The Pathfinder: May 28th, 2026
Finding God, Again
The process theologians teach us that God is change. The universe, the multiverses, are ever in Creation. And that even at the species and at the cellular level, Creation continues to evolve and change. In this change, we often find growth and vitality.
And as humans living in a world full of change and chance, we have also found it important to have stability, for there to be to have things that we can rely on. We yearn for reliable sources of truth and comfort and connection. As Christians we’ve found these reliable sources in Scripture, in sacraments, in particular prayers, and even in the ways that we have designed our spaces. To be human is to live in this tension of change and stability.
Many years ago, when All Souls was growing significantly enough that we had to add a third Sunday morning service to be able to receive those who were looking to find God here with us, we faced a dilemma during the summer.
We didn’t want to change our Sunday schedule just for a few months, but the Nave felt like too large of a space for the fewer number of folks that worship on a summer Sunday morning over two principal services. Facing this challenge, we decided to re-create the space in the Nave, turning the pews inward so that they faced one another, and bringing the altar into the middle of the pews.
What we found from that experiment was quite interesting. Some people found that it was more distracting to worship in this configuration, as they were now looking into the faces of other parishioners, rather than simply those of the altar party and choir. Others found it enlivening, as they felt closer to the gathered congregation, physically and metaphorically. Some who joined All Souls that summer were surprised to know that’s not how we worshipped all year long. And still others found the act of change itself to be important for their spiritual life.
It has been several years since we re-formed the Nave, and so once again we are reconfiguring sacred space for the summer. The Nave will return to the way that it was as we returned from Covid, with the altar along the courtyard side and four quadrants of pews facing inward; the quadrant closest to the sound booth and video platform will not be shown on the screen.
And, for the first time, because of the new altar, we will also be in a new configuration in the Chapel of the Nativity. The chairs of the Chapel will be gathered in a gradual arc, facing the altar in front of the tall stained glass windows.
Both of these configurations will mean that there will be a slightly different flow to the service, particularly around the reception of Communion. For the next few Sundays, that flow will be part of our announcements so that you have an idea of how we will be sharing this meal together for the next several months.
As we live into our sacred spaces anew, I invite you to consider what this experience is like for you. How does it affect your ability to hold prayer-filled attention? Does the sermon sound or feel different? What is silence like when we are faced towards one another? How does it feel to take on a new pattern of receiving Communion? In all, how does this new way of gathering to worship help you find God, again?
Below, Phil’s creative renderings of the new configuration: Chapel (left), and Nave (right).
–Phil+
It Takes a Parish: Sponsor our Youth Work Day
This coming Sunday, May 31st, is a big day for our Youth Program. At the 10:30 service, we’ll honor our graduating seniors. We’ll also have a ceremony of recognition for our acolytes, and a special coffee hour to celebrate all of these youth. It truly does take a whole parish to support a thriving youth program, and we’re grateful for the way that All Souls honors, celebrates, sustains our young people.
We invite you to consider supporting our youth in a concrete way this Sunday: by sponsoring our youth work day fundraiser!
This summer (July 12th-18th), a group of our high schoolers are traveling San Diego for an Immersion Trip: a mixture of service, learning, and engagement with community members. Our topic is timely: we'll visit the Mexico/U.S. border area to explore the topic of immigration justice and learn from inter-religious organizations who are doing the work of advocacy, service, and healing. Some of our activities include volunteering with Border Angels, a mural walk in Chicano Park, multilingual worship with The Border Church, visiting the St. Francis Migrant Resource Center, and going on a prayer hike to see the border wall.
We are so grateful for the support we’ve received from the congregation so far, especially through our Mardi Gras fundraiser back in February.
We have $1,000 left to reach our fundraising goal!
Please consider supporting our trip by sponsoring a youth work day! This Sunday, May 31st, the youth will take on tasks to benefit the whole parish (washing windows, deep-cleaning classrooms, organizing storage, and more). We offer this work as a thank-you for your generosity.
You can contribute by putting a check in the offering plate with the memo "Youth Immersion," or donate online at this link (there will be a QR code on the Blue Sheet, too).
Thank you!
–Emily+
Honoring our Graduating Seniors
It’s that time of year again: the moment when we honor the young people who’ve enriched our life at All Souls, and we mark the end of a season and the beginning of the next.
This Sunday, May 31st, at the end of the 10:30 service, we will hold a ceremony to bless and recognize All Souls youth who are graduating from high school.
Below, you will find profiles of two of our graduating seniors. Look out for additional profiles in the coming weeks.
Please join us in celebrating and congratulating these extraordinary young people!
Maya Gearen
A favorite All Souls memory:
Going to the passing of the torch bonfire at the end of youth group last spring, roasting marshmallows, and singing by candlelight.
Plans for the future:
Next year, I’m planning to study Biochemistry at UCLA.
