At our vestry's midyear retreat in July, one of the ideas we came up with for the year was to try to be more visible and transparent in our communication with the congregation. While parishioners are always welcome to attend vestry meetings, and our minutes get posted on the church website a month after each meeting, we felt we could do more to actively share who we are and what we do as vestry members. One way to start is by introducing vestry members in News and Notes. So you'll be seeing a series of brief introductions over the weeks ahead. We start with our senior warden, Inese.

Incarnation is my church and my spiritual home. Pastor Stephen’s welcome at the start of every worship service—“Whoever you are and wherever you are in your spiritual journey, there is a place for you here at Incarnation”—is my mantra. I was raised as a member of the Latvian Lutheran Evangelical Church, whose language and rituals were as much bound in ethnic and cultural customs as in theological traditions, so when I moved to California from New York I experimented with many different faith communities before I found the one where I feel truly at home. I was formally received into the Episcopal Church at Incarnation in November 2017 by Bishop Barry Beisner.

I joined the vestry in 2019 and was honored to be appointed Senior Warden by Pastor Stephen at the start of this year. I serve on the development/stewardship committee, eucharistic ministry, hospitality, Sunday Open Table, Incarnation 100, and other outreach ministries. My vision for the vestry is to strengthen our church’s values, purpose, and calling through robust, enhanced visibility and communication both within our parish and with the community at large.

My professional background encompasses 35 years of experience across disciplines in industry, academia and the community, in communications and marketing; organizational training and development; college instruction; employee & public relations; media production; instructional design; and service as a hospice volunteer and chair of the hospice advisory board. It’s deeply fulfilling, for me and my fellow vestry members, to be able to bring our rich and diverse experience to our work on behalf of our beloved church.

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.

Last Sunday after the 10:00 service we held a meeting of those interested in serving as coffee hour hosts. As the conversation got underway, it became clear that a majority of those in the meeting had concerns about offering refreshments during the current spike in COVID cases. We have prized the opportunity to share fellowship since resuming coffee hour earlier this summer, but many felt uneasy about close gathering around the food table and the need to unmask to eat and drink. After a great deal of conversation, we arrived at a consensus that we will hit “pause” on offering refreshments for the month of September, while still encouraging people to remain in the courtyard for fellowship and visiting after the 10:00 service. Hopefully this is a brief pause after which we will return to sharing food and drink together. One of our hosts, Doreen Van Leeuwen, wrote a reflection afterward about “Uncoffee Hour” (read the whole thing here):

It’s our character as Incarnationians to practice letting “the peace of Christ guide all our decisions, for we were called to live as one united body; and [to] always be thankful.” (Col. 3:15) So, for the moment we will have “Uncoffee Hour” where we can listen more carefully to one another and look more closely into each other’s eyes, all without the distraction of food and drink. And we can look for and revel in the gifts (presents) of each other’s presence, allowing that to nourish and satisfy our yearning to be together. Again.

Over the past several years we have been blessed by the presence of Angela and Hugh Stevenson among us and by Hugh's ministry as a Priest Associate. Hugh formerly served as rector of our neighbor parish, St. Patrick's, in Kenwood. Now Angela and Hugh will be moving out of Santa Rosa, and we will be celebrating and blessing them at their last Sunday here this Sunday, September 5. Hugh will be preaching and presiding at Eucharist. Please pray for Hugh and Angela and join us to bless them on their way this Sunday.

One of our parishioners just learned that their lease is expiring earlier than expected. They are now urgently looking for housing by the end of September. Ideally this would be a one-bedroom apartment in the range of $1400 per month. If you know of any possibilities, please contact Pastor Stephen at (707) 579-2604 or sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org.

Our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, released this video message this week encouraging Episcopalians to participate in the ministry of offering welcome to those fleeing from violence in Afghanistan. Bishop Curry’s office has provided these web links for further ways to offer support:

Our celebration of Morning Prayer has expanded to two days a week! We gather in the church building on both Tuesdays and Thursdays to begin the day with the prayers of the Church. Morning Prayer is built around praying the psalms, hearing scripture, and lifting up our prayers for the world, ourselves, and others. We are usually a group of around 4 to 8. All are welcome; masks are required. Enter from Mendocino Avenue.

Our friends at St. Paul's in Healdsburg are hosting a series of monthly concerts on their new Bigelow organ. The first concert is on Sunday, September 12, at 5:00 p.m., featuring San Francisco organist David Hatt playing a piece of his own compostion as well as music by Bach, Reger, and more. For more information and a complete schedule of concerts click here.

God is not an idea to be grasped, but a presence to be enjoyed. This is the central message of The Cloud of Unknowing, a medieval mystical text that offers practical instructions for deepening one’s connection with the God who is ultimately beyond all knowing. During the retreat, Fr. Daniel London, rector of Christ Church in Eureka, will introduce the author, the text and the ancient prayer practice endorsed by The Cloud. He will also guide participants through the reading of his distillation of the entire text while providing time for discussion, reflection, and engagement with the prayer practice itself. Although not required for the retreat, The Cloud of Unknowing Distilled is available to order on Amazon.

Please click here for the complete flyer and here for registration.

...Corrine, Alice, Andrea, Beverly, Ishika, Sarah, Dave, Elizabeth, Peggy Zimmerman, Alyce Sugiyama, Kate, Shelby, Demi, Ethan, Drew, Pamela H., Alice, Cindy Leonard, John C., Ed, James & