say, 'Let's find someone who can help you.' It's a two-way street—you're welcoming others, but you're also gaining a deep sense of belonging."
If you are interested in joining a ministry team (Greeting, AV, Parish Life, Sunday School, Ushers, Sacristans, etc.), please contact Mother Rachel at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
Mother Rachel
Explore Life and Faith - Together
Being With is an open space for anyone curious about faith or wondering if Christianity has something meaningful to offer their life. In this 10-week small group (offered both online and in person), we seek out the sacred simply by paying attention to our lives—and to the lives of those around us.
Amid the isolation so common in a divided world, Being With helps us find meaning by building genuine relationships.
Whether you feel uncertain or curious, disconnected from or hurt by the church, or simply open to exploring something new, there is space for you—and your experience—here. Each session centers on questions that invite us to reflect on topics like meaning, suffering, and hope. There is no judgment, no wrong answer, and no prescribed path. The only expectation is to listen to others’ stories—and, if you feel comfortable, share your own.
[Click Here to Sign Up for a Fall Being With Group]
What Happens During a Session?
Each 90-minute session begins with an opening question—such as, "Where in your life do you find the most meaning?"—followed by a brief reflection and open group conversation. Participants are encouraged to listen with openness and care, discovering how our distinct stories connect.
To foster trust and meaningful conversation, cohorts are capped at 12 participants and led by trained All Souls clergy and community members.
Who Is This For?
This course is especially designed for you if:
You want deeper connection: You’re looking to meet new people and build relationships at All Souls.
You are exploring: You are new to Christianity, grew up in another faith tradition, or consider yourself "spiritual but not religious."
You are re-examining faith: You grew up in the church, have experienced doubt or hurt, and want a safe space to process your questions.
You have big questions: You’re wrestling with thoughts about God, Jesus, and what it means to practice faith in the modern world.
What Is the Commitment?
We ask participants to commit to attending all 10 sessions. Because we hold these conversations—and the personal stories shared within them—as sacred, building a safe and trusting environment requires everyone to show up consistently.
Schedule & Origins
When: Being With is offered twice a year (Fall and Spring) with afternoon and evening options available.
Origins: All Souls is deeply grateful to the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells and the Rev. Sally Hitchiner of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, who originally developed the Being With curriculum.
For questions or more information, please contact Mother Rachel at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
-Mother Rachel
Sing Your Way Home
If you were here last year on Homecoming Sunday, you may remember a highlight: a performance from our Children’s Choir! The kids will return again this year to sing the same song: “Comin’ Home” by Tom Hunter. We would love your help singing along!
The more musicians the merrier. It’s easy to learn and very catchy (in fact, you may never forget it!). We’ll perform it at the Offertory on Homecoming Sunday, August 23rd.
You can see the sheet music here, and listen to a Youtube recording here.
Parents/kids: We have two more rehearsals, this week and next week (August 16th and 23rd) during the 10:30 service.
Yours in song,
-Emily B+
Stream of Living Waters
Living water is flowing at All Souls. As you enter the church on Sunday morning, notice — our dry stream along Spruce Street is now “flowing”! At its source, the water looks as if it is freely and voluminously bubbling up from beneath the earth.
It flows along Spruce Street until it ends where the waters disappear again back into the earth.
Our stream has become a tangible representation of our Living Waters Campaign—a reminder of the time and talent, generosity and commitment of parishioners who contributed sacrificially to ensure that our community spaces remain accessible, flexible, sustainable and vital.
As we have mentioned previously, under the new EMBER fire regulations, not a single plant could be planted in our narrow strip of land along Spruce Street. This strict limitation provided an opportunity we never would have considered had we not been compelled to comply: an opportunity to create a symbol of Living Water.
May all who come to this place find the One who is the source, and who is himself, the Living Water that can truly slake our thirst.
-Kaki Logan
Announcements & Events
Thursday (TONIGHT)
5:30 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
Sunday
7 am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
8 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.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here. Children’s Choir Downstairs.
12 noon, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard.
5 pm, Being With group in the Common Room.
Wednesday
9 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
Gather With Us
JOIN US FOR HOMECOMING SUNDAY - August 23rd
In just a few short weeks—on Sunday, August 23—we will celebrate Homecoming Sunday with popcorn, treats, a bounce house, a backpack blessing, and delicious tacos! What exactly are we celebrating, you may ask?
How You Can Get Involved
Invite a Friend: Set an intention this month to reach out to a friend, neighbor, or colleague and invite them to join the celebrations on August 23rd (or any time that works for them).
Ministry Teams: If you lead or serve on a ministry team and would like a table in the courtyard to share your work and invite folks to serve, please contact me so I can reserve your space.
Homecoming Volunteers: We need several hands to make the day special! If you can help serve snow cones or popcorn, pour wine, set up tables, take photos, or clean up, please let me know at rachel@allsoulsparish.org
ALL SOULS PARISH RETREAT - September 18th–20th
It’s time for our annual Parish Retreat! Join us Friday, September 18th through Sunday, September 20th for a weekend getaway up at the beautiful Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg. This year’s theme is "Teach Us to Pray," featuring sessions led in part by members of our own community.
The Bishop’s Ranch offers something for everyone. You can join the traditional group bike ride, relax by the pool, hang out on the lawn, or get creative in the well-stocked art casita. Whatever your pace, you are sure to find renewal in this beautiful space.
