What is Christian Community?
In this place and this time, walking through the doors of any church on a Sunday morning is a daring and courageous act. Welcome to All Souls Parish. Whether you slip into the back row during the procession or you sit in the front pew, we welcome you. At All Souls Parish, we seek to learn love of neighbor, and we seek to learn to love ourselves.
In Genesis, God creates humanity to address a holy loneliness and to counter that loneliness with relationship. On this earthly plane, we too, made in God's image, need relationship and a feeling of community.
Community is a safe place where we can share our lives, the high points and the low. The newly born child and the medical diagnosis. We share food. We seek out new faces and learn new names. We come together regularly to spend time with one another. We learn together. All of this sharing can change the very definition of Self—away from an individual Self toward a Self in community. Each different in dress, voice, posture, height—yet one. This is Transformation.
Lex orandi, lex credendi, ' As we pray, so shall we believe.' Prayer is the seed of Transformation. Sunday after Sunday, we pray for someone to return to health, to find a job, to find somewhere to live. We pray for people we know and for those we have never met. We pray for persons we love and for persons whom we may find difficult to love. We practice our godly image when we pray. Then we go out into the world with a new shine on our faces.
Forgiveness is the key to Community. We stumble over someone's feelings, or they stumble over ours. We want to be chosen for a special task, but someone else is chosen. We want someone to be our friend, but nothing ever takes hold. We find our footing and start to feel at home. We change, we grow, we fall down, we get up. We learn to forgive ourselves all the self-criticism that society encourages. Forgiving others follows naturally.
Community is sitting in the pew, watching as people go to the altar rail for communion. No one face stands out. We notice instead that our community is growing. We notice the different sizes, shapes, and ages that walk down the center aisle. Although a priest offers you bread and a lay person offers you wine, we all share Eucharist with each other.
Belief is important but is not an exact science. Belief can be ecstatic. It can also be mundane. Belief on Easter morning is different from belief on an ordinary Sunday. You can bring every bad hair day to belief. You can also wear a bridal gown. Belief welcomes both.
Community is giving more than you thought possible to something that comes with no guarantee, no return policy. Giving is prayer without words.
Before any stone was laid, any hymn was sung or Gospel written, those who called themselves Christians lived in community. They needed each other in countless ways—to live out the parables of Jesus, to mourn his death, and to discover the Holy Spirit through all of this. Again, welcome to All Souls Parish. We are very glad you are here. We hope you will stay with us in Christian Community.
-An All Soulsian
Solidarity Bridge
Greetings All Soulsians! I write to you from the country of Bolivia where I am currently at work with Solidarity Bridge. I am a parishioner who, along with my wife Sarah, has been part of All Souls for 2 years. We have been deeply enriched by participating in the liturgy, hospitality, and community life of this vibrant parish.
Phil+ has asked me to introduce myself and let you know about an invitation I have made to the parish to enter into an ecumenical mission partnership. Before I describe the partnership opportunity, let me tell you about myself.
I was born in the country of Bolivia and came to the US with my parents as a two-month-old baby in August of 1946. My father came to the US to be educated as a petroleum engineer at Penn State University. I have a PhD in Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union, mainly connected with the Jesuit School of Theology. My work trajectory has included founding a successful business, being a seminary professor, and founding programs and centers primarily dedicated to ministry leadership. The ecumenical partnership I am proposing for All Souls Parish will be embedded in the mission organizations I founded that work in Bolivia and Paraguay.
These mission organizations have two main goals: the first is to provide access to complex and minimally invasive surgeries for those with lesser means, and the second is to develop the surgical capacities of the medical communities in the two countries in which we work.
The particular project All Souls Parish might partner in is the Children’s General Surgery Program. Bolivia and Paraguay are the poorest countries in South America and, as you may well imagine, the surgical needs are enormous. For example, when I began this work 27 years ago, we found that neurosurgery in Bolivia was being done with Black and Decker Drills! Thank God that things are much better now, thanks to our work and that of many others, yet making modern surgery accessible to all continues to be a great and urgent need.
I will be presenting more about the Children’s General Surgery Program on Sunday, November 15th, after the 10:30 am service downstairs in the Common Room. I hope to see you there and answer your questions. If you want to dive in and get to know the organizations with which you would be partnering, you can go to solidaritybridge.org and sla-als.org and, if you know Spanish, the website of our organization in Bolivia is puentedesolidaridad.org.
