Feed the Need - Love Thy Neighbor - Spread the Word
These three simple phrases are calls to action. Together, they guide us toward a mission far greater than any one individual. They call us to live our faith through service and compassion.
This Sunday, November 1, 2026, All Souls Episcopal Parish (ASEP) will begin an expanded effort to address the needs of the hungry, the unhoused, and those who are food insecure in our community. On that day, we ask everyone attending worship to bring non-perishable food items that will be provided to our sister parish, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Berkeley, and their food program, Pan del Cielo. Nonperishable food items may include canned food, pasta, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, cans of tuna fish, chicken, and anything else that applies.
Over the past year, the faithful people of Good Shepherd have assumed the tremendous responsibility of operating a food pantry after the difficult closure of the ministry previously provided by Friends Church on Cedar Street. We are especially grateful for Maggie Cooke, whose leadership and commitment have helped maintain ASEP's partnership with this vital ministry.
As many of you know, Jennifer and I serve as Co-Chairs of Open Door Dinner (ODD). Each month, ODD provides approximately 120 meals to people who are hungry, unhoused, or experiencing food insecurity. Those of us who serve on ODD Teams 1, 2, and 3 have been asking ourselves an important question: How can we do more? We dream of serving twice as many people, perhaps even three times as many. Whether we serve 120, 240, or 360 individuals, expanding this ministry requires commitment, volunteers, food, and financial support. Most of all, it requires a parish willing to answer God's call.
Two weeks ago, Jennifer spoke with Andrew, the UC Berkeley student liaison who helps connect students with the ODD program. He shared that a number of students are losing their SNAP benefits and are facing increased food insecurity. On January 1, 2027, there will be more students, individuals, and families across this community and across the nation who will lose SNAP benefits on that day. We are exploring ways that ASEP can help support these students and individuals through ODD and through our growing partnership with Good Shepherd.
Rather than simply feel frustrated by the need around us, Jennifer and I believe we are called to act.
November 1st is our beginning.
As we celebrate All Saints Day, ASEP will launch this renewed commitment to our food ministry and ask parishioners to bring as much food as they are willing to donate. Then, beginning January 1, 2027, we hope to enhance our support of Pan del Cielo, encouraging parishioners to bring non-perishable food items every Sunday. Just as we joyfully gather each month for Open Door Dinner, we can also joyfully share our food, our resources, and our time throughout the year.
Along with All Saints Day, we also celebrate All Souls Day, or Día de los Muertos, a day dedicated to remembrance and celebration of those whose lives continue to inspire us. It is a fitting occasion to honor the legacy of Noah Zimmerman, whose compassion and generosity touched so many. We also remember saints whose lives embodied Christ's command to care for those in need: Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, and Saint Nicholas, all remembered for feeding the hungry and serving the poor.
If you cannot be with us on November 1st, please consider supporting Good Shepherd and Pan del Cielo, your local food bank, such as the Alameda County Community Food Bank or Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, or another organization serving those in need in your area.
Feed the Need. Love Thy Neighbor. Spread the Word.
Tell others that All Souls Episcopal Parish has embraced a mission to help feed the hungry. Share this vision with friends, neighbors, family members, faith communities, and anyone who asks how they can make a difference.
Because when one person acts, others are inspired to act as well. And together, we can do far more than we ever imagined.
-Patrick Tahara and Jennifer Akiyama
All Saints Day: A Joyful Reunion
Celebrating Día de los Muertos at All Souls Episcopal Parish has become a beloved tradition. Once again, we are honored to display the beautiful ofrenda that Humberto Carillo built and invite everyone to participate by bringing a photograph of a deceased loved one to place on this altar.
The Day of the Dead, 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.
Along with pictures and illustrations, we welcome other traditional offerings such as marigolds, papel picados (delicate, perforated paper banners), favorite foods or drinks of the deceased, calaveras (sugar skulls), and even a small bowl of salt (meant to purify the souls on their journey home).
The altar itself has many symbolic features, beginning with the powerful message, “ALL SOULS ARE MINE”. The base forms a staircase, representing the earth meeting the sunset. The front features two calaveras (skulls) symbolic of the humorous side of death, and the arch represents the wind pushing broken branches and reminds us that the Mexican people hold these traditions even when separated from their roots.
Bless the many parted souls who lived their lives with grace.
Bless the saints in heaven, gathered in that special place.
May we tell their stories and remember all the ways
They lived their faith and spent their days.
There is glory and reward, even if at first there’s strife.
Oh, blessed saints, you help us see a path to eternal life.
May we always hold them dear and know their life and place.
May we know their inspiration and aspire to their grace.
