From the Stewardship Committee
In-Gathering Sunday
This coming Sunday, October 25th, not only will mark the first in-person worship service at All Souls since March, but also will be our Ingathering Sunday, the day we will fill out our 2021 pledges together. Please mark your calendars and come say hello in the All Souls courtyard between 1 and 3 PM.
You may be asking how we are going to fill out our pledge cards together in a mostly virtual setting. Good question! We will be mailing pledge cards to the congregation this week, and there will be several ways to record your pledge:
- Those attending the 9:00 in-person service can fill out their pledge card during the service in the courtyard and place it on the altar during the service.
- Whether you are attending the 9:00 in-person service or the 11:15 virtual service, everyone is invited to stop by the church courtyard between 1:00 and 3:00 on Sunday afternoon where a small celebration will greet you! You can drop off your pledge card, say hello to Phil and Maggie, pick up some cookies and special brand-new All Souls swag, and see the progress on Jordan Court construction. Please wear your mask and be ready for socially-distant socializing! If you prefer to stay in your car, simply pull up to the curb on Cedar or Spruce, roll down your window, and a volunteer will take your pledge card and hand you a goodie bag with the aforementioned treats.
- Those that cannot make it to All Souls on the 25th are invited to respond either by using the online form on the church website or by mailing your pledge card back to the church
Regardless of which method you choose to respond, your pledge amount will only be known to clergy and to the giving secretary. It is important that we respond together this Sunday to show our unity as one body in order to serve the needs of today and stay prepared for a full return.
Giving updates will be available weekly in the Pathfinder during the campaign.
From the Wardens
I’ve been thinking a lot these past few weeks about the idea of the Big Book and the Little Book, and how that idea which we can trace to St. Augustine bears some meaning on the world in which we find ourselves. In simplest terms, the Big Book is creation, God’s creation, and the Little Book is the Bible. Because both books are of, and come from, God, they must resonate together, complement each other, harmonize. In cases of perceived conflict, we are to look deeper––listen more closely for the harmony.
As I began musing about the Big and Little Books, smoke from the newest Napa fires was besmirching the sky to the northwest, out the window I look when I am at my desk writing each morning. The moon the nights before had been orange-ish red, the color of the sky much of the day not so many weeks ago. Over these past weeks, our Vestry has met twice, our Parish House has been razed, and many of us have retreated at Bishop’s Ranch either in person or virtually. A new level of concern had descended on so many of us, or perhaps simply been unearthed, and hopefully for each of us, has at least begun to be lifted.
My book club met recently via Zoom. The parents and teachers were uniformly exhausted. So much is being asked of parents and teachers.
Just when we have a modicum of routine, perhaps a bit of peace, something harder seems to be thrown our way. Or thrown at us, it can feel, too often feels, thrown at each of us.
An ongoing survey of tens of thousands US adults conducted in conjunction with the Census shows that about one third of us now show symptoms of anxiety or depression associated with diagnoses of major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
It’s the nature of depression that we emotionally react as if things are always going to be the way they are right now. The emotional blueprint of depression is that things will remain the same. That emotional blueprint, while understandable, is not true. It is, in fact, virtually always false. Things, people, groups, situations all changed, and generally, although not always, they get better. They may not end up the way we want them to be, but they do not stay the same.
It’s when things seem dreadful – when I am full of dread – I remind myself that things do get better. The sky here has become blue again. We are moving towards some kind of fundamental shift. The two Books do harmonize. We will see each other in person again. We will soon worship in person again. We will sing together again. And in the meantime, we are here, close to God, available to each other, for each other, friends.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Garrett
Senior Warden
From Adult Formation
In three of the canonical accounts of Jesus’ life, at the time of his execution, a moment stands out. As Jesus is made to carry the instrument of his death to the Place of the Skull, a passer-by is pulled out of the crowd and compelled to carry the cross for him. Simon of Cyrene carries the bar of wood for a stretch of time, spelling Jesus. This moment was important enough that those who told the story of that day remembered it and found out who that person was. Entering into the suffering of the Christ, and bearing some of his burden was profound for both Simon––it seems to have had an effect on him––and the people around him. In that moment we have received a witness of what it is like to enter into suffering with another.
In response to the reckoning around race that is taking place in this country, two All Soulsians, Wendy Calimag and the Rev. Phil Brochard, will be teaching a class exploring racial allyship for three Sundays in November: the 8th, 15th, and 22nd. Using personal narrative, individual reflection, scripture, and discussion we will explore what it means to suffer with each other, what the Cross might mean at a time like this, and how we might be able to live together as Christians as we pursue racial justice, healing, and reconciliation.
The class is open for one and all at All Souls and intended to be complementary with the Sacred Ground curriculum. It will begin at 10:10a the 8th, 15th, and 22nd and will be conducted on zoom, with the link to be found on the All Souls website.
