The Pathfinder: August 14th, 2025
All Are Welcome: Homecoming 2025!
Outside our Cedar Street doors, there’s a sign that says, “All are welcome; visitors expected.” I’ve always loved that sentiment and the spirit of radical welcome it conveys.
Later this month, we have a chance to renew that sense of welcome– for long-time parishioners, for those who are first exploring All Souls, and for everyone in between.
On Sunday, August 24th, we will celebrate our third annual Homecoming festival! Homecoming is an occasion to re-gather, reconnect, and celebrate the transition into a new year of learning, serving, and worshipping together.
The festivities begin during our 10:30 service. Our children have been busy learning a song about Homecoming, and they’re excited to perform it at the Offertory. It’s also the first day of Sunday School; kids (and parents, if you want) will be invited to head downstairs at the start of the service to learn about Godly Play.
After church, we invite everyone to join us in the courtyard for a beloved tradition: the Blessing of the Backpacks. If you are starting on a new path––a new year in school, a new job or some other new beginning––bring a backpack or some other symbol of your undertaking and receive a prayer.
After that, it’s time for fun! We’ll have a bouncy castle, popcorn, sno-cone stations and a taco truck. (The taco truck offers standard taco truck fare and accepts credit cards and Applepay. If you would like assistance with the cost of your food, All Souls can help).
There will also be opportunities to learn more about what’s happening at church and how you might feel called to get involved. We’ll have a “ministry fair”: tables set up around the courtyard with representatives from our various teams and groups: Children and Family, Youth Lay Eucharistic Visitors, Ale Souls, and more! You’ll have a chance to ask questions, join mailing lists, or sign up to take part.
Homecoming is especially meaningful to me (Emily B) because two years ago, it was my first Sunday at All Souls. I remember being blown away by the energy, warmth, joy, and dedication of this community. It is a great way to invite other people to glimpse All Souls. Consider inviting a neighbor, friend, classmate, or anyone who is curious about what we do here at church. (A bouncy castle is worth a thousand evangelism words…).
Finally, we are seeking volunteers to help set up, clean up, and serve at the event. Please contact Mother Rachel (rachel@allsoulsparish.org) if you can help out.
Hope to see you there!
Peace,
– Rev. Emily Boring, Associate Rector
Woodwind Takeover
All Souls has a rich history of member-driven music groups - the Angel Band (currently led by Nat Lewis) is the most notable example, but we have also had a Gospel choir and, at times, a children’s choir led by parishioners. Just getting started is a new Taize group on Tuesday nights!
This coming Sunday - we will have…. The Woodwind Takeover!
Without Wednesday night choir rehearsals this summer, the choir members had a bit more space in the schedule for alternative musical endeavors. The woodwinds activated! The clarinet, flute, and oboe players in the choir recruited a bass clarinetist from the congregation, and Justin, our trumpeter, has agreed to play French horn (or at least the French horn part). No one has particular experience with organizing a woodwind quintet, so our rag-tag team is piecing this together for the first time, conquering typical challenges as transposition, strengthening the chops, and finding misplaced reeds after an instrument tune-up at the shop. Less typical challenges we face are chapped lips after a mountain vacation, jet-lag after an east coast trip, and squeezing in rehearsal during the busy back-to-school season.
This Sunday’s woodwind music will also be a chance for the congregation to hear a wider variety of musical sounds, previewing the expansion of the organ sounds. Soft reeds like the Oboe and Clarinet and Bass Clarinet make for lovely solo melodies. The roundness of the French Horn can provide a melodic line, or fill in harmonies.
We hope Sunday’s distinct musical tone will help you explore new spiritual spaces. We also hope this new sound reminds you that the music program is not only choir. If you have musical talents you would like to share with the church, please let Matt know so he can have a roster of musicians should other endeavors emerge.
Next weekend: Bagpipe Takeover!
– Sarah Anne Reynolds
Taize Tuesdays
We're excited to announce the start of a community-led Taize service on Tuesday nights this fall from 8-8:30 pm in the Chapel, beginning on Tuesday, August 26.
