As of now, mid August, it is hard to characterize this summer weather-wise. Clearly climate change has been somewhat responsible for the see-sawing between torrential rains and near-historic heat waves. Luckily, All Souls has been well prepared for these weather events with our successful new summer procedures that seamlessly move services to our air-conditioned Friendship Hall. As a result, attendance has been at capacity levels during most of the summer and almost everyone has enjoyed the intimacy of being so much closer to ministers and musicians alike in a more informal setting except perhaps a few visitors who were disappointed that they could not experience a service in our lovely sanctuary.

All of this has made it very evident that a large proportion of our membership does not decamp for country houses during the summer months. Those who attended the many activities that groups provided during June, July and August will have become aware more than ever how hard our staff is working all year round as they are squeezed into the Front Office spaces while the second floor has been renovated. The presence of the construction crews has not stopped other activities from happening. The Young Adults and the 30/40 Fellowship have been just as active as ever, the homeless have been fed, Women’s Alliance outings took place, Stories with Soul were read, Emersonians met and the new Writers Group made progress. Mary-Ella Holst, in conjunction with Neil Osborne provided a very successful Summer Adult Education offering about Virginia Woolf that involved lectures, discussions, video and film.

This issue of the Quarterly will be devoted largely to the official reports from our General Assembly delegates with little space to spare for more complete reporting on the above “Goings On at All Souls”.

—Marietta Moskin

In future issues of the Quarterly, we would like to highlight special achievements in the lives of our members: books, articles, awards, performances, etc. Please let us know about your recent achievements, creative or otherwise. Please contact Marietta Moskin at 212-289-7900 or by e–mail at m.moskin@verizon.net.

Contributors to this issue:
Lois Chazen
Helio Fred Garcia [GA Pictures]
Dick Leonard
Frances Madeson
Camille Morgan
Marietta Moskin
GA Delegates, etc.: George Collins, Mary‑Ella Holst, Mary Ann Lang, Melaney Mashburn, Marilyn Mehr, Fran Mercer, Peggy Montgomery, Jim Moskin, Marilyn Scott Murphy, Kurt Steele, Pat Steele, Chelsea Vaughn