Dear friends,

It was so good to worship together last Sunday with our new practices. At 8:00 indoors, people chose their own seats with no restrictions. At 10:00 outdoors, with masks optional, many of us were able to see each other’s faces in person for the first time in more than a year. And then after the 10:00 service, thanks to our senior warden Inese Heinzel and a team she recruited, we enjoyed a tasty coffee hour for the first time since before the pandemic. Later, on Tuesday evening, our vestry had its first in-person meeting since February 2020.

This summer is shaping up to be a transitional season for us. More and more things are coming “back”—or, at least, coming back in slightly new forms. Things are hardly “back to normal,” but they are starting to settle into what we might call our “summer normal.” And it’s possible to look ahead to the fall with hopes that we will be doing more and more in person and even indoors—even as we will also keep taking advantage of some of the things we have learned to do online.

In the regathering guidelines she sent out earlier this month, Bishop Megan suggested congregations do anonymous surveys to learn about our own congregational vaccination rates and to gauge where people are in their preferences for regathering. Inese, our junior warden Judy Velasquez, and I thought that might be helpful for our congregation, and so we’d like to invite you to participate in this simple, one-page anonymous survey by clicking the button below:

Any survey only gives a slice of information. Not every single member of a congregation will respond. And since all are welcome at our worship services and we always want to be ready to welcome newcomers, there will always be those we haven’t heard from. Still, having at least a rough-and-ready sense of some numbers will be helpful. We’ll share the results back with the congregation and use them to help inform the steps ahead.

Please help us by taking just a minute or two to do the survey … and thank you!

Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to blessing our new church sign, and giving thanks for all the hands that worked on it, at our services this Sunday. See you there.

In Christ’s love,

As we resume regular in-person services, our 10:00 liturgy will continue to be livestreamed on both Zoom and Facebook. Those participating on Zoom will be able to be seen and heard by in-person participants, reflecting our unity in Christ even as we are together at a distance.

·    To use Zoom for online services: Visit https://zoom.us/j/997787434.

·    To dial in: Call (669) 900-9128. Enter meeting ID code: 997 787 434 #

We are also livestreaming 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.

If you aren't able to attend in-person services and would like to receive Communion at home, please email Pastor Stephen at sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org or call the church office at (707) 579-2604 to make arrangements to pick up a Communion kit or have one brought to you. We will not have kits available for pickup in the parking lot or create a separate Zoom gathering for home Communion as we’ve done for earlier occasions—just call or email and we will make a plan to get Communion to you. If you would like to receive Communion during the 10:00 a.m. livestream on a given Sunday, you may get a Communion kit in advance containing the reserved Sacrament from the previous Sunday's service.

So many changes have happened since the beginning of the pandemic. We have been fortunate for years to have such a faithful team serving our children. Most of them were our children at some point and they have grown up. We are now in a time of transition and are congratulating and saying farewell to many of them. Maddison Vernon is working as a full-time social worker serving veterans, Seth Vernon is at Portland State, and Katie Roghi is at Carroll College in Montana.

Mikayla and Sierra graduated from Sonoma State in May and are off to Southern California. Mikayla to chiropractic school and Sierra is pursuing a masters in teaching.

Abby Roghi graduated high school and is heading off to San Diego State.

Rachel Nykamp is the reason for my sanity during this time of transition. Our lone Nursery staffer, she is planning her eventual departure, but keeping me sane for now with her calm loving presence.

We are now rebuilding our children’s programs from the ground up. This is actually a great opportunity to create the programs we’ve dreamed of, and we will keep you posted of our progress. In the meantime, let us pray for all the nursery staff who have loved our community so deeply.

Let us pray for them...

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 Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Gregory Boyle.

How do you fight despair and learn to meet the world with a loving heart? How do you overcome shame? Stay faithful in spite of failure? No matter where people live or what their circumstances may be, everyone needs boundless, restorative love. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart amply demonstrates the impact unconditional love can have on your life.

See you Tuesday, July 20, at 6:30 pm PST

Contact Linda Sevier to order your copy through Incarnation’s Bookstore sevierlinda@gmail.com

For more information please contact Paul Mallatt at 707-312-3870 / paulyfa@me.com

Tattoos On the Heart is available on Kindle and available Audible.

(Please note: Financial assistance to purchase your copy is always available through Incarnation’s Bookstore)

We are now celebrating Morning Prayer in the church every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. (note that this is different from our usual pre-pandemic time of 8:00). All are welcome; masking and distancing are required. This is a first step toward resuming our regular practice of the Daily Office, and we’ll evaluate over time whether we’re ready to add in additional days of the week. If you are interested in learning more about the Daily Office, the Prayer Book’s form of daily prayer, join us, or contact Pastor Stephen at sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org.

Monday through Friday, our campus is full of laughter and playful energy. Wednesday this week was Tutu Day! Below is an introduction and click here for more information.

Sunday Open Table opened for hot food beginning in May and our guests are enjoying our meals. Last Sunday we had corn bread and chili along with potatoes and eggs – something for every taste. We are continuing to wear masks during our service for the time being and are asking guests who are not vaccinated to do the same. Things have been going smoothly, but we could always use a few more helping hands. Some of the tasks are food prep on Saturday, coffee service or food service on Sunday and help with light clean up. We have openings for first timers so you can come in, connect and see what we’re doing.

If you want to know more about volunteering, you can talk directly to Mark Neumann at markscomputer@gmail.com or 707-292-6710 or Allan Bolchazy at allanbengr@gmail.com 707-312-3778. You can volunteer at incarnation.ivolunteer.com.

Traveling this summer? Now that things are opening up, some of us are venturing out into the world. If you happen to stay in a hotel and want to bring home a few unopened toiletries for our guests, please do so. We will have baskets available to collect these items after our services beginning in July.

The Order of the Daughters of the King will take a break this summer from meetings. We will resume meetings in August. Look for meeting dates and times in a future News & Notes.

Joan Hans-Stafford

President, Women of the Table Chapter

Since the beginning of the pandemic, all our various ministry groups, classes, etc., have been meeting online. Now, as pandemic restrictions ease, we are starting to have the possibility for small groups to meet on campus. If you are the leader of a group that would like to request permission to meet in person on Incarnation’s campus, click here to fill out a brief request form. The rector and wardens will review requests at their weekly meetings and will be in touch to let you know how you can move forward.

...Joe T., Elizabeth, JoAn, Bob, Nate, Peggy, Caroline, Alyce, Marsha F., Kate, Shelby, Demi, Ethan, Drew, Susan, Grizel, Pamela H., Alice, Sonja, Cindy, John C., James & Priscilla, Lila, Mary K., Amy C., Don, Matt, Gene & Elizabeth, Francoise, Hugh & Angela, Robyn, Amanda, and Nancy.

...for those who have died: Mary Wolfskill, Gabrielle, Mickey, Shawna, Doug Cannedy, Sally, Shirley, Brenda, Rob McIntyre, Janet, Geoff Wright.

click here for the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.

click here for the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.

Monday, June 28

Wednesday, June 30

Thursday, July 1

Could you use a prayer or a listening ear? Do you have ideas you'd like to share? Pastor Stephen is available to talk in person, 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.

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

To sign up for the Diocesan Newsletter click HERE.