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Weekly News & Notes from Incarnation
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News & Notes - October 4, 2020
The Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
The Blessing of the Animals
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From the Rector: When the Crises Keep Coming
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 Dear friends,
These times have me thinking about Job.
In the Old Testament story, God allows Satan to torment Job, a righteous person, until he has nothing left. First everything he has is plundered by raiders. Then his children are killed in an accident. Finally, a disease covers his body in sores.
Job's friends come to comfort him--but their brand of comfort means trying to convince him he must have sinned, must have done something to earn what has happened. Their logical approach would at least make sense of things. But Job insists he hasn't deserved his fate and calls on God for vindication.
Finally God does appear. And God doesn't solve the problem of suffering for Job. What God does do is take him on a tour of the depths of the universe, from monstrous beasts to farthest stars to fathomless seas. Awed, Job realizes that the mysteries of existence are beyond comprehension. But God then goes on to rebuke Job's friends, praising Job for holding fast to his integrity. It turns out Job was in the right.
We are living in extraordinary times. The crises seem to keep coming. The Glass Fire is the latest cataclysmic wildfire to hit our region. It comes in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, economic fear, and the normalization of bigotry and the undermining of democratic norms in our society. It stands as yet another symbol of the changing climate. And we are right to wonder: why do these things happen?
Job's story doesn't give us easy answers. Rather, it encourages us to resist them. Unlike Job's friends, we know that crisis strikes the just and the unjust alike. But Job's story does suggest that suffering and evil are part of our existence in this universe. They are real. We don't know why God seems to have allowed them to exist, only that in the mysterious fathoms of providence they will not ultimately prevail.
The God of the Book of Job is awe-inspiring--but not particularly tender. Fortunately, scripture has more than one story. In addition to Job's God, we have the God of Exodus who frees captives, the God of Isaiah and Revelation who wipes away the tears from all faces, the God of Jesus who knows every hair on our heads. For us as Christians, Jesus is the greatest promise of all that God is with those who suffer. From the cross he prays for the world and for us. In his resurrection he offers the first installment of God's victory over evil and death forever.
I wish we were promised safety and security. Alas, we aren't. We are not promised that we will be born into calm times, pleasant climates, or flourishing democracies. What we are promised is that God's love is stronger than suffering, evil, or death. That's what we proclaim week in and week out, in good times and bad. "I am with you always," says Jesus, "even to the close of the ages." That promise is true.
In Christ's peace,
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Outdoor Services Postponed
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Because of the ongoing evacuations and disruption from the Glass Fire, we will be postponing our outdoor Eucharists for this month. Instead of this Sunday, Oct. 4, we will plan to celebrate them on Oct. 11, conditions permitting.
For this Sunday, we will gather on Zoom using our usual link at 9:30 a.m. 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. If you signed up to attend, volunteer, or receive Communion from the Oct. 4 services, your previous signup won't transfer over to Oct. 11. Please re-register using these links:
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Sunday, October 4
Readings:
7 am - 8:30 am - Open Table's Breakfast
Monday, October 5
Tuesday, October 6
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.
12:00 - 12:50 pm: Lectionary Lunch. See zoom and lectionary in Coming Right Up.
Wednesday, October 7
6:00 pm - Alleluia Choir: Zoom
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Anam Cara: Psalm & Silence. For Zoom details, email [email protected]
Thursday, October 8
6:00 pm - St. Cecilia Choir: Zoom
9:00 am - Education for Ministry (EfM)
Friday, October 9
Saturday, October 10
9 am to 11:00 am - Open Table Prep
Sunday, October 11
Readings:
7 am - 8:30 am: Open Table's Breakfast
9:30 am and 11:00 am: Outside Service
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Lectionary Lunch: Tuesdays at noon, next date -
Join Pastor Stephen on Zoom for a time to study and discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. 12:00-12:50 p.m. on Tuesdays: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86541597529; or to dial in, 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 865 4159 7529 #.
Readings for Oct. 11, Track 2: To prepare for the meeting, you may want to either print out the lectionary or have a Bible handy so you can follow along. |
Acting in Faith
Here are a few powerful acts of faith to share with you this week. Members of the church have offered places for evacuees to shelter while the fires roar in east Santa Rosa. Keep safe all you folks. Amy Nykamp headed up the phone calls to our parishioners in evacuation zones to check in on their needs. Also the Director of Spiritual Formation, Daphne Vernon created Faith Boxes, a thoughtful collection of age appropriate projects and items to encourage spiritual growth at home for our youth and children.
Acting in faith keeps us grounded in the Christian tradition of caring for our friends and neighbors. Let's keep it up.
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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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SOCKTOBER is Here!
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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From the Diocese: a Time to Listen, Connect, and Contribute
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Deanery Convocation
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020
Begins at 9:30 am
Convocation live streamed in 2020: Everyone invited!
 New this year, the Convocation will be live streamed on Saturday, October 10 from 9:30 - 10:30 am. Individual deaneries may have a follow-up Zoom call at 10:30 am. Watch your email for more information on your local meeting and for the Convocation materials.
Members of our Congregations: This is a time when we come together to listen, connect and contribute to the future of our diocese. Anyone is welcome to attend and message during the discussions at Convocation. It's a chance to let your elected representatives and clergy know how you feel about issues on which they will vote at Diocesan Convention.
Clergy & Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention: A link to Convocation materials will be sent by email. This information pertains to the business that we will presented at Diocesan Convention. Convocation will present this material and allow all who attend to ask questions, hear discussion and solicit input. You will be ready and informed for the convention.
THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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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 Karin & Doug, Hugh & Angela, Jerry, Sonja, Marsha, 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 the fires: specials prayers for the first responders, and all those who have suffered injury or loss.
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 [email protected]. |
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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