Love Beyond Our Doors: The 177th DioCal Convention
In late 2024, when I first learned about serving as a Delegate from All Souls for our Diocesan Convention, it felt like the perfect “small” job for me - still somewhat of a newcomer to All Souls - so I agreed to serve. The two-year term starts with being an Alternate and ends with serving as a voting Delegate at the Diocesan Convention held at Grace Cathedral.
The requirements seemed minimal and included attending four 90-minute Zoom meetings throughout the year plus the annual October Convention itself: a Friday evening Zoom session and then one full day (in-person) at Grace Cathedral.
At the Zoom meetings (called “Convocations”), I learned about service activities of our sister parishes in the Alameda Deanery such as our local area Food Pantry, “Pan del Cielo” now being managed by Good Shepherd; and the weekly bag lunches made by volunteers at St. John’s, Oakland, for those with food insecurity: ways in which we “Love Beyond Our Doors”.
As I attended the Zoom meetings and also spoke with fellow Delegates/Alternates occasionally on Sundays, I learned that at Convention in 2026 (and possibly in 2025 if I subbed) I would be expected to vote, first on important Resolutions and on changes to Canons; AND also for candidates, some of whom would represent our California Diocese at the big church-wide General Convention held every 3 years, to take place in July of 2027.
As our 177th Diocesan Convention grew nearer, I dutifully downloaded and printed out most of the 81-page Convention “Booklet” in early October, studied the Resolutions, and became familiar with the agenda items. I met with fellow Delegates Alan Schut, Gretchen Donart, and experienced Alternates Richard Page and Dean Williamson – Dean has attended Convention every year for 30 years, many years as a Delegate, so he was an ideal resource for answering my newbie-ish questions. I made transportation arrangements and patted myself on the back for my thorough preparation.
And then we were there inside the Cathedral towering on Nob Hill: getting our badges, scanning QR codes to facilitate e-voting, with coffee and fruit in the courtyard for us early birds. Gretchen and I reserved most of one pew for our All Souls contingent, and after Alan and Dean arrived, we were greeted by the Rev. Canon Sierra Reyes, who had spoken eloquently via Zoom the prior evening. She welcomed us and commented on the vibrancy of All Souls: we apparently have a reputation for being an active parish, contributing to the Diocese in many ways.
Looking back on that day, I was impressed by how smoothly we moved through an agenda that contained close to 30 items lasting between 10 and 90 minutes each. Yes, I voted on the Resolutions, and they all passed – although one involved some intense discussion.
But Phil asked me to write a reflection from the Convention, and that, after much thought, is quite different from listening to discussions and voting on Resolutions.
This is what I will remember from the 177th Convention:
Standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of Episcopalians lifting our voices in song and prayer; receiving Communion and locking eyes with our Bishop; listening to the Tongva people sing their hymns praising God in a language (and in a modality) unique to their culture; watching the glorious procession of bright, colorful banners from all of the participating parishes and feeling that flash of pride as Dean carried our All Souls banner up into the Apse; listening to our own, the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers speak about Gospel-based Christianity vs. Christian Nationalism; the deep emotion expressed through tears of gratitude when Fr. Vincent’s vicarage became the (newest in the Diocese) parish of St. Columba, Inverness; the Bishop’s Resolution “Celebrating the Ordination of Women” that started 50 years ago; greeting the small group of Episcopalians sitting in the pew in front of us who spoke to us in English, but to each other only in Mandarin; applauding after the shout-out for St. Lucy’s and its leader, our own, the Rev. Emily Hansen Curran; and listening to much of the Eucharistic prayer (including singing hymns) in Spanish and the Gospel read in Tagalog.
My high school Spanish is pretty minimal at this point; my Tongva and my Tagalog non-existent, but my heart understood it all. I will remember worshipping with several hundred people, 99% of whom I didn’t – or only barely – know. As beloved community, we were proclaiming God’s love through Christ and working together to spread love beyond our doors.
-Kathleen Summerland Heuser, Delegate
Ingathering Reflection
The table wizards work their magic and arrange us in congenial groups. A burst of emails fly-- who’s bringing dessert? What about a salad?-- and the menu emerges: a hearty stew, a special side dish, a delicious sweet ending.
We arrive at a transformed church campus, with festive table decorations and enough seats for everyone, even the newcomer who just signed up that day.
Looking around at the tables at the Stewardship dinner last Sunday, I kept noticing church friends I’d shared this meal with in the past. Each year is an opportunity to welcome newer All Soulsians, and also to talk with longtime members I’d never before had the chance to meet. It’s actually one of my favorite events of the church year. Yes, it’s a potluck, but one that feels elegant and special, more like a dinner party than a “church supper.”
