The Pathfinder: November 20th, 2025
Write That Note
On Thursday of last week, an assailant came onto the Laney College campus and shot and killed one of the coaches and administrators, John Beam. Following the shooting of a student at Skyline High School the previous day, the killing of John Beam has reverberated across Oakland and the East Bay and left an enormous hole in its wake.
John Beam was a longtime football coach in Oakland, first at Skyline High School, then at Laney Community College. And along the way, in addition to his success on the field, winning championships at every level, he had incredible success guiding and supporting his players off the field. John Beam was someone who consistently believed in black and brown young men, especially when few others in their lives did. One of the reasons why he took the Laney Community College job, as opposed to the many high-level college positions he was offered over the years, was because he wanted to continue to help at-risk young men find stability, get their degrees, and be able to give back to their communities. Because of this deep care for the individual in front of him, coupled with his extraordinary success on the field, in the days since his death, John Beam has been remembered as a legend and a giant by those who are mourning his loss.
And I, perhaps surprisingly, am one of them. While I did attend Skyline High School when John Beam was the football coach, I didn’t play football for him. He was my PE teacher––the fact that I wasn’t going to play football came clear to him one day in a flag football game during PE. He was quarterbacking and threw me the ball, and while I caught it, I didn’t turn up the field fast enough. There went my high school football career. (To be honest, the only way my mother would have let me on the football field was as the kicker or a member of the band)
No, the crux of my relationship with John Beam came when, as a junior, I was trying to start a boys’ volleyball team at Skyline. I approached him because the athletic department was dragging its feet. And so Coach Beam offered me a deal: if I would manage his football team, he would get my volleyball team approved as a varsity sport. This epitomized John Beam—paying close attention to the young person in front of him, using the means available to him, and getting things done. I accepted the deal, the team got started, and I helped Coach Beam manage the team.
Decades have passed since that deal, but I can draw a line between his guidance and support for me starting that athletic team and decades later navigating the myriad challenges to build affordable housing on the corner of Cedar and Oxford. At a formative time of my life, I felt the sustaining power of John Beam’s belief in me that I could affect change.
Years later, after seeing him in the Netflix documentary, Last Chance U, I realized that I needed to write Coach Beam a note of thanks, to let him know how he powerfully affected the lives of many people, including someone like me who didn’t play football for him.
I’m writing this column today because, over the years, I never wrote that note. The many other things of life got in the way, and now that will not be something that I can share with Coach Beam in this life. Which I deeply regret.
And so today I wonder, who has made a difference in your life, empowered you, and seen you for who you could be? Have you taken the opportunity to reflect that back to them?
John Beam‘s death, among many other things, serves for me as a stark and painful reminder of the blessing attributed to Henri Amiel that we will be praying in the Advent season in a few weeks, that “Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make the journey with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”
And, please, write that note.
In peace,
-Phil+
Renew & Sustain: Help Us Reach Our 2026 Pledge Goal
As we move toward the close of this year’s Renew and Sustain Annual Operating Campaign, I want to share where we are—and why every pledge matters. Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, we have reached about 85% of our $820,000 pledge goal for 2026.
That is a remarkable testament to the strength and care of this congregation, and I am deeply grateful.
At the same time, whether or not we get all the way to our goal will determine whether we can fully fund the ministries, staffing, worship, and community care that make All Souls an oasis for so many. We still have about 75 households we hope to hear from before our announced deadline of Sunday, November 30—just three days after Thanksgiving.
This year, we have shortened the pledge period from nine weeks to six. We did this intentionally to reduce the number of requests arriving in your inbox and mailbox, and to give the Vestry more time to use accurate pledge information in building the budget for 2026. That means the pledge season moves more quickly than in past years, and your timely response is especially helpful.
If you haven’t yet made your pledge and would like to join in now, you can do so here: 2026 Pledge Form. Tomorrow, we’ll also reach out individually to those who haven’t yet pledged with an invitation to consider a suggested pledge amount and a link to the pledge form. If we can receive at least $100,000 in pledges before November 30th, we can enter 2026 with confidence, clarity, and a fully supported ministry budget.