Taize services include periods of silent meditation interspersed with short, meaningful chants from the Taize community based in Taize, France. Taize music emphasizes simple phrases, usually lines from Psalms or other pieces of Scripture, repeated or sung in canon.
All Souls Parish has offered a Taize service during Advent for many years. Every year when the series ends, we find ourselves wishing it could continue throughout the year. We are drawn to the quiet, meditative format of the service that allows us to listen to the Spirit and calm ourselves so we can be more present and attentive to those around us.
This pilot community-led Taize series will run through Tuesday November 18th, after which it is anticipated that the regular, staff-led Advent Taize series will begin. Following that, we'll re-group with staff to determine the plan for Taize in the new year. The community-led fall series will consist of silent meditation, a reading, and a small set of chants, in contrast to the typical Advent Taize program which includes a wider variety of chants, readings, and stories.
We will be looking for support with leading chants on some Tuesdays. Please email Ryan (rypotpie@gmail.com) if you're interested in helping occasionally with that role. We intend for these services to be simple, short, and rejuvenating and we hope you will join us!
– Ryan Greene-Roesel, Molly Christiansen, and Kris Starr-Witort
All Souls Parish Retreat 2025: Registration is Open!
This year, the theme for the retreat is Action and Contemplation: How our spiritual life informs how we show up in the world and confront injustice, division, and issues of othering.
All Souls Parish Annual Retreat, 2025
Friday, September 12, 5 p.m. to Sunday, September 14th, 1:30 p.m.
The Bishop's Ranch, 5297 Westside Road, Healdsburg
REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 7th
Alongside our experiences of food, fellowship, and play, we take intentional time together on Saturday morning and split into parallel programs-- kids, youth, and adults-- for a time of learning and spiritual reflection. This year, our theme is Action and Contemplation: how our spiritual life can inform how we show up in the world and confront injustice, division, and issues of othering. We'll focus primarily on texts and practices of Christian mystics, historical and present, whose faith lives offered radical alternatives to existing power structures. Together, we'll explore: What practices, individual and collective, nourish and sustain us in turbulent times? How can we balance inner practice and outward action? Our time will include a mixture of teaching, small-group discussions, storytelling, and prayer. We hope that you will join us!
Pricing Options: (Financial assistance is available)
Double Room (2 people) - $320
Dorm Occupancy (5-8 people) - $253
Standard Family Occupancy (3-5 people) - $264
Youth (6-12th Grade) - $176
Children (Pre-K to 5th Grade) - $102
Campsite or RV (Adult or Youth) - $176
Camping Child $66
Saturday Day Trip (Adult/Youth) - $82
Saturday Day Trip Child - $33
Questions regarding the retreat, or if you are interested in volunteering at the retreat? Contact Mother Rachel, rachel@allsousparish.org
Thank you,
– Mother Rachel
Roof shingles act as the primary weather-resistant barrier for a building. They protect the roof deck and the interior of the building from rain, snow, wind, and sun damage.
Did you notice? The church is getting a new roof! The interior was well protected from debris during the roof removal and will be back in worship mode by Sunday. The removal of four layers of shingles and then the installation of a single layer of quality shingle will keep us dry for many years. This is the first step in our seismic overhaul.
Other projects are being accomplished as well around the church. The sacristy is getting a fresh coat of paint, the organ continues to be worked on (see last week’s Pathfinder), and there are new windows in the kitchen. Busy times. We try to plan work so the nave and courtyard are available on the weekend. We do ask that you and your children are aware of obstacles and don’t touch anything that is not yours. Thanks.
As spaces become available for use, please remember that work and organization are still in progress! If you have questions, comments or concerns about what you see, please contact Ann Myers @ annclairemyers@gmail.com for clarification.
Thanks,
– Ann Myers
Announcements & Events
Happening This Week
SUNDAY
7 AM, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, either in person in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
8 AM, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please access the Chapel through the copper doors on Cedar St.
9:15 AM, Summer Book Group Discussion in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
10:30 AM, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here. Coffee hour after the service.
