all-souls-new

Rev. Sara addresses the Poor People's Campaign

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:33:17 GMT

Poor People's Campaign Gathering & March Message from Mthr. Sara

Do not let the needy be forgotten nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Psalm 9:18

On March 2nd, Joe Howell, Jeff Wells, my husband David and I gathered at All Souls to travel to The Church of The Epiphany to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign, a National Call for Moral Revival. Our Junior Warden, Daniel Callis met us there. We joined people from various churches and faiths, workers’ groups and other organizations who care about the suffering of the poor in this city and country. It is shocking that poverty is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, the wealthiest nation on the face of the earth! Poverty indeed claims 295,000 lives every year, more than homicide, gun violence, diabetes, or obesity.

I participated with three other leaders in the public Litany, which demanded access for ALL people to healthcare, quality public education, jobs, affordable and decent housing, and women’s healthcare amongst other things. Since the pandemic programs of the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit have expired, poverty is on the rise, proving that poverty is a policy choice. We heard the moving and impactful stories of several people who had either witnessed the suffering of indigent people through their jobs (as a public defender for example), or who had themselves been harmed. The Poor People’s Campaign is seeking to mobilize the 15 million people stuck in poverty to vote, so that their voices will be heard. So often poor and low-income people do not vote because political campaigns do not speak to their issues. The needy remain invisible to those in power who choose not to see them. And yet, Washington is home to 148,000 poor and low-income eligible voters who make up 21.5% of the electorate!

After the meeting, we all marched to the Wilson Building where our local government is housed, and where our Mayor Muriel Bowser serves. This nationwide movement of the Poor People’s Campaign is committed to working for the next 40 weeks to empower the indigent to vote. If you would like to participate in the next Poor People’s Campaign gathering and march on Saturday June 15th, please let me know.

Forward Together, Not One Step Back!

Lenten Thoughts from our Sr. Warden

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:46:45 GMT

A Message from the Senior Warden

How do you observe Lent? Tradition defines Lent as a time of “giving up”, that is of fasting (for example, giving up all meat, sweets, or alcoholic beverages) or perhaps giving up other things that you especially like, such as movies or social media. With this observance, every time we think of the enjoyment we are missing, it causes us to remember why we have done this, deepening our faith accordingly. This type of observance puts us in touch with many other faith traditions that incorporate fasting or other kinds of self-denial. Certainly, Jesus set an example for this observance in his 40 days fast in the desert.

Growing up a Presbyterian, I was not familiar with Lent until I married and joined the Episcopal Church. I learned that there was a different way to observe Lent (as mentioned in the bishop’s message last week), “taking something on” to strengthen our faith. I have preferred this observance. I often use this opportunity to learn about other faith traditions, particularly Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. I find that my faith is strengthened by learning about those beliefs and traditions. One year during Lent I read through the Psalms, to be in closer touch with ancient Hebrew rituals. Although we sing the psalms every Sunday, it is very different to read them deeply. One year I read the Koran. I admit I found it difficult to discern its meaning at times. I have learned more about Islam from reading about the Koran and from learning about the practices of Islam, such as the five daily prayers.

This year I am reading a book by Thich Nhat Hanh: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. The author was a famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk and activist. This was his last book, published in 2021, the year before his death at age 95. By reading his teachings, based on Zen Buddhist thought, I am strengthening my own faith. For example, he says: “In Buddhism, we speak of three kinds of spiritual powers everyone can seek. The first power is the power of cutting off. It is the power to cut off your cravings, anger, fear, despair, or jealousy. The second spiritual power—the power to understand—helps you remove delusion and misunderstanding. And the third spiritual power is love. This is the power to love, forgive, and accept others and offer understanding and love.” The first spiritual power sounds to me very much like the spiritual power of Lent. And the others sound very much like the heart of the Christian message: peace, love, and understanding. Indeed, by learning the teachings of other faiths, we learn more about the many pathways to reaching a common destination, the divine.

-Embry Howell, Senior Warden

A message from Bishop Mariann Budde

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 19:47:15 GMT

Bishop Mariann Budde's Lenten Article (abridged)

Fasting - typically understood as abstaining from food - is one of the suggested spiritual practices for Lent, the forty-day season that begins this week, patterned after the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.

There’s been a resurgence of interest in fasting in both secular and religious circles. Doctors tell us of the health benefits of periodic fasting. Churches, notably those that do not follow the liturgical calendar, have discovered the power of communal fasting. For a season, they encourage their members to collectively abstain from food for at least part of each day. During that time, they gather online early in the morning to pray. I admire the intentionality of their practice and its communal nature—much like our Muslim neighbors collectively fast during Ramadan and our Jewish neighbors on Yom Kippur. For some people, I should note, such practices are not advised, for health or other reasons. Those exemptions are universally acknowledged across religious traditions.

All our congregations extend a similar invitation to “take something on” during Lent in a communal setting, either in person or online. It’s worth making time for, if you can, so as to give the Holy Spirit space to move in ways you might otherwise miss. There is power in taking on Lent together.

