From the Rector

A Time for Conversation

At a recent Wednesday 9am Eucharist we heard from the book of Ecclesiastes, about how there is a season for just about everything under heaven––being born, dying, killing, healing, weeping, laughing, seeking, losing. And part of our conversation centered on whether the author of this text meant for this to be descriptive or prescriptive. As in, was the author observing that there is, “a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace,” or telling us that there should be a time for all of these things? As we talked about the effects of all of these times of life, I began to understand this as a meditation of the reality and the transitory nature of life––that no matter what happens, things change. And we need to be able to recognize that and adjust.

I’ve been thinking about this as it feels like we are coming to the end of a season––that of the emergency of pandemic. Partly I’ve been thinking of this as local and federal officials remove the temporary rulings around RV encampments and immigration guidelines. But I’ve also been considering this because of the increased pace and intensity of our common life at All Souls Parish. Simply put, there is a lot going on at All Souls. In the midst of all of this activity, I’ve been approached to consider a couple of exciting potential projects for All Souls, one around congregational development, and another to be an incubator for a liturgical experiment. And though each of these possibilities were really interesting and exciting, we’ve said no to both as it feels that we collectively have more than enough to occupy our attention at present.

Some of these things have been years in the making (like a new website), others have had decades of anticipation (like our capital projects). Some of the changes have come about because of the wide-ranging effects of Covid (like the Sunday morning schedule changes), and others because of a shift in vocation (like the search for a new Associate Rector). All of them, though, have taken significant amounts of time, prayer, attention, discernment, and action. The Vestry adopted no fewer than five goals this year in response to the changes that we are facing, creating two tasks forces that augmented the ministry teams already hard at work in several areas of our parish life. Fruit is already being born from these efforts.

Given the scale and potential of these changes it seems beneficial to have a parish-wide update, so I will be facilitating a congregational conversation on Pentecost, Sunday, May 28th at 9:15am in the Parish Hall, which will be streamed on Zoom. That’s the first Sunday of our new Sunday morning schedule (8am Eucharist in the Chapel, 9:15am Teaching Hour, 10:30am Eucharist in the Nave) and we will have leaders from all of these initiatives together to answer questions that you might have about the new website, the Sunday morning schedule, the Living Waters capital projects, the Associate Rector search, and more.

For clarity, flow of conversation, and to make sure that all areas that we are collectively working on are addressed, I will be asking the questions of the panel from queries sent in prior to the meeting or written down and collected that morning. If you have a question about these or other parts of life at All Souls, send me an email or write the question down on the 28th. (cards and pens will be provided) We will do our best to address each question, but will also be mindful of time as we do this.

If this proves to be helpful we will continue the practice at a regular cadence, or at least until there’s a time or season for something else. I look forward to seeing many of you there and then.

Peace,

Phil+

From the Justice & Peace Ministry

Earth Day Beach Cleanup

On Saturday, April 22, twelve All Soulsians gathered at Shorebird Park on the Berkeley shoreline for a beach cleanup in honor of the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day.  The original Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, marked the birth of the modern environmental movement.  In the 1960’s air and water pollution had become widespread problems throughout the country – the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland actually caught fire, smog was pervasive in Los Angeles and other major cities, and a massive oil spill occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara, with devastating effects on bird and marine life.  In response to these events, more than 20 million Americans gathered in cities, towns and rural communities throughout the country on the original Earth Day to learn about the problems posed by pollution and to begin to take action to care for our natural world.

Save the Dates

• May 21, Youth Pilgrimage and Global Anglican Communion Conversation

• May 28, Pentecost! Ministry Fair, Potluck, and change in worship schedule

• July 14-16, All-parish Big Sur camping trip

Weekly Worship

Join us for worship this week:

• 9am, in-person, indoors 
• 11:15am, in-person, indoors. (click here to access the live stream)
• 5p, the Sunday Night Service, in-person, indoors, in the Chapel.

You can access the live stream through our website or by tuning into our All Souls Episcopal Parish Youtube page. Click here to watch on Sunday morning. 

If you miss a Sunday, you can always catch the sermon on our homepage or as a podcast, anywhere you listen to podcasts! 

Wednesday 9am Service

Join the Zoom call here, or join us in person in the Nave at 9a. Password: 520218.

