Thursday, March 21, 2019
The Coming Week
This Week at All Souls
Saturday, March 23

All Hands All Souls mini in-service day . Volunteers needed to help us give Pierce Hall a 2nd coat of paint! Contact Rose Eaton (reaton@allsouls.ws). 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Revisioning the Shared Ministry of Pastoral Care. Would you like to help re-envision how All Souls’ congregants and ministers care for our beloved community? Do you have gifts or expertise as a therapist, counselor, spiritual teacher, or caregiver? If so, contact Michael Milano (michaelmilano@me.com) or Rev. Keithan (rkeithan@allsouls.ws) and come to a one-day retreat where we’ll begin the work of moving from reflection to action for a renewed shared ministry of pastoral care at All Souls. We propose forming an All Souls Pastoral Care Guiding Team that will, over time, move the work from vision to reality. Participating in the retreat is a commitment to the work and joy of the day; not a commitment to join the Guiding Team. Revs. Parker, Keithan, Hardies, and Braxton will join us. Breakfast and lunch provided. 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Cedar Lane UU Church (Bethesda).

Sunday, March 24

Dr. Willie Parker , an African American Christian abortion provider in the South, is one of the top national speakers on the religious and moral reasons for supporting reproductive justice. We are honored to have Dr. Parker joining us for both services on March 24 to deliver an important sermon. We hope you’ll join us. 9:30 and 11:15 am, sanctuary.

Silver Souls monthly meeting . Please join us in building Beloved Community and working for service, justice, and spiritual growth. 12:45 pm, library.

Mindful Souls provides an opportunity to meet in community regularly at the church for meditation, followed by discussion led by congregants or others from our broader DC community. We welcome all who wish to attend. Every Sunday, 11:00 am, library; 1:00 pm, classroom 2.

New Young Souls Get-Together . Are you new to the Young Souls community? This is the event for you! Young Souls, a welcoming community for those aged 18-35+, help members build connections and friendships, pursue spiritual growth, and engage in social justice and community service. We’ll meet and decide as a group what we’d like to do. Depending on weather, group size, group interest, etc., we might get ice cream, walk around Meridian Hill Park, head to Karma Kitchen for delicious pay-as-you-can Indian food, or any other ideas the group brings. Hope to see you there! Check out our Young Souls blog: https://youngsoulsatallsouls.wordpress.com/ RSVP on Facebook here . Questions? Contact Abby (abigail.jones313@gmail.com). 1:00 pm, meet in Pierce Hall (look for someone holding a large Young Souls sign).

Philosophical Souls: Capitalism . We inhabit a capitalist economy and culture, yet often doubt that this is where we want to be. What is the nature of capitalism, as an ideal? As a practice? What is good about it, and what is objectionable? Does contributing to and being invested in capitalism make us all capitalists? What varieties of capitalism are available, and attractive? What (if any) alternatives are feasible? Please join us for these questions and yours! We’ll meet at John Tambornino’s apartment, south of All Souls on 16th Street NW. Contact Sara (sarafrueh@gmail.com) for details and to RSVP. 3:30 for snacks; discussion begins at 4:00 pm.

Souls in the Center (All Souls members and friends in their 30s-50s) monthly potluck. In honor of Nowruz, the Persian New Year and first day of spring, we’ll have a big batch of traditional Persian noodle soup. Others welcome to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share. All are welcome: newcomers, old-timers, singles, couples, friends, family, and kids. Please RSVP to Stacy (stg 2243 at yahoo dot com) by Fri., Mar. 22. 5:00-8:00 pm, Takoma Park.

Waterfront Gentrification Bus Tour and Training . The Washington Interfaith Network is leading bus tours of the massive development happening along the southeast waterfront—including two areas 5 times larger than the new wharf! Thousands of units of affordable housing are at stake, potentially impacting tens of thousands of low-income DC residents. The tours are followed by training on how we can organize to demand affordability. This work will be a major focus of WIN—and All Souls—in the coming years, so we hope you’ll join. The All Souls Housing Corporation encourages interested congregants to participate. RSVP here. 2:00-6:00 pm.
Monday – Friday, March 25 – 29

Help asylum-seekers hone their job searching skills with the Asylum Seeker Assistance Project. At ASAP’s job readiness training, volunteers help asylum-seekers practice skills like networking, interviewing, and writing a resume. Contact Hailey Scatchard (hailey@asylumprojectdc.org) for more information. Every day, 12:00 noon-3:00 pm.

Tuesday, March 26

Memorial Service for Alberta Henderson . We are saddened to share the news that Alberta Henderson, a long-time beloved member of All Souls, died this past Sunday, March 17. Please join us for a viewing and funeral service, officiated by Rev. Hardies. You are invited to stay after the service for a light reception in Pierce Hall. Viewing begins at 10:00 am; service follows at 10:30.

