The Pathfinder: January 15, 2026
Just Reeds and Wicks
At the 8am service on Sunday, January 11th, prior to the 10:30a service and the conversation between Phil+, Rabbi Bekah Stern, and Pastor Tony Hughes, Phil+ preached a moving sermon about the events of recent weeks. For those who missed it, we wanted to share the text below.
I’m going to start this reflection with the words of Stephen Miller from earlier this week. Miller is one of President Trump‘s top aides, and an architect of many of his policies. He was in an interview with the journalist Jake Tapper, when he now famously (or infamously) said, “We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”
I share these words not because I place my trust in them, but because I believe them to be a very clear distillation of the ethos of the leadership of our nation. And from a particular historical perspective, they’re not wrong. Go back 3,800 years to the Babylonian Empire, and in the Code of Hammurabi you’ll find the famous phrase, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Force met by force to keep order.
Now, it should be said that in its day, this law itself was progressive. At the time, and since then, humans have used disproportionate force over and against each other in order to gain power over one another. An eye for an eye meant that you could only return the violence visited on you, and no more.
Or, we could go back about 2,400 years to the Athenian Empire in Greece. Thanks to the writings of Thucydides, we have this statement from which many in power in the United States have grounded their actions, “The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must.”
I want to be clear. Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela was an autocrat and a tyrant, who defied the popular vote to stay in power, and who plundered and who tortured, and murdered the citizens of the country he was leading. And, at the same time, what took place this week is not what justice looks like.
And while there is this long legacy of might making right, since perhaps the beginning of time, our sacred texts tell us that there is another way. A path we have come to know as the path of Jesus the Christ.
+++
I think it’s fair to say that in the first few decades after the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the early followers of the Christ were asking at least one question: What just happened?
As you might have heard before, there was a wide variety of understandings about who the Meshiach, the Messiah, the Anointed or Chosen One of God, would be. How they would act, what they would do, how would you know that God‘s long-awaited promise has been fulfilled?
And it is fair to say that Jesus was not the king that many expected him to be. He did not fight like David. After his death and resurrection, the Roman oppressors remained. So how were we, in the first few decades after his death, to understand who Jesus was?
Being faithful to their tradition, early followers looked back at their scripture, particularly to the Prophets. And in texts like Isaiah 42:1-9, they found the pattern that Jesus lived into. And in these texts, and in the life of Jesus, the early Church found not only the kind of Messiah Jesus was, but also the ways that they were to live.
+++
From the Prophet Isaiah (42:1b-3),
“I will put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.”
A bruised or weakened reed, something that is already easy to crush, this servant of the Lord will not break, even as he brings justice to this world. And a sputtering candle, one that is just barely able to provide light, he will not extinguish.
In the life of Jesus of Nazareth, and in the pattern set forth by the prophet Isaiah, the early Christians recognized the Christ. And while our witness as Christians changed over the centuries, our earliest witness to the Roman Empire and other empires was seen through just action that did not meet violence with violence, or use force over others in order to gain advantage.
One of the effects of the repeated actions of the Trump presidency has been to provide clarity. Yes, the kingdoms, and the empires, and the nations of the world for millennia have chosen to gain the world and lose their souls. But it is not inevitable, and it is not the way of Christ.
+++
I’d like to close with another set of words. These come from Becca Good, Renee Good’s wife and now widow. This past week, Renee Good was shot several times and killed by federal immigration agents as she attempted to move her vehicle out of the way.
Good’s death, one of many killings in the past year by federal authorities, has sparked widespread protests in Minnesota and around the nation. And as Americans of all kinds debated and argued about what happened and what should happen next, Becca Good shared these words,
“On Wednesday, January 7th,
we stopped to support our neighbors.
We had whistles. They had guns.
I am now left to raise our son
and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed,
that there are people building a better world for him.
That the people who did this
had fear and anger in their hearts,
and we need to show them a better way.”
+++
–Phil+ and Emily+
“Faithful Families” Returns
At the Parish Retreat in September, a young parent stood up and – bravely and beautifully – shared a dilemma: how do we comfort, protect and strengthen our children in this modern age we find ourselves in? How do we, in good faith, lead our kids to compassion and justice when these values seem to be cracking all around us?
We had been prompted by this cartoon, but her quandary also reminded me of the Maggie Smith poem “Good Bones.”
