The Pathfinder: October 8th, 2026
The Homestretch
We are pleased to share that construction of the organ restoration and expansion project is nearly complete! After months of careful work and craftsmanship, the instrument is fully assembled and we have entered the final stage of the project: testing, final adjustments, and tonal finishing.
With all of the major components now in place, we are working through the instrument system-by-system, stop-by-stop, making the many small adjustments necessary to bring everything together musically. Each part is being carefully evaluated and adjusted so that the organ speaks clearly and maintains the balance and character intended for the completed instrument.
This final stage may not be as visible as the construction itself, but it is an essential part of the process. For a substantial part of modern history, the organ was the most complex machine in existence. While contemporary technology has now surpassed it in complexity, it still has thousands of parts, hundreds of which move, and all of which require calibration to achieve perfect function. The newly constructed console and expanded enclosed division are now fully integrated into the instrument, and we are excited to hear the final result.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this project and, especially, to the parish community for your patience and encouragement throughout the process. We know that a project of this size has required much patience and flexibility, and we truly appreciate it.
-Daniel Gonzalez - Gonzalez, Dillon, Affolter, and Kastner, Organbuilders
September Vestry Reflection
September’s vestry meeting opened with Lia Dier sharing The Cross by John Donne, in which the poet pushed back against the Puritans’ rejection of the cross as an object of idolatry by describing the many ways in which the human form and the natural world embody The Cross. “Who can deny me power, and liberty / To stretch mine arms, and mine own Cross to be?“
Caring for our Core
Vestry continues the process of interviewing staff on how to balance workloads with expectations and how to develop resources according to need and opportunity. The vestry wardens have completed informative interviews with Matt, Diana, Emily B+, Phil+, and Mother Rachel. Wardens will interview lay leaders and ministry leads next, with the understanding that lay leaders complete an enormous share of parish workload without salaries. Recent completion of our Capital Campaign shows incredible evidence of the power of lay leadership and volunteers.
Preschool Lease
Richard Lynch shared the draft-final preschool lease under review with the future potential tenant. Vestry discussed some of the key terms, including expectations for preschool signage and how the preschool play area space shall be defined. As tenancy approaches, we will work with parishioners and the preschool tenant to define and map building entry and exit points and how our campus areas will be used according to an established calendar and daily schedule.
Vestry voted unanimously to approve the lease as written, giving the wardens authority to sign and to approve minor last-minute edits (with continued legal guidance from Richard Lynch and Bob Cross). The proposed agreement will be presented to Berkeley Covenant Church (current leaseholder of our preschool partner) on October 4.
Annual Operating Campaign
Richard Lynch reviewed plans for this year’s Annual Operating Campaign to begin September 27. This year’s campaign has more moving parts than past years as we plan for new income from the preschool space and anticipate new and changing expenses. Our current draft planning budget may shift due to staffing decisions, COLA, and changes the vestry hopes to make given ‘caring for our core’ staff evaluations. Our financial predictions show us at a $75K deficit. Current levels of services aren't being met by current contributions. We will allocate as well as we can. To contemplate how we’ll meet these needs, the Annual Operating Campaign will ask All Soulsians to consider tithing as a way to connect personal responsibility to community needs. We are invited to examine tithing as giving a ten percent share of our yearly resources towards God’s Causes, in whatever way we might define it for our individual households. Richard is planning a discernment week with a direct mailing which will help us connect with our personal giving goals. Vestry members asked Richard to remember to consider how the gifts of time and effort are not accounted for in this financial concept of tithing.
Anticipating Staff Health Benefit Changes
Phil+ outlined the changes in health care benefit plans for 2027 that must be reviewed and approved by the diocese in the coming weeks. Keeping benefits at current levels will result in a 12-16% cost increase. The Diocese will offer a new lower tier of coverage as an option. The current option that All Souls provides is continuing to be offered in 2027, but the Diocese warns that it may go away in 2028.
Vestry unanimously approved the following motions:
All Souls will pay the full premium for employees who elect the Kaiser High plan
All Souls will pay additional premium costs for overage children
All Souls will pay 50% of the health care premium for part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week
All Souls will not offer a benefits waiver allowance
Rector's report
Phil+ reported on completion of the final stages of the Living Waters capital campaign. All painting will be completed before October 4. Extensive repairs and improvements were recently completed by the painting contractor. Landscaping is complete. We will celebrate the completion of the Living Waters renewal project at the 10:30 service on October 4th.
