Tending Our Soil

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!

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

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

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

In this brief introductory message, Mother Sara Palmer expresses delight and thanks to God for guiding her to All Souls. She is excited about the music Bobby Stubbs has chosen as we enter the season of Epiphany. Sharing a favorite poem, Mother Sara invites us to walk into 2024 reflecting the light that has been shared with us out into our neighborhood so that more and more people find the hope and joy we have been given.

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

In this advent reflection, Junior Warden Daniel Callis welcomes All Souls Episcopal Church's Ninth Rector, the Rev. Sara Palmer and shares advice from an impressive list of senior church leaders, lay and ordained in response to the question. “What advice would you give to All Souls to ensure that we provide a firm foundation for a successful ministry?”

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 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