This question clarified for me something I had been feeling for a long time– since the pandemic at least, but maybe even earlier. The morning after Trump was elected in November 2016, my then-toddler found me in the bathroom sobbing. In that moment, I realized that I would need to figure out how to process my own feelings and fears not just in front of her, but while parenting her! All Souls has been a great help in this regard. It has provided me a place to bring my feelings and fears and be surrounded by community and the reminder that we are all in this together, under God’s protection and with her grace. But the challenges keep coming.
If any of this resonates for you, join us for a “Faithful Families” discussion series– a supportive space for All Souls parents and families. We will gather around one Sunday evening a month, from 5:00-6:30 pm. Childcare will be provided, as will a dinner main dish (think tacos/pizza), and we will potluck the sides and drinks. In addition to there being time for parents to have meaningful discussions, we’ll also engage in intergenerational prayer practices, rituals, and special children’s formation. Families with children of all ages (young kids, teens, young adults) are welcome.
The dates for this spring are Feb. 1st, March 15th, and May 3rd, from 5:00-6:30 pm. Please RSVP to emilyb@allsoulsparish.org by Jan. 31st if you plan to attend the first dinner.
Peace,
–Molly Nicol
Landscaping at All Souls Parish
The Landscape User Group of the Property Committee has developed general guidelines for ASEP landscaping upon completion of construction. The living waters campaign values were at the heart of these guidelines. Remember these values? Communal Flexibility, Complete Accessibility, Carbon Neutrality, and Continued Vitality.
The User Group suggested a design that would achieve these values with the following specific goals: The plants would be drought resistant, low maintenance, fire resistant, attractive to birds and pollinators, and attractive to humans with some color in all seasons.
We plan to accomplish this by using primarily native species, installing drip irrigation, and developing a maintenance plan. Here is how to plan to address each of our four values:
Communal Flexibility: A design for the paved area in the courtyard that would facilitate more open space for worship and more space for seating.
Complete Accessibility: A smoother, cleaner surface for the courtyard pavement.
Carbon Neutrality: The extensive use of native plants, which “significantly contribute to carbon neutrality by acting as natural carbon sinks, storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in their deep roots and soil, and reducing the need for carbon-intensive inputs like fertilizers or frequent mowing. They create more stable carbon storage, are more resilient, and support biodiversity, making them powerful nature-based climate solutions.”
Continued Vitality: Increased activity by birds and insects in the plants and in the soil. We are committed to the idea that we also want to share our land with other creatures in our midst. As private and public spaces consider all of creation rather than exclusively human needs, landscaping of the future will bring greater vitality to all landscapes.
The Landscape User Group was expanded to form a new Landscape Committee, which has solicited and approved a design from a local designer. Members of the Committee include Joni Stickney, Suzanne Nelson, and me, who are continuing from the User Group. We are joined by All Soulsians, Nancy Pryor, Bonnie Bishop, Tim Sullivan, Jill Churchman, along with Elena Vega, a resident of Jordan Court.
Note: A screenshot of our landscaping plan was included so everyone can see where the plantings are intended to go (but we realize the text is far too small to read). If you’d like to review the plan in detail, please see Kaki Logan.
Finally, in our design, we needed to consider the new fire regulations that affect planting. We will write more about this in a later Pathfinder. We plan to present our work thus far at the next vestry meeting and look forward to moving toward implementation.
–Kaki Logan
December Vestry Meeting
On December 16, the Vestry met for our last meeting of 2025. It was a joyful affair! As co-chaplain, I led the vestry in a reflection on the spiritual value of uncertainty inspired by Mother Rachel’s preaching, the story of St. Thomas, and a passage from Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar of the World.
After approving the Consent Agenda, Richard Lynch updated us on the Annual Operating Campaign. The campaign raised about $797,000, slightly short of its goal. Richard shared his insights about the ebb and flow of fund-raising, and I left the conversation reassured that we are in a good place, given our overall financial health. Phil+ walked us through our 2025 budget, showing that the parish is currently running near 100% of forecast income.