- Diane Haavik
The Feast of All Saints and All Souls
I have a binder of favorite recipes that have been shared with me, typed and printed out. They are titled something like Aunt Julie‘s Carrot Cake or Grandpa’s Orange Chiffon Cake or Bob’s Cheesecake. (It’s not all cakes, but cakes are important!)
When I was a kid, my mom’s version of this was a box of index cards. Like the cookbooks I have that fall open to certain well-worn pages, these are stained with oil and wine and coffee and who knows what else. But they are the recipes that I come back to again and again because they are delicious and because they evoke a person or occasion or feeling that I cherish. I even have a few recipes that are named for people beyond my memory – Edith’s Gingerbread and Bernie’s Hot Fudge? I don’t know who Edith and Bernie are, but they’ve been handed down to me in a lineage of precious gifts.
As we remember our saints and loved ones who have gone before on the Feast of All Saints and All Souls, let’s practice resurrection and celebrate them this Sunday. Bring a favorite dish from someone you have loved who has passed and share it at the potluck after services on November 1. No need to sign up – just bring your remembrance and tribute. We look forward to feasting with you and all the saints!
-Jeannie Koops
Disability, Theology, and Social Justice: Conversations at the Crossroads of Theory and Lived Experience
November brings a new Adult Formation series led by Erin Horne, Jenny Kern, and Sarita Cannon. In this three-week class, we will explore some of the questions that shape both theoretical writings in the field of Disability Theology and the lived experiences of people with disabilities in the context of the disability rights movement at All Souls.
How might spiritual practices and discourses inadvertently marginalize those living with disabilities? How might we rectify the harm caused by that marginalization and uplift voices that are often silenced, misrepresented, or spoken for? Radical empathy will guide our work together.
Each of our leaders brings a unique expertise in disability theology, disability rights, and disability literature. Stories of those living with disabilities will be woven throughout each session, concluding with a panel of All Soulsians sharing their personal stories.
We look forward to spending the hour with you on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in the Parish Hall starting November 8th. Join us for one or all of the following offerings.
Session 1 - November 8: Disability Justice: Lived Experience, Activism, and Scholarship will be led by Jenny Kern and Sarita Cannon
Session 2 - November 15: Disability, Vulnerability, and Dependence will be led by Erin Horne and Sarita Cannon
Session 3 - November 22: Panel Discussion from the lived experiences of All Soulsians will include Penny Armstrong, Jane Vandenburg, Carrie Smith, and Erin Horne
Peace,
-Erin Horne
Isaiah Project 2.0: Volunteer Training
As we celebrate the conclusion of the Living Waters campaign, our opportunities to serve within the greater East Bay community continue through the Isaiah Project 2.0. If you feel called to volunteer at one of the four Isaiah Project organizations (see links below), please plan to attend our second volunteer training on Monday, November 9.
This time, we will be meeting on Zoom from 6:30 to 8 pm.
The training is designed to invite us to reflect on what it means to serve others within a Christian context. In addition, we will learn about how cultural humility can help us build bridges and help “repair the breach”.
Our first volunteer training in September, led by Rector Phil Brochard, Wendy Kalimag, Jenny Kern, and Molly Nicol was well attended and appreciated. Best of all, it led to meaningful volunteer opportunities for those who attended.
Paul Mathew reported the following:
“I REALLY liked the Isaiah Project volunteer training. This is not just a ‘nice to have’ training. I think it’s essential for anyone looking to volunteer in a situation where there is a power imbalance between the volunteer and the beneficiary, such as with the Isaiah Project organizations. The training provided practical advice and real-life examples of dos and don’ts for effective and impactful volunteering”.
Read on for more information about the origins of the Isaiah Project, as well as links to the four organizations.
The Isaiah Project evolved from the Living Waters capital campaign to improve accessibility, functionality, and beautification at All Souls. 10% of the funds raised for Living Waters were set aside as a tithe to support four nonprofit organizations in the community. These established organizations are deeply dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of some of the most vulnerable among us. Their work is nothing short of transformational.
The four organizations were chosen by a dedicated team who researched extensively in the spirit of repairing the disparities caused by racial discrimination in the East Bay. That discrimination, often codified into redlining and other discriminatory laws and policies, has left a legacy of deep inequality. You can read more about the Isaiah Project and the history of racial discrimination on our website or click here.
Isaiah Project 2.0 invites us as a congregation to deepen our relationships with the four organizations we are supporting through acts of Christian service. Some examples of volunteer opportunities include:
tutoring kids at Elizabeth House
volunteering to help write grant proposals for the American Indian Child Resource Center
leading a résumé writing workshop for young adults involved with Youth Spirit Artworks
sharing fundraising strategies for the capital campaign at the Center for ArtEsteem
These are just some of many ways to provide meaningful support to our extended Isaiah project community. We would love to tell you more about it!