It’s another way to think about fasting: What am I doing that I don’t need to do anymore? What can I let go of that’s weighing me down? What clutter—external or internal—might I clear away in order to make room for what might align me more closely with God?

Conversely, sometimes we need to add something to our lives, as simple as a walk each day, a good book discussion or learning experience, or a weekly gathering at church. Given how busy our lives can be, making room for such meaningful endeavors involves letting go of something else.

Lent is, at heart, a season of repentance—acknowledging where we have gotten lost and attempting to reorient our lives back to what matters most. I wonder what you might consider taking on or letting go of this Lent. What is the fast you need?

-Bishop Mariann Budde

We Celebrate the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 13:06:50 GMT

This week we celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a special time for me and my husband, Joe, because we worked in the Civil Rights Movement in 1966, in Albany, Georgia. Dr. King had been in Albany in 1962 as part of “the Albany movement,” and the memory of his time there was still fresh in the memories of the people we lived and worked with.

Histories of the civil rights movement record that Dr. King did not believe that very much had been accomplished during his time in Albany, but he used the lessons he learned from his time there to develop his more effective initiative in Birmingham, Alabama. In fact, much actually had been accomplished in Albany by the time we arrived. Black people had been empowered to desegregate the schools and to run for office. We worked to integrate the Head Start program staff (which was a requirement to receive federal funds), under the leadership of Charles Sherrod, a fellow seminarian of Joe’s at Union Seminary in New York.

I hope you will attend the adult forum on Racial Justice on Sunday, January 28th. You may want to read Bishop Budde’s recent article about “ Courageous Discipleship: the Work of Reparations. ” I am on the Episcopal Diocese of Washington Reparations Task Force, along with Jonathan Nicholas. On January 28 we will have someone from the task force to speak about racial justice, and in particular about the diocesan task force and its work. If you are interested in this work and inspired by the life of Dr. King, please make sure to come to that presentation.

-Embry Howell, Senior Warden

Tending Our Soil

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:09:52 GMT

Tending Our Soil

Sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the Tending Our Soil initiative is designed to help us listen to what God is up to in our congregation and our neighborhood, so that we might join God’s mission in the world. We have started the work of Year One with a Congregational Storytelling project in which many of you have participated (see the timeline and other information in the undercroft). We began the process with questions about who we are as a congregation. In response to these questions, we have been telling stories about our history, about who we are, and about how we came to All Souls. The stories help us discover the authentic and truest self of our congregation, the source of its divine calling and character. Stories can help us access wisdom that transcends data. Stories hold paradox without the need to resolve the tension. They can cut through conflict and allow us to imagine a new future.

In our storytelling, certain themes have begun to emerge. Many of our members are neighbors or were brought here by friends. At All Souls, we experienced a warm and welcoming community. Many were drawn to our worship services by the inspired preaching, as well as the beauty of our space, our liturgy, and our music program. Some parishioners were drawn to All Souls when it welcomed the LGBTQ community, beginning in the early 1990s before many Episcopal churches were welcoming. Others came specifically to join the choir and then became more active in other ministries.

Together we engage in service to others and strive to be a force for good in the world. This includes our healing ministry, which is one of our core practices. We honor our traditions, but are also mindful of the conflicts, struggles, and even scandals of previous generations. We seek to understand and respect a diverse range of spiritual experience and belief, and to engage with each other about the key life issues that give us purpose and meaning. For some, a feminist theology is important. For others, a loving, rather than judgmental, God is a core belief. We also value empathy, humility, diversity, and equity, as well an openness to continued learning.

In the coming months, as we welcome Mother Sara, we will continue to ponder what we have learned from our stories. We will consider additional questions about how we are doing, who are our neighbors, and where we are going. There is still time to add your input to the time line and notes in the undercroft!

-Heidi Rasciner

A Reflection from our new Rector

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:19:32 GMT

Mother Sara's Reflection

I am delighted and most thankful to God for guiding me to All Souls! I am really looking forward to meeting you all, and getting to know you this Sunday, January 7. It will be lovely to worship the living God together, and I am excited about the music which Bobby Stubbs has chosen as we enter the season of Epiphany. How deeply grateful I am to the Lord Jesus, the world’s true light, for shining in the darkness which did not overcome it. How we need the light of God to shine in this world of divisions and war!

I love this poem by Minnie Louise Haskins, broadcast by King George VI as part of his Christmas broadcast, during a time of deep gloom in England:

The Gate of the Year

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year; “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied:

“Go out into the darkness and put your hand

into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light

and safer than a known way.”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God,

trod gladly into the night.

And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

Together, we can walk into 2024 holding God’s hand each day. We can reflect the light of Jesus brightly out into our neighborhood so that more and more people find the hope and joy we have been given.

God bless you always.

Warmly,

Mother Sara +

Stewardship of All Souls Roofs

klegrand@gmail.com (Kevin LeGrand) — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 21:40:57 GMT

Stewardship of All Souls Roofs - Check out the Before, During, and After photos below!