Michael Lewis presented the 2026 budget proposal, highlighting a current deficit of $36,000, and we learned about different sources from which funds might come to cover the shortfall. We had an insightful discussion about how broader economic conditions might influence our financial well-being in the coming year and Phil+ shared his observations of how responsive the Parish has been in the past, from COVID to the 2009 financial crisis, as far back as the initial raising of the Parish hall in 1923 after the Great Fire of Berkeley. This was a good reminder of how we provide sanctuary to each other in difficult times. Finally, Phil+ shared a letter from St Lucy’s Church asking if the Vestry was open to making a donation for the coming year. This inspired a thoughtful discussion of our mission as a parish and what it would mean to sponsor other parishes in the future. We agreed to make this an agenda item for our Vestry retreat in early 2026. After a closed executive session, we voted unanimously to approve a budget variation with a 3% cost of living adjustment for ASEP staff in light of recent inflation.
Grace Telcs, our Junior Warden, gave us an update on the Living Waters Campaign and the Seismic Upgrade. While Living Waters is close to completion, the elevator and HVAC system still have some problems that need to be worked out. We learned of progress towards new landscaping work, replacing the last two pews in the sanctuary with chairs, finalizing public health and assembly permits from the City of Berkeley, and adjusting the seismic upgrade to address dry rot in the overhang of the sacristy. Given its time sensitive nature, the Vestry voted to give the Wardens authority to perform final execution on the seismic contract, which will start after 4 January. We will continue to look for an appropriate preschool to rent the space after the retrofit.
In his Rector’s Report, Phil+ previewed this year’s Advent and Christmas programming, and shared that the Parish had received the gift of the third icon painted by the Rev. Paul Fromberg, called the Tree of the Sign. We examined the icon with great excitement. If you have not had a chance to take a closer look, I recommend it! Finally, we discussed naming the rooms in the undercroft (current contenders: Pistis, Esperanza, and Caritas), knowing that whatever names are chosen, parish children and youth will find a way to make them hilarious no matter what.
In our closing prayer, we offered up our thanks for so many grace-filled gifts, from Michael Lewis’s adroit leadership as Senior Warden to the budding fruits of many long-term plans carefully tended. As I reflect on the end of my first year on the Vestry, I am especially grateful to be doing this work with such a wise and humble group. There is a special magic in watching people disagree, debate, and listen with deep humility, respect, and affection, and in hearing the words “You know what–you’ve changed my mind. Thank you for that perspective.”
–Sarah Bakker Kellogg
Update from the All Souls Nominating Committee
In last week’s Pathfinder, we introduced the candidates for the four three-year positions on the Vestry (Class of 2029) and our nominees for the 2027 Deanery and Diocesan Delegates and 2026 Alternates.
We did not receive any additional nominees from among our parish members, and so we put all of these candidates forward as the final slate to be voted upon at the parish’s Annual Meeting on January 25th. Thank you to my fellow committee members and to our candidates for their willingness to serve our community.
–Grace Telcs, Junior Warden, on behalf of the Nominating Committee Class
Announcements & Events
Sunday
7:00 am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
8:00 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
9:15 am, Adult Formation in the Common Room downstairs.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here. Sunday School in the Godly Play room.
12 noon, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard.
7:00 pm, Youth Group (High School Group)
Tuesday
8:00 pm, Taize in the Chapel.
Thursday
5:30 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION
Discerning Sacred Rhythms with Mother Rachel Dykzeul
Join us this coming Sunday for the last class in this series.
Spiritual transformation often happens over time through community engagement and partaking in personal spiritual practices. This class is designed as an invitation to explore prayer and meditation within the Christian tradition with the intention of developing life-giving spiritual practices to contour the rhythms of our daily lives. The class aims to help parishioners connect their everyday spiritual experiences to their theological understanding of what it means to live a Christian life. Classes will be held at 9:15 am in the Common Room on the following days: January 4, 11, 18. Please join us!
COMING UP IN FEBRUARY:
Episcopalian Resistance & Resilience – Feb. 1st
Political oppression, exploitation, and violence: we have been here before, all too many times, and God has not left us without witnesses to learn from. Join Dr. Jennifer Snow to look at just one lineage of resistance against injustice in American Episcopalian history, focusing on the context and courage of Rev. Absalom Jones in the 18th century, Bishop Alonzo Potter in the 19th century, and Pauli Murray in the 20th century. Class meets in the Jordan Court Community Room at 9:15 am.