The 2026 Parish Retreat approaches. This year’s theme is “Teach us to Pray”. A number of parish members will lead workshops on many forms of prayer connecting us to God. The weekend will include intergenerational conversation, artwork, music, and playtime. As best we can, we will provide a price break on attendance for those in need.
-Deirdre Nurre
Ingathering Dinner: Register Now!
Our pledge campaign, Setting Our Path, leads us together — and it leads us to the table. Join us on Sunday, October 25th, starting at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall and Courtyard. The morning will be for pledging; the evening will be for celebrating the community we are.
Children and youth will have their own tables and are encouraged to join the festivities. Sign up using this link: Ingathering Dinner registration.
Soon after October 20th, you'll be assigned your tablemates and a host. Maybe your host comes with a theme, maybe they don't — but in the days before the dinner, your table will sort out together who's bringing what. Think of it as the community-building starting before you even arrive. Plan on spending real time expanding your social circle and enjoying the company of some new-to-you All Soulsians.
At 7 pm we'll move to the Nave for our entertainment. You may never look at sermons quite the same way again. We expect to wrap up between 7:30 and 7:45.
Please note any dietary requirements you have when you register, and we will do our best to honor them. All are cordially encouraged to join the celebration.
-– Richard Lynch
New to All Souls Parish?
"Welcome One Another, as Christ Has Welcomed You". Join us for lunch this Sunday after the 10:30 service in the Common Room - all are welcome! At All Souls Parish, true hospitality means opening our doors and our hearts to everyone who steps through them.
Whether you have recently joined our community, are exploring the Christian faith, or are simply looking for a spiritual community, we invite you to our Newcomer Welcome Lunch. The luncheon will be a wonderful opportunity to meet the clergy team and get your questions answered.
We welcome everyone alike—this is an intergenerational gathering. Please bring your kids, as children are a blessing to our parish family!
Event Details:
📅 Date & Time: Sunday, 10/11 at 12:30 PM
📍 Location: All Souls Parish, Common Room (downstairs)
🍽️ On the Menu: Sandwiches and salad
Please allow us the joy of serving you!
[Click Here to Reserve Your Seat] so that we can plan food accordingly, but it’s also completely okay to join without an RSVP!
Questions? Contact Mother Rachel at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
-Mother Rachel
Invitation to Baptism: Feast of All Saints & All Souls
The Book of Common Prayer suggests particular days throughout the year when baptism is especially fitting: the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints' Day (or the Sunday after), and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. One of those occasions is coming up soon.
We will celebrate our church’s title feast, the Feast of All Saints/ All Souls, on Sunday, November 1st. In our liturgy, we’ll commemorate the souls who have departed before us, and we’ll also celebrate new life through the waters of baptism.
If you would like to explore the option of baptism, we would be honored to walk that journey with you. Please reach out to Emily B+ or to Phil+. Folks of all ages are invited. We’re happy to meet with you or your children to explore the concept of baptism and answer any questions.
Thanks,
-Emily+
Announcements & Events
Thursday (TONIGHT)
5 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 Parish Hall.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here.
12 noon, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard.
12:30 pm, Newcomer Welcome Lunch in the Common Room.
5:30 pm, Being With group in the Common Room.
Tuesday
6 pm, Being With 20/30’s Group.
8 pm, Taize in the Chapel.
Wednesday
9 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
7 pm, Choir Rehearsal in the Nave.
Worship With Us
WEDNESDAY MORNING EUCHARIST
Join us every Wednesday at 9 am in the Chapel for a small, discussion-based service. All are welcome!
TAIZE TUESDAYS
Join us on Tuesdays at 8 pm as we gather in the Chapel for a community-led contemplative Taizé service that weaves singing chants, reading poetry and prayers, and sitting in silence. All are welcome.
We're looking for people to help lead chants, select and read readings, or keep time and guide the flow. No musical experience needed—just a willingness to hold space. Email Ryan (rypotpie@gmail.com) or Kris (kris.starr@gmail.com) if you are interested.
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
Sunday School - Grades Pre-K - 5th
We meet during the 10:30 am service. We follow the Godly Play curriculum, an approach to spiritual formation that features storytelling, hands-on learning, and wondering. Shortly after the service starts, we go downstairs together, following the cross, and return at “The Peace”.
Note: There is no Sunday School this week, Oct. 11th, due to the long weekend. Children are encouraged to use the soft spaces at the back and side of the nave. We will return on the 18th.