On Saturday, we’ll gather for an intergenerational session on prayer practices before breaking into focused workshops, with special programming tailored just for children and youth. Beyond our program, the weekend includes plenty of free time for reflection, rest, adventuring, and play.
It’s always a sweet time of connection and spiritual growth in a lovely setting, and we’d love for you to join us! Reach out to a fellow All Soulsian, make plans to room together, and reserve your spot:
Registration is officially open! 👉 Click Here to Register
Registration & Pricing Notes:
Costs are listed per person. Please select whichever occupancy type suits each family member best, and we’ll work out the remaining details!
Financial Support: We want everyone to be able to attend. If cost is prohibitive for you or your family, please let us know or indicate it on the registration form—scholarship and sliding-scale options are readily available, and we are more than happy to help.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to me directly at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
BEING WITH GROUPS
Being With is for anyone who’s curious about faith or wondering if Christianity has something meaningful to offer them. In this 10-week small group, we seek out the sacred simply by paying attention to our lives — and the lives of those around us.
What happens during Being With?
Every 90-minute group, we listen to a brief teaching and move on to a group conversation. Participants are encouraged to listen to and openly receive what each person shares. Together, we’ll come to see how our stories are interconnected.
Our pilot Being With group began on May 17th, 2026. Groups are kept to 12 people. The class meets at 5 pm in the Common Room. Questions? Click here to email Mother Rachel.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION: Sunday, August 16th at 9:15 am in the Common Room
Borders and Belonging: The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times by Glenn Jordan and Pádraig Ó Tuama
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers will lead the final discussion of this book by a poet and theologian as they “reflect on the Old Testament story of Ruth, a tale that resonates deeply in today's world with its themes of migration, the stranger, mixed cultures and religions, law and leadership, women in public life, kindness, generosity and fear.” Join us on August 16th in the Common Room. We will cover chapters 5-8 and the afterword.
Any questions, please contact Anne Yardley at ayardley@drew.edu.
WEEKLY 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!
Worship With Us
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
Looking Ahead at the Program Year
The start of the All Souls program year is coming soon! In the next few weeks, you’ll hear much more from Emily B+ about our Sunday School and Youth program offerings.
For now, we want to share a few key dates.
Children’s Choir: Kids of all ages are invited to join us as we sing “We’re Coming Home!” on August 23rd during the 10:30 service. Rehearsals are during the service on all of the Sundays in August. Even if you can’t make all of them, please jump in anyway!
August 23rd - Homecoming Sunday! Bring your backpacks to church and join us for an outdoor festival, featuring tacos, snow cones, a bouncy castle, and more. Invite a friend to church!
August 30th - Sunday School begins and is offered weekly during the 10:30 service. Kids start in the nave with their parents, then process downstairs (following the wooden cross) shortly into the service.
September 13th - First Youth Group of the year! All grades (middle and high school) are invited to join us in the courtyard for a kick-off event, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Sept. 18th-20th - Parish Retreat at The Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg. This is a great family-friendly event. Youth are also welcome to attend on their own (there are special youth cabins and programming). Read more and register here.
If you want to join the Children and Family or Youth mailing lists, please email Emily B+ (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
TAIZE TUESDAYS
These services will be on hiatus during the summer months. Check back in the Fall for information on a potential new series of services.
WEDNESDAY MORNING EUCHARIST
Join us every Wednesday at 9 am in the Chapel for a small, discussion-based service. All are welcome!
Serve With Us
There are lots of ways to share your talents and time! Check out the bulletin board in the Narthex to sign up for one of All Souls’ many ministries.
Vigil at the Concord Immigration Court on the 4th Thursday of every month. Most of our vigil is spent singing and holding signs expressing welcome and solidarity for those who are coming for an appointment at the court. We take time each month to pray, remembering immigrants in detention centers and those who have died in detention. Join us at 1855 Gateway Blvd., Concord, on the 4th Thursday of every month, 7:15-9:30 am. For more information, contact Kaki L. or Ruth M.
Open Door Dinner makes a warm jambalaya meal on the second Sunday of every month for anyone who is hungry. Teams of All Soulsians and friends take turns cooking and delivering. Email Jennifer A. (akiyama.jennifer@gmail.com) if you’d like to help!
Food Bank collection is active for the Good Shepherd Food Pantry. 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.
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:
Waterproof tarps
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.
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!
Last but not least
Genesis is an interfaith social justice coalition working to build the Beloved Community in the East Bay. Many of you have met Mary Lim (Executive Director of Genesis), who is the partner of Matt Wolka (she does other stuff too!). The Genesis "Be the Change" Breakfast Fundraiser at First Unitarian Church of Oakland will feature The Rev. Ethan Lowery as keynote speaker.
As you may remember, All Souls was the sending parish of Ethan. Ethan was also the seminarian assigned to Genesis during his time at CDSP. Ethan, who has created an amazing youth-centered ministry in Fredericksburg, Virginia, would be very jazzed to see All Souls-ians in the crowd!
Come find out what social justice work Genesis is doing and how you can support on September 26th at 8:30 am-10:30 am. Register at the QR Code on the graphic OR you can email gamaliel.genesisca@gmail.com