Earlier this year, the roof over All Souls' original structure (basically the bell tower and our current transept) turned 109 years old, and the roof over the expansion (the nave) reached 99 years of age. That’s a lot of life to have gotten from the material selected at our church's inception, Bangor slate, a soft slate with a life expectancy of 50-75 years. It is no wonder that in recent years, leaks had increased, and repairing one area sometimes led to damaging nearby areas. Our concerns included corroded flashing, broken or fallen slates, and deteriorating decking.

With over one third of the cost covered by an insurance claim following roof damage in a February 2022 storm, our vestry approved a contract with Wagner Roofing, and replacement of the century-old or older roofs and associated flashing, gutters, downspouts, and wood trim commenced in June. Replacement of the bell tower roof was a separate project whose funding is described below by our Treasurer.

As old tiles were removed, we discovered the tongue and groove decking had deteriorated to a point where gaps were prevalent between boards. Clearly, the old deck was not a suitable base for the new roof tiles and so a sturdy decking of plywood was added along with a protective barrier film to improve the new roof's durability and performance. The work to replace the main church roof and associated flashing, gutters, etc. was completed in September, and the bell tower roof along with its extensive copper catchment was replaced during October.

Replacement of the failing roofs demonstrates the commitment of our current church family to honor the investments of many generations of All Souls parishioners who have come before us and to provide a space in which we carry out our mission: To be a Christ-centered sanctuary where a diverse community worships and serves.

Bell Tower Roof Fund

Thank you, dear friends, for your wonderful generosity in supporting our Bell Tower roofing campaign! Of the $85,300 cost, we have thus far raised $54,500 in pledges, and of that amount, $44,300 has already been paid!

The work is now complete. Pledges of another $30,800 will provide the funds to finish paying the bill. If you are able to make a pledge (in addition to your pledge for 2024) to support this project, please let me know. This generation at All Souls has faced considerable challenges, but we are assuring a long future in our beautiful building here on Cathedral Avenue as we seek to carry out Jesus's mission to our community and the world. Thank you for your outpouring of support! Will Stewart, Treasurer

Advent Reflection

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:56:26 GMT

Advent Reflection

Advent is a time for Christians to reflect and prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ at the end of days as we also prepare for the Christmas celebration on December 25th. We at All Souls have the additional task of preparing for the arrival of the Reverend Sara Palmer on January 7 of next year. Jeff Wells is gathering a group to spruce up the rector’s office and the conference room. Elijah Mills is putting together a binder of parish policies and reference information. Embry Howell will soon gather a Transition Team that will help Mother Sara navigate her first months with us. We as individuals should also use this time to prepare ourselves to partner with Mother Sara, soon to be our ninth rector.

References for the final candidates included an impressive list of senior church leaders, lay and ordained. The interviewers asked each reference the following question, “What advice would you give to All Souls to ensure that we provide a firm foundation for [the candidate’s] successful ministry?” Listed below are comments that were responsive to the question, edited to remove identifying information. I pray that we take these comments to heart—that we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the meaning of the advice—so that we do all we can to make Mother Sara’s tenure with us rewarding for all concerned.

-Daniel Calls, Junior Warden

"Help the priest to focus in. They get pulled into a million directions. Help them maintain balance in their life. Be a partner with them. Prioritize and collaborate with them as we look forward."

"Work as a team. Don't emphasize the distinction between clergy and laity; work together. God created each of us for a special purpose; we begin to be equipped to live out our calling through baptism. If each of us—clergy, vestry, parishioner—lives into God's calling, any issue can be resolved by working together."

"It is important to have a strong vestry that supports the rector and 'has their back.' The vestry must look at recruiting a new rector as an opportunity to build a high-performing team, led by the rector but with the vestry as an important part of the team leading the parish."

"Really open a new chapter at All Souls, a new chapter involving shared leadership and where everyone has to take responsibility for some aspect of the community. This also involves ceasing to dwell on the past, ceasing to talk or think about what great thing happened when one rector was here, or what troubles occurred that caused persons x, y, and z to depart to other parishes. Cease dwelling on the past and start focusing on a shared, collaborative future."

"'The first year takes a year.' You need to give a new rector time to get used to the parish and not expect immediate changes. Take the time to get to know them and give them some space to start with."

"Get to know them early on; perhaps an early vestry retreat. Talk about what is on people’s minds about changes."

"Successful rector-parish relationships rise and fall with the relationship with lay leadership. This goes deeper than the vestry to include everyone with considerable stock in the congregation and the community. Building those strong relationships is key."

Pledge Reflection

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 22:14:22 GMT

Pledge Reflection

At certain times of year, you can’t turn on Call the Midwife or Father Brown on WETA without sitting through long pleas for money.

Pledge season at All Souls is different. At most you’ll see a brief post like this in the Weekly (that you can skip) and a heartfelt but short appeal from the chancel (that you can tune out). Hardly a ripple in the regular programming.

But like WETA, All Souls enriches our lives and community. Both provide their “content” for free, yet it’s not free to provide. Our lovely building, our utility bills, our small but excellent staff, our rector search, our outreach — these take resources.

I suppose WETA needs your talents, too. If you happen to be named Ken Burns. All Souls is less picky. Over the decades I’ve served variously as Vestry member, treasurer, bell-clanger, acolyte, collection counter, usher — there’s something for everyone, introvert or extrovert, analytical or creative.