Together, we all help make All Souls the oasis it is. These next 10 days will have a big impact on how we prepare for 2026.
I look forward to sharing an update in the Pathfinder on December 4th.
– Maggie Cooke, Giving Secretary
The Vestry Bells Are Ringing — Do You Hear Them?
With Turkey Season upon us, and Christmas just around the corner, another annual tradition returns to All Souls: Yes, it’s time for Vestry nominations! Each year, as a class of Vestry members complete their term of service, All Souls begins discerning who among us might be called to lead next. Michael Lewis, Grace Telcs, Ryan Greene, and myself have finished our terms. Are you next?
At our Annual Meeting on January 25th, 2026, we will elect four new Vestry members to serve three-year terms. We will also elect four Deanery and Diocesan Convention Delegates, who will each serve two-year terms.
You may be asking yourself: What exactly is the Vestry?
In the Episcopal Church, the Vestry serves as the parish’s governing body or leadership team. Working closely with our Clergy, the Vestry helps to define, guide, and support All Souls. This includes stewardship of our financial resources and ongoing discernment of how we exercise our faith through our ministries, stewardship, and care for one another.
Over the next three years, the Vestry will continue to support key parish initiatives such as the Living Waters Capital Campaign and our collective work toward racial justice and community healing. Yet beyond these known endeavors, there will be new and yet-to-be-discovered paths, opportunities, and challenges that All Souls will face. Vestry members will help steer us all through the unfolding seasons of life at All Souls.
As a practical matter, Vestry members meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 pm, with a retreat each February for deeper connection and shared discernment. While that may sound like a serious commitment (and it is), Michael, Ryan, Grace, and I all found it much more spiritually renewing than draining. For me, my three years brought me closer to the very heart of All Souls—the people and the shared life we create together. Three years later, I find myself closer to so many folks that I once only nodded to across the pews. In short, I found a deeper sense of home.
You may also be asking yourself: What Deanery and Diocesan Convention Delegates Do?
The Alameda Deanery of the Diocese of California meets quarterly via Zoom to discuss and plan regional ministries of the diocese. The annual Convention of the Diocese of California takes place each October, and All Souls elects Delegates (alternates for the first year, delegates for the second year) to attend and represent All Soulsians. At the Diocesan Convention, delegates:
Elect diocesan officials
Hear reports to the Convention
Approve the budget of the Diocese
Establish diocesan policies and procedures by considering and voting on resolutions
Approve changes to the Diocesan constitution and canons
Serving as a delegate is a unique opportunity to participate in shaping the wider Episcopal Church, ensuring All Souls’ voice is heard in important decisions that impact congregations across the Diocese and the Country as a whole.
You may be asking yourself: How do I find out more?
Serving on the Vestry, or as a Deaner and Diocesan Convention Delegate, is a great way to offer your own unique gifts to All Souls.
The Nominating Committee—Michael Lewis, Grace Telcs, Ryan Green, and I—is now gathering names and welcoming conversations with anyone interested in discerning this call. Throughout November and December, we invite you to reach out to any of us to learn more or to express your interest in serving.
Whether you feel a clear nudge or a quiet curiosity, this is a wonderful time to discern how you might offer your gifts to All Souls. So listen closely. The Vestry bell is ringing—do you hear the call?
– Mark Wilson
All Souls All Soups ‘N’ Such Cookbook
The All Soups ‘N’ Such Cookbooks, filled with 44 yummy soup, stew, and chili recipes contributed by the ASP community, are complete and ready for purchase! 100% of the proceeds will be directly donated to the Berkeley Food Pantry.
This is our opportunity to collectively support our neighbors who are in need of food and provide hope for the vulnerable. It is our Christian belief to feed the hungry. “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as noonday.” Isaiah 58:10.