Formation

Adult Formation Classes

• Reading Between the Lines Bible Study @ 7:30a. Click here to join by Zoom, or join them in-person in the Common Room.
• Reading Between the Lines Bible Study @ 10:15a. Click here to join by Zoom, or join them in-person in Phil’s old office, (now called the Shadrach Room).
• The Desert Ammas and Abbas taught byThe Rev. Dr. Daniel Prechtel. May 7 and 14 in the Parish Hall and on Zoom (click here to enter call). A profound movement beginning around the 3rd century gave birth to what we now know as monasticism and had a deep impact on the Christian faith. In this course we will explore what forces influenced those hermits and ascetics that came to be known as the “desert fathers and mothers” to form a variety of communities in the wilderness regions in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. We will get impressions of what life was like and what prayer practices evolved. We will sample some of the “sayings” of the desert elders that have endured over the centuries and the fascinating people behind those sayings. And we will learn about the sophisticated spiritual psychology and anthropology of highly educated monastics, Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian.
• Newcomer Class: April 30, May 7, May 14, and May 21 in the Common Room (downstairs), taught by the Rev. Phil Brochard and Emily Hansen Curran. This class is welcome to anyone who is new or wondering about learning more about All Souls. You’ll get a chance to share some of your stories and we’ll share some stories of All Souls. If you are looking to become a member at All Souls, this is the class for you!

Children, Youth, and Family News

Nursery The downstairs nursery is open and available to you for your use whenever you’re at All Souls. This is not a staffed nursery, so an adult must be there with your child, but if you need a quiet place to take a time out, change a diaper, let your child play or take a rest, the nursery is open for you to do all of those things. If there is a service going on that’s being livestreamed, you will be able to watch the livestream on the computer in the nursery as well.

Sunday School This week, join us for Children’s Chapel during the 9:00am service. Children are invited to follow the Children’s Chapel leaders down the center aisle after the gospel reading, and rejoin their families before communion!

Faithful Families the next Faithful Families will be Thursday, May 25th from 5:30-7:15pm! Join us for dinner, intergenerational formation, and a short evening prayer service. Click Here to RSVP!

Confirm Not Conform continues this Sunday at 10:10

Youth Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to meet in the “Fiery Furnace” downstairs in the undercroft for a check-in on Sunday mornings. No Youth Group 5/14 or 5/21. Our last Youth Group Meeting of the year will be Sunday, 5/28 at 7:00pm.

Youth Walking Pilgrimage to Grace Cathedral: May 21st after the 9am service for grades 6-12!

You may recall that last year, Phil led a group of young people on a walking pilgrimage from All Souls, that left after the 9:00am service, to Grace Cathedral, mostly walking, and taking the ferry. Last year, this was something that we did, just as our youth group, because we had been talking a lot about pilgrimage, and thought it would be a fun way to experience a taste of what a pilgrimage is like. WELL, lots of people got excited about our idea and this year, it has turned into a much bigger event with churches from around the diocese planning to participate and meet up at various points along the way to Grace Cathedral for dinner and an evening service, that youth will have a chance to participate in. We will be participating in collaboration with other churches in the Alameda Deanery, meeting up at St. Augustine’s on our way to Jack London square. Like last year, we will leave at the end of the 9:00am service and begin walking, and the day will end around 7:00pm at Grace Cathedral. Click here to sign up!

High School Immersion Trip This year’s High School immersion trip will be to Mexico City, led by Toni Martinez-Borgfeldt, seminarian Michael Drell, Maggie Foote, and parishioner Teresa Muñoz. Eight youth are signed up to go, and are looking forward to a meaningful immersion experience widening their perspective on the Episcopal Church by connecting with youth from Anglican churches in Mexico, experiencing a day of pilgrimage, eating lots of good food and immersing ourselves in the culture. Keep an eye out for updates on our fundraising efforts in the weeks to come, and in the mean time, if you would like to financially support the youth attending this trip, you can send a check to All Souls with High School Immersion Trip in the memo line. Thank you!

Email Maggie for more information about Children, Youth and Family Ministries at All Souls.

Episcopal Summer Camp Registrations are Now Open!

Episcopal Camps across the country are starting to open for registration, including the Diocese of California’s not one, but TWO summer camps: St. Dorothy’s Rest, and The Bishop’s Ranch. You can find more information about the dates, age ranges, and cost for each camp at the links below:

St. Dorothy’s Rest

The Bishop’s Ranch

Other News & Notes

New Worship Schedule

Starting on Pentecost, May 28th, we’re moving our Sunday worship schedule to a said/contemplative Eucharist service at 8p in the Chapel downstairs, followed by our Adult Formation teaching hour from 9:15-10:15, followed by our principle/choral Eucharist at 10:30a in the Nave. We’ll continue with our 5p service downstairs in the Chapel. The 10:30a service will be the only live streamed service for the day. 

