You Are A Beloved Child of God
I came to The Episcopal Church during college for a simple reason: I needed it. I was homesick, anxious, and lonely. I carried strong voices of self-doubt and self-critique. I needed a place where “belonging” had nothing to do with “earning” or “accomplishing.” A place where I could be accepted– and learn to accept myself– exactly as I am.
I found it. One day in autumn of my freshman year, I heard organ music pouring from the doors of the campus chapel, playing hymns I vaguely remembered from childhood church.
I wandered in, drawn by the smell of incense and the cadence of BCP prayers I’d nearly forgotten. I found the Episcopal Church at Yale, the small community that would shape me and eventually move me to seek ordination. I found a priest who told me, “You’re acceptable. You’re enough. You’re beloved, no matter what.”
I like to think that I would have found a spiritual community even if I’d never stepped foot in a church before college. But the reality is, it mattered that the concept of church felt familiar, that I had a tradition that felt a little like home. As a child and teenager, I didn’t go to church weekly, and I didn’t know what being a Christian– much less an Episcopalian– meant to me. But I knew enough to sense that church was a place I could take my doubts and my needs with no fear of judgment. I’d heard enough words like grace and redemption that I wanted to learn more. I’d experienced enough of the sacred – through nature, poetry, music, and prayers at the dinner table– to feel a connection to God. The stories, symbols, and rituals of the Christian tradition lived within me, ready and waiting, when the time felt right to claim them as my own.
A few weeks ago, I sat down with Phil to discuss the goals of our Youth Ministry program. We began with the question, What do we want young adults to carry away from their time at All Souls? When they leave our walls and head off to college, work, and the wider world, what do we hope they will have learned, experienced, and done? To put it in terms of my own story: what “ingredients” moved me to turn toward faith in a time of need?
That conversation, among others, led us to articulate a vision for All Souls Youth Ministry.
In their time at All Souls, we hope that our youth will engage with three core questions.
Who is God?
How Do I Experience God?
What Does God Call Me to Do?
In the first circle, we’ll explore what it means to think theologically– to approach the problems and questions of the world through the lens of religion, and to develop an understanding of who God is. We’ll grapple with questions like these:
What does it mean to say that Jesus is Christ?
If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, why is there suffering?
What kind of truth does the Bible offer? What is the relationship between reason and faith?
In the second circle, we hope to help youth develop their own toolkit for spiritual practice. Our goal is to offer many forms of worship– prayer, song, meditation, movement, nature– so that youth can begin to discern what works for them. We’ll explore the key elements of Episcopal liturgy, and encourage youth to learn hands-on by serving as acolytes. We hope that youth will come away with practices they can call on during times of need.
Finally, in the third circle, we’ll explore what it means to act ethically and help build beloved community. What is the obligation of Christians in response to racism? Climate change? War? We’ll engage current events, global and local, as we wrestle with questions like, “What are my values? In what ways can I serve and lead?” We’ll also provide exercises in leadership and self-development, helping youth discern and claim their unique role and gifts within group settings. Activities like the annual Immersion Trip, service projects, and community engagement will help us practice what it means to be a Christian in the world.
At the center of our vision is the fundamental message that we hope every youth will receive and take with them: “You are a beloved child of God.”
When I look at this image, I see more than a Youth Ministry program. I see a vision of how Christians of all ages could strive to learn, grow, and be. These three circles represent the questions we need to be asking, and the resources we need to draw on, as we confront the personal and collective challenges of our world.
One poignant example occurred just this week. In the wake of the crisis in Gaza and the deaths of thousands of innocent people, the youth leadership team and I grappled with how– and whether– to bring this situation into the Youth Group space. The crisis evoked questions from each of our three circles: theological, practical, and ethical.
If God is powerful, good, and all-knowing, why are innocent people being killed in war?
What should prayer look like in the face of such tragedy? Can our words and thoughts really help?
What can we do to show solidarity? Is there concrete action we could take to support our local faith communities? How do we translate reflection into action?
We chose to focus on the “spiritual practice” circle. One of our lay leaders, Lizzie Belgum, brought an activity drawn from her time as a college group leader– an exercise about “lament.”
A prayer of lament is a prayer for when something feels unfixable. It’s a cry of complaint, anger, suffering, frustration, or heartache– a prayer in which we turn to God before we’ve reached any resolution, without always knowing exactly what we’re asking for.
We explored the three-fold structure of lament in Scripture: 1) cry out and complain, 2) pray for help, 3) state your trust in God. Using a worksheet with Psalm 13 as a guide, we invited students to write their own prayers of lament.
It can be tempting, in the face of a crisis like the one in Gaza, to descend into helplessness. It’s tempting to assuage our guilt by praying the right words– or, conversely, to conclude that prayer is pointless because it won’t fix anything. There are no easy answers and no “right” response.
But we hope to teach our youth that you don’t have to wait to pray until you can see a clear answer. You don’t have to know, before you approach God, what the way forward might be. Sometimes, prayer looks like nothing more than naming your fear, guilt, grief, and helplessness, and asking God to be with you in it. Our task is to show our youth– and each other– that no matter what you carry, it’s not too much for God.
Deep thanks to our volunteer youth leaders– Lizzie Belgum, Tommy Belgum, Tim Hausler, Michael Drell, and Harlowe Zefting– whose expertise, labor, and vision make our weekly program come to life!
–Emily Boring+
A Birthday Party for All Of Us
Get ready with me: our annual ingathering celebration happens on Sunday October 29th at 5:30 pm. I’ve joined every celebration in the eight years we’ve attended All Souls and I love seeing so many of you.
This celebration caps our annual stewardship ingathering. Ingathering is a moment during the service when folks offer their pledges for what they plan to contribute in the following year.
These pledges enable our vestry to create next year’s operating budget and make financial decisions going forward. It feels great to pledge – even if our pledge is as small as the proverbial mustard seed! God welcomes whatever we can bring with joy.
Why come to the stewardship celebration? All Soulsian (and dad of two) Tim Nicol gave us one reason in his reflection during last Sunday’s service: “When I was little I didn't have a ton of friends so you better believe I went to every party I was invited to. I've always believed that if you want to have people in your life who want you at their birthday party, then you show up when you're invited.”
So just imagine this is a birthday party for all of us. And if you need another reason to come, you’ll be there to witness this year’s episode of TaskMaster and decide how each of our staff members rose to the challenge!
This is a wonderful event that brings the whole community together. Let’s show up for each other and celebrate.
Sign up (click here).
–Deirdre Nurre
October Vestry Highlights (Part 1!)
The All Souls Vestry met for a bonus meeting on Sunday, October 1, to consider some time-sensitive business and other agenda items we ran out of time to discuss in September. Top of the list was updating our list of Deanery and Alternate Delegates.
The number of deanery delegates a parish has is based on its total membership. In recent years, All Souls has had six delegates and six alternates, but when reviewing membership numbers post-covid, staff found our parish membership had shrunk a bit, leaving us with too many delegates and needing to reduce to four. What to do! The Vestry was prepared to grapple with this situation, but found that two delegates and two alternates discerned the time was right to step down, leaving us with the requisite four of each. Nonetheless, the Vestry had to formally approve the change. Therefore the Vestry gratefully recognizes four deanery delegates (Margaret Sparks, Richard Page, Renae Breitenstein and Kaki Logan) and four alternates (Toni Martinez Borgfeldt, Ann Myers, Cathy Thompson, and Kirk Miller). The Vestry particularly offers thanks to former delegates and alternates Erin Horne, Chris Bailey, and Bruce and Mary Elgin for both their service and their flexibility.
Other business of the meeting ranged from the perfunctory (a banking resolution allowing Rev Emily to sign our checks instead of Rev Maggie; approving formation of a committee to work with Heart’s Leap preschool on their lease negotiation) to the more circumspect (When is the right time to participate in the diocese’s Vital+Thriving program of community introspection and revitalization?). Rev Phil gave a summary of Bishop Search events, all of which are detailed here [https://diocalbishopsearch.org] and include Meet & Greet events with all candidates in early November, which anyone may attend and will be live-streamed. Finally, Emily Hansen Curran filled us in on the ways the Sunday Night Service is thoughtfully evolving from a weekly worship service to monthly formation events, quarterly storytelling dinners, and wherever the Holy Spirit leads. These gatherings have been vital entry points for people coming from evangelical backgrounds curious about progressive Christianity. All involved are happy to report fellowship and energy continue to abound, even if weekly meetings will not continue. The Vestry sincerely thanks Emily HC for her ongoing vision and leadership.
Stay tuned for our next regularly scheduled Vestry meeting on Wednesday, October 18th.
