The Pathfinder: July 23rd, 2026
A Path Well Traveled
You never know the role you might play in another person’s journey. I’ve become particularly mindful of this while serving at All Souls in Berkeley. It was Roger Glassey more than 15 years ago who first helped me see the eternal transience of All Souls Parish.
Back when Roger was our Giving Secretary, he passed on the institutional knowledge that about 10 to 15% of the households of the parish change each year, a large number for a congregation. Much of this is because of the gravitational force of the university and the seminaries that significantly shape our civic life. People regularly come to Berkeley to study, to research, to teach, and to work in the many nonprofits and companies created here. And then, often leave to do the same elsewhere. While it can be difficult to continually offer greetings to some and Godspeed to others, it has also taught me to be as present as I possibly can be with everyone who comes through our copper doors, because I don’t know how long we will have with them.
I have felt this keenly since the residential program of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, also known as CDSP, closed its doors a year ago. Seminarians, faculty, and staff of CDSP have been part of the lifeblood of this parish for over a century; the life of our congregation and my own life have been immeasurably enriched by the symbiosis of our relationship. In intensive, sometimes challenging, often wondrous ways, we have been able to walk alongside dozens and dozens of Christians as they discern a particular vocation to be ordained leaders.
One week ago today, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on K Street in Washington, D.C., the Reverend Michael Justin Drell was ordained priest. I have walked alongside many priests and deacons in the more than two decades I’ve been a priest. And there are few people who have taken a more unusual path and are more suited to this calling than Michael. From the very beginning I’ve been profoundly grateful to walk this path with Michael.
June 16th was a sweltering day in Washington. At 6 PM the thermometer read 95°; with humidity factored in, it was 105°, but for those gathered within the stone sanctuary of St. Paul’s, with as much pomp, circumstance, and incense as humanly possible, it was quite incredible. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon was personal, grounded, and moving. The eight person highly trained choir was exceptional, and the beauty of the space, seen in the art, architecture, and vestments, was exquisite.
But what I will treasure the most, and hold onto for a very long time, was the beam on Michael’s face after Bishop Budde and a collar of priests had laid hands on Michael and prayed for the Holy Spirit to be present in him. His many years of travel, his extra years of study, his prayer and dedication, his humility and service with those most vulnerable, all of it came to a fine point. An inflection point. And then began again. Michael emerged again, newly remade, fully himself, ready for the next bend of the road.
Standing in for hundreds of others, I was deeply grateful to be there to present and pray and celebrate. Grateful for the years of travelling the path with Michael at All Souls leading up to that day, grateful for that moment, and grateful for the years of journey yet to come.
Peace,
-Phil+
Reflection from the Border: A Sermon by All Souls Youth
This is a summary of a sermon preached by Emily+ and the youth of All Souls on Sunday, July 19th, following an immersion trip to the U.S./Mexico border on the theme of immigration justice. They preached on the lectionary Gospel text, which was Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, and can be found here.
Driving through the Tijuana River Valley, the first sight of the 30-foot steel border wall was stark and shocking. Slicing through natural landscapes, it stands as a visual reminder of human division and our tendency to “other” people.
The Gospel parable highlights our impulse to categorize world realities cleanly into “good” and “bad.” Yet, the trip challenged those boundaries through real-life encounters:
Rethinking Categories: At Friendship Park, we worshiped alongside The Border Church, sharing Eucharist across a 20-foot gap separated by steel bars. Gaby noted how easy it is to label the unknown as “bad” weeds competing for resources. But whether labeled wheat or weed, plants are just plants—and people are just people.
The Cost of Separation: Pastor Manuel Retamoza likened the wall to the cross: an instrument of empire meant to sow fear. Knox reflected on volunteering with Border Angels, an organization delivering water in the desert. Immigrants are often treated as undesirable “weeds” for surviving despite systemic barriers, yet no person is inherently evil or undeserving of life.
Humanizing the "Other": While assembling care packages and talking with day laborers at Home Depot, the youth experienced the power of face-to-face connection. Inara shared that hearing people’s stories makes it impossible to deny their shared humanity.