12 Noon, Realm Help in the Common Room.
MONDAY
7:00 PM, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, either in person in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
WEDNESDAY
9:00 AM, Eucharist in the Chapel
Learn with Us
ADULT FORMATION
Summer Reading Group THIS SUNDAY
Patrick Bringley's All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me. Please join Jane Vandenburgh and the Rev. Mark Richardson to discuss this gorgeously written memoir of the ten years the author spent as a museum guard at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each week, we will read and discuss the following chapters:
Week 1 - August 3rd: Chapters 1-5
Week 2 - August 10th: Chapters 6-9
Week 3 - August 17th: Chapters 10-13
To view the art that is referenced in the book, please click on this link patrickbringley.com/art. Once you are there, click on the name of the work to see the photograph of it.
This group will meet in the Common Room at 9:15 am or click here to join by Zoom on the following Sundays in August: 3rd, 10th, 17th.
Coming Up August 31st!
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers and Christopher Hayes: To Have and to Hold: Christian Understandings of Marriage
Although marriages are celebrated in the church, marriage is not a uniquely Christian practice, and unlike other Christian rites, in the United States, marriage also involves the state. In this course, we’ll explore the meaning and significance of marriage, especially in the Episcopal Church. Week one will focus on marriage in scripture, and week two will consider teaching and practices in the Episcopal Church today. In the final week, Diocesan Chancellor Christopher Hayes will join us for a discussion of the involvement of the state and legal foundations for marriage. Class meets in the Parish Hall on the following Sundays: August 31, Sept. 7, Sept. 21
Kaki Logan: “Immigration with Dignity” - An Episcopal Resolution
Join us for this two-week series intended to increase awareness of the realities facing immigrants today. The first session offers an overview of the Episcopal conference “Leaving Home, Migration Through the Eyes of Children” and introduces the Welcoming Quilt Project. The second session gives the upshot of the Episcopal Pilgrimage to 5 detention centers in New Mexico and Texas in early June. Both sessions will offer ideas about why immigration has increased and changed in recent years, and suggest how we might support immigrants in this present and rapidly changing environment. Class meets at 9:15 am in the Common Room on the following Sundays: August 31, September 7.
Gather with Us
Berkeley Pride - August 16th
This coming Saturday, August 16th, All Souls will take part in Berkeley Pride 2025: an event celebrating queer joy and community. The event is on the corner of Oxford and Addison streets. Please contact Kelsey Byers (ktbyers@gmail.com) with any questions.
Homecoming Sunday - August 24th
You are invited to Homecoming! Whether you’ve been coming for a while and are returning from summer, or you’ve been away for a very long time and hoping to reconnect, or if it’s your first time: welcome home. Come celebrate the start of the new year with us. This fun event is also open to all our neighbors. The activities will take place from 12 noon-2 pm in the Courtyard.
Kids of All Ages - Sing With Us! On Homecoming Sunday, we will perform a song together! Join us for rehearsals during the 10:30 service in August. Kids of all ages and abilities are welcome. Start in the nave at the beginning of the service; a teacher will lead you out when it’s time to rehearse.
All Parish Retreat - September 12-14th
All are welcome to join us for our annual all-parish retreat up in Healdsburg at The Bishop’s Ranch. The theme this year is Action and Contemplation. We will have age-specific programming on Saturday afternoon and spend the rest of our time up at the Ranch having fun and relaxing by the pool or in Adirondack chairs on the lawn. It is a beautiful intergenerational weekend set in a spectacular setting. To register, see article above with all the details.
Pray with Us
Stephen Ministers are standing by!
With the addition of three new Stephen Ministers to our team there are plenty of compassionate skilled people available to support you in a time of need. Stephen Ministers are trained lay persons who walk with you in a confidential one to one relationship to provide a listening ear, supportive dialogue, and prayer for all times of difficulty, stress, transition, loss and uncertainty. If you are interested in meeting with a Stephen Minister please click here to email the Rev. Emily or click here to email coordinator Marilyn Flood.
Worship with Us
WEDNESDAY EUCHARIST
The 9am Eucharist will be in the Chapel of the Nativity for the months of July and August. Come join us for a reflection on the Saint of the day and sustenance for the rest of the week.
CHILDREN & FAMILY
Sunday School Starting August 24th!