Reed Witort
A favorite All Souls memory:
Being with family and friends on Easter.
Plans for the future:
Next year, I will be going to college at UC Santa Cruz.
Congratulations, seniors!
Invitation to Letter Writing
As a member of my high school’s chapter of Amnesty International, I wrote letters to foreign governments on behalf of prisoners who were detained for expressing their beliefs. Back then, I would never have predicted that I would be writing letters to detainees in the United States in a similar effort to affirm their human rights.
However, this option was one of those offered up to members of All Souls Parish during an adult formation class led by Kaki Logan last fall, and it was the one that was the best fit for me. I wanted to present a counter message to that of our administration: God cares for you, and so does your community.
As I sat down to write letters to detainees in the California City ICE Detention Center, alongside other members of All Souls and the greater community, I was driven by the desire to “do something” in response to the aggressive and unlawful implementation of immigration enforcement. I felt a sense of unity as well as hope that we collectively could make a difference in the lives of those who are being detained. We wrote words of encouragement, connecting person to person to affirm their value as beloved human beings.
After the third letter writing event I participated in, I received a response from one of the recipients of my letters. Danny wrote a beautiful response to my letter which expressed the counterpoint I presented had been received. He wrote “Sometimes we think that in the US they don’t like Hispanics and your words remind me that there still is beautiful people in the US.”
Our next letter-writing event is on Saturday, June 13th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Join with All Soulsians in the Common Room to engage in this important work. Please RSVP to Pam Maffei (pamelamaffei@icloud.com) or Cindy Townsend (hikinpsyd@gmail.com).
Peace,
–Cindy Townsend
Affirming and Celebrating: Pride Month at All Souls
As we prepare for the celebration of Pride here at All Souls Parish, we are delighted to announce a special Pathfinder series running throughout the month of June.
This series will feature different personal stories and reflections from LGBTQ+ members of our community, highlighting their experiences of faith and community here at All Souls Parish. The series will be called Affirmed and Celebrated: Pride at All Souls.
We are currently looking for four individuals to share their reflections.
The Ask:
In roughly 750 words, share a story or reflection of your faith journey or your experience of community at All Souls Parish as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. What has it felt like to be affirmed and celebrated here?
Available Dates:
Please look over the schedule below and let us know which dates work best for your story to be shared:
Wednesday, June 3
Wednesday, June 10
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 24
How to Participate:
If you feel called to share your journey with the parish, please respond to Mother Rachel (rachel@allsoulsparish.org) with the following:
A brief note letting us know you'd like to participate.
Two dates from the list above that work well for your schedule.
Thank you for continuing to enrich All Souls with your presence, your faith, and your stories. We look forward to hearing from you and celebrating Pride together!
Warmly,
–Mother Rachel+
Announcements & Events
Thursday (TONIGHT)
5:30 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
6 pm, Beer Garden Meet up at Fieldwork.
Friday
6:30 pm, Racial Justice Movie Night. The film will start at 7 pm. See details below.
Sunday
7 am, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room or click here to join by Zoom.
8 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
9:15 am, Adult Formation classes in the Parish Hall.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave, including acolyte recognition and blessing of our graduating seniors. Join us via livestream here. Sunday School in the Godly Play room.
12 noon, Coffee Hour in the Courtyard.
Wednesday
9 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
Gather With Us
BEING WITH GROUPS
Being With is for anyone who’s curious about faith or wondering if Christianity has something meaningful to offer them. In this 10-week small group, we seek out the sacred simply by paying attention to our lives — and the lives of those around us.
What happens during Being With?
Every 90-minute group begins with a question. For example, I wonder where in your life you find the most meaning? Then we listen to a brief teaching and move on to a group conversation. Participants are encouraged to listen to and openly receive what each person shares. Together, we’ll come to see how our stories are interconnected.
Our pilot Being With group began on May 17th, 2026. There is still space. The final week to try it out is this Sunday, May 31st (after that, the group will close). Groups are kept to 12 people. The class meets at 5 pm in the Common Room. Questions? Click here to email Mother Rachel.
BEER GARDEN MEET UP - May 28th at 6 pm
Join other All Soulsians to connect at a local beer garden - for a drink, a bite, a chat, a game, etc. Drop by for as long as you are able. This is an all-ages, intergenerational event. See you there!
May location: Fieldwork, 1160 6th St, Berkeley
RACIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHT - May 29th
The Racial Justice Committee invites everyone to a film screening of “Crash” (2004) a crime drama directed by Paul Haggis that explores racial and social tensions in Los Angeles through a series of interconnected stories involving diverse characters over a 36-hour period. The characters’ lives intersect in unexpected ways, revealing prejudices and biases. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is known for its complex, interwoven narrative and exploration of racism, class, and human connection.
Date: Friday, May 29
Location: Common Room
6:30 pm: Noshing. Please bring snacks And drinks to share
7 pm: Movie starts
After the movie we will have a small discussion. Everyone is welcome!