Pledge season runs until November 30th and then the Vestry and the Finance Committee will take it into account for the 2024 budget. Please consider your contribution — of time, talent, and treasure — prayerfully. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Kathy Ruffing

All Souls Day

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:58:20 GMT

All Souls Day

This week we celebrate a special day for which our church is named, All Souls Day. All Saints and All Souls Days are celebrated by the Anglican Church on November 1 and November 2 respectively. The origins of these special days in the life of the church, especially our church, are somewhat obscure, but go back to pre-Christian times when the Celts in the British Isles and northern France celebrated Samhain at this time of the year. It was a harvest festival, the beginning of their new year and the beginning of the long winter. Part of the celebration was to remember the dead, just as we do at this time of the year. The souls of dead kin were also thought to revisit their homes seeking hospitality, and a place was set at the table for them during a meal. Our very different celebration of Halloween, as a cheerful and fun holiday for children, is also related to these ancient celebrations.

In the 9 ^th century, the Western church adopted All Saints Day to remember the lives of the saints, and All Souls Day was later added as a day to commemorate the less well known dearly departed. According to Richard Rohr, “On these ‘thin days,’ as the ancient Celts called them, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, we are invited to be aware of deep time when past, present, and future time all come together as one. On these pivotal days we are reminded that our ancestors are still in us and work with us and through us.” Let us take this opportunity to remember all the people who have been so important in our lives, and invite them (symbolically) to be with us at our All Souls Day celebration on Sunday, November 5.

Embry Howell, Senior Warden

Stewardship Reflection

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 19:47:20 GMT

Stewardship Reflection

It was not long after I walked through those front doors of All Souls that I decided this was the church I wanted to make my spiritual home. My then partner and I were warmly welcomed by the rector and his partner and we soon began to get acquainted with some of the members. Over time, I began to get more involved with the activities and life of this parish. As a chef/caterer I would offer my services when it came to the various receptions, dinners, morning breakfasts, coffee service, and the monthly senior Wise & Mature lunches for the next 16 years. As Father Van Dooren once said to me, my gift was hospitality. So, that was the primary focus of my involvement with All Souls.

As time passed, I also provided transportation to assist some of our senior ladies attend All Souls. I was carrying "precious cargo" and had to drive accordingly. As they have all now passed away, that ministry has ended; but, it was a rewarding experience for me as I got to know more about members of my parish family in a totally different light.

There have been other activities which I have been involved in during my 27 years as a member of this parish family. Currently, my focus has been centered around our Sunday services as the lead acolyte and altar guild member. You'll see me most Sundays participating in our service from the front.

Even though it has been especially challenging these last three years, I never once shied away from my commitment to this church. It has always been about how I could express my faith in ways which would benefit my parish family. My contribution of "time and talent" is of course to maintain a vital parish community. Just as important has been the financial commitment I've made through my weekly pledge. We must keep the lights on; we must maintain and make needed repairs to our historic church; we must pay our staff. And, it's up to each and every one of us to step forward, to express our support and devotion to this parish by making a pledge in whatever amount we are able to do. Yes, there have been tough times these last years, and it has been a matter of needs and wants. By showing your financial support for All Souls, you recognize the need to keep our parish moving forward together. Thank you for your kind consideration when making your pledge this year. And, please think about how you could also give your time and talent in any number of ways to All Souls. (We could use some extra hands with the altar guild and as acolytes.)

Mark Hoffman

Our New Hymnals

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:04:22 GMT

Our New Hymnals

vEnessa Acham, Daniel Callis, and Embry Howell have generously bought 135 copies of The African American Heritage Hymnal, abbreviated AAHH, for All Souls. I am immensely grateful to them and beyond excited that our new hymnals have arrived!

Embry approached me shortly after becoming senior warden to express her idea to not only sing more hymns from the African American tradition, but to have a second hymnal in our pews for explicit visibility. She proposed getting Lift Every Voice and Sing II, which is an African American hymnal and one of the three official hymnals of The Episcopal Church. I suggested we get AAHH instead, and I had an extended discussion with Embry and Daniel about my reasoning.

I know AAHH well from serving four years as Organist at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, an African American congregation in Princeton, NJ. Witherspoon uses both AAHH and The Presbyterian Hymnal, and the two complement each other beautifully, as I know AAHH and The Hymnal 1982 will at All Souls. AAHH has 582 music selections, which is more than double the contents of LEVAS. AAHH also has a wealth of choral arrangements and accompaniments from countless composers and sources. There are spirituals, gospel compositions, and songs from Ghana, South Africa, and the Caribbean.

I encourage everyone to read the preface, the introduction, and two essays: The Ecumenical Nature of African American Church Music and African American Music and the Freedom Movement, all of which are found in the front pages of AAHH. The introduction states, “The musical notations follow very closely the style of performance when African Americans are at worship . . . all representative of the baseline music art-form on which all American-born music depends.” The second essay notes that AAHH includes “Music of protest, hope, justice and love, righteous revolution, and non-violent confrontation.” I experienced considerable personal and spiritual growth from my four years using AAHH. I believe AAHH will help us both deepen our faith and strengthen our commitment to social justice together.