Saturday, March 30

Church Council meeting . 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Pierce Hall.

Sunday, March 31

The River of Life , sponsored by Silver Souls. Follow-up workshop. 1:00-2:45 pm.

Black Souls is a social, lay gathering of the African-descended members/friends of All Souls Church. We gather several times per year to break bread, enjoy one another’s company, and deepen our connections to Unitarian Universalism. To learn more about the March 31 gathering and other events planned for the spring, contact Jenice View (jenice@aol.com).

All Souls Reproductive Justice Initiative
After Dr. Parker's sermon on Sunday, come visit the RJ Initiative leaders in Pierce Hall. We would love to give you more information, find ways for you to become involved, and answer your questions. Our initiative is not yet 2 years old, but we’ve accomplished some exciting things.
  • Hosted an event and book signing with Dr. Willie Parker and his book, Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice.
  • Held a training for clinic escorts for the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force (WACDF), an all-volunteer, non-violent group promoting peaceful and safe access to reproductive health clinics in the DC metropolitan area.
  • Worked with All Souls ministers to assure pastoral care for members affected by reproductive loss and challenges.
  • Convened a workshop on reproductive decision making and loss, where we learned how we can support our friends and family as they cope with highly personal and complex matters, including abortion, miscarriage, still birth, and fertility challenges.
  • Hosted a conversation about faith and abortion care with Dr. Sara Imershein.
  • Partnered with the OWL (Our Whole Lives) Committee to offer an adult workshop on sexuality and values.
  • Hosted a DC Abortion Fund informational meeting.
  • Secured partial health insurance benefits for All Souls staff’s dependents.
Our next big goal: To build a Faith Based Reproductive Justice Network in the nation’s capital. Come find out how you can be a part of this important next step.
Weekend on the Bay
Weekend on the Bay
Calling All Souls of All Ages to Weekend on the Bay!

Friday, May 31 - Sunday, June 2

Early bird (reduced rate) registration is open!

NEW THIS YEAR: Flat-rate pricing, with lodging matched to your party’s needs on a first come, first served basis. Sign up early!

For more info, visit www.all-souls.org/wob or contact WOBAllSouls@gmail.com
Governance
We are pleased to share that the process for selecting a contract minister for All Souls is underway! On Sun., Mar. 10, members of the Board of Trustees held informational sessions for interested congregants after the first and second services. During those conversations we addressed questions and listened to feedback from congregants. Some asked us to share the representatives of the search committee. They are:

  • Nadine Ramos* (Board of Trustees)
  • Traci L. Hughes* (All Souls Executive Director)
  • Tehani Collazo (Board of Trustees)
  • Paula Cole-Jones (Transformation Team)
  • Jana Owens (Church Council)
  • Meredith Higgins-Hargrave (Committee on Ministry)
  • Kevin McCulloch (Adult Spiritual Education)
  • Abby Jones (Young Souls)
  • Goldia Hodgdon (Silver Souls)
  • Leonard Starks (Staff)
* Search Committee Co-Chairs

As we move through this process, we will share periodic updates with members of the congregation.
Board of Trustees
Social Justice
Help asylum-seekers hone their job searching skills with the Asylum Seeker Assistance Project. At ASAP’s job readiness training, volunteers help asylum-seekers practice skills like networking, interviewing, and writing a resume. Contact Hailey Scatchard (hailey@asylumprojectdc.org) for more information. Mar. 25-29, 12:00 noon-3:00 pm.

Join Sanctuary DMV for a training to learn how to accompany immigrants to court dates and appointments with ICE . Register at https://goo.gl/forms/wR1kSz3318DUk6lt1 . Thu., Apr. 4, 6:00-8:30 pm, Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St NW).

All Souls ESL provides English classes for adults every Sunday at the church 1:00-2:45 pm. Help spread the word! If you know someone who would like to improve their English speaking and listening skills, please send them our way. Contact all.souls.esl.dc@gmail.com with questions.

The All Souls ESL program is looking for volunteers to meet one-on-one with adult students to help them practice their English skills. Volunteers meet with students for one hour per week through May. No teaching experience necessary—just friendliness and enthusiasm! For more information, contact Maya Hermann ( asc.esl.tutors@gmail.com ).
Adult Spiritual Development
Dream Work: Discovering the Wisdom of Your Dreams. All dreams come in the service of health & wholeness and reflect our inborn creativity & ability to face and solve life’s problems. Only the dreamer can say with any certainty what meanings his or her dream may hold. Yet each of us is uniquely blind to some of the meanings of our dreams. Dream work with others helps us discern the gifts that are just below the surface. Four weekly sessions. Limit: 5. Contact Dave MacMillan (davemac55@gmail.com). Day and time based on schedules of those who express interest.

