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Weekly News & Notes from Incarnation
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News & Notes - September 27, 2020
The Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
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From Hugh Stevenson:
50 Years of Priestly Ministry
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GRACE
 The Lord said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
One of my uncles was a stockbroker who (according to family legend) had a reputation for making mistakes with the number of zeroes of shares that he was buying and selling. Midlife he decided to give up the City and attend seminary and become an ordained priest in the Church of England. His business friends nicknamed him "the Clerical Error." For fifty years I have wondered whether I was a Clerical Error; was it all mistake?
On September 27, 1970 I was ordained to the transitional diaconate in Sheffield Cathedral (in Yorkshire) and to the priesthood a year later. I was a failing student at High School, who also failed to gain admission to a number of universities. But I was determined not to get a job and make a living. Life was too short not to be enjoying myself. Our vicar at home persuaded me to try studying Theology. There were often not enough takers at universities. And so I did. It brought me joy.
It's difficult to know what to do with a degree in Theology; some went into teaching and others were ordained. I tried the latter. I had already been offered a place at seminary in Cambridge with a full ride. I also believed that God wanted me to be a priest, even if I wasn't so sure; but God seemed willing to wait. The other seminarians seemed much more suitable.
During the snowy winter of 1969, a group of us went to Sheffield for a week for a parish visit. Typically, seminarians in the USA spend a whole year doing Field Education. This was my first exposure to parish life. Hitherto all I had done was go to church on Sundays. I was surprised to discover that I enjoyed the experience. It was not the way that I had anticipated spending my life. But God is a God of surprises.
A few months later, Arthur, the vicar of the Sheffield parish, turned up at my seminary in Cambridge. I greeted him and asked him what he was doing. He said that he had come to ask me to be his assistant. I was flabbergasted! There were plenty of more eligible candidates. I expressed my ignorance about parish life. "You'll learn," he replied. And I did.
I thrived in parish ministry. Arthur set me to work visiting residents in our parish. It was not a large parish, about 5000 souls, the size of Oakmont Retirement Community. I visited those who came to our church and those who did not. I didn't earn much money, but it didn't matter. The stipend when I started was £700 per year (about $2000, the same as the cost of buying a new mini). I attended church council meetings, preached sermons and led a bible study on the Book of Revelation jointly with the Methodists. When Arthur moved on to higher things, I was the interim for nine months until his successor arrived.
The priest in Georges Bernanos' spiritual classic, The Diary of a Country Priest (1936) concludes that grace is everywhere. I have found that to be true. For fifty years I have done none of the things I expected and everything that I was called by God's grace to do. Along the way I learnt that in good times and bad, God's grace is sufficient for me.
-The Rev. Hugh Stevenson
Clergy Associate, Church of the Incarnation
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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:
- 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 livestream on the Facebook page by clicking the link above. |
Sunday, September 27
Readings:
7 am - 8:30 am - Open Table's Breakfast
11:00 - 11:50 am: Inwardly Digest Book Study (for meeting links see above).
Monday, September 28
Tuesday, September 29
8:00 - 8:30 am: Outdoor Morning Prayer. We meet in the courtyard, socially distanced, with face coverings. Enter via the 636 Cherry Street parking lot. Prayer Books will be provided or you may bring your own. Hand sanitizer will be available.
6:30 - 9:00 pm: Vestry Meeting. If you are a member who would like to attend the Zoom meeting please contact Mark Neumann, Senior Warden, and he'll send you the meeting link. markscomputer@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 30
6:00 pm - Alleluia Choir: Zoom
Thursday, October 1
6:00 pm - St. Cecilia Choir: Zoom
9:00 am - Education for Ministry (EfM)
Friday, October 2
Saturday, October 3
9 am to 11:00 am - Open Table Prep
Sunday, October 4
Readings:
7 am - 8:30 am: Open Table's Breakfast
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Lectionary Lunch: Tuesdays at noon, next date - Sept. 29.
To prepare for the meeting, either print out the lectionary or have your bible handy so you can follow along.
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October 2, Friday: The Order of the Daughters of the King...
 will be meeting on Fridays, October 2, 16, and 30, 2020 via zoom. If you are an Episcopal woman who is interested in the Order please contact Joan Hans-Stafford, chapter president, by e-mail at jesstafford60@gmail.com, or by phone at 530.906.7347 to gain access to the meeting.
The Order of the Daughters of the King is an order of women who pray, serve and evangelize the message of Jesus in their lives. We can be identified by the little silver cross that we wear habitually daily and pray, "For His Sake, I am but one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do by the grace of God, I will do. Lord, what will you have me to do?"
Thank you,
Joan Hans-Stafford
Women of the Table Chapter President
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October 4, Sunday: Blessing of the Animals
Send Your Pictures!
 Our traditional Blessing of the Animals on the Sunday closest to St. Francis' Day will happen on October 4. Because of COVID-19 precautions, we won't be able to have our animals present in person at church this year. Instead, we'll be doing a "distanced blessing" of our beloved creatures with a slideshow of pictures during the service. To participate in the slideshow, please send a picture of your animal(s) to Linelle Lane at linelle@sonic.net. Pictures need to be sent in before noon on Friday, October 2.
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Acting in Faith
This week's act of faith is a poem posted on Facebook. The poem means so much to me as I feel disconnected and a bit helpless. I hope it speaks to you as well.
- Judy Velasquez, co-chair, Pledge Campaign Team
We cannot merely pray to God to end war
For the world was made in such a way
That we must find our own path of peace
Within ourselves and with our neighbor.