Bobby Stubbs, Director of Music

Legacy Society

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:16:10 GMT

Legacy Society

The news was delivered routinely to the All Souls office during the past summer in a nondescript envelope with a local postmark. However, the envelope could have been postmarked “Heaven”. It contained a letter stating that deceased parishioners had bequeathed All Souls $408,000. The bequest came at a time when All Souls was facing a financial crisis: Bills amounting to $967,000 and possibly more would be coming due imminently to pay for the repair of the defunct heating and air conditioning system and the replacement of a badly leaking slate roof. There was also an operating budget deficit projected for the current year. Another letter arrived soon afterwards announcing that two other late parishioners had left All Souls $25,000. And yet another letter was delivered saying another couple bequeathed All Souls $25,000.

These bequests totaling $458,000 could be described as badly needed pennies (or thousands) from “Heaven”. They arrived at the most fortuitous time as the church stared a financial crisis in the face. These three families were silent members of the All Souls Legacy Society, which encourages parishioners to remember All Souls in their last wills and testaments. Estate planning dinners were held a few years ago (pre-Covid) in the undercroft featuring attorneys who specialize in estate planning. Parishioners who volunteer that they have included All Souls among their bequests are members of the All Souls Legacy Society.

If unrestricted funds are bequeathed directly to the church, they are typically managed by the Endowment Board as the “Quasi-Endowment.” Funds that are left specifically to the All Souls Permanent Endowment are also managed by the Endowment Board. Board members function as fiduciaries. There are restrictions on the terms and conditions of withdrawals from the Permanent Endowment. However, guidelines specify that all parts of the endowment are spent primarily for large capital improvements and grants to deserving non-profits and not for operating funds.

Let me urge you to speak to your attorney right away about remembering All Souls in your last will and testament. If you have not written a will yet, I urge you to do so. If you have already drawn up a will, you can ask your attorney to write a codicil to include a bequest to All Souls or the more restrictive All Souls Endowment. You will automatically become a member of the Legacy Society.

Let us hope that one of these days a letter will be delivered to the All Souls office saying you are sending a bequest posthumously postmarked from “Heaven”.

Jim Lewis

Chair, All Souls Endowment Board

Lakeside Reflections

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:13:07 GMT

Lakeside Reflections by Ryan Burwinkel

It was a very New England summer for Sarah and me, with all of our parents transitioning into retirement in the Northeast. We closed out the season at my mom’s recently-inherited Connecticut lake house, which got me thinking about All Souls. (They even have an ancient boiler to replace!)

Grandma and Grandpa's lake house was one of my favorite places in the world growing up. But, in the years since their passing, I felt uncertain about returning. Thankfully, it hasn’t felt empty. Instead, I’ve rediscovered that family makes a house a home – no matter how we define “family” nor how we choose to make or remake the home.

Decades before Mom introduced us to the lake house for summer vacations, Grandma and Grandpa hosted her high school friends there for winter snow-skiing trips. This summer, some of Mom's old friends came back to see what she’s done with the place. While Grandma probably wouldn’t love the rearranged couches, her beloved baked ziti recipe is still on the fridge.

Following Mom's example, I also intend to contribute to the next chapter in our lake house's story with each new trip – just as they would have wanted. After all, while they might not have approved of every new change we’ll make, Grandma and Grandpa would be the first to say that making it our own is the only way to make the lake house full again.

All Souls is clearing out our own metaphorical cobwebs as we return to full-time worship in our sanctuary. While some cherished members of our parish family won't be with us anymore, new opportunities also beckon: hiring a new rector; infusing new energy into our committees and guilds; and celebrating our new organ, roof, and HVAC, to name a few.

My family and our church are not alone in this transformative moment, either. It seems the whole world has turned a page. Will we help write this next chapter, or get stuck editing the last?

I know my answer.

– Ryan Burwinkel

Starting Our Program Year

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:37:02 GMT

A Message from John Longstreth

Anne and I spend our summers in the house she grew up in near Boston, and for me that second home has also meant a second parish home at Trinity Church in Copley Square. It is a very different parish from ours in many ways: its membership stands at about 3,000 households, there are many young families with children, its annual budget is perhaps ten times greater, and it draws many tourists - one of whom filmed the processional last Sunday on his phone from a pew! In many ways, though, its strengths and challenges mirror ours - including an unairconditioned sanctuary.

First, like many of us most parishioners there pass other Episcopal churches on their way from home. Something is drawing them, and that can change over time. The Tending Our Soil program we are beginning this fall will help us identify what our draw is and should be.

Second, a primary draw to both parishes is an excellent music program. Trinity’s is rightly praised, and under Bobby’s leadership we stack up very well in our quality of both repertoire and performance.

Third, while it has many outward signs of health, Trinity also faces challenges, including financial ones. Since the pandemic began it has funded about a third of its budget from endowment, which is of course unsustainable. As we face our own challenges it is worth remembering that we are not alone in doing so.