Global Anglican Perspectives: A Conversation with Kenyan theologian Dr. Esther Mombo and Maori theologian Dr. Jenny Te Paa Daniel 

On Sunday, May 21, All Souls will welcome two distinguished theologians from other churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Dr. Esther Mombo is an associate professor in the theology department at St. Paul’s University, Limuru Kenya. A member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, she teaches church history and theologies from women’s perspectives, and writes on women’s issues, evangelism, HIV/AIDS, Christian-Muslim relations, and poverty in Africa. She has served on the Inter-Anglican Doctrinal and Theological Commission. Dr. Jenny Te Paa Daniel taught for 5 years and was then appointed Ahorangi or Dean of Te Rau Kahikatea at St John’s Theological College in Auckland for 18 years from 1995 until 2013. She has written and researched extensively on gender and social justice, indigenous rights, theological education, and race politics. She was Convenor of the global Anglican Peace and Justice Network from 1995 until 2012. During the formation hour on May 21, All Soulsian Dr. Ruth Meyers will facilitate a conversation with Dr. Mombo and Dr. Te Paa Daniel. Join us to learn more about the Anglican Communion and the work that these amazing theologians are doing. This class will be taught in the Parish Hall and on Zoom (click here). 

Pentecost Ministry Fair & Potluck

Hang around after the service on Sunday, May 28th, for a church potluck and ministry/connection fair in the courtyard. Bring some food to share and come see all the varied ministries of All Souls in one place! 

Summer Book Groups!

The Adult Formation Committee is pleased to announce the summer book groups for the summer. All book groups will meet at 9:15am prior to the 10:30am service.  

• June 4, 11, 18, 25 Thomas Merton Seven Story Mountain. Led by Jack Shoemaker 
• July 9, 16, 23 The Meal That Reconnects: Eucharistic Eating and the Global Food Crisis by Mary E. McGann. Led by Ruth Meyers
• July 30, August 6, 13 The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. Led by Emily McDonald

Summer Book Group #1 – The Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton 

Led by Jack Shoemaker. Starts June 4th.

Thomas Merton was perhaps the most original and influential Christian writer of the last century. From his desk at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, Merton’s Trappist vocation and cloistered refuge provided him with the space and time to write more than fifty books. This year we will begin at the beginning, reading together his first book, his spiritual autobiography, The Seven Story Mountain. Published in 1948, it became a national bestseller and is thought by many to be among the finest nonfiction books published in the 20 th century. Merton anticipates the broad curiosity of contemporary Christians and prepares himself for a life of devotion. His work raises questions many of us have had and many of us have struggled to answer. Please join us as we explore our own spiritual autobiographies alongside this wonderful book. This book richly repays rereading, so even if you’ve read it years ago, refresh yourself and join our group.  (I am warned that the audio version of this book is significantly abridged.)

June 4 th – Part I: Chapters 1, 2, and 3

June 11 th – Part I: Chapter 4 and Part II: Chapters 1 and 2

June 18 th – Part III: Chapters 1, 2 and 3

June 25 th : Part III: Chapter 4 and “Meditatio Pauperis in Solitudine”

Need a parking spot?

We’ve got a parking lot under the Jordan Court apartment building that is available to anyone with challenges with mobility or anyone who regularly drives someone with challenges with mobility. If that is you, and you would like access to the parking garage on Sundays or other times when you are at the church, please reach out to Annie Rovzar, annie@allsoulsparish.org.

“Sacred Earth: Growing Beloved Community” 

This month, on May 18 Thursday at 7p, the Sacred Earth podcast series continues with Dr Cynthia Moe Lobeda. Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda has lectured or consulted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and many parts of North America in theology; ethics; and matters of climate justice and climate racism, moral agency, globalization, economic justice, public church, eco-feminist theology, and faith-based resistance to systemic oppression. A renowned global scholar, she is Professor of Theological and Social Ethics, holds a joint appointment at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Church

Divinity School of the Pacific. She founded the Center for Climate Justice and Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary to empower leaders in cultivating moral, spiritual, and practical power for the work of climate justice in communities of faith and in collaboration with others. She is one of 3 North Americans appointed to a global team to advise the World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation on their work toward a more equitable international financial and economic architecture. Moe-Lobeda’s ethical approach weds Earth ethics to liberation theologies including eco-feminist theology. 

Register at www.faithinformed.org 

Healing Prayer Ministry

Do you often sit in church with something weighing on your heart? Especially during Eucharist? All are invited to the back of the church to receive healing prayer on Sundays. This is a beautiful way to know that the prayers on your heart are also being held by another person at All Souls. There’s also anointing oil available to be a comfort to you as you leave this place and head out into your life. Or perhaps you are interested in being a healing minister and offering these prayers for others in our midst? If so, we would love to have your gifts in this ministry. Please text or call Erin Horne at 206-850-8886. It is a remarkable experience to walk with another in this way.