Join us for the first day of our new teaching year on August 24th during the 10:30 service. We’ll have an open house to meet teachers and learn about our curriculum; parents and children pre-K to 5th grade are welcome! Sunday School is held weekly during our 10:30 service.
Sing With Us!
On Homecoming Sunday, August 24th, we will perform a song together! Join us for rehearsals during the 10:30 service in August. Kids of all ages and abilities are welcome. Start in the nave at the beginning of the service; a teacher will lead you out when it’s time to rehearse.
Bring Your Backpacks on August 24th!
Students of all ages are welcome to bring their backpacks on 8/24. We’ll have a Blessing of the Backpacks at our Homecoming Festival in the courtyard after church.
To sign up for our Children and Family newsletter, please email Emily B.
YOUTH PROGRAM
Youth Group Kick-Off is September 7th!
Join us from 7 pm-8:30 pm on Sunday, 9/7, for the first meeting of our youth program year! Come meet the new leaders and connect with other youth (plus, games, snacks, and art!). 6th - 12th graders are welcome. Look for more information about the fall calendar soon.
Serve with Us
All Soups and Such Cookbook
We’re creating an All Souls Community Cookbook filled with delicious, heartfelt recipes. Whether it’s your grandma’s secret soup or a go-to weeknight dinner, we’d love to include it. This isn’t just about good food—it’s about doing good. All proceeds from cookbook sales will go directly to the Berkeley Food Bank, supporting local families with access to healthy, nourishing meals.
Please send in your recipes by August 25, 2025, and feel free to include a short note about why the dish is meaningful to you.
Thank you for sharing your table and your heart with our community. If you have questions, please click here to contact Cathy Goshorn.
Food Bank collection is active. 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 (ODD) makes a warm jambalaya meal for anyone who is hungry every second Sunday of the month. Note: The ODD teams need a few people willing to drive these meals to various locations in Berkeley. If you can help, please click here to email Cathy G. If you are interested in joining the ODD team, click here to email Jennifer A.
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:
General hygiene products (toothbrushes/toothpaste, deodorant, soap, etc.)
Clothing
Bottled water
Please bring these donations to the red bin in the Narthex. Click here to email Beth Christensen for donation and other direct volunteer opportunities with USMO.
Ways to respond to the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Education: Learn and educate yourself on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dating back to the late 19th Century.
Partnership: Consider partnering with these organizations: Episcopal Relief and Development (episcopalreleif.org), Episcopal Peace Fellowship (episcopalpeacefellowship.net), and the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (www.im4humanintegrity.org).
Advocacy: Our baptismal covenant calls us to "...strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being."
Last but not Least
Job Opening for Parish Administrator
St. John's Episcopal Church in Oakland is looking for a new Parish Administrator. For details, click here. To apply, email adminsearch@stjohnsoakland.org.
An Invitation to the 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed
You are invited to another ecumenical talk on the 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed. This is a joint project of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and St. Mark's. This is the second part of a two-part series, and it will take place at St. Mark's on August 16th. Click here to see the flyer.
International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31st
USMO, along with the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA), is inviting All Souls to an event at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 31st, or International Overdose Awareness Day. The event is focused on community education, overdose rescue training, and a memorial to honor those we’ve lost to overdose. Click here to see the flyer.
Guatemala Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion - February 2026
The Very Rev. Julia McCray-Goldsmith and John McCray-Goldsmith are pleased to share a language and cultural immersion pilgrimage to beautiful Antigua, Guatemala. There is room for you to join the February 2026 group composed of (primarily but not exclusively) Episcopal lay and clergy leaders, in visiting this historic city. Language instruction and local excursions are provided by CSA, a Guatemalan language school with more than 30 years of experience teaching personalized on-site classes at their Antigua academy. The immersion includes nine half days of intensive one-on-one Spanish instruction, with afternoons free for guided tours or individual excursions.
Is God calling you to grow your language and cultural capacity in the company of good friends and experienced bilingual hosts? The deadline to register is rapidly approaching. Click here to email the Very Rev. Julia McCray-Goldsmith, or you can reach her by cell phone at (415) 225-9351 with questions. Click here to download the brochure or register online.