It’s been a wonderful summer in Boston, and has made me excited to start our own program year today. Working together we can go from strength to strength.are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Labor Day 2023 and The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 1963

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:44:34 GMT

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. — Colossians 3:23

This past Monday was the 60th Anniversary of The March for Jobs and Freedom also known as The Great March on Washington on The National Mall. It was one of the largest rallies in US history. And it was a sweltering day, as recalled by my father, Mr. Walter E. Acham (Retired). His union charted buses for its members, leaving New York City on the event day. I will attest it was a hot and muggy day as well on The Mall for the observance on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

At this important and historic call for action, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared his “I Have a Dream” vision. Also, Washington DC is the site where Dr. King preached his last Sunday sermon at our Washington National Cathedral (on March 31, 1968). In his messages, Dr. King underscored morality and faith against racism, White supremacy, and poverty. On Labor Day 2023, we are still addressing the same issues as in 1963 and before—living wages; benefits; and career access, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Currently, in the US (when this bulletin went to press), both the writers’ guild and actors’ guild are on strike for interests that include wages, rights, and benefits. With the upcoming fall season for television and forthcoming holiday season for cinema, we will see if these additional pressures will end the strike.

I am inspired and encouraged for opportunities for myself and future generations by formidable activists of US Labor Movements, which include:

African American : Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) in 1968, Chisholm was the first African American to be elected to the US Congress. She fought passionately for civil rights for marginalized races, and lesbian and gay communities. And in 1972, Chisholm was the first African American candidate for US Presidency of a major party. She was the first woman to run for US President for the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Hispanic American : Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) championed for labor and civil rights

alongside international activist Dolores Huerta. They co-founded the United Farmworkers Association. Chavez was one of the first influential activists to support the LGBTQ communities.

We, too, at All Souls have a labor matter. All Souls is in the calling process for a new rector. Please know your vestry is committed and dedicated to this action. The call is nationwide, and your assistance is sought. Please ask anyone you know who may be interested to go to the Office of Transition Ministry of the Episcopal Church website and search for the profile of All Souls Episcopal Church.

The opening scripture can be a topic for a Foyer Dinner or Foyer Tea. Foyers are small groups of parishioners who gather to share a simple meal and to have warm conversation. More information about these re-activated Foyer programs at All Souls is forthcoming—please keep tuned.

Prayers for a reflective Labor Day Weekend.

Peace and Blessings, vEnessa Acham, MBA (Vestry 2026)

Visit our Memorial Garden

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 20:01:40 GMT

A Garden Story

When I was growing up, my mother ran an ongoing campaign to get our relatives and friends to use the front door - the more elegant entrance to our house. “And when you get here, come around to the front” I would hear her tell people on the phone. They wouldn’t. They’d head straight to the back door and through the kitchen. It was near the driveway and familiar to them.

We’re like that at All Souls, especially those of us who drive. We enter and exit through the parking lot door and rarely step out to take a moment of reflection in our front lawn and garden. It’s the pride of the neighborhood thanks to those in the Garden Guild who work every Saturday to keep it that way.

A recent endeavor of the Garden Guild is our memorial garden. It’s near the front door, anchored by the ornamental cherry tree and Celtic cross and planted with perennials that bloom in succession over three seasons. An ajuga border is evergreen and naturally crowds out weeds. Daisies represent faith, eternal life, new beginnings. Lilies symbolize transition and hope. Cherry blossoms remind us of the transience of life. Some say the Celtic Cross serves as a compass guiding us through our spiritual journey.

The wall across from the Mary Chapel holds a plaque with names of those whose ashes were scattered in various gardens of All Souls. Garden configurations changed over the years and we thought it a kind gesture to designate one garden for remembrance of those friends and loved ones.

The garden awaits when you choose the front door.

Peace.

Community Links Us to Fellow Parishioners Past, Present, and Future

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 20:19:00 GMT

I always appreciate the occasional Sunday when we substitute the Apostles Creed for the Nicene Creed. Apart from its brevity (particularly welcomed when we don’t have working HVAC), I like the Apostles Creed’s reminder that one of our central beliefs as Christians is that we are a communion of saints, and we affirm our belief in this fellowship as we recite other core Christian doctrines including forgiveness of sin, the resurrection, and everlasting life. I take great comfort from the idea that I am linked to fellow Christians from the past, in the present, and to the future and share in their spiritual and material gifts as they do in mine (an uneven exchange, in terms of my contributions).

At its founding as All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, and throughout its history, this parish has lived into this doctrine and its name by recognizing our continuing ties to members of our community who had “gone home to the Lord” with dedications throughout our church. For me, these tangible reminders of the lives of All Souls parishioners, of their commitment to this parish, and of the continuing impact they have on our church today are an inspiration to continue in that fellowship.

Recently, the parish has received unexpected and significant bequests from two former parishioners who although not active in the parish in many years have shown their continued fellowship with us in a tangible and timely way. These gifts will be applied toward the major capital expenses we are incurring to prepare our building to serve this community--this part of the communion of saints--into the next century by replacing our more than 100 years old roof and by updating our HVAC system to provide, once again, heat and air conditioning to the church. Despite the extraordinary generosity shown by these former parishioners, their gifts will cover not even half of our anticipated expenses for these projects. We are fortunate also to have endowment funds, a further testament to the generosity of past parishioners and to the careful management of those funds by current members of the parish, to defray the further costs.