Reflecting on Richard’s invitation to us this year to consider that the annual budget comes from people-- the congregation-- and goes to people-- our beloved clergy and staff members-- I found myself valuing the Ingathering Dinner even more. We each bring our gifts to the table, and our individual dishes are transformed into a feast. The table gathers us together and nourishes us for the way forward. And then the evening concludes with a remarkably funny game that is somehow age-appropriate for all present. -
The dinner is, in many ways, a perfect encapsulation of what makes me so grateful to give to All Souls. My gifts-- whether our family’s pledge or the main dish I’ve prepared for the dinner-- bring me so much more in return: connection, community, and an ongoing journey to come closer to God. A journey that even sometimes finds me laughing my way through Bible Story charades.
- Rebecca Whitney
A Note of Care and Support for Our Staff
As a community, we are blessed to have our dedicated clergy and staff. We care profoundly for their well-being and are committed to supporting them through all seasons of life and work. Please remember that our staff and clergy, like all of us, are entitled to privacy regarding their health and private lives.
lives. While it is natural to wonder about one another when someone is away from the parish, and your prayers are always welcome for anyone for whom you have concern, we ask for your grace and respect for staff privacy during times of leave.
If you have questions or concerns regarding parish leadership, staffing, or pastoral support, please feel free to reach out directly to one of the Wardens, John Gearen (gearen@gmail.com) or Molly Nicol (molly.joan.nicol@gmail.com).
-John Gearen
October Vestry Reflection
October’s Vestry meeting began with a reflection on moments in our lives where we have felt “rescued” by God, in situations when our own abilities or energies were inadequate to our task, yet somehow, we were met by God’s grace appearing in unexpected forms. (You can listen to the conversation that inspired this reflection here).
Giving Task Force
Erin Horne and Sarah Bakker Kellogg presented the final draft of their proposed Framework for Deliberation, developed over the past nine months, to offer future Vestries tools for discernment when they receive direct requests for donations from other organizations or parishes. After months of consultation with members of the Justice and Peace Committee, the Isaiah Project, and other All Soulsians with deep experience of ASEP’s financial and administrative procedures, the task force compiled an electronic archive of resources to make this wealth of institutional memory more accessible in the future. Rather than offering a binding set of criteria for decision-making when unexpected requests come in, this framework and its accompanying archive provide context, suggestions for data-gathering, questions for reflection, and a body of support documents that can inform Vestry decisions.
Caring for Our Core
The Vestry received an update from John, Molly, and Jesse on our Caring for Our Core initiative. With the conclusion of the first phase of interviews with ASEP clergy and staff, we have gained critical insights about where they are stretched too thin. After careful discussion, the Vestry agreed unanimously that clergy and staff well-being is essential to our parish, so these insights need to be at the center of our ongoing budget deliberations for 2027. The task force will now begin the second phase, in which they will engage key contractors and critical lay volunteer leaders who contribute to the parish’s operations, finances, and governance. The Vestry brainstormed a list of names to ensure the task force identifies everyone who may be serving in a role like this. Following phase two, the task force will move on to further domains of lay leadership and questions of how to cultivate a culture of sustainable responsibility and mutual support.
Preschool Negotiations
We received another update on negotiations with our prospective preschool tenant. We learned that there is a slight procedural delay as we wait for approval of the facilities use agreement from our diocesan legal team, and in the meantime some very small modifications to the agreement were requested. Phil+ and the Wardens were comfortable with these modifications as they were both minor and reasonable requests for further clarity in the contract’s language.
Annual Operating Budget
John Gearen, our Senior Warden, presented a preliminary glimpse of our 2027 budget. We expect a 7-8% increase in our overall budget needs, based on the increased cost of staff health insurance, the cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3.8% added to staff salaries, and likely adjustments to core staff time bases. Our pledge requests for the coming year reflect what All Souls will need to fund this budget.
A/V Budget Reallocation
The Audio-Visual budget is one of the last remaining items from the Living Waters Campaign. Jim Feeley and Charlie Meyers have been overseeing the parish’s A/V updates, and while they are reporting positive feedback from the changes they have made so far, they have identified several areas where they believe spending priorities need to be reordered. The most significant of these is a need to better equip the parish hall for adult formation hour and other major events. The Vestry approved their request.
Rector’s Report
So many good things this season! We had near-record attendance at our parish retreat at the Bishop’s Ranch, helped by funds from the Fish Fry and Lasagna Night fundraisers. On Sunday, October 4th, we had an emotional Sunday morning service in which we thanked, in the language of Godly Play, the contractors, workers, and super-volunteers who made the Living Waters Campaign a success. The organ and A/V overhaul are nearly finished, and the annual Pulpit Sweep, in which Rev.Tony Hughes, Rabbi Rebecca Stern, and Rev. Phil preach together at our respective congregations, approaches on Sunday, November 8th (seriously, don’t miss it)! Finally, our digital exodus from Realm to a new online platform called Church Center will be well underway in early 2027 (thanks be to God)!
-Sarah Bakker Kellogg
Join Us for the December 5th
Center For ArtEsteem Luncheon
One of our Isaiah Project partners, the Center for ArtEsteem, holds an art fair every spring in which they display the art work of the elementary, middle and high school students who participate in their art programs. I have attended the last two art fairs and found them very moving and filled with hope.