Dante’s Inferno – Feb. 1st, 8th, 15th
Not only one of the most famous poems in history, Dante’s Inferno (Part I of the Divine Comedy) is also one of the greatest pieces of Christian art ever accomplished. Join Jack Shoemaker as he leads us through this three-week series. Together, we will read our way through the poem, taking turns reading from different translations, and discovering the inspired wisdom of this remarkable work. A few of us may have read this before; many of us may never have, but always intended to. This is our chance! Classes meet in the Common Room at 9:15 am.
Worship With Us
TAIZE TUESDAYS
Please join us in the Chapel every Tuesday evening at 8 pm for a community-led, half-hour program of silent meditation, prayer, and chants from the Taize tradition. This spring series will run through Tuesday, May 19th.
NEW THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
All Souls hosts two weekly Bible Study Classes each week. In addition to our Sunday morning group (meets from 7-8 am), we are now offering another group on Thursday evenings from 5:30-6:30 pm. Both groups meet in our Common Room and use the Reading Between the Lines curriculum. Join us! Drop-ins are always welcome, too!
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Faithful Families Returns!
We are excited to bring back Faithful Families dinners! Join us for a time of intergenerational fellowship and learning. We will start with a shared meal. Then, there will be time for shared prayer practices, activities for kids, and a space for parents to connect and discuss important questions of faith. Families with children of all ages (kids, teens, young adults) are welcome to attend. Sundays: February 1st, March 15th, and May 3rd, 5-6:30 pm. Please click here to email Emily if you would like to attend the February dinner.
Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) happens every week during the 10:30 service. We follow Godly Play, an approach to spiritual formation that features storytelling, hands-on learning, and wondering. Shortly after the service starts, children follow a teacher, carrying a cross, downstairs to the classroom and return to church at the “Peace.”
To join our Children and Family mailing list, email Emily (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
YOUTH
Youth Group (for grades 6-12) generally happens each Sunday from 7-8:30 pm.
Join us on Sunday evenings from 7-8:30 pm for games, art, reflection, and prayer. We alternate between a middle and high school group with some all-grades events.
COMING UP:
Jan. 18th: Youth Group (High School)
To join the weekly youth mailing list, email Emily (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
Gather With Us
REALM HELP THIS SUNDAY - JAN 18TH
Stop by the Common Room this coming Sunday, after the 10:30 service, to get all your Realm questions answered. Friendly volunteers will be there to help you.
ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY- JAN 25TH
Join us Sunday, 1/25, following the 10:30 service, for this festive meeting where we listen to stories, elect our new leadership, and hear about the budget. Every year, on the last Sunday of January, we gather to reflect on the past and look forward to what is to come. All are welcome, but only members are eligible to vote in the election of new vestry leadership. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!
BEER GARDEN MEET UP - JAN 29TH
Join us on the last Thursday of every month between 6-8 pm when All Soulsians meet up at a different beer garden to connect - for a drink, a bite, a chat, a game, etc. This is an all-ages, intergenerational event — we would love to see everyone there!
January location: Fieldwork, 1160 6th St, Berkeley
Serve With Us
Stay Informed and Take Action
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations represents the church’s priorities to the US government in Washington, DC, and offers several ways to connect to their work:
Weekly network calls, Thursdays 10-10:30 a.m. Pacific time, provide information about current events, policy developments, and legislation coming before Congress. Register here.
Weekly immigration update, Tuesdays, 10-10:30 a.m. Pacific time. Register here.
Weekly prayers, released every Friday, prayed aloud on Mondays at 8:45 a.m. Pacific time, name concerns, offer prayer for those who are vulnerable, and seek God’s guidance as we respond. More information here.
Global Partnership monthly calls, 1st Wednesday of the month, 10-11 a.m. Pacific time, consider how the church can address human needs, engage in peacebuilding, and build healthy, mutual relationships. Register here.
Take action by writing to your legislators and other government officials, with Action Alerts. Learn more and sign up here.
All Soups ‘N’ Such Cookbook
The All Soups ‘N’ Such Cookbook is ready for purchase! 100% of the proceeds will be donated. There are a small amount of copies still available, so get your copy before they are gone! You can pay ($20 suggested gift) in the following ways:
during coffee hour (cash or check)
pick up one (or multiple copies!) at the Orinda Bookstore: 276 Village Square, Orinda
Questions? Email Cathy Goshorn.
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) makes a warm jambalaya meal on 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.