However, endowment funds are not limitless and other challenges, some not able to be anticipated, surely await our parish in the future. But, these challenges also present an opportunity for us to live into our roles and responsibilities as current members of the All Souls communion of saints. One way we do this, ideally, is through giving our time, talents, and treasure to the ministries of this parish. Opportunities for use of our time and talents abound; there are committees and groups that invite and allow each of us to participate in all aspects of the life and ministries of the parish and all of them need your help and participation. Likewise, your financial support both for the ordinary and regular expenses of the parish through your annual pledges and also for the extraordinary expenses we are currently facing are vitally important to allow us to continue our ministries and to demonstrate to candidates for the rector’s position that we are a vital and engaged communion of saints. Help us continue to live into our parish name, to our responsibilities to the parishioners who came before us, to our current communicants, and to those we expect will follow us.

Living in the Moment, Acknowledging the Past, Anticipating the Future

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:11:16 GMT

A Message from Lisa Watson

Recently retired, I find I regularly need to coach myself on living in the moment – less re-hashing of the past and not fretting over the future. Given my new “golden girl” status, it seems more important than ever to positively focus on the here and now from the perspectives of awareness, appreciation, acceptance and joy. I’ve realized, though, that the mind’s muscle memory is stubborn. Even though I no longer have the 8-10 hour daily pulls of a demanding job, I still find it’s tough to calm my brain and just breathe.

For me, that is one of the gifts All Souls always has offered. For those several hours each Sunday, I am given the opportunity, should I choose to accept it, of truly being present . . . whether inspired by the music, the liturgy, the eucharist, or the humbling beauty of our sanctuary. (I’ve gained a new appreciation for how special that space is during our temporary moves downstairs over the last year!) Who can kneel in the silence of the Mary Chapel and not leave more centered and whole? And I am able to experience that peace and absorb that wonderment in the company of those who seek a similar refuge, with whom I share common, often unstated bonds of caring and friendship.

I believe it is this kinship that has kept our All Soul’s family together over the last difficult 4-5 years. On our best days, it feels like we are patterned after “The Little Engine that Could.” Despite the many significant challenges, with the Lord’s help we have pulled from our core, working to preserve and grow our best parts, refusing to give up. Though there still is much to be done, the perseverance is paying off. We are on the cusp of calling a new rector, work is underway to repair and restore our incredible church structure, and we’ve launched “Tending our Soil” to help realize, revitalize and operationalize our future. The potential to strengthen and grow our parish is real and palpable.

All this brings me back to where I started. As a church community, it is up to each of us to seek that healthy balance: being fully present in the moment, while at the same time acknowledging where we’ve been and positively anticipating where we are going. May God grant us the ability to find strength and joy in today as we hold hands, diligently put one foot in front of the other, and prepare for what the Holy Spirit has in store.

Importance of Congregational Life and Parishioner Engagement

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:00:35 GMT

A Letter from Our Senior Warden

Dear All Souls:

I’m back communicating with you this Sunday, and then I’m off to Europe with our daughter and grand-daughters. We will be in many churches, but I will miss All Souls.

Recently, I was inspired by the following quote from a letter to the editor of the Washington Post. The reader was commenting on an Op Ed by Rabbi David Wolpe about the importance of congregational life. “The comfort and support that members offer to one another, the courage to forgive and to accept forgiveness, and the perseverance in times of stress or grief are inspiring. No congregation is perfect, which is why worship begins with the confession of sins. We learn to believe in goodness even though we are not always good. The hard work of trying to love our neighbors as ourselves is a shared responsibility. Life together as a community of believers is challenging, mysterious and richly rewarding.” I could not have said it better.

I really appreciate your responses to my reaching out about being on one or more of the All Souls Committees. The committee structure and membership is now complete and posted on the All Souls web site here . We have about 50 All Souls parishioners who are involved! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for contributing your time and talent to All Souls.

On another note, coming up in the Fall we hope to restart regular Adult Forums at 10 am on Sundays. My husband, Joe Howell, will organize them and conduct some of them. Here is the overall plan:

Welcoming the Stranger : The first three forums will concern the theme of welcoming the stranger in our midst.
Challenges of Doubt and Belief : Joe will lead 8 forums discussing issues of doubt and belief and the history of efforts by Christians to reconcile traditional Christian beliefs with science, technology, and our experience in a troubled world.
Advent Spiritual Forums : Kevin LeGrand will lead four forums of spiritual reflection during Advent.

Here is a description from Joe about his motivation for the fall Forum series:

“As the saying goes, Episcopalians are known to check their hat at the door, not their brains. Since the early 1990s the tagline for All Souls Church has been “Traditional Worship, Progressive Thinking.” While we are now using Rite 2, our services continue to be traditional and solemn. But what about our “progressive thinking”? Starting in the 1990s the adult forums have been the primary vehicle for presenting and discussing theological ideas and questions of faith facing our church and the church in the wider world. These forums are not intended to be typical “Sunday School classes,” but more thoughtful discussion and learning experiences. The “progressive thinking” at All Souls has meant that issues at Sunday Adult Forums are related to the big questions of faith and belief. We will begin the forums in the fall. Stay tuned.”

