From the Associate Rector

Prayer Partners

“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.” – C.S. Lewis

Prayer is essential to the life of any Christian community. Corporate prayer, like what we do together on Sunday mornings, smaller group intercessory prayer, like the Healing Prayers we do during communion, and individual prayer are all expressions of our desire to connect with God. When things are being stirred up in our spirit, or troubling our hearts, our tradition teaches us that offering those things to God in prayer is healing, and life-giving. Like C.S. Lewis says, it’s not about changing God, it’s about how prayer changes us.

I believe this is true on an individual level, but also on a corporate and relational level as well. In fact, the transformational power of prayer on a corporate level is practically the thesis of the Anglican tradition. You may have heard the Latin phrase lex orandi, lex credendi before, which literally translates to “the law of what is prayed is the law of what is believed,” with its common shorthand counterpart, “praying shapes believing.” The idea is that we are united in our common prayer, and that when we pray the same prayers together over time, as a community, we will be united and grow in our love of and faith in God.

What we don’t talk about a lot in the Episcopal Church, at least in my experience, is the power of prayer to create relational transformation. When we pray with and for each other, our interpersonal relationships can be deepened, the feeling of being known and loved in community can be heightened, and in turn, our sense of belonging to God and to one another grows. You may have experienced this if you’ve ever offered a thanksgiving, and then been prayed over in front of the gathered congregation or if you’ve ever received healing prayers during communion. If you’ve been a part of Stephen Ministry, and you have shared prayers with your Stephen Minister or your care receiver, you may have experienced the way in which relationships that involve prayer sometimes have a different tone than other friendships. If you’ve ever asked a friend to pray for you, and they’ve agreed you may have experienced this as well, even if it didn’t happen right in that moment.

At All Souls, we have a ministry (that I’ve recently come to understand many people are not aware of) called Prayer Partners. The Prayer Partners are a group of people who take on the responsibility of receiving prayer requests from other members of the congregation and incorporate those into their own individual prayer practice. For example, if one suffered an injury and wanted to ask for prayers of healing, they could send a prayer request to me, and (with their permission) I would pass that information along to the prayer partners, who would include prayers for that person in their own personal prayers. These prayer requests are not anonymous, unless requested, but they are kept in confidence and not shared beyond the group of Prayer Partners. As the Prayer Partners hold the needs of the congregation in their hearts, the whole community is strengthened by the prayers that they offer.

The transformational power of prayer works in ways that we don’t always understand, but we can see the evidence of it when we feel held by the community in our hard times, lifted up by the community in times when we feel low, and when our joy is amplified in times of celebration. 

I invite you to consider sharing your own joys and struggles with the Prayer Partners, and allow them to share in carrying your burdens. (You can do this by emailing Phil or me with prayer requests.) And if you’re discerning a call to join in this ministry and offer prayers for members of this community, please let me know so we can explore that together.

In peace, and prayer,

Maggie+

From Youth Ministries

High School Immersion Trip: Mexico City

As we approach summer, 8 youth from our parish are preparing to take their trip to Mexico City. This trip will be in the third week of June. 

In our first meeting, the youth, and also parents of the youth who are going on this trip were asked to recall their most prominent memories from their previous trips. Stories such as venturing around Greece and finding ways to communicate with a language barrier to being stuck in a country as a world famous twentieth century coup is happening, helped to create a reflecting space for us to enter into as we prepare to create new memories on this trip. Many of the youth have gone on trips featuring language barriers and experienced great adversity. This collective sharing has allowed for individual experiences of the teens and parents to come together as a collective pool of knowledge to make thoughtful decisions for this trip.

One way that the youth group has been able to contribute to the funding of their trip is by participating in one of the many work fundraisers to help clean and organize spaces around All Souls. This task has gotten the youth excited about being involved in every part of the planning process, as they can see directly how their physical labor directly affects the end goal. Participating in this work is one of the many ways the youth group is continuing to establish bonds within the community and within itself. Hours of hard work are forming closer friendships among the teens than what had been established before. Donations towards this trip would be greatly appreciated.

