Dear friends,

"Unto us a child is born," wrote the prophet Isaiah many years ago: "And the government will be on his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

If you know Handel's Messiah you likely have those joyful choral strains running through your head right now. From Isaiah's time through Handel's to our own, we crave the promise of a Savior--an anointed one from God who will set things right, wield authority justly, and bring lasting peace.

That Savior has come. Jesus Christ, the light of the world, the eternal Word of God, has become one of us in the flesh. Join us to celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation--and invite a friend to join us as well.

I'm looking forward to our Christmas Eve services tomorrow. See you there.

In Christ's love,

Stephen

register to attend at incarnationsantarosa.org/Christmas

or reserve a kit for home delivery: incarnationsantarosa.org/Christmas or (707) 579-2604

To use Zoom: Visit zoom.us/j997787434

To use Facebook: Visit facebook.com/IncarnationSantaRosa

or reserve a kit for home delivery: incarnationsantarosa.org/Christmas or (707) 579-2604

Visit facebook.com/Trinity.Cathedral.Sacramento

To use Zoom: Visit zoom.us/j/007787434

Here's more on how to use Zoom.

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.

We are so close to the Mystery of Christmas! In our Advent IV story we remember the wild star that pointed the Magi to the Child. The star "went where it wanted to go, it did not stay put." Children often go where they want to go, and in their going and their moving, they can graciously point us the Christ Child. Click the links below to here the story unfold

The words in the video are inspired from The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 3. Join us in reflecting on the mysteries and messengers in our own lives. 

Have you ever had an epiphany—a moment when something was suddenly revealed to you? The Feast of the Epiphany, one of the principal feast days of the church year, commemorates the revelation of Jesus Christ to the world, starting with the arrival of sages from the east to greet the newborn Christ Child. We’ll celebrate the Epiphany with a service of Evensong on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6 (use the regular Zoom link for online services). The service will also be livestreamed on Facebook. Please join us online.

After our 1:00 p.m. outdoor service for Christmas Eve, we will take a break from outdoor services for January and perhaps 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.

This has been a year of tumult and trouble. As we move into 2021, many are likely yearning for a new beginning. Rather than just leave 2020 in the rearview, we invite you to join us in discussion to turn this year's challenges and discomfort into transformation.

In January, many from our community will be participating in a book study of How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi. This is an opportunity for those of us at Incarnation and other faith communities in Sonoma County to maintain a heightened awareness of racial injustice and white supremacy in our communities and to develop actions we can take to repair the breach.

Please join us in 2021 every other Monday from 6:30-8 PM PST, January 19 - March 22. Meetings will include an in-depth discussion of the text as well as conversations on race, social justice, white supremacy in our own faith communities and places we live. No prior knowledge or experience is required for participation. All discussions will be confidential and all are welcome.

If you are interested in joining (no commitment required at this time) please fill out the following form by Friday January 1, 2021 : Form Here. Please fill out the form even if you already filled out a similar form for the canceled session last October.

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

How to Be an Antiracist is available on kindle and available Audible.

The Incarnation Book Group continues to meet on the Third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Please join us on Zoom in reading Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Here's what the publisher has to say.

See you Tuesday, January 19, at 6:30 pm PST.

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

For more information and Zoom link, please contact Paul Mallatt at 707-312-3870, pauly@me.com

Living Buddha, Living Christ is available on kindle and available audible.

The short organ pieces which were played during the prelude to the Christmas eve service were written by Wilbur Held. He was born in 1914 in Des Plaines, IL, and attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. For seven years, he assisted Leo Sowerby with organ duties at St. James church. He joined the faculty at the Ohio State University in 1946 becoming the head of the keyboard department, where he remained for more than thirty years. His little volume entitled “Nativity suite” (from which our pieces were taken) has sold more than 25,000 copies. He died in the beautiful college town of Claremont, CA in 2015 at the age of 100 years.