EMILY HANSEN CURRAN’S ORDINATION - Saturday, June 6th at 10 am
Everyone is invited to Grace Cathedral for Emily Hansen Curran’s ordination. Click here to see your invitation! There will be a reception immediately following the service.
PARISH PICNIC - June 21st
Just after the 10:30a service, we’ll all head up to Tilden Park for a church potluck and picnic! We’ll have a BBQ fired up with burgers and hot dogs, and maybe even play a favorite pastime of ours: a corn hole tournament. If you can help out with the picnic, please see Jeannie Koops. No RSVP necessary.
ALL SOULS PARISH ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP - July 17th–19th
Registration is now open! Join us for a weekend of togetherness at our private spot on the river behind the Big Sur River Inn. Whether you want to float downstream, let the kids splash in the swimming hole, or chat under the stars, it’s a sweet time for all.
Where? Santa Lucia Campground, Big Sur
Everyone is welcome: Invite a friend and get your tent ready!
Early Bird Option: Limited spots are available to arrive one day early (July 16th).
Sign Up:Click here to register on REALM or on the sheet in the narthex.
Volunteer: We need help with campfires and activities! Click here to email Mother Rachel and to lend a hand.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION
Christian Theologies from Women’s Experience
We often hear about men’s experiences in the Bible, but less so about women. From May 17 to the 31st, we’ll explore theological and spiritual understandings from women with different lived experiences. Each voice opens up an opportunity to examine the breadth of God’s relationship with contemporary women’s voices in similar and different ways.
On May 31st, we will explore Mujerista theology and feminist theology from Caucasian women’s experiences. Special thanks to Gabriela Merayo, an Argentinian Anglican and feminist colleague for resources on Mujerista voices. We will conclude comparatively with these differing voices.
Please join us in the Parish Hall on May 17, 24, and 31st at 9:15 am for conversations with Rev. Dr. Paula Nesbitt and her guests. Everyone is welcome!
COMING UP IN ADULT FORMATION
Isaiah Project / The Center for Art Esteem
June 7 — Please join us at 9:15 in the Common Room for conversation with another one of our amazing Isaiah Project grantees, the Center for ArtEsteem. The Center offers healing from trauma by empowering East Bay children and youth to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity and education.
Summer Book Groups 2026
The Adult Formation Committee is happy to announce the schedule for our summer book groups this year. We will send more information as the time draws nearer, but wanted to get this information out now so that you can start reading. For now just a few short teasers! Any questions, please contact Anne Yardley at ayardley@drew.edu.
June 14, 21, and 28
Jack Shoemaker will lead a discussion of Elaine Pagels' book Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus. As the description of her book says, in this book Pagels “sets out to discover how a poor young Jewish man inspired a religion that shaped the world.”
July 12, 19, and 26
Mark Richardson and Anne Yardley will lead a discussion of Angela Buchdahl's book Heart of a Stranger. “From the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi, a stirring account of one woman’s journey from feeling like an outsider to becoming one of the most admired religious leaders in the world.”
August 2, 9, and 16
Jane Vandenburgh and Jenny Kern will lead a discussion of Glenn Jordan and Pádraig Ó Tuam's book Borders and Belonging: The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times. “A leading poet and a theologian reflect on the Old Testament story of Ruth, a tale that resonates deeply in today's world with its themes of migration, the stranger, mixed cultures and religions, law and leadership, women in public life, kindness, generosity and fear.”
BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
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!
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!
Open Door Dinner makes a warm jambalaya meal on the second Sunday of every month for anyone who is hungry. Teams of All Soulsians and friends take turns cooking and delivering. Email Jennifer A. (akiyama.jennifer@gmail.com) if you’d like to help!
Food Bank collection is active for the Good Shepherd Food Pantry. 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.
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:
Waterproof tarps
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.
Worship With Us
DIOCESAN JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 20, at 11:00 AM. Our parish has been asked to host the official Diocese of California Juneteenth Celebration this year. It is a huge honor for All Souls, and a beautiful opportunity for us to open our doors and welcome a wider diocesan family into our space for worship, reflection, and celebration. Please consider bringing food to share for our potluck reception afterward. And, contact Mother Rachel if you would like to serve in the liturgy.
TAIZE TUESDAYS
These services will be on hiatus during the summer months. Check back in the Fall for information on a potential new series of services.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Sunday School (for kids pre-K through 5th grade) will meet for one final time during the 10:30 service this week, May 31st. 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 B+ (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
YOUTH
We are currently on a summer hiatus. Check back in the Fall for a new schedule.
Youth Group (for grades 6-12) generally happens each Sunday from 7-8:30 pm during the school year. All youth are welcome to join us for games, art, reflection, and prayer. We alternate between a middle and high school group with some all-grades events.
To join the weekly youth mailing list, email Emily B+ (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org).