Classic Readings Series (All sessions meet on Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm)

John Dietrich and Curtis Reese: “The Humanist Manifesto” and Religion Without God . “Though we consider the religious forms and ideas of our fathers no longer adequate, the quest of the good life is still the central task for mankind.” So declared the 34 signers of 1933’s “Humanist Manifesto,” 15 of whom were Unitarians. Come discover the origins of religious humanism, the most important development in early 20th century Unitarian thought, through a selection of writings by two of its most influential proponents, the Unitarian ministers John Dietrich and Curtis Reese. Facilitator: Kevin McCulloch. Apr. 3 and 17.

Frederick Douglass . Although a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church for most of his life (and later Metropolitan A.M.E. here in DC), abolitionist and statesman Douglass was drawn to religious liberalism and often attended All Souls. Douglass was himself a preacher and his preacherly style informs his best-known text, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: Written by Himself). We’ll discuss the life and work of this great leader and consider what message it holds for us today. Facilitator: Rev. Joanne Braxton. May 1 and 15.

Register for classes at www.all-souls.org/asd
Children and Youth Religious Education
This Sunday’s Activities:
  • PK 2/3’s (930a) & 2/3/4’s (1115a) – My World Has Air
  • PK 4’s (930a) – Spring Brings Changes to Our Earth - Part 1
  • K/1st (OWL) – Second-to-Last Session!
  • K/1st - (Non-OWL) – Join another appropriate age group
  • 2nd/3rd – Power of Action - Part 2
  • 4th/5th – Power of Self-Reflection
  • Middle School – Calls to Prayer
  • Youth Group – Service: Power & Creativity

Upcoming REvents & Opportunities:
  • March 23rd (Saturday) – All Hands, All Souls day of intergenerational service within the church. 10am to 2pm. Help with painting in Pierce Hall, and much more. Contact: reaton@allsouls.ws.
  • April 13th (Saturday) – Seder at All Souls. Stay tuned for further details.
  • April 21st (Easter Sunday) – Special Performance by Juggling Magician during both services. Students K & Up will attend with their classes during services. Younger students welcome, with parent/guardian accompaniment. Pre-K classes will meet as normal.
Opportunities
Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale seeks a Coordinator. Over 30 years ago, Bob and Molly Freeman initiated the first All Souls Mother’s Day Plant Sale. Under their auspices, it grew and became an anticipated annual tradition. Now it’s time to pass the torch to other plant lovers. We seek someone (or several someones!) to organize volunteers to grow and donate plants, set deadlines for plants to be brought to the church, organize the setup of the courtyard the day before the sale, and supervise the sale. It’s a fairly simple process; it just needs a dedicated person to lead the way. Minimal time is required January to March (such as reserving the courtyard and recruiting volunteers). In April, advertising begins in earnest, with an information table in Pierce Hall to solicit volunteers to grow and donate plants and pots. This can be a short-term volunteer opportunity (3 months) or it can become your new annual service project. Don’t let this grand tradition of sustainability fade away! Contact Pam Amos (pfamos@gmail.com) to learn more and get involved today.

Help us make our music and preaching sound even better, both in the sanctuary and for those who listen at home when they can’t get to church. We’ve just installed a brand-new state-of-the-art sound system, and we want YOU to be a part of the Sound and Tech Team ! We’re looking for a team of enthusiasts to help run sound for Sunday services and other events. You should be a team player, willing to learn, and able to commit to a regular schedule (perhaps one Sunday every month or six weeks). Experience with live or studio sound recording is a bonus, but not required. For more info, contact Director of Music and Arts Jen Hayman (jhayman@allsouls.ws).

A Sunday-Morning-Only Volunteer Job with Great Benefits. You’ve seen the Caring Card Table in Pierce Hall every Sunday; many of you come to sign the cards displayed there. Many of you have received the cards – of congratulations, condolence, get well, thinking of you, and more, all signed by All Souls congregants on Sunday morning. The cards are a missive of love to those among us. People who receive a card tell us that they very much appreciated the special outreach to them. We want and need a few more volunteers to give an hour at the Caring Card Table on Sundays whenever your schedule permits. There is no set schedule that you must adhere to. All details will be given to you in advance of your starting. Please help us continue the outreach and connection ministry that people appreciate so much. For details, contact Marianne Anderson (703-582-6811; marianneanderson.1224@yahoo.com).
All Souls Church Unitarian | 1500 Harvard St NW, Washington DC 20009
202.332.5266| www.all-souls.org