As we come to the end of this year, we reflect with gratitude for are continued ability to serve those neighbors who are hungry and often homeless. We could not have done it without our willing, sleepy volunteers who come in early to make coffee and prepare to hand out lunch bags. Those volunteers are grateful for our Saturday volunteers who cook the eggs and prepare the sandwiches and bags. In turn, those volunteers are grateful for the volunteers who check inventories and make purchases during the week.

The chain of gratitude continues to those who financially supported this mission throughout the year. We had generous one-time donors, regular monthly donors, and donations made in memory of a loved one. We also received a grant from the Episcopal Community Services this year that will help us with the purchase and maintenance of equipment.

This is the 11^th year of Sunday Open Table and those we serve are still in need, and appreciative of all the love we put into this mission. As the weather gets cooler and wetter, we try to provide some additional warmth and toiletries. Your help is needed! Items we can use are unopened toiletries such as travel size shampoos, toothpaste, and greatly appreciated are jackets, blankets, and new warm socks. Next time you're in Costco or Target, grab a bag!

Which brings us to more gratitude for the volunteer crew that maintains and sorts out the storage closet and comes in on Sundays to organize, as well as for the parishioners who knit the much loved hats and scarves that are received with happiness. So many hands reaching out! May we all celebrate the blessings of this season.

During the 3 year term, you attend a monthly meeting and a couple of retreats where you bring your ideas and vision to help support the ministries of our congregation. Learn more about how things work here at Incarnation. Pray regularly for all of us. Live out your faith both at home and at work. Pledge your financial support. Be both a servant and a leader.

Please prayerfully consider serving Incarnation in this role or encourage a friend you think would be a good fit. For a fuller description of Vestry roles and responsibilities read here.

If you are interested in serving on the Vestry, please contact Vestry members, Nancy Wegge, 916-600-5458, nancywegge@yahoo.com, or Connie Sinclair, 707-849-4240, constancesinclair@hotmail.com.

Do you feel helpless to effect change in our pandemic hobbled world? Add your voice to assist in the healing of a divided nation. A group of Incarnation parishioners is praying together every Monday at 3:00 pm on Zoom. The meeting is short (about 15 minutes) and centers on prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. Our nation needs your help. Please join us!

For Zoom link, please email Brad, bradsmith51@yahoo.com.

Geoff, son of Elizabeth and Gene Wright, died on Saturday, October 24. You are invited to join his family and friends for a virtual Celebration of Geoff “Jefe’s” Life at 2 p.m. (PST) on Saturday, January 9, 2021 on this site, http://www.geoffwrightmemorial.com/. Even if you can't attend the celebration, do visit this website were you can read an obituary about his remarkable and singular life, a tribute to him by his former law professor at George Washington University, and view a collection of photos.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to NOLS, a non-profit global wilderness school that Geoff attended. You may send a check to 284 Lincoln Street, Lander, Wyoming 82520 (please reference “Geoff Wright” with your donation) or online at NOLS.edu, (and note that the donation is in honor/memory of Geoff in the appropriate text box). Elizabeth and Gene Wright receive email communication at gwrightcelebration@gmail.com.

Log-in information for the Geoff’s Virtual Celebration of Life can be found under the “Celebration” tab on this site, http://www.geoffwrightmemorial.com/.

A Zoom meeting will be held after the 9:30 a.m. worship service with the same link. There will be a 15 min. break after the service.

..Bruce, Cindy P., Mary, Early, Don B., Harry A., Jim R., Pam, Dan, Mai-Wah, Amy C., Alyce, Leslie, Chris S., Don G., Francoise, Gene & Elizabeth, Rob M., Hugh & Angela, Mary, Robyn, Monique & Kirk, Amanda, and Nancy H.

...for those who have died: 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, Alphonsine Lhermitte, Raimundo Castro, Wallace Look, Marilyn Payne, Gary Lindsey, David Ratner, Frank Gavaller.

click here for the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.

click here for the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.

Monday, December 28

Tuesday, December 29

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.

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