From the Rector: Congregational Survey Results

Dear friends,

Over the past two weeks, 123 of you have participated in our summer regathering survey. This is a huge proportion of our congregation—close to our current average Sunday attendance, including in-person and online. Thank you!

Our wardens, Inese Heinzel and Judy Velasquez, and I met yesterday to review the responses. You can take a look at the entire thing, including all the comments people shared, here:

A few of the highlights that stood out to us:

In our warden’s meeting yesterday, based on these results, we felt it appropriate to stay our current course and not make any major changes. That said, we’re mindful of the recent increase in our county case rates and of the concern many feel about the Delta variant. Masks are still required for all at the 8:00 indoor service. At the 10:00 outdoor service, masks are not required, but are strongly encouraged for those who are unvaccinated and are surely still welcome for those who are vaccinated. Remember, as one of our commenters pointed out, that there are many reasons why someone may choose to wear a mask. We also want to remind everyone to respect the space of others. Even when outdoors, please maintain physical distance whenever possible from those you are not in a household or “bubble” with.

We are finding our way as a congregation through this strange in-between time. As several of the comments mentioned, it also has some graces to it—such as worshiping outdoors in God’s beautiful creation. Meanwhile, even though figuring out how to worship during a pandemic takes a lot of our attention, it’s also critical to remember that we are God’s church, called out beyond ourselves to love and serve a world in need. May each of us meet Christ in our neighbors this week, and may we be Christ to our neighbors as well.

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.

Two years ago we received a $50,000 gift to be used for special projects to develop our congregation. At its June meeting, our vestry approved a plan to use a portion of this fund to hire a part-time assistant for children's ministries (approximately 6-10 hours per week). This new staff member will likely be tasked with leading our children in a Children's Liturgy of the Word during the first half of the Sunday service, including scripture, music, and spiritual development. Do you know someone who might be a good fit to lead this service?

Daphne is working with a team of interested parents to collaboratively develop a job description that we hope will be ready for posting by mid-July. In the meantime, please think about applicants who may be interested in this very rewarding and precious ministry. We will have more information to present to you all shortly; look for more updates in News and Notes over the next three to four weeks.  We will provide contact info for potential suggestions once we have the job description finalized. 

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.

I expressed interest in organizing the library to Stephen and was given the thumbs up to start going through all the books in order to update and make it a library that is usable for the whole congregation. The first step is done… removing badly outdated or duplicate books.

The next step will be to sort what is left by type, history, commentary, etc.and then decide how many different books we want in each category and how much is overkill.

After that in August, I hope to have a book sale of some of the books I’m removing from the collection. It might be a good time to update your library!

Then the final step is:

What do you want in your library? Who is your favorite author? Are we missing a category?

Also, if you have any library books, please let me know, you may be able to keep them, but I need to know what they are.

If you think of something you want to see, you can contact me, Sharon Cronan at scdizzy@sonic.net or 707-508-9662, but If it’s not written down, I’m less likely to remember it.

Thanks!

Sharon

To encourage all members of our diocese to become vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus, the Office of the Bishop is sponsoring the Bishop's Max the Vax Campaign. The parish with the highest percentage of congregants vaccinated will be treated to a BBQ dinner prepared and served by Bishop Megan Traquair and the staff of the Office of the Bishop. 

Here’s how it works: Beginning June 15, and ending July 15, congregants are invited to visit the Max the Vax campaign page here.

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.

...Dicksie Tamanaha, Harriet, Monica, Courtney, Noah, Arnold, Joe T., Elizabeth, JoAn Blackstone, Nate, Peggy Zimmerman, Caroline, Alyce Sugiyama, Marsha F., Kate, Shelby, Demi, Ethan, Drew, Susan, Grizel, Pamela H., Alice, Sonja, Cindy Leonard, John C., James & Priscilla Carvalho, Lila Kane, Mary Knutsen., Amy C., Don Baier, Matt, Gene & Elizabeth Wright, Francoise LePage, Hugh & Angela Stevenson, Robyn Chew-Gibbs, Amanda Cortese, and Nancy Hanke.

...for those who have died: Don Green, Mary Wolfskill, Gabrielle Jefferess, Mickey Halberg, 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, July 12

Thursday, July 15

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.