News & Notes - February 14, 2021
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Online Service: 9:30 a.m.
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From the Rector: Looking Ahead to Lent |
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Dear friends,
This Sunday is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, a last burst of Epiphany glory, when we will hear the story of Jesus’ transfiguration.
Next week we will celebrate Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It’s a day when the church invites us to reflect on our mortality, as well as our need to turn away from sin and toward God.
That invitation feels particularly important this year. This Lent will mark a year since the pandemic and its shutdowns reached us: our last regular Sunday of public worship was the Second Sunday of Lent in 2020. During that year we have seen more than two million people worldwide die from COVID-19; more than 400,000 in this country, including 265 here in Sonoma County. Mortality is close at hand.
So is our need to turn away from sin and toward God. We have been keenly aware this year of many of our collective, societal sins: hate, bias, echo chambers of misinformation, and many more. Here in Sonoma County we are all too familiar with one of the effects of our collective human failure to care for God’s creation, as climate change has made devastating wildfires a yearly reality. Ash, for us, is not just a theoretical symbol, but a lived sensory experience.
So let’s prepare ourselves to enter deeply into this holy season. Lent is a time for simplicity: for focusing on what’s truly important. It’s not a time for being harsh or shaming or punishing ourselves. Rather, it’s a time to let go of what keeps us from experiencing the full embrace of God’s unfailing love.
We have a lot of special opportunities to come close to God this Lent, including our Lenten Living Compass reflection series; Wednesday night Evening Prayer services; and Friday Stations of the Cross services. You’ll see a full schedule below.
“I invite you therefore, in the name of the church, to the observance of a holy Lent …”
In Christ’s love,
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Register now, for Ash Wednesday Services this coming Wednesday, February 17
12:00 p.m.: Simple Outdoor Ash Wednesday Service in the
Quadrangle Courtyard
This simple spoken service will include the imposition of ashes (by sprinkling, without contact) and will last about 40 minutes, with no Communion being celebrated. Attendance is limited to 40 people. Please dress for weather, rain or shine. Please register in advance at this link: Register for 12:00 Ash Wednesday Service.
7:00 p.m.: Online Ash Wednesday Service
Our principal service of the day will be held on Zoom and streamed to Facebook. We’ll impose ashes on ourselves, or on one another in our households. To participate, plan to have a small portion of ashes with you (see below for ideas). For our usual Zoom and Facebook links, see “Online Services” below.
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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 and Ash Wednesday 7:00 pm service :
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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Tuesday, February 16, 6:30 p.m. The Incarnation Book Group 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 p.m.!
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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Ashes at Home
Planning to participate in the 7:00 p.m. online Ash Wednesday service? Here are some ideas for making or finding ashes.
- Traditionally, the ashes used in church are made by burning the dried palms from last year’s Palm Sunday. Some people save palms from year to year; if you happen to have a palm at home, you can burn it (please be careful and use a fireproof vessel).
- You might take a piece of paper and write or draw some things you are praying for, or things you want to let go of, this Lent. You can do this individually or as a household. Then carefully burn your paper into ash.
- You can use a bit of crushed-up charcoal, if you have charcoal available. Or, if you don’t have access to any ashes or charcoal, you may substitute a handful of earth.
Worshiping at home is different from worshiping together at church—but God is no less present. Using our creativity to adapt our practices for at-home use is one way we can invite God’s presence more deeply into the everyday circumstances of our lives.
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Tuesdays in Lent Living Compass Lenten reading
2pm zoom small group
The group begins on Tuesday, February 23 and runs every Tuesday until March 30.
To pick up a paper copy of the book Living Well Through Lent, stop by the church Tuesday, 2/16 - Friday 2/19. There will be a chair with a basket of books right outside the gate at our Cherry Street parking lot. To download the book click here, and to join the Living Compass Zoom group RSVP to dvernon@incarnationsantarosa.org. |
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Wednesdays in Lent: Online Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m.
On the Wednesdays of Lent, from February 24 through March 24, we will be celebrating Evening Prayer on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome; use the regular Zoom or Facebook links for services (see “Online Services” above).
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Fridays in Lent: Online Stations of the Cross at 5:00 p.m.
On the Fridays in Lent, from February 19 through March 19, we will be celebrating the Stations of the Cross at 5:00 p.m. This traditional devotion traces the journey of Jesus through Jerusalem to the place of the crucifixion. The services will be bilingual, with portions in English and portions in Spanish. All are welcome; use the regular Zoom or Facebook links for services (see “Online Services” above).
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Notes from the Organ
Brigadier General Charles G. Dawes, born in Marietta, OH in 1865, managed a part of the successful McKinley presidential campaign, and as a result, served in the McKinley administration. His military rank was a result of his service in WWI where he was the chairman of purchasing for the American Expeditionary Forces. He was the 30th Vice-president under Calvin Coolidge and was awarded the Nobel prize for Peace in 1925 for his work in WWI reparations.
He was also an amateur musician, and his famous “Melody in A major” was written around 1912 and was very popular in many arrangements through the 20’s. Listen here! In 1951, Carl Sigman added lyrics to the melody and the resulting song was recorded by many artists and became a #1 hit on the Billboard charts in 1958. Listen to Tommy Edwards's version here!
Dawes is the only VP to have a #1 pop hit. He and Sonny Bono are the only ones with a #1 hit who served in the US congress, and he and Bob Dylan are the only ones with a #1 hit and a Nobel prize. He died in 1951.
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Stephen on vacation this week.
Pastor Stephen is on vacation this week, and he’ll be back on Tuesday, February 16. As always, for pastoral emergencies, the priest-on-call line is available by calling the church office at (707) 579-2604.
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President's Day: Office closed on Monday, February 15 |
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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...
...Olivia, Amy, Mary K., Ellen, Jennifer & Richard, Cathy & David, Marsha, Richard M., Lorin, Betty, Alice D., Cory, Dicksie, Matt C., Don B., Amy C., 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, February 14
Monday, February 15 - President's Day, office closed.
Tuesday, February 16
- 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 17
- 12:00 pm: Outdoor Ash Wednesday Service
- 7:00 pm: Online Ash Wednesday Service
Thursday, February 18
- 5:00 pm: Rainbow Group
- 6:00 pm - St. Cecilia Choir
Friday, February 19
- 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Open Table prep
- 5:00 pm: Online Stations of the Cross
Saturday, February 20
- 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Open Table Prep
- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Daughters of the King
Sunday, February 21
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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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