–Grace Telcs
Reflections on Stewardship
I have two daughters in elementary school. And from time to time they get invited to their friends birthday parties. A few weekends back my daughters were invited to five birthday parties all on the same weekend. Five. And my wife was teaching Sunday School.
This was basically the entirety of our plan for the weekend. We were also picking up friends kids and taking them to these parties. But that really just stems from the blessings of the 7-passenger convenience of the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica.
The following Monday I shared our weekend activities with a friend and they said "That's crazy" (which it was) "I would have just skipped a few."
When I was little I didn't have a ton of friends so you better believe I went to every party I was invited to. I've always believed that if you want to have people in your life who want you at their birthday party, then you show up when you're invited.
Strong friendships require that you are there when you're invited, when you're needed. And strong communities are the same.
I think an important part of what makes our community at All Souls so strong is that it's made up of people who value it so much that they show up and support it, even when there are so many other things going on in their lives. They know that showing up is what you do if you want other people to show up for you. And part of showing up is contributing what you can – whether that’s your time, rides in your minivan, or whatever other resources you have.
So, this is your invitation. I hope you all will join me in what ever way you can in the metaphorical bouncy house of stewardship.
–Terry Nicol
Announcements & Events
Children & Family
Nursery The downstairs nursery is open and available to you for your use whenever you’re at All Souls. This is not a staffed nursery, so an adult must be there with your child, but if you need a quiet place to take a time out, change a diaper, let your child play or take a rest, the nursery is open for you to do all of those things. If there is a service going on that’s being livestreamed, you will be able to watch the livestream on the computer in the nursery as well.
Children’s Ministry - Sunday School continues each week during the 10:30 a.m. service. Children head downstairs at the start of the service, then return after the “Peace.” See an usher if you need directions.
Children pre-K to 1st grade: Godly Play (in the Godly Play 1 classroom)
Children 2nd-5th grade: Faith Explorers (in the Fiery Furnace room)
Youth Program - Regular Youth Group meets on Sundays from 7-8:30 pm in the Parish Hall. But not this coming Sunday evening due to the Beach day at Christ Church Alameda. This Sunday Oct 22nd, 12:30-3:30, join youth groups from around the Deanery for pizza, kayaking, and beach worship. Reach out to Emily B to RSVP.
If you are not receiving weekly Youth Program updates but would like to, please reach out to Emily B to be added to our mailing list.
Questions about Children, Family, and Youth ministry? Contact Rev. Emily B. (emilyb@allsoulsparish.org)!
Adult Formation
Introduction to the Spiritual Autobiography (taught by Jane Vandenburgh) Struggling with doubt and faith? This is one of the age-old dilemmas for thoughtful Christians, how much of this can we come to believe and what must be left to the ineluctable mysteries. Throughout the ages Christians have turned to writing their spiritual autobiography to help them find their way. Join us as we look at St. Augustine, Thomas Merton, Anne Lamott, Cole Arthur Riley, and others. (October 8, 15, 22) Small group – not on zoom – and meeting after the 10:30a service in the Common Room. Led by Jane Vandenburgh. Click here for more information.
12 Greek Words Every Christian Should Know (taught by L. Deihr and the Rev. Phil Brochard) The cultures that produced the Christian testament are significantly different from 21st century American life. By contextualizing 12 seminal Greek words found throughout the New Testament, we will grapple with the impossibility of translation, consider textual traditions and editions, try to enter into the cultural imagination of the Greek-speaking Mediterranean of the 1st century, and find out what difference that makes for us as Christians right now, today. (October 22, 29 November 12, 19). Happening during the 9:15 teaching hour in the Parish Hall and on Zoom (click here).
Click here to see the new Adult Formation Calendar for 2023-24.
Events & Everything Else
Stewardship Celebration Dinner All are welcome to join us for our annual Stewardship Celebration Dinner on October 29th from 5:30p-7:30p. Please RSVP by clicking here. We’ll have dinner together first, and then move into the Nave for another round of Taskmaster where the staff will be challenged to a series of tasks and then roasted by the one and only Tim Ereneta. Don’t miss it!
All Souls/All Saints Day: Join us for our Feast of Title and church potluck following the 10:30a service! Feel free to bring a dish that reminds you of someone who has gone on before you (and include the ingredients so that folks with food allergies can eat safely). In addition to our Feast, if you would like to add a name to the list of those who have died for All Saints & All Souls Day, please add their name by clicking here.
