News & Notes - January 31, 2021
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Online Service: 9:30 a.m.
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From the Director of Spiritual Formation:
Serving the hungry in Monte Rio
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St. Andrew's Grocery and Hot Meal Program
It is fitting that St. Andrew participated with Jesus in feeding the masses with loaves of bread and fish and it is the name of our mission church.
From its beginning, St. Andrews Mission in the Redwoods has served the Monte Rio community by word and deed. Although its loyal church community has never reached the building capacity, it has always been a faithful and committed expression of love to those around them. Under the safety of St. Andrews many in the Russian River area have been touched by its mission of care for its people.
Before COVID19 St. Andrews hosted AA and NA meetings two times a day everyday accept Sundays, these meeting are still on hiatus. St. Andrews provided a meeting space that groups could afford, and it was the only meeting space in Monte Rio and the surrounding area. The St. Andrews Food Program has kept is doors open and increased its offerings. Not long into COVID19 the need for food assistance more than doubled exceeding St. Andrews capacity. With the help of Redwood Empire Food Bank, we opened a satellite site at the Monte Rio Community Center where every Wednesday, they host a drive through grocery pick up.
Our Hot meals have continued with our three volunteers Consuela, Dani and Sheila who source, cook and hand out the meals every Wednesday and have kept the mission going. We have a new partnership with Farm to Pantry a local gleaning nonprofit that delivers every week to St. Andrews locally sourced fruits and vegetables. This food is used in the meals to go and put in grocery bags for our participants.
The ministry of St. Andrew’s to those in need would not be possible without the committed support of all of you here at Incarnation. St. Andrews Food is a ministry that puts the gospel in bellies. Then they leave with their bodies fed, and their hearts warmed. Of all the years that I have been involved at St. Andrews there has never been a question that it is a place of respite for the soul and a community gathering place of renewal. St. Andrews is not our conventional idea of a church community, but following the example of both Jesus and St. Andrew, they are the gospel in action.
Daphne Vernon, Director of Spiritual Formation and St. Andrew's Food Program
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Feed our Neighbors - Souper Bowl of Caring
In years past some of you may remember our Souper Bowl for Caring food drive on Super Bowl Sunday, where the youth would greet you with an empty soup pot and a request for a donation.
Even though during covid times, we ask in person, we would still like to offer you the chance to support this fundraiser for food. Over this week and the next, make a donation, and it will go towards our local hot meal program at St. Andrews.
Souper Bowl for Caring is a national food drive that supports groups to raise funds for their local food programs. Thank you for your continued support, helping to feed our Monte Rio neighbors.
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Here's a little Souper Bowl of Caring history.
In 1990, a simple prayer: "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat" was delivered to a small youth group at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC led by Brad Smith, who was serving as a seminary intern at the time.
This gave birth to an idea. Why not harness the energy and enthusiasm of Super Bowl weekend, a time when people come together for football, food and fun, to unite the nation for a higher good? Youth groups could collect dollars in soup pots and canned food for those in need and send every dollar and food donation DIRECTLY to a local charity of THEIR choice.
The first year, they invited 22 area churches to join the team and collected $5,700 with 100% of donations distributed to local-area charities.
That was 1990. Since then, Souper Bowl of Caring has become a national, grass-roots, youth-led movement where ordinary young people are doing extraordinary work. Over $150 MILLION in dollars and food has been generated while benefiting thousands of soup kitchens, food banks, meal programs and other hunger-relief charities in local communities.
Thousands of participants including: churches, schools, youth groups, community partners, grocery partners, local businesses, media partners, NFL teams and passionate individuals have experienced for themselves, the joy and satisfaction of giving, serving and inspiring people across the country to follow their generous example.
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Online Services
During this time of pandemic, our worship continues. Using technology, we can gather from wherever we may be and join together in the Word and in prayer.
Sunday Services:
We are also live streaming each Zoom service on our Facebook page, so you can also watch the service on Facebook, and it will be archived there for viewing later in case you're not able to join in live. You don't need to be a Facebook member to see the live stream on the Facebook page by clicking the link above.
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Saturday, February 6, Daughters of the King
The Order of the Daughters of the King's Chapter "Women of the Table" meet by Zoom on the first and third Saturday of the month from 3:00-4:30 pm. If you are an Episcopal woman who would like to attend please contact Joan Hans-Stafford at jesstafford60@gmail.com and she will send you the link to the meeting. The Order of the Daughters of the King, take vows to uphold a rule of prayer, evangelism and service. They can be identified by the little silver cross that they wear daily habitually. |
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Last Sunday's Annual Meeting
We held our Annual Parish Meeting last Sunday, January 24, after the 9:30 service. If you missed it, the recording is available online:
Some key moments: our 2020 year-in-review slideshow (starts at 0:17:15); Mark Neumann's Senior Warden Report (0:36:00); David Jasper's Treasurer's Report (0:46:40); Stephen Shaver's Rector's Report, followed by conversation and Q&A (0:52:00); celebration of outgoing Vestry members (1:18:20); Angels Among Us Awards (1:26:27).
(thanks to Linelle Lane for producing it!)
Congratulations to ...
Our newly elected vestry members:
Allan Bolchazy, Sara Joslyn, Patrick Lancaster, and Kathleen Robarts.