We are eternally grateful to Kieran King for the numerous hours spent creating and designing this cookbook. And thank you to Liz Lynch for the time dedicated to editing/proofreading, and testing many of the recipes. Which, she claims, are all delicious! My goal is to prepare each recipe! Also, we appreciate the folks who submitted recipes and the youth who provided the artwork.
We are asking for a minimum donation of $20 and have three options to purchase the All Soups ‘N’ Such Cookbook:
Pay via Realm
During coffee hour after the 10:30 service on Sundays. (checks or cash)
Orinda Bookstore: 276 Village Square, Orinda (thank you, Pat Rudenbusch-store owner and new ASP parishioner)
Many, many thanks in advance for your support of the Berkeley Food Pantry and for holding our community in solidarity. Please contact me with any questions by phone (925) 788-0243 or click here to email me.
Peace,
– Cathy Goshorn
Sign Up for Soup!
This Advent, we’re bringing back a beloved tradition: soup suppers and sung worship on Wednesday evenings. As the days get colder and darker, we invite you to join us for a shared meal and a time of music, prayer, and reflection as a harbor in the middle of the week.
We’ll gather at 6 pm in the Parish Hall for a simple, candle-lit dinner of soup and bread. At 6:45 pm, we’ll transition into Holden Evening Prayer, a beautiful service of chant and hymns. (You’ll hear more about that from Matt, our Associate for Music, in next week’s Pathfinder). We’ll wrap up around 7:30 pm.
These gatherings will happen on the three Wednesdays during Advent: December 3rd, 10th, and 17th.
We would love your help! We need volunteers to bring soup and bread to share. (Perhaps you will be inspired by your newly purchased “All Soups ‘N’ Such” cookbook!). Please use this sheet or talk with Sarah Kern to sign up to contribute soup or bread.
We would also welcome folks who are able to come a bit early (5:30-ish) and stay afterward to help us set the space and clear it at the end.
It feels wonderful to be able to gather for these suppers. Last year, we had to take a pause because of construction in our Parish Hall and kitchen. Now, those spaces are beautifully re-done and ready. We’re excited to celebrate this completion and fill the spaces with new memories this Advent. We hope you will join us!
Yours in soup,
– The Staff
THANK YOU and Feedback from Stephen Ministry
A big thank you to the 22 people who took the time in the last two weeks to complete the 10-question survey about Stephen Ministry. In past years we’ve invited former Stephen Ministry recipients to relate two-minute stories of their experience on Stephen Ministry Awareness Sundays.
This year, we “turned the tables” to ask you for your understanding. Precedent for this came from national Stephen Ministry, which suggests this to assess congregational understanding.
A special thanks to those of you who signed your names, because this provided a chance to “test the test”, i.e., suspect that a question was misleading if folks we knew to be well-informed chose an option that was intended to be a distractor from the expected answer.
If respondents were representative of All Souls as a whole, we would think that we have fairly high awareness/knowledge about Stephen Ministry.
Comment about 3 questions:
Question 4 (true/false) asked if Stephen Ministry could be called therapy or spiritual direction. The correct answer is “False”: Stephen ministers are not spiritual directors or therapists. While some characteristics are shared, these three roles have different goals or foci.
Question 8 (multiple choice) asked what “might be best first step” if you thought your friend might benefit from Stephen Ministry. The preferred response was “any of the above”, but those who chose the option to “wonder aloud with friend whether Stephen Ministry could be helpful” anticipated the commentary that this option would expedite making a connection with a Stephen Minister.
Question 10 (multiple choice) about the minimum age for Stephen Leader training made the point that training is available to adults of any age.
In case you missed the chance to take this survey before our deadline, you may still complete it for your own learning. You can do so here. If you have afterthoughts about the survey approach overall, or about Stephen Ministry Awareness generally, we welcome a conversation.
– The Stephen Ministry Leaders (Carol Terry, Tim Sullivan, Marilyn Flood)
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, Adult Formation in the Parish Hall. Newcomer Class series in the Common Room.