Peace,
- Juan Hinojosa
Godly Play Training Workshop
If you enjoyed learning about Ignatian Imaginative Prayer with Annie Hayes at the recent retreat, you may be interested in an upcoming educational opportunity. I was led through this centering prayer experience last week and was struck by how similar it is to our Godly Play curriculum.
Like Ignatian prayer, Godly Play is designed to allow our youngest parishioners to experience Christ through hands-on Bible stories led by a guide, in this case, our Sunday School teachers. Each week, the children learn stories from the Bible with a storyteller recounting everything from Old Testament stories to parables to the words of Jesus. The children use their imaginations and, with props such as wooden figures and the dessert box (a portable sandbox), are encouraged to listen and wonder about these great mysteries.
The training is sponsored by the Children and Family Committee on Saturday, 11/7, from 9 am-12:30 pm, led by Jill Gidlund, a gifted trainer with the Godly Play Foundation. This will be a chance to experience a Godly Play story firsthand, hear a presentation about children’s spirituality, and enjoy some treats and fellowship! Anyone is welcome, whether you’re a parent, potentially interested in joining as a teacher, or just interested in the topic. Please feel free to contact committee members Kim Wong, Molly Nicol, or Jeannie Koops if you would like to sign up or learn more.
-The Children and Family Committee
Gathering In
As we wrap up Discernment Week, all the pieces of our Annual Operating Campaign are falling into place! We hope this period of quiet reflection has helped you discern how your personal hopes for All Souls weave into our collective call.
By participating in the funding of All Souls, we live out our purpose together—to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly on the earth, and proclaim the Good News to all.
Pledge packets have been mailed and emailed. Mail delivery seems to be working well so far, but if you haven’t received your pledge packet yet, don't worry! Please email giving@allsoulsparish.org, and we will send one to you right away.
Morning Services & Ingathering Sermon
This Sunday, October 25th, as Discernment Week draws to a close, our Senior Warden, John Gearen, will deliver the Ingathering Sermon at both morning services. Afterward—drawing on your reflection on the pledge materials, John’s message, and your hopes for All Souls in the coming year—we will offer our pledges together.
In-Person Pledging: Pledge cards will be available at both Sunday services.
Online Pledging: The online pledge form will open via Realm on Sunday.
Ingathering Dinner & Potluck: Sunday Evening, October 25
In the evening, we will gather again at the church for the (possibly world-renowned!) Ingathering Dinner.
Hosted Tables: Everyone who registered on Realm has been assigned to a hosted table, and hosts are reaching out to their guests to coordinate the meal. If you haven’t heard from your host by Thursday (tonight) at 7 pm, please email giving@allsoulsparish.org, and we’ll get you connected.
Still Want to Join? There is always room at the table! If you’d like to join the celebration but haven’t registered yet, please [sign up online here], and we’ll follow up with your details right away.
A Special Note: Everyone is warmly welcome at the dinner—whether or not you make a pledge! There is always room at our communal table. If you’re on the fence about coming, jump on in—we’d be delighted to set a place for you.
Evening Schedule
5:30 pm – Check-in near the playground gate
5:40 pm – Blessing & Dinner begins promptly
6:50 pm – Entertainment program begins in the Nave
7:30 pm – Evening wraps up
Last year’s program was a smashing success—you won’t want to miss this year’s edition!
-Richard Lynch on behalf of the Annual Operating Campaign team
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 and Property Team meeting in the Fidelis Room.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here and Sunday School in the Godly Play room downstairs.
12 noon, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard and Gardener’s of All Souls Kickoff Orientation & Lunch in the Common Room.
5:30 pm, Ingathering Dinner in the Parish Hall.
Monday
6 pm, Spaghetti Again Men’s Dinner in the Parish Hall.
Tuesday
7 am, Vigil at the Immigration Court in Concord.
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.
Gather With Us
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. Our pledge campaign, Setting Our Path, leads us together — and it leads us to the table.
Join us for an all-parish potluck on Sunday, October 25th, starting at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall and Courtyard. Children and youth will have their own tables and are encouraged to join the festivities. Sign up using this link: Ingathering Dinner registration. Let’s celebrate the community we are!
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.
October location: Headlands
Note: This will be the last meet-up of 2026. More gatherings will take place in the new year. Stay tuned!
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.
During the 8 am and 10:30 am services, we will read all the names of people who have passed away in the past year. If you would like the name of a loved one added to the list, please add their name here or click here to email Diana, our Parish Administrator, no later than Wednesday, October 28th at noon.
