The Pathfinder: October 23rd, 2025
A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Rios
Beloved in Christ,
As we absorb the news that federal agents have arrived in the Bay Area to carry out a major immigration action, I want to speak directly to our community. When fear moves through our streets, the Church must move with something stronger. We stand with the vulnerable not because it is popular, but because it is the way of Jesus, and because when one part of our body suffers, all suffer with it (1 Corinthians 12:26).
If agents of the state appear in our neighborhoods, we will meet them with prayerful presence, not panic. Our congregations are called to be places of refuge, not retreat, where no one wonders whether they are safe or seen. Check on your neighbors. Keep your doors open. Let love be louder than fear.
If you become aware of immigration enforcement activity, I encourage you first to contact the Rapid Response hotlines listed below. You may then contact Rev. Canon Eric Metoyer at 415-869-7810 or emetoyer@diocal.org, so that we may respond swiftly and in solidarity as the Body of Christ.
At the same time, we ask our community to be thoughtful about the information they post online and share with others about potential immigration enforcement actions. Inaccurate information may cause undue panic among those who most need support during this already difficult time.
Whatever happens in the coming days, we will respond together as one body, calmly, faithfully, and without hesitation. We will remain rooted in Christ, whose love cannot be shaken, and from that rootedness we bear fruit for the whole world. May courage arise from our strong and shared roots. And, like the Good Samaritan, may our shared witness be one of accompaniment and mercy that shows the wider world what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP)
•Phone Number: (510) 241-4011
•Operating Hours: M-F 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
•Website: www.acilep.org/
Marin Rapid Response Network
•Hotline: 415-991-4545
•Website: www.multiculturalmarin.org/mrrn
West Marin Rapid Response Network
•Hotline: 415-755-3622
Stand Together Contra Costa
•Hotline: 925-900-5151
•Website: standtogethercontracosta.org/
San Francisco Rapid Response Network
•Hotline: 415-200-1548
•Website: sfilen.org/
San Mateo County Rapid Response Network
•Hotline: 203-666-4472
Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network
•Hotline: 408-290-1144
•Website: amigoscenter.com/rapid-respon
Yours in Christ,
+Austin
A Joyful Reunion: Celebrating Día de los Muertos at All Souls Episcopal Parish
Join us for our annual Day of the Dead celebration, where we will honor the memories of loved ones with a special altar inside the church nave. This beautiful tradition, a blend of pre-Hispanic and Catholic customs, is a time not for mourning, but for a joyful reunion of the living and the dead.
We invite the congregation to participate by bringing a photograph of a deceased family member or friend to place on the altar. We also ask that you bring a small lit candle in a glass holder to add to the display. Our altar will feature simple, traditional offerings, including fragrant marigolds, and will be available for three weeks, beginning on Friday, October 31, 2025.
Understanding the Altar: A Guide to the Ofrenda
The altar, or ofrenda, is more than just a decoration—it's a symbolic invitation for the spirits of the dead to visit. Every item has a specific purpose, guiding and nourishing the souls on their journey back to the world of the living.
● Photos of the Deceased: The centerpiece of the ofrenda, a photo is placed to invite the honored individual's soul to the celebration.
● Marigolds (Cempasúchil): Known as the "flower of the dead," these vibrant flowers with their strong scent and bright color are believed to guide the spirits home.
● Candles: Representing the element of fire, candles provide light for the souls' journey. An extra candle is often lit for a "forgotten soul" with no one to remember them.
● Water: A glass of water is placed to quench the spirits' thirst after their long travels, symbolizing life and purification.
● Papel Picado: These delicate, perforated paper banners represent the element of wind and the fragility of life.
● Pan de Muerto: This special sweet bread nourishes the souls after their long journey. Its bone-like design is also deeply symbolic.
● Favorite Foods & Drinks: A personal way to honor the deceased's life, these offerings provide a feast for their spiritual return.
● Sugar Skulls (Calaveras): A playful symbol of death, these colorful skulls celebrate an individual's life rather than mourning their death.
● Copal Incense: Burned since pre-Hispanic times, this resin's fragrant smoke purifies the altar and attracts the spirits while warding off evil ones.