Youth Group - Grades 6-12
We meet on Sunday evenings in the Youth Room from 7-8:30 pm for games, art, reflection, and prayer. We alternate between a High School Small Group and a Middle School Small Group with occasional larger group events. Click here to see the Fall Calendar.
Note: The Youth will be helping with Open Door Dinner this Sunday so there will not be a meeting on Sunday evening.
If you want to join the Children and Family or Youth mailing lists, please email Emily B+ (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
Gather With Us
NEWCOMER WELCOME LUNCH - October 11th
Whether you have recently joined our community, are exploring the Christian faith, or are simply looking for a spiritual community, we invite you to our Newcomer Welcome Lunch this coming Sunday after the 10:30 service in the Common Room. See the article above for more details.
LECTOR AND INTERCESSOR WORKSHOP - October 17th
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a Lector or Intercessor? Join us for a workshop on Saturday, October 17th from 10 am - 12 noon in the Common Room. Email Mother Rachel (rachel@allsoulsparish.org) with any questions.
INGATHERING SUNDAY - October 25th
Come with your pledge cards to the 8 am and 10:30 am services, and we will celebrate that evening with an all-parish potluck at 5:30 pm. See the artcile above for the specifics.
SPAGHETTI AGAIN POTLUCK - October 26th
Join the men of All Souls on the last Monday of every month at 6 pm for an evening of food and fellowship. This group typically gathers in the Parish Hall for a potluck dinner but occasionally meets at a local restaurant.
BEER GARDEN MEET-UP AT HEADLANDS IN BERKELEY- October 29th
One Thursday a month, from 6-8 pm, All Soulsians meet up at a different beer garden to connect - for a drink, a bite, a chat, a game, etc. Beer gardens are ideal because they have plenty of family-friendly, outdoor space and are casual enough that anyone can drop by for a spell as they are able. This is an all-ages, intergenerational event—we would love to see everyone there! Invite a friend.
ALL SOULS/ALL SAINTS DAY - November 1st
Join us as we celebrate our Feast of Title! Just after the 10:30 am service, in the Parish Hall, we’ll gather for a potluck meal together. Please bring a dish that reminds you of someone you have loved but no longer see. Feel free to include a story about the dish, the recipe, and/or a fond memory of the person. We hope to celebrate the saints and souls of All Souls Parish together.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION
Icons at All Souls with the Rev. Dr. Paul Fromberg. This four-part series on iconology explores how icons communicate theology, spirituality, and prayer through image. Together, we will explore the history, symbolism, and visual language of icons while spending time with four contemporary icons created for All Souls. E
Each session will focus on a different icon, offering an opportunity to reflect on how sacred images can invite us into deeper contemplation of God, the saints, and our own spiritual lives. They are as follows:
Week 1: The Good Shepherd: What Is an Icon, and What Does an Icon Do?
Week 2: The Crucifixion: How Does an Icon Proclaim the Gospel?
Week 3: Mary and the Tree of Life: How Does an Icon Say Something New?
Week 4: Easter and the Anastasis: How Do We Picture Resurrection?
The Rev. Dr. Paul Fromberg is the recently retired rector of St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco. For more than 25 years, he has practiced the ancient art of iconography following the technique of 14th-century iconographers. He believes that one part of his work is sharing the joy of icons with everyone. Join us in the Parish Hall at 9:15 am on the following Sundays: October 4, 11, 18, 25. Questions? Email Anne Yardley (ayardley@drew.edu) or Vicki Dempsey (viv@writingedge.com).Classes meet at 9:15 am in the Parish Hall on the following Sundays Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25. See the article above for full details.
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 5-6:30 pm. Both groups meet in our Common Room and use the Reading Between the Lines curriculum. Join us! Drop-ins are always welcome, too!
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.
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.
Open Door Dinner will make a warm jambalaya meal this coming Sunday (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!
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.
COURTHOUSE VIGIL
Most of our vigil is spent singing and holding signs expressing welcome and solidarity for those who are coming for an immigration 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 Tuesday of every month, 7:15-9:30 am. For more information, contact Kaki L. or Ruth M.
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
Good Shepherd’s 4th Annual Used Book Sale - Oct. 10th
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Berkeley will hold it’s 4th Annual Used Book Sale on Saturday, October 10th from 9 am– 4 pm. All proceeds go to the church and our outreach program, Pan del Cielo. Click here to see the flyer. Join us for books, bakes, and brats!