Please RSVP for the training to jenkernesq@gmail.com or Wcalimag@gmail.com or keep an eye out for a QR code soon. Or just use the Zoom link above to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.
-Jenny Kern
Ingathering Dinner 2026
We hope you will enjoy some photos from last Sunday’s Ingathering Dinner. We had a wonderful turnout and want to thank everyone who made the evening so special.
-The Staff
Announcements & Events
Thursday (TONIGHT)
5 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
6 pm, Beer Garden Meet-up at Headlands in Berkeley.
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 and Sunday School in the Godly Play room downstairs.
12 noon, All Souls/All Saints Day Potluck Brunch in the Parish Hall.
5:30 pm, Being With Group in the Common Room.
7 pm, Youth Group at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley. Halloween Mixer for all grades.
Tuesday
6 pm, Being With 20/30’s Group.
8 pm, Taize in the Chapel.
Wednesday
9 am, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. Please enter through the copper doors downstairs on Cedar Street.
7 pm, Choir Rehearsal in the Nave.
Don’t Forget!
Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1, at 2 am. Clocks will "fall back" one hour to 1 am.
Gather With Us
BEER GARDEN MEET-UP AT HEADLANDS IN BERKELEY - TONIGHT, 10/29
One Thursday a month, from 6-8 pm, All Soulsians meet up at a different beer garden to connect - for a drink, a bite, a chat, a game, etc. 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. This is an all-ages, intergenerational event—we would love to see everyone there! Invite a friend.
October location: Headlands
Note: This will be the last meet-up of 2026. More gatherings will take place in the new year. Stay tuned!
ALL SOULS/ALL SAINTS DAY - November 1st
Join us 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 about the dish, the recipe, and/or a fond memory of the person.
Lastly, we invite everyone to participate in decorating the beautiful ofrenda, built by Humberto Carillo, by bringing a photograph of a deceased loved one to place on this altar. Along with pictures and illustrations, we welcome other traditional offerings such as marigolds, papel picados, favorite foods or drinks of the deceased, calaveras (sugar skulls), and even a small bowl of salt (to purify the souls on their journey home). Bring your items on Sunday, Nov. 1st. Questions? See Diane Haavik.
Learn With Us
COMING UP IN ADULT FORMATION
COMING UP
Disability, Theology, and Social Justice: Conversations at the Crossroads of Theory and Lived Experience co-led by Erin Horne, Jenny Kern, and Sarita Cannon.
In this three-week class, we will explore some of the questions that shape both theoretical writings in the field of Disability Theology and the lived experiences of people with disabilities at All Souls. How might spiritual practices and discourses inadvertently marginalize those living with disabilities? How might we rectify the harm caused by that marginalization and uplift voices that are often silenced, misrepresented, or spoken for? Radical empathy will guide our work together. Classes meet at 9:15 in the Parish Hall on the following Sundays in November: 11/8, 11/15, 11/22
NEWCOMER CLASSES
Looking for ways to learn more about All Souls and connect with 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. This class serves as a space for introductions, orientation, and fellowship. We will cover topics such as our mission and values, baptism and confirmation, membership, liturgy and prayer, and how to find your place and get involved. We will also provide a tour of the church and answer any questions you may have. Join us to connect with other members and to learn more about what All Souls has to offer. The classes will be held in the Common Room at 9:15 AM on the following Sundays in November: 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, and 11/29. Email Mother Rachel (rachel@allsoulsparish.org) with any questions.
GODLY PLAY TRAINING - 11/7
The Children and Family Committee will host a Godly Play Training on Saturday, 11/7, from 9 am-12:30 pm, led by Jill Gidlund, a gifted trainer with the Godly Play Foundation. This is a chance to experience a Godly Play story firsthand, hear a presentation on children’s spirituality, and enjoy treats and fellowship! Anyone is welcome, whether you’re a parent, thinking about becoming a teacher, or just interested in the topic. Please feel free to contact committee members Kim Wong, Molly Nicol, or Jeannie Koops if you would like to sign up or learn more.
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
All Souls hosts two weekly Bible Study Classes each week. The Sunday morning group meets from 7-8 am and the Thursday evening group meets from 5-6:30 pm. Both meet in our Common Room and use the Reading Between the Lines curriculum. Join us! Drop-ins are always welcome, too!
Serve With Us
There are lots of ways to share your talents and time! Check out the bulletin board in the Narthex to sign up for one of All Souls’ many ministries.