We cannot merely pray to God to root out prejudice;
For we already have eyes
With which to see the good in all people
If only we would use them rightly.
We cannot merely pray to God to end starvation;
For we already have the resources
To feed the entire world
If we would only use them wisely.
We cannot merely pray to God to end despair;
For we already have the power
To clear away slums and to give hope
If we would only use our power justly.
We cannot merely pray to God to end disease;
For we already have great minds
With which to search out cures and healings
If we would only use them constructively.
Therefore, we pray instead
For strength, determination and will power,
To do instead of merely to pray
To become instead of merely to wish;
That our world may be safe,
And that our lives may be blessed.
By Rabbi Jack Riemer -
-from Likrat Shabbat: Worship, Study and Song for Sabbath and Festival Evenings, Rabbi Sidney Greenberg and Rabbi Jonathan Levine, eds. (Prayer Book Press, 2004)
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Let me know if you have acts of faith, either yours or ones you know of, that I can highlight in the next weeks News & Notes. Little, big or in between, they all count.
Judy Velasquez
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Acting in Faith: 2021 Pledge Campaign
Welcome to the 2021 Pledge Campaign! This year's campaign begins on October 4 and ends on November 8. Our theme is "Acting in Faith" and offers us an opportunity to look ahead to a post-COVID time when we can gather together in our beautiful sanctuary and celebrate together. This year we are offering pledge packets online as well as in the traditional paper form. Since we can't give out physical packets at church this year, you can help us reduce our mailing costs and our impact on the environment by opting out of receiving a paper form. Everyone will receive a link to the digital materials.
To receive your packet in an online-only format, simply click here. If you prefer the paper copy, no need to do anything; we will send that to you.
Thank you!
The 2021 Pledge Campaign Team
Judy Velasquez and Michael del Vecchio, co-chairs
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Ready to Join Incarnation?
Have you been worshiping at Incarnation for a while? Are you ready to take the next step? If this parish has become your spiritual home, consider becoming an official member of Incarnation. We ask members to be active participants in the life of the parish: engaging in a regular practice of faith, caring for those inside and outside of our walls, taking part in the week-to-week life of Incarnation, and supporting the work and mission of the parish financially. Members are also eligible to participate fully in the leadership and governance of the church, including voting in our annual parish meetings and serving in leadership positions in our diocese and the wider Episcopal Church.
If you haven't previously been baptized, being baptized at Incarnation makes you a member here. If you've already been baptized in any Christian tradition, we will be delighted to recognize you as a baptized member here at Incarnation. In some cases this can happen through a letter of transfer from your previous congregation. We welcome new members periodically throughout the year and hope to have a new member welcome later this fall. To become a member of Incarnation, or to learn more, contact Pastor Stephen at sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org. |
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Interested in Baptism?
Holy Baptism is the foundation of our lives as Christians. In Baptism we are adopted as God's children and made members of the Church, the Body of Christ. November 1, All Saints' Day, is a traditional time to celebrate baptism, and we could have the opportunity to do so at our outdoor in-person services that day. If you are interested in seeking Baptism for yourself or for a child, please contact Pastor Stephen at sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org. |
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Sunday Open Table September Update
Special thanks to all of our Sunday Open Table Volunteers who have been so helpful in keeping this program going through weather fair and foul. We have shoppers and sandwich makers and egg cookers and coffee servers and bag handlers (handing the final product to our guests). If you would like to join this wonderful group, please learn more at opentable@incarnationsantarosa.org or sign up at incarnation.ivolunteer.com. As they say (since the early 1300s), many hands make light work. Your help is welcome even if you can only help once a month or occasionally.
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SOCKTOBER is Coming!
Since many of our guests are unhoused and have little in the way of warm clothing, they certainly appreciate what we can provide. They especially appreciate being able to change to a clean pair of socks and this need only increases in the winter months. We have limited capacity right now to receive and sort clothing donations, so we're only accepting socks at this time. You are welcome to pick up some socks for us when you are out shopping. We have also secured a source that will let us purchase socks for the homeless at a bulk rates so cash donations for this need would also be appreciated.
Donate Online or you can mail a check made out to Church of the Incarnation and mail to the church office, 550 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Please write socks on the memo line. Thank you all for supporting this important ministry in your prayers and contributions!
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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...
...for members and friends of the parish who are sick, sorrowful, or in any kind of trouble, including the Castro Family, Mary, Eligio, Doreen V., John C., Jan H., Doreen C., Robyn, Bruce, David & Susan, Ricette, Nancy, Rex, Andrea, George, Lauren W., Amy C., Monique & Kirk, Alice D. , Carolyn, Amanda Cortese, and Nancy Hanke.
...for those who have died: Raimundo Castro, Wallace Look, Marilyn Payne, Gary Lindsey, David Ratner, Frank Gavaller, John Ziaja, Hollie Agesen, Dan Wagenet, Rebecca Gbasha, James Harrod, Richard McGinniss, Susan Hornung, Dale Siela.
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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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. |
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
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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Diocesan Newsletter Signup
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 An easy way to keep abreast of the news around the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, especially during this challenging time, is to subscribe to its newsletter, the Diocesan e-News, which is delivered to your inbox on most Tuesday afternoons. Click here to be directed to their signup page.They take your privacy seriously and do not share their lists with anyone; if you ask to be unsubscribed, by simply clicking on the unsubscribe link that is at the end of each newsletter, you will be taken off the list immediately. If you access your email by phone, you can text EDNC to 28828 and sign up by replying with your email. Subscribe today!
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Church of the Incarnation
550 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-579-2604
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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