Scarcity and Narrative: Nora pointed out that “othering” stems from fear and a scarcity mindset. Labeling undocumented immigrants as threats creates a dehumanizing narrative. However, borders should exist to offer safety, not to be defended at the expense of human lives.
The youth also witnessed profound hope. At Our Lady of Guadalupe in Barrio Logan, a parish converted its hall into a shelter, choosing radical hospitality over rigid boundaries.
While the border wall reflects human division, Pastor Manuel views it not just as a cross, but as an altar—a gathering place where love overcomes separation. The steel is already rusting in the ocean air; eventually, justice, love, and unity will prevail. Returning home, our service continues by sharing these stories and living as transformed people.
To read the full sermon, please click here.
Peace,
Emily B+ and the All Souls Youth
Parish Retreat Registration Open!
It’s time for our annual Parish Retreat! Join us Friday, September 18th through Sunday, September 20th for a weekend getaway up at the beautiful Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg. This year’s theme is "Teach Us to Pray," featuring sessions led in part by members of our own community.
On Saturday, we’ll gather for an intergenerational session on prayer practices before breaking into focused workshops, with special programming tailored just for children and youth. Beyond our program, the weekend includes plenty of free time for reflection, rest, adventuring, and play.
It’s always a sweet time of connection and spiritual growth in a lovely setting, and we’d love for you to join us! Reach out to a fellow All Soulsian, make plans to room together, and reserve your spot:
Registration & Pricing Notes:
Costs are listed per person. Please select whichever occupancy type suits each family member best, and we’ll work out the remaining details!
Financial Support: We want everyone to be able to attend. If cost is prohibitive for you or your family, please let us know or indicate it on the registration form—scholarship and sliding-scale options are readily available, and we are more than happy to help.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to me directly at rachel@allsoulsparish.org.
–Mother Rachel
Keep Your Eye on Spruce Street
Funds allocated for landscaping from the Living Waters capital campaign were sufficient to complete the Cedar Street area, the handicapped parking area, and the courtyard area. But despite a very simple gravel design along Spruce Street, there were insufficient funds to complete it.
The landscaping proposal to the vestry was to accept the most qualified bid for the other three areas, and to wait on the Spruce Street area until we could raise additional funds and find a more compelling design. We already had one in mind—a dry stream suggested by Joni Stickney, a member of the Landscaping User Group. All of the soil between the eaves of the Narthex along Spruce Street and the sidewalk falls within the five-foot fire-restricted zone. So no planting can be done along Spruce Street. It must be only hardscape.
Given that a simple gravel treatment was not particularly inspiring and that a good deal of work needed to be done to remove sporadic plantings, stumps, and uneven soil, the Vestry agreed to wait on the Spruce Street area and to move forward with the other three.
Then a donor appeared. Phil communicated our need to someone who also likes the dry stream design suggested by Joni and has donated the funds to make our Living Waters stream a reality.
Keep your eye on Spruce Street. If you were at church last week, you may have seen the bins of boulders and flat rocks delivered to All Souls. When the “water is running” in our Living Waters dry stream, perhaps you, too, will agree with the Vestry and our generous All Souls donor. It will be beautiful.
-Kaki Logan, Landscaping Committee
Bearing Witness: Our Journey to Israel-Palestine
Join us on Sunday, August 9th, for a special Adult Formation offering. In January 2026, Monique Baylocq, Nancy Midlin, and Laurie Porter were part of a woman-to-woman peace mission to Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Believing that peace begins when we truly listen to one another, their goal was to meet with women --Israeli and Palestinian; Jewish, Muslim, and Christian--in order to hear their stories and bring them back to the United States. In this special presentation, they will share some of those stories and talk about what they learned. Join us in the Common Room at 9:15am!
-Anne Yardley
Announcements & Events
Thursday (TONIGHT)
5:30 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
6 pm, Beer Garden Meet Up at: Los Moles, 6120 Potrero Ave, El Cerrito
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.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here.