Along with the information I’ve presented, I’ve been asked to speak about why I’m excited to go on this trip. This involves a bit of storytelling. For a long time, I had no passion to learn Spanish. As 7th grade rolled around, we were asked to pick a language we’d like to learn for the upcoming year, and make a foreseeable commitment to that language for at least 2 years (a high school graduation requirement). I choose French. In part because I was interested in the language due to one of my best friend’s being a native speaker, but also in part because I knew I had absolutely no interest in doing Spanish. As a native Californian, I had had a lot of exposure to Spanish throughout my childhood. Therefore, the language wasn’t new to me. In other words, it had no thrill, or excitement associated with learning it. But as I started taking my first year of French, I hit a point where I realized “wow, this is really hard!”. In a moment of self-realization that I needed to do something to help myself learn French; I started learning Spanish. From that point on, French had become a lot easier. Phrases like Etre Raison (to be right in French) are a lot easier to remember if you know the Spanish version (razon) rather than trying to memorize a word from scratch. My love for Spanish grew as I learned more of it, I started listening to Spanish music every day. Soon, I was enveloped into a little bubble of language learning. My Spotify wrapped only featured Spanish artists. I would spend hours singing along to songs. My schedule consisted of one hour of French in school, then 30 minutes of Spanish late at night, huddled In my bedroom, under a cozy blanket. As the years have gone on, I’ve really grown to appreciate the beauty of the Spanish language. This whole paragraph has been a very long winded way of saying one of the main excitements I look forward to on this trip will be experiencing an immersive Spanish experience. 

-Bianca Witcraft

If you would like to financially support the 8 youth who will be attending the immersion trip to Mexico this summer, please send checks to All Souls with “High School Immersion Trip” in the memo line. As a way of saying thank you for your donations, the youth will spend three work days at the church helping to de-clutter and organize various spaces around the church as we prepare for the upcoming construction, as well as do some landscape maintenance. We look forward to sharing our experiences with you upon our return, and thank you in advance for your generous donations! -Maggie+

Ale Souls Pentecost Brew

As many of you know, one of our membership expectations is that we “eat” together. As all of you know, eating together was one of the biggest losses of the last few years in Covid. In fact, the last beer that was brewed by Ale Souls was in Lent of 2020 and it was never actually consumed together––it was like a rapture scene, just left.

But, this Pentecost, coming to a church potluck near you, Ale Souls has returned! Our own head brewer Mal Mead has brewed up for us a Whitsun Ale. Why a Whitsun Ale? Because it is the official beer of Pentecost! What?! Yes. The 50th day of Easter is celebrated as Pentecost in which we typically wear the color red, but because of the white that baptismal candidates would wear on this day, it is also referred to as Whitsunday. Pentecost is also known as the birthday of the Church, and so in the medieval tradition, this day was celebrated as a birthday party––complete with celebratory beer. 

This tradition of the Whitsun ale at church shifted, however, starting with the Reformation, so that as the Roman Catholic priest Gregory Elder reflects, “in these more sober and righteous times, Christian congregations tend to use Pentecost as a day to reflect on God’s compassion and message for all the nations, and not as an excuse for a grand party. Imagine that.” But in class All Souls style, it seems fitting that we perhaps do both. 

So, come out on Pentecost, after the 10:30a service, in the courtyard where there will be a ministry fair, a church potluck, and the 2023 “Spirit Falls” Whitsun Ale, complete with a label made by our own Ale Souls member, Kieran King.

If you are interested in joining the Ale Souls group, reach out to me, Emily, emily@allsoulsparish.org. 

New Worship Schedule!

Starting on Pentecost, May 28th, we’re moving our Sunday worship schedule to a said/contemplative Eucharist service at 8am 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.

In the meantime, for THIS week, join us for worship at:

  • 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.

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

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).
  • 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). 
  • 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!

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 5/21. 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.