Each artwork has accompanying text, hung next to the work, in which the student briefly explains, thoughtfully and often with great emotion, what moved them to create this art.
Here is an elementary student’s explanation of a watercolor nature scene: “My artwork is about nature. It shows trees and flowers. I put flowers because they smell good, and I put birds because they are colorful. All these colors bring happiness and joy. When people see my artwork, I want them to feel happy and surprised by my hard work.”
An 11th grade student described his artwork depicting an old house in Oakland in the following words. “An abandoned, spray-painted house stands in the middle of a neighborhood on Martin Luther King Street. Once beautiful and modern, now weathered and worn down, it mirrors the city itself - how quickly life can change… Oakland is full of these transitions. At any moment, things can take a turn. But like this house, it's about finding the beauty in the chaos and holding onto it. Even in decay, even in struggle, there's resilience, identity, and life that refuses to fade.”
In 2023, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that one in three Oakland youth have witnessed someone being shot or attacked. Amana Harris, the executive director of the Center for ArtEsteem cited this statistic to me when I met with her earlier this year and said it is an example of what motivates her work. ArtEsteem, founded almost four decades ago, seeks to address these social ills by providing opportunities for creative expression and healing to children and youth and their families in the East Bay. The organization “empowers individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity and education, and to make positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities.”
The organization is now embarked on a capital campaign to expand their space in West Oakland and offer even more students this gift of growth and healing through art education. In connection with the campaign, ArtEsteem is hosting a luncheon on Saturday, December 5 at 12:00 pm. Some students and alumni will be present and will speak. All Souls would like to host a table of 5 or 6 people. The tickets are $250, and I am planning to attend. While I realize this price does not fit everyone’s budget, I am hoping that some members of the congregation who are now giving thought to their end-of-year charitable giving will consider it. I attended last year’s luncheon and was lifted up by the energy, goodwill, and commitment running through the whole event. ou can email me at lewiscm@mac.com, if this is something you would like to consider.
We also need a couple of people to help with set up for the event. That volunteer activity will be on Friday, December 4, from 3-5 pm.
The work that ArtEsteem does is transformative and extraordinary. You can learn more about their capital campaign vision here. https://www.artesteem.org/capital-campaign
-Lewis Maldonado
Announcements & Events
Thursday (TONIGHT)
5 pm, Reading Between the Lines Bible Study in the Common Room.
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 in the Parish Hall and Newcomer’s Group in the Common Room.
10:30 am, Sung Eucharist in the Nave. Join us via livestream here, and Sunday School in the Godly Play room downstairs.
12 noon, Solidarity Bridge Presentation (Common Room) & Coffee hour in the Courtyard
5:30 pm, Being With Group in the Common Room.
7 pm, Youth Group - Middle School Small Group.
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.
Learn With Us
ADULT FORMATION
THIS COMING SUNDAY
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.
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
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.
COMING UP IN ADULT FORMATION
John the Baptist: Forerunner or Rival? Led by the Revs. Michael Lemaire and Phil Brochard – Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20
John the Baptist, the enigmatic wild man, prophet and way-maker for the Messiah, looms large in the Advent season. In this class, we will consider John the Baptist as a historical figure, as a teacher and prophet with his own message, as well as the roles he plays in the four gospels. How does John’s message anticipate – and differ from – Jesus’s message? What role did John play in the formation of Jesus’s identity and ministry?
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
Courthouse Vigils take place at 1855 Gateway Blvd., Concord, on the 4th Tuesday of every month, 7:15-9:30 am. We gather 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.
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 for anyone who is hungry. Teams of All Soulsians and friends take turns cooking and delivering on the second Sunday of every month. 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. The Fall session will end on Tuesday, November 17th. Stay tuned for information on a Winter/Spring session. Questions? Email Ryan (rypotpie@gmail.com) or Kris (kris.starr@gmail.com).
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
Join us at the Advent Festival on the evening of Nov. 29th. This family-friendly intergenerational event will be one of the many gatherings for families and kids throughout the Advent season.
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.
The newest version of the daily devotions booklet, Forward Day by Day, can be found in the Narthex. We offer it to parishioners as a simple and effective daily prayer practice. Each day features a Bible verse from the daily readings and a related reflection written by a different author each month, all in less than 200 words. It even includes the daily feast days, as well as prompts to take faithful action in your daily life.
Everything Else…
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.
Love Over Fear Benefit Concert - November 19th
Click here to get tickets for the 2026 Love Over Fear Benefit Concert, an inspiring evening of music and storytelling celebrating Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s 25th anniversary! Proceeds from the concert will advance IM4HI’s work to demand the full humanity of every individual through immigration and decarceration advocacy, accompaniment, and the leadership development of directly impacted leaders and faith allies. This is a critical time to join in solidarity with our immigrant and formerly incarcerated neighbors, as well as our siblings in Palestine!
Doors open at 6 pm / Show starts at 6:30
Tickets are general admission, sliding scale $20-50. If you are unable to attend, please purchase a "Pay-It-Forward" ticket to be used by one of our immigrant/formerly-incarcerated leaders.