All Saints Day – November 1, 2020
All Saints Day, November 1, 2020 will be celebrated in two ways this year. There will be a digital slideshow at the end of the Livestream after the 11:15 service to celebrate all those who love but see no longer. If you would like to participate in this, please send a digital photo to Maggie (maggie@allsoulsparish.org) with the name and years of life of the person in the photo by Friday, October 30. There will also be a public altar set up outside of the church that will be open to others in the community as well. More information on that is coming soon.
Announcements
Regathering this Sunday!
It’s happening. We are gathering in person starting this Sunday for the 9am service. You can read more about what you’ll need to know in order to sign-up (and of course, the link to sign-up) on our Regathering page here!
Sunday Livestreaming News
The livestream of Sunday services can be accessed through our website or by tuning into our All Souls Episcopal Parish Facebook page. Click here to watch on Sunday morning.
Adult Formation Class this Sunday
We have one class offering this Sunday:
- Reading Between the Lines Bible Study. Contact Daniel Prechtel, dprechtel1@gmail.com, to join that Zoom call at 10:10 am!
Missed the previous week’s class?? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be recording all of the Adult Formation offerings and loading them to the Adult Formation page of our website. Click here to get there and access the class recordings.
Children & Family News
We will start back up in person on the 25th of October: new time, new place. Children and their families can meet in the courtyard at 10:10am on the 25th and the following Sundays for our new in-person Children’s Formation hour. Please be prepared to stay with your children and to keep your children in their own family pod, and also, to be wearing masks. Read the Family Bulletin or see Maggie Foote (maggie@allsoulsparish.org) for more information.
If you are looking for some current information regarding Children’s Chapel or the upcoming Kids Book Club – check out the new additions to the All Souls website, which has been updated to include some new information and resources (including the links for all the storybook videos) for families.
All Souls After Hours
This week is our Stewardship In-Gathering Sunday! After the 11:15 live streamed service we’ll have an In-Gathering Party in the courtyard. You can either drop off your pledge card via drive-by or park and come on in the courtyard to drop off your pledge and to see other All Soulsians. You can find more information here.
Stephen Ministry: We’re here for you!
2020 has been a challenging year, right?! Most of us have been struggling and overwhelmed. You are not alone. Stephen Ministers understand and are available to listen, support and pray for you. We can offer you a confidential caring relationship or an occasional phone call to help you through these ever-changing times. Contact Maggie Foote at (513) 309-1079 or Madeline Feeley at (510) 495-4512 so we can be there for you.
Thursday Compline via Zoom
Here is the link for the Thursday night BCP Compline, which starts at 8:30 PDT:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78630294068?pwd=cmdoenJYRWUwR2J6QkhxSHNsakt0UT09
Meeting ID: 786 3029 4068
Passcode: Compline
Soulcast
Check out Season 2, Episode 7 of the Soulcast!
Ongoing Canned Food Drive
The ASP Food Drive continues to pick up and deliver food for the Berkeley Food Pantry on a weekly basis. Food contributors and drivers participate every other week. Please email Cathy: ogoshca@yahoo.com for more information.
Wednesday 9:00am Service
Join the Zoom call here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86087951049?pwd=THNxbjlqMm5zdjc5RGNLWkFrZk16QT09
Meeting ID: 860 8795 1049 Password: 520218
Meal Train
If you are able to help provide some meals for parishioners in need, please contact Cathy Goshorn to help out! We are in great need at this time to help care for each other – please consider helping other All Soulsians in need by providing meals or gift cards for meals. You can reach Cathy at ogoshca@yahoo.com.
Tiny Home Project
Hi there! We are Youth Spirit Artworks, a local nonprofit based in South Berkeley that offers homeless and low-income youth job training and empowerment programs through art. We are currently in the process of building the first Tiny House Village for homeless youth in the U.S.! Right now, we are in the final stretch of getting the Village finished – but, we need your help to get there! We have volunteer builds happening every Saturday at our Village site at 633 Hegenberger Road in Oakland. Builds start at 9:30 am and end at 4:00 pm. We ask that volunteers come wearing masks and ready to socially distance – there’s lots of space at the site! Builds can involve a variety of projects for those with and without construction experience, including building yurt floors, erecting yurts, painting planters and fence planks, completing Tiny House construction (ie., caulking, trimming, etc.), cleaning the site, and so forth.
The Ordination for Laura Eberly
This Saturday, October 24th at 2:30pm our own Laura Eberly will be ordained a Deacon. If you’d like to live stream, you can participate in the ordination from home at the appointed time (bulletin, singing and all!) here: www.saintmarks.org/livestream.
Spaghetti Again
This Monday evening at 6p, October 26th, join the men of Spaghetti Again for a zoom dinner and discussion. See Bob Cross (rrc2406@gmail.com) for the link to that call.