● Salt: A small bowl of salt purifies the souls and helps them on their journey.
The Artistic Vision Behind Our Altar
Our altar is a work of art designed to tell a story. Its structure and symbols carry a deep cultural and spiritual meaning:
● Side Panels: The panels feature pre-Hispanic butterfly symbols. The Monarch butterfly's arrival in November in Michoacán, Mexico, is believed to signify the return of the spirits of the dead.
● The Arch: An ancient symbol representing wind pushing broken branches, the central arch reminds us that the Mexica people carry on their traditions even when separated from their roots.
● The Back: The powerful message, "ALL SOULS ARE MINE," is set against a depiction of a sunset, symbolizing the moment the spirits are welcomed back.
● The Base: Forming a staircase, the base represents the earth meeting the sunset. It is here, on this main altar, that we will place the photographs of our loved ones.
● The Front: Two calaveras on the front of the side panels embody the humorous side of death, while vases of bright marigolds in front of them create a striking visual contrast.
The act of creating this altar is a joyous ritual, reinforcing the belief that death is not an end, but a beautiful continuation of the cycle of life.
– Humberto Carillo
The End: Body, Mind, and Soul
Death is one of life's few certainties, yet it's a topic many of us avoid discussing until crisis forces our hand. We will tackle these important conversations head-on with a three-part series titled "The End: Mind, Body, Soul" taking place on November 9th, 16th, and 23rd in the Parish Hall.
Whether you're 30 or 80, planning for end-of-life is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself and your family. Too often, families find themselves making difficult decisions without knowing their loved one's wishes, or discover that the absence of proper legal documents creates unnecessary stress, expense, and conflict during an already difficult time.
Each Sunday will focus on a different dimension of end-of-life planning, with Richard Lynch facilitating conversations centered on the preparing for life's final chapter:
November 9 - "Mind": Legal and Financial Planning
Estate planning attorney Sarah Kern and retired professional fiduciary Stephanie Lutz Allen will help us demystify wills, trusts, advance directives, and trust and estate administration. We'll also address the growing concern of dementia and how to plan while you still have full capacity to make decisions.
November 16 - "Body": Physical Care and Final Arrangements
Sarah Kern, estate planning attorney, Sarah Oneto, hospice nurse, and Kelsey Byers, UC Berkeley's Systemwide Coordinator for the Anatomical Donation Program will help us understand our the legal documents and options for end-of-life medical care and final arrangements, including hospice care, body donation, and funeral planning.
November 23 - "Soul": Spiritual Preparation
The Reverend Phil Brochard will explore the spiritual dimensions of preparing for death, drawing on theology and pastoral care traditions to help us think about legacy, reconciliation, and finding peace with our mortality.
Each session will include plenty of time for questions, and all materials discussed will respect the diverse needs and circumstances of our congregation.
In our Episcopal tradition, we understand that accompanying one another through life's sacred passages is at the very heart of who we are as a community of faith. Just as we celebrate births, marriages, and other joyful milestones together, we can approach discussions around the preparation for the profound transition that is death with the same spirit of love, grace, and intentional care that has always defined our journey together.
– Sarah Kern
Gathering In
All the pieces of the Annual Operating Campaign are now in motion. Pledge packets have been mailed to 194 households, with another 17 sent by email soon after. Each packet invites your household to consider a specific pledge amount and includes a letter from the clergy, along with a pledging chart to help you discern what level of support feels right for you in 2026.
Mail delivery seems to be working pretty well, so far. But if you haven’t yet received your pledge packet, it’s not too late. Please contact giving@allsoulsparish.org, and we’ll send one right away.
This Sunday, at both services, our Senior Warden, Michael Lewis, will deliver the Ingathering Sermon. Afterward, drawing on your reflection on the pledge materials, Michael’s message, and your hopes for All Souls in the year ahead, we will offer our pledges together. Pledge cards will be available at both services. The online pledge form will be available via Realm at 11:00 am on Sunday.
In the evening, we’ll gather again at the church for the possibly world-renowned Ingathering Potluck. 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 at 7:00 pm, please email giving@allsoulsparish.org, and we’ll connect you.
There’s also still room at the table! If you’d like to join the celebration but haven’t yet registered, please sign up here, and we’ll follow up quickly with details.