Our newly elected delegates and alternates to the 2021 Diocesan Convention:
Delegates: Karin Dutra, Kathleen Kane, John Nykamp, Amy Nykamp, Catherine Priestley, Bo Simons, Becky Simons
Alternates: Connie Sinclair, Jim Furness, Bob Priestley, Bev Clarke, Jane Holland, Kenny Chubak, Kathleen Robarts
Outgoing vestry members:
Bob Priestley, Nancy Wegge, Fernando Dizon (Junior Warden), Mark Neumann (Senior Warden)
Angels Among Us:
Julie Verhoeff, Deana Dale, Inese Heinzel, Sara Joslyn, Kathleen Kane, Michael Del Vecchio, Danielle Del Vecchio, Paul Mallatt, Diahanna Post, Karin Dutra
The Golden Mouse Award for Digital Wizardry:
John Nykamp
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The Incarnation Book Group...
...continues to meet on the Third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Please join us in reading Courage in the Face of Cruelty, by James Alexander.
“James Alexander was born and raised in Chicago, served as a United States Marine, and was sentenced to prison after committing an accidental murder. He achieved certifications as an Electronic Technician, X-ray Technician, and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor while in prison. James has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and was honored as an Unsung Hero of Compassion by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama for helping to develop self-help programs for other inmates. With Courage in the Face of Cruelty, he takes the reader on a remarkable journey through his 28 years in the California prison system, removing the veil of secrecy and opening the gates widely for all to see. Alexander describes the inhumanity in simple terms and shows how inmates treat each other and how correctional officers treat inmates. He also uncovers the corrupt nature of unfair politicians who exploit human beings as fodder for their “tough on crime”
See you Tuesday, February 16, at 6:30 pm PST
For more information please contact Paul Mallatt at 707-312-3870 / paulyfa@me.com
Courage in the Face of Cruelty, is available on kindle and unfortunately NOT available on Audible.
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Sunday Open Table January Update
Thanks to recent support for our program, we begin the New Year with a budget to meet our immediate needs. We are serving approximately 80 people on Sunday morning. Currently we are beginning at 7:30 am. This works with the later sun rise and seems appreciated by volunteers who get an extra wink of sleep. In addition to our bagged breakfasts with sandwiches, eggs and snacks we have been distributing scarves, hats, gloves, socks and underwear as well as hygiene products. These items have been very much appreciated.
We don’t have much storage room for clothing donations, but can always accept warm coats, sweats in good condition and new or newish socks. If you are moved to help with this program, we have several regular weekend jobs – Saturday prep and Sunday distribution – as well as some occasional jobs. We also can use someone to help with our distribution of items mentioned above. Volunteers can come just once or twice a month and that makes a big difference in sharing the load. Check with opportunities on line here, or contact Mark Neuman at Markscomputer@gmail.com. |
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Outdoor Services on Hiatus
We are taking a break from outdoor Sunday services for January and February. With the colder, wetter weather and the likely post-Christmas increase in COVID-19 cases, this will give us a chance to take a break, re-evaluate our plans for in-person worship as we get deeper into 2021, and to plan for what an eventual return to indoor worship will look like. Thanks to all who have participated in outdoor services during the fall; please watch for more updates in the new year.
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Prayer requests will stay on our list for 3 weeks. After that, if you would like long-term which is for 3 months, please notify the office. Prayers for those who have died will remain on for 6 months.
Your prayers are requested...
..Jennifer & Richard, Cathy & David, Marsha, Hans & Julie, Phil B., Richard M., Tosh, Lorin, Betty, Dawn, Alice D., Cammie, Cory, Dicksie, Matt C., Don B., Amy C., Francoise, Gene & Elizabeth, Rob M., Hugh & Angela, Robyn, Monique & Kirk, Amanda, and Nancy H.
...for those who have died: Bruce Cronan, Marlene Broce, Kay Conner, Mario & Henni P., Harry Dingwall, Athy, Bill Whidden, Marjorie Thoreson, Maureen Green, Alberta Jacobson, Ellen Meuse, Geoff Wright, Carole Jean Martino, Susan Hedges, Jerry Angel, Marilyn Payne.
...for the victims of COVID-19: especially we pray for those affected by the COVID-19 virus, and for all who are in danger.
...for our city, county, and community; the city council, the board of supervisors, for those who serve the common good in law enforcement and the courts.
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Sunday, January 31
Monday, February 1
Tuesday, February 2
- 7:00 pm - Through the Ear to the Heart: contemplative singing. Contact Devi Mathieu to request the Zoom invitation: info@singhildegard.com, 707-829-0815.
Wednesday, February 3
- 6:00 pm - Alleluia Choir: Zoom
- 7:30 pm - Anam Cara: Psalms and Silence, Zoom
Thursday, February 4
- 6:00 pm - St. Cecilia Choir
Friday, February 5
- 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Open Table prep
Saturday, February 6
- 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Open Table Prep
- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Daughters of the King
Sunday, February 7
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Talk with Stephen
Could you use a prayer or a listening ear? Do you have ideas you'd like to share? Although our offices are closed, Pastor Stephen is available to talk by phone or via Zoom. If you'd like to find a time to talk with Stephen, you can call Alison at 707-579-2604 or email Stephen directly at sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org.
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Need Support?
If you know of anyone, including yourself, who could use a communion visit or a prayer, please call the church office (707-579-2604) or email alison@incarnationsantarosa.org
If you have a pastoral emergency after hours or on weekends, please call the church office (number above) and follow the prompts for the Priest-on-Call.
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