Lastly, we invite everyone to participate in decorating the beautiful ofrenda, built by Humberto Carillo, by bringing a photograph of a deceased loved one to place on this altar. Along with pictures and illustrations, we welcome other traditional offerings such as marigolds, papel picados, favorite foods or drinks of the deceased, calaveras (sugar skulls), and even a small bowl of salt (to purify the souls on their journey home). Bring your items on Nov. 1st. Questions? See Diane Haavik.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION
Join us this Sunday for the final class in the series Icons at All Souls with the Rev. Dr. Paul Fromberg. This class discussion will be Easter and the Anastasis: How Do We Picture Resurrection?
This has been 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.
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 October 25th. Questions? Email Anne Yardley (ayardley@drew.edu) or Vicki Dempsey (viv@writingedge.com).
COMING UP
Disability, Theology, and Social Justice: Conversations at the Crossroads of Theory and Lived Experience with Erin Horne, Jenny Kern, Sarita Cannon, and the Rev. Emily Boring.
In this three-week class, we will explore some of the questions that shape both theoretical writings in the field of Disability Theology and the lived experiences of people with disabilities at All Souls. How might spiritual practices and discourses inadvertently marginalize those living with disabilities? How might we rectify the harm caused by that marginalization and uplift voices that are often silenced, misrepresented, or spoken for? Radical empathy will guide our work together. Classes meet at 9:15 in the Parish Hall on the following Sundays in November: 11/8, 11/15, 11/22
NEWCOMER CLASSES
Looking for ways to learn more about All Souls and connect with community? The newcomers' class is an excellent opportunity for those new to All Souls to become acquainted with the life of the parish and the many ministries that take place here. This class serves as a space for introductions, orientation, and fellowship. We will cover topics such as our mission and values, baptism and confirmation, membership, liturgy and prayer, and how to find your place and get involved. We will also provide a tour of the church and answer any questions you may have. Join us to connect with other members and to learn more about what All Souls has to offer. The classes will be held in the Common Room at 9:15 AM on the following Sundays in November: 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, and 11/29.
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
All Souls hosts two weekly Bible Study Classes each week. The Sunday morning group meets from 7-8 am and the Thursday evening group meets from 5-6:30 pm. Both 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.
COURTHOUSE VIGIL NEXT TUESDAY - OCTOBER 27th
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.
Feeding Our Neighbors - Let’s do our part to make sure that all of our neighbors have access to nutritious food. Please bring non-perishable food on Sundays and use the baskets in the Narthex. Food will be delivered to Pan Del Cielo, the pantry at the Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd in West Berkeley.
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 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!
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.
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!
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. (See the article above for an upcoming training opportunity). Shortly after the service starts, we go downstairs together, following the cross, and return at “The Peace”.
Youth Group - Grades 6-12
Note: There will be no Youth Group this coming Sunday. Instead, all youth are invited to join us at our Ingathering Dinner.
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: Next Sunday, All Saints Sunday (November 1), Youth Group will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, from 7-8:30 pm.
On 11/1, our neighboring Berkeley parish, St. Mark’s Church, will be hosting Youth Group - all grades are welcome! St. Mark’s Priest-in-Charge, Rev. Canon Dr. Lizette Larson-Miller, will help lead the session with Tim Hausler and Daniel Lee (Caleb’s dad) on the theme of Remembrance. A light dinner and snacks will be served (please inform us of any dietary needs).
Enter through the Ellsworth Street entrance, up the stairs by the ‘The Episcopal Church welcomes you’ sign. Youth Group will meet on the Patio and in Lions Hall at the top of the stairs. Please contact Dan if you need an accessible entrance.
Contact: Dan (510) 289-1852 or dan.lee@berkeley.edu
Everything Else…
Assistive Listening System Now Available
For those of us who want the audio at the 10:30 am Sunday service to be a bit louder or clearer, our long-awaited assistive listening system may help. The system is now installed, working, and available for use. Most users will check out a small wireless receiver and compact headphones in the narthex, then adjust the volume to their liking. That’s it. After the service, they will return the system. The receiver is smaller than a deck of cards; about the size of a thick artisanal chocolate bar. In testing, the headphones worked both for people without hearing aids and for those with hearing aids. Inquire in the narthex near the Cedar-side door. We hope to have a QR code to let Auracast hearing aids connect to the signal. Ushers and AV team members will get you set up! Questions? See Charlie Myers or Jim Feeley.