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
MONDAY
7 PM, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study, either in person in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
WEDNESDAY
9 AM, Eucharist in the Chapel.
Learn with Us
COMING UP IN ADULT FORMATION
“The End: Body, Mind, and Soul” - Final Class in this series is THIS SUNDAY, 11/23
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 in November.
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 preparing for life's final chapter.
Week 1 - 11/9 "Mind": Legal and Financial Planning
Week 2 - 11/16 "Body": Physical Care and Final Arrangements
Week 3 - 11/23 "Soul": Spiritual Preparation
Classes meet in the Parish Hall at 9:15 am on the following Sundays: November 9th, 16th, and 23rd.
2025-26 Adult Formation Calendar
Click here to see the calendar for the entire year.
NEWCOMER CLASSES
Wondering how to learn more about All Souls and connect with our community? The newcomers' class is an excellent opportunity for those new to All Souls to become acquainted with the life of the parish and the many ministries that take place here. Join us in the Common Room (downstairs at the church) at 9:15 am on the following Sundays in November: 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.
Gather with Us
IMMIGRATION ACTION: LETTER WRITING - NOVEMBER 22nd
Please join us in the Common Room on 11/22 at 11:30 am as we gather to write letters in support of immigrants. Questions? See Kaki Logan or Margaret Sparks.
ANNUAL ADVENT FESTIVAL - NOVEMBER 30th
Join us on Sunday evening, 11/30 at 5 pm for our annual Advent Festival. On this night, we gather around a fire in the courtyard to sing, pray, and recall some of the stories that have brought us here. Then, we will enjoy some hot cocoa and cookies, make Advent wreaths, and our annual All Souls Christmas ornament. This is a great night for kids and families, especially. Bring a warm coat and some cookies to share!
RACIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE MOVIE NIGHT - DECEMBER 5th
Join us on Friday, 12/5, at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall for a screening of the documentary film Sugarcane, a groundbreaking investigation into an Indian residential school, shedding light on years of forced separation, assimilation, and abuse that Indigenous children experienced at the hands of church and government. Click here to see the flyer with additional details.
EMILY HANSEN CURRAN’S ORDINATION - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th
The day has arrived! Our beloved Emily Hansen Curran will be ordained to the Diaconate at Grace Cathedral on December 6th at 3 pm. All are welcome to celebrate this memorable occasion, marking the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
SAVE THE DATE - OUR ANNUAL ALL SOULS CAROLING PARTY IS DECEMBER 7th!
Join us on Sunday evening, 12/7 for the annual All Souls caroling party!
5 pm - Chili dinner and warm-ups at the Nicol's home (1324 Santa Fe Ave)
5:30 ish - Caroling around the neighborhood
We'll wrap up at the Wilson's home (1120 Key Route Blvd) for cookies and cocoa.
This is a great event for all ages, especially children and families! RSVP here.
NOTE: Please pick up your photos and mementos from the ofrenda in the back of the Nave this Sunday. We will have a box on the counter in the narthex for those unable to take theirs home.
Worship with Us
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 am 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.”
A BIG “thank you” to all of the kids and teens of All Souls for helping guide our thoughts toward how we experience God’s presence by creating icons that beautifully decorated our church. Please come by the Sunday School room to pick yours up to take home as a way to feel connected to God at all times. Contact Emily B. or Brenna Hall if you have trouble locating your icon.
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-8:30 pm during the school year. We alternate between a high school small group and an all-grades (6-12th) youth group.
Coming Up:
Nov. 23rd - Thanksgiving Break - No Youth Group
Nov. 30th - All Parish Advent Festival at 5 pm (in place of regular Youth Group)
Download our full Fall Youth Program 2025 calendar here.
To sign up for our Youth e-newsletter, please email Emily+.
Serve with Us
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) prepares a warm jambalaya meal the second Sunday of every month 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.