Stephen Ministry Wish you had someone outside your family/friend circle to support your journey through a difficult or unfamiliar situation? A Stephen Minister is a possibility. Stephen ministers are trained fellow parishioners who offer confidential care, prayer and listening hearts. Contact Madeline Feeley madelinefeeley@gmail.com or Rev. Emily B for more information or to connect with a Stephen Minister.
Flowers on Sundays at Church If you are interested in dedicating the flowers in the Church on Sunday mornings to a loved one or a particular remembrance, please fill out this form and indicate which day you would like to contribute the flowers and what you would like the dedication to say. The dedication will appear in our announcement sheet on the Sunday you have selected. The suggested contribution for flowers is $75, which can be paid to All Souls either electronically or by check (see the giving page on our website for more information there), and be sure to write in "flowers" in the memo line.
Please contact Maggie Cooke for any questions, dmcooke92@comcast.net.
Sacred Earth: Growing Beloved Community When: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 6:00 PM pacific/ 9:00PM Eastern Time. Where: Zoom (Pre-Register Here). We continue our Fall series at Sacred Earth: Growing Beloved Community, our video webcast series exploring the intersections of faith, ecology, justice, and spirituality. Bishop Marc Andrus and Dr. Paloma Pavel will engage with Valentin (Val) Lopez, Chair of the Amah Mutsen Land Trust. We will learn of a new government/tribal band partnership engaging ancient Ohlone wisdom to prevent massive forest fires, and examine a new culturally-informed curriculum written by their community and introduced into the Santa Cruz, California school district. Val will also share a ceremony for keeping balance with our Sacred Earth. Please join us!
ICE Detention Pilgrimage Support Pilgrimage to HEAL Our Communities KICK OFF and PAINT PARTY! Saturday, Oct 21, 1-5pm. Join Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and David Solnit for a send off and paint party as we prepare for a 4 day Pilgrimage to HEAL Our Communities. The Pilgrimage will be with 45 formerly incarcerated folks, faith leaders, community partners as we visit the 6 remaining ICE Detention Centers as part of a multi-year effort to shut them down. Art is a critical part of the work and invite you to help make and paint banners, posters and more. While we paint and work, some of us will practice some street theater skits with you and will share more about the Pilgrimage and the powerful tool of HEAL (State Funding) to help us divest from the 6 remaining ICE detention centers and into good, green, high road jobs.
**Snacks and beverages will be provided and you are welcome to bring something to share.**
WHEN: Saturday, October 21st, 1pm to 5pm
LOCATION: Climate Justice Arts Project studio at Bridge Art & Storage facility, 23 Maine Ave, Richmond, CA 94703
Racial Justice Movie Night Join the Racial Justice team for the last of this year’s movie night! This time we’ll watch Summer of Soul, a film documenting the Harlem Cultural Festival, a lesser known music festival happening at the same time, but 100 miles south of Woodstock in the summer of 1969. All are welcome. Bring some food or snacks to share. Gathering starts at 6:30p, movie starts at 7p in the Parish Hall on November 3rd.
Ways to help with the Israel-Hamas War, from Episcopal Relief & Development Since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war, Episcopal Relief & Development has been supporting long-time partners in the Holy Land including Al Ahli Hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, to provide emergency medical support in Gaza. Despite being hit by two explosions that damaged buildings and claimed hundreds of lives, the hospital is still serving those who are in need of care. Episcopal Relief & Development stands with the brave staff of Al Ahli Hospital as they risk their lives to help others.
Please pray for peace in the Holy Land and consider making a contribution to the Episcopal Relief & Development Middle East Fund to help meet the growing needs of all people in the region.
Stay informed about the Episcopal Relief & Development response at episcopalrelief.org.
Taize Retreat in San Francisco: November 3-5 Spend time encountering other young adults in a weekend retreat in San Francisco, full of song, silence, sharing, and contemplative prayer. Led by Br. Emile from the Taizé community in France with the international Verbum Dei sisters and support from St Agnes parish Young Adult Community. Accommodation and meals provided. The retreat is open to young adults ages 21 - 40 with a suggested contribution of $60 - $120 (financial help is available). Our retreat location, the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity home, is located in the Mission of San Francisco, one of the oldest settlements in the city. The neighborhood is home to a diverse immigrant population, a unique mixture of faith, popular religiosity, and politics, and is a microcosm of some of the extreme inequalities and pressing social justice issues facing the Bay Area, which the retreat will reflect upon. Questions and Registration: taizesf2023@gmail.com.