COURTHOUSE VIGILS
Join us at 1855 Gateway Blvd., Concord, on the 4th Tuesday of every month, 7:15-9:30 am. We gather on the last Tuesday of every month to hold a vigil for people coming for their immigration appointment. The majority of our time is spent singing and holding signs expressing welcome and solidarity. We also take time each month to pray, remembering immigrants in detention centers and those who have died there. For more information, contact Kaki L. or Ruth M.
LETTER-WRITING EVENT - NOVEMBER 7th
All are welcome to join us in the Common Room for another immigrant letter-writing event on Saturday, Nov. 7th, 2-4 pm. RSVP to Pam Maffei (pamelamaffei@icloud.com) or Cindy Townsend (hikinpsyd@gmail.com).
Feeding Our Neighbors - Let’s do our part to make sure that all of our neighbors have access to nutritious food. Please bring non-perishable food on Sundays and use the baskets in the Narthex. Food will be delivered to Pan Del Cielo, the pantry at the Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd in West Berkeley.
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 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!
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.
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!
Worship With Us
WEDNESDAY MORNING EUCHARIST
Join us every Wednesday at 9 am in the Chapel for a small, discussion-based service. All are welcome!
TAIZE TUESDAYS
Join us on Tuesdays at 8 pm as we gather in the Chapel for a community-led contemplative Taizé service that weaves singing chants, reading poetry and prayers, and sitting in silence. All are welcome.
We're looking for people to help lead chants, select and read readings, or keep time and guide the flow. No musical experience needed—just a willingness to hold space. Email Ryan (rypotpie@gmail.com) or Kris (kris.starr@gmail.com) if you are interested.
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
November Faithful Families Dinner Postponed
We've decided to postpone the upcoming Faithful Families event (originally scheduled for Nov. 15th) due to staff availability. For our next family-friendly intergenerational event, join us at the Advent Festival on the evening of Nov. 29th. There will be many gatherings for families and kids throughout December, too!
Sunday School - Grades Pre-K - 5th
We meet during the 10:30 am service. We follow the Godly Play curriculum, an approach to spiritual formation that features storytelling, hands-on learning, and wondering. (See the article above for an upcoming training opportunity). Shortly after the service starts, we go downstairs together, following the cross, and return at “The Peace”.
Youth Group - Grades 6-12
We meet on Sunday evenings in the Youth Room from 7-8:30 pm for games, art, reflection, and prayer. We alternate between a High School Small Group and a Middle School Small Group with occasional larger group events. Click here to see the Fall Calendar.
Note: This Sunday, All Saints Sunday (November 1), Youth Group will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, from 7-8:30 pm.
On 11/1, our neighboring Berkeley parish, St. Mark’s Church, will be hosting Youth Group - all grades are welcome! St. Mark’s Priest-in-Charge, Rev. Canon Dr. Lizette Larson-Miller, will help lead the session with Tim Hausler and Daniel Lee (Caleb’s dad) on the theme of Remembrance. A light dinner and snacks will be served (please inform us of any dietary needs).
Enter through the Ellsworth Street entrance, up the stairs by the ‘The Episcopal Church welcomes you’ sign. Youth Group will meet on the Patio and in Lions Hall at the top of the stairs. Please contact Dan if you need an accessible entrance.
Contact: Dan (510) 289-1852 or dan.lee@berkeley.edu
Everything Else…
Join Election Night Compline - November 3rd
As polling places close on the East Coast on Nov. 3, join other Episcopalians in a prayerful service of compline, hosted by the church’s Division of Public Policy, Partnership, and Witness in collaboration with the Mission Program team.
The Rev. Sarah Shipman, director of the church’s Migration Ministries, will officiate. Prayers and readings will be offered in a variety of languages, and participants will be invited to share personal prayers in the chat.
Spanish interpretation will be available. Register here to join the Zoom service at 5 pm (PST), which is 8 pm (EST).
Episcopal Peace Fellowship: Bay Area Chapter Meeting - November 14th
All are welcome to join this meeting on Creative Peacemaking in Belmont at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church from 11 am-1 pm. Click here to see the flyer. The Rev. Dr. Daniel Prechtel will discuss conscientious objection and other activities of the national action group.
Assistive Listening System Now Available
For those of us who want the audio at the 10:30 am Sunday service to be a bit louder or clearer, our long-awaited assistive listening system may help. The system is now installed, working, and available for use. Most users will check out a small wireless receiver and compact headphones in the narthex, then adjust the volume to their liking. That’s it. After the service, they will return the system. The receiver is smaller than a deck of cards; about the size of a thick artisanal chocolate bar. In testing, the headphones worked both for people without hearing aids and for those with hearing aids. Inquire in the narthex near the Cedar-side door. We hope to have a QR code to let Auracast hearing aids connect to the signal. Ushers and AV team members will get you set up! Questions? See Charlie Myers or Jim Feeley.