A special note: Everyone is welcome at the dinner—whether or not you make a pledge. In past years, some have assumed the dinner was only for those who pledged that morning. Not so! There is always room at the communal table. If you’re on the fence about coming, jump in! We’d be happy to set a place for you.
On Sunday evening, please plan to check in by the playground gate by 5:30 pm. Dinner will begin promptly, and we’ll have a blessing at 5:40 pm. Our entertainment program will begin in the Nave just before 7:00 pm, and we’ll wrap up around 7:30 pm. 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
A New Home
Thank you, All Soulsians, for gifting me the Altar from the Chapel. As many of you know, it was transported along with our other belongings across this beautiful and troubled land to Washington, DC, where Chris, Rocco, and I moved at the start of summer. So much has happened in the meantime and I have thought of my time with you all in Berkeley fondly, and with heaps of gratitude, many times throughout this transition.
The altar arrived safely and remained in storage until the Feast of Saint Francis on the 4th of October.
Chris and I welcomed 18 family members to a gathering in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, located down the Potomac River from DC and near the St. Mary’s River in the far south of the state. Family came from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County, Washington State, New York, England, as well as nearby in Maryland and DC.
We brought the Altar to the riverside and built a temporary chapel decorated with rocks, shells, branches, pinecones, Chrysanthemums, deer antlers, and crab shells. Our mothers read from the “Canticle of the Sun”, and we all prayed together, celebrating the Eucharist and watching the river life of our Lord’s Creation dazzle us with Peace. We shared several meals, including a crab cake feast like only these rivers and the Chesapeake Bay can provide through the Grace of God.
If it weren’t for all the stress, I’d have thought we all died and were dining at the Heavenly Banquet itself! It was such a joy and a blessing to have a material part of my time at All Souls Parish accompany me on the journey ahead and provide the basis of a riverside chapel on such important ground to me and my family. Thank you for everything you offered me in my formation! I literally took a piece of your church with me and will continue to update you on its life.
– Michael Drell
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.
10:30 AM, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here. Sunday School in the Godly Play room.
12 N, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard.
5:30 PM, Ingathering Dinner in the Parish Hall and Courtyard.
MONDAY
7 PM, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, either in person in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
TUESDAY
8 PM, Taize Service in the Chapel.
WEDNESDAY
9 AM, Eucharist in the Chapel.
Learn with Us
COMING UP IN ADULT FORMATION
OCTOBER 26 - No class.
Mary McGann's class will be rescheduled at a later date.
November 2nd - Kaki Logan: “Immigration with Dignity”
Join Kaki Logan for the second of her two-part series on Immigration. This session discusses the Episcopal Pilgrimage to 5 detention centers in New Mexico and Texas in early June as well as more recent experiences. It 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.
November 9th - “The End: Body, Mind, and Soul”
Death is one of life's few certainties, yet it's a topic many of us avoid discussing until crisis forces our hand. We will tackle these important conversations head-on with a three-part series titled "The End: Mind, Body, Soul" taking place on November 9th, 16th, and 23rd in the Parish Hall.
Whether you're 30 or 80, planning for end-of-life is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself and your family. Too often, families find themselves making difficult decisions without knowing their loved one's wishes, or discover that the absence of proper legal documents creates unnecessary stress, expense, and conflict during an already difficult time.
Each Sunday will focus on a different dimension of end-of-life planning, with Richard Lynch facilitating conversations centered on the preparing for life's final chapter. See the full article above for the topics each week.
2025-26 Adult Formation Calendar
Click here to see the calendar for the entire year.
Gather with Us
BEER GARDEN MEETUP - OCTOBER 23rd
One Thursday a month, from 6 pm-8 pm, All Soulsians will meet up at a different beer garden in Berkeley. All are welcome to come for a drink, a bite, a chat, or to play a game. 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. But this is an all-ages, intergenerational event—we would love to see everyone there.
October location: Cellarmaker Brewing Co., 940 Parker St, Berkeley
INGATHERING SUNDAY - THIS SUNDAY, October 26th
On October 26th, at both services, we’ll gather our pledges of financial support to All Souls. Then, at 5:30 pm, we’ll meet to dine and celebrate together. To sign up, click here or use the form in the Narthex. We look forward to seeing you all for what will be a joyous evening.