12 noon, Coffee hour in the Courtyard.
12:30 pm, Justice & Peace Mtg in the Common Room.
5 pm, Being With group in the Common Room.
Tuesday
7:15 am, Vigil at Concord Immigration Court in Concord.
Wednesday
9 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
Gather With Us
JUSTICE & PEACE COMMITTEE MEETING - July 26th
All are welcome to join the Justice & Peace Committee for a meeting in the Common Room on Sunday, July 26th after the 10:30 am service.
CONCORD COURTHOUSE VIGIL NEXT TUESDAY - July 28th
Next Tuesday, July 28th, we will hold our vigil at the Concord Immigration Court from 7:15-9:15 am at 1855 Gateway Blvd. All are welcome to join— It’s a wonderful way to take a step toward justice. The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers will be our vigil lead. Contact Ruth+ or Kaki for details and carpools.
ALL SOULS PARISH RETREAT - September 18th–20th
Please mark your calendars and save the date for the annual All Souls Parish retreat! Every September, our parish community heads to The Bishop’s Ranch—a lovely retreat center located in Healdsburg—to relax, connect, and engage in meaningful fellowship. See the full article above for all of the details!
The Bishop’s Ranch offers something for everyone. You can join the traditional group bike ride, relax by the pool, hang out on the lawn, or get creative in the well-stocked art casita. Whatever your pace, you are sure to find renewal in this beautiful space.
Registration is officially open! 👉 Click Here to Register
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, 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. Groups are kept to 12 people. The class meets at 5 pm in the Common Room. Questions? Click here to email Mother Rachel.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION: Sundays at 9:15 am in the Common Room
Heart of a Stranger by Angela Buchdahl
Join the Rev. Mark Richardson and Anne Yardley in the Common Room at 9:15 am THIS SUNDAY for the final discussion of this fascinating memoir by the first Asian American Rabbi, Angela Buchdahl. Angela Buchdahl is the child of a Jewish American father and a Buddhist, Korean-born mother.
July 12th: Chapters 1-8, covering Angela’s early years through high school.
July 19th: Chapters 9-17, taking her through her early jobs.
July 26th: Remaining chapters of the book, detailing her time as the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City.
Feel free to join us even if you haven’t finished the reading!
Borders and Belonging: The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times by Glenn Jordan and Pádraig Ó Tuama
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers will lead a discussion of this book by a poet and theologian as they “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.” These discussions will take place on August 2nd and 16th in the Common Room.
Any questions, please contact Anne Yardley at ayardley@drew.edu.
SPECIAL ADULT FORMATION OFFERING: Sunday, August 9 in the Common Room at 9:15 am
Bearing Witness: Our Journey to Israel-Palestine
In January 2026, Monique Baylocq, Nancy Midlin, and Laurie Porter were part of a woman-to-woman peace mission to Jerusalem and the West Bank. Believing that peace begins when we truly listen to one another, their goal was to meet with women --Israeli and Palestinian; Jewish, Muslim, and Christian--in order to hear their stories and bring them back to the United States. In this presentation, they will share some of those stories and talk about what they learned. Join us in the Common Room at 9:15 am.
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
Below are a few pictures from our vigil at the Concord Courthouse yesterday. The owner of the building does not allow us to park in the parking structure, speak to immigrants or to use the bathroom. Alec Stone, US Congressman Mark Desaulniere's associate, was at the Concord Immigration Court to understand the mission of the vigils. He can be seen below speaking with Rev. Scott Denman of St. John's Oakland.
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
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) is currently on hiatus for the summer. Typically, we gather weekly during the 10:30 am 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.” Check back in the Fall for futher information or email Emily B+ with any questions.
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).
Housing Request from an All Soulsian
A parishioner from All Souls, Francesca Raphael, is seeking a room to rent in the East Bay. She is glad to help out with chores and cleaning, and has prior experience living with elders as a live-in advocate, companion, and helper. Her budget is $600/month. If you have an extra room, or know of any people or places that may be a good match, please reach out to fgr.alameda@gmail.com