Faithfully,

Embry Howell, Senior Warden

Education for Ministry at All Souls

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:43:46 GMT

Education for Ministry at All Souls

Education for Ministry, informally known as EfM, is a learning certificate program sponsored by The University of the South, Sewanee, TN. Over a 4-year period, participants read the entire Bible (Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament) and also study church history and theology. EfM is much more than the reading assignments. It is not, however, designed to lead to the priesthood. Everyone is called to ministry. When we are baptized we are marked by the Spirit. We are all followers of Jesus. This coming year’s EfM theme is “Living as Spiritually Mature Christians.” What does that mean and how do we do it?

During weekly seminars over the academic year, we begin and end each session with prayer; we discuss our reading assignments including what we found puzzling or confusing or uplifting; then we do a theological reflection in which we explore life experiences in light of scripture and Christian teachings.

The true joy of the course is how we share with each other. We are working to understand what our faith is, what our personal theology is, and what we are called to do. Ministry can take many forms. Anything from giving a needed hug in the moment to developing a new program in our parish and/or community. But most of all, we love sharing our stories (confidentiality and trust are a must). It’s not just thinking about God, but loving God. This is what we are all called to do. It is a process that that we can grow into and sometimes we can get a glimpse of what that is. Even if we make mistakes and our failings come to the fore, we still have each other. Our hope is that our EfM community can help each of us and All Souls grow together into a stronger community.

All Souls’ most recent EfM graduates will receive their completion certificates during the 11 service on July 23. If you would like to learn more about EfM, join us after coffee to discuss the program with recent graduates and mentors.

All Souls' Future is Bright

klegrand@gmail.com (Kevin LeGrand) — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 11:58:53 GMT

As I look to our community's future, I see many reasons to take delight and feel gratitude. With the start of the program year at Ingathering Sunday in the Fall, All Souls' Tending Our Soil initiative will kick into high gear. We'll use a diocesan congregational growth grant to hold periodic dinners in partnership with the Cleveland and Woodley Park Village. Joe Howell will bring new vibrancy to our adult forums. Our outreach efforts will see us volunteering each week at Christ House, preparing occasional meals for the Anne Frank House, selling pies at Thanksgiving, and organizing volunteer days for parishioners and friends at the Capital Area Food Bank and elsewhere. We'll benefit from the efforts of new Senior Warden Embry Howell to engage parishioners more deeply and broadly. And we'll eagerly anticipate the selection and arrival of our ninth rector.

Much effort has gone into paving the way for this bright future. Ensuring our stability, both as a community of people and in terms of our building and gardens, has been a priority for me. Since the start of the pandemic, we've strengthened connections among parishioners through weekly zooms, telephone trees, All Souls Cares, book study groups, reconciliation efforts, in person and online worship services, healing ministry, one-to-one and general communications, and opportunities to collaborate on outreach, in the gardens, on committees, etc.

On the building front, countless meetings, research, phone calls, emails, and hands-on efforts have yielded many improvements (operational stove, elevator, doors, plumbing, lighting, lawn mower, and window blinds, etc.) and have launched two huge capital projects: roof and HVAC. The roof work is well underway. The old Bangor slates in place since 1914 and 1924 had an expected life of 50 - 75 years. No wonder we had so many roof challenges in recent years. The new slates are more durable.

As the old slate tiles were removed, we discovered the roof deck (the same tongue and groove boards you see from inside) had badly deteriorated. Indeed, our old roof had air gaps (horrible for heating and cooling), and the decking did not provide a good base for the nails of the new slate tiles. We decided to add a sturdy decking of plywood after a structural engineer's calculations revealed the added weight would not be a problem. Fortunately, 40% of the ~$600,000 roof cost has been covered by our insurer.

Resolving our HVAC challenges has been more complex. A year-long planning, design, and selection process produced an elaborate result with an attendant exorbitant cost (over $1.8 million) and long lead time (over 1 year). Faced with the prospect of no heat this winter and possibly no AC next summer, and with the support of the Building and Finance committees, I quickly solicited bids from four vendors to replace the boiler, chiller, and cooling tower. (See the Annual Report for more details about the different approaches to rectify our HVAC challenges.)

Happily, we can now report that the Building Committee selected a vendor last Friday, June 30th, and on Sunday, the Vestry approved spending up to $275,000, which includes some contingency above the vendor's proposed cost, for new HVAC components and their installation. Though lead times on boilers increased last week, we hope to have heat by Christmas. AC by next summer should be no problem.

Stay tuned for periodic updates on our new roof and HVAC. Recent bequests totaling over $425,000 will go a long way toward covering the roof and HVAC costs. Have you included All Souls in your planned giving?

Yes, All Souls' future is bright. I urge you to invest yourself in that future. Please respond to Embry's calls with enthusiasm. Please also reach out to members of our All Souls community who are facing challenges or may simply benefit by knowing we care.

With appreciation,

Kevin LeGrand, Parishioner