ALL SOULS/ALL SAINTS DAY POTLUCK - NOVEMBER 2nd
Join us on 11/2 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 of the dish, the recipe, and/or a fond memory of the person alongside. We hope you will gather with us as we celebrate the saints and souls of All Souls Parish. No sign up needed.
During the worship services, we will pray the names of those who have died over this past year. If you would like to add a name to that list of names, please do so here or click here to email Diana.
Lastly, the Arts at All Souls Committee invites people to bring pictures, momentos, and flowers for the beautiful ofrenda we are building in honor of our loved ones.
Worship with Us
TAIZE TUESDAY
Join us on Tuesday evenings this Fall for a community-led Taize service. These weekly services will be held from 8 pm-8:30 pm until November 18th. All are welcome to join us in the Chapel for a simple program of silent meditation and Taize chants.
WEDNESDAY EUCHARIST
The 9 am Eucharist will remain in the Chapel of the Nativity. Come join us for a reflection on the Saint of the day and sustenance for the rest of the week.
CHILDREN & FAMILY
Sunday School
Sunday School happens every week during the 10:30 service. Kids pre-K through 5th grade are welcome. Children begin the service in the nave with their families. About five minutes into the service, they process down to the classroom together - look for the leader with a wooden cross! We follow the Godly Play curriculum: a mixture of storytelling, wondering, and creative work time. Children return to church at the “Peace.”
To sign up for our Children and Family e-newsletter, please email Emily+.
YOUTH PROGRAM
Youth Group
Youth Group happens on Sundays from 7 pm-8:30pm during the school year. We alternate between a high school small group and an all-grades (6-12th) youth group.
Coming Up:
Oct. 26th - No Youth Group - join us for the Ingathering Dinner in the Parish Hall at 5:30 pm.
Nov. 2nd - High School Small Group, 7-8:30 pm in the Youth Room
Download our full Fall Youth Program 2025 calendar here.
To sign up for our Youth e-newsletter, please email Emily+.
Serve with Us
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!
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) will be making a warm jambalaya meal TODAY for anyone who is hungry. 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:
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. Click here to email Beth Christensen for donation and other direct volunteer opportunities with USMO.
Looking for ways to be politically engaged from a faith perspective?
Learn more on the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations site. You can find out about timely action alerts, service opportunities, and ways to be involved on local and national levels.
In particular, consider joining their weekly network call via Zoom, which the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers mentioned in her recent sermon. Register here.
You can also receive action alerts from the Episcopal Public Policy network here.
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."
FROM THE EPISCOPAL IMPACT FUND
Night of Light Silent Auction Closes TOMORROW!
Click here to explore unique experiences, fine wines, getaways, and more, all while supporting programs that uplift Bay Area families and communities. Start bidding now!
Each bid sparks real change—breaking cycles of poverty and opening doors of opportunity for our neighbors. Your generosity supports Episcopal congregations, like ours, in funding vital programs that strengthen Bay Area communities. From unforgettable getaways to local treasures, every winning bid helps uplift lives and our wider Episcopal family.
Auction closes on Friday, October 24th at 12:00 PM*. Don’t wait—place your bids today and make a difference!
*The online auction closes on Friday, but winners are finalized at the in-person event. Secure your favorite with “Buy Now.”
PROTECTION AGAINST EMAIL AND TEXT SCAMS
Over the past several years, scammers have gotten increasingly more sophisticated with targeting people in churches. Stopping scammers can be difficult, so it is important to educate yourself on how to spot suspicious messages and avoid falling for scams.
Keep an eye out for:
Money or information requests — Clergy will never ask for money, gift cards, or personal information via email.
Urgent language — Does the email have vague but urgent language? (Ex: “I’m in a meeting right now, but please send me the gift cards as quickly as possible!”)
Fraudulent email addresses — Check the email address against what is listed on the All Souls website.
If you are unsure whether an email or text is legitimate, please contact the church office via phone or e-mail.
Click here to see a helpful flyer created by our Diocese. Click here to learn more about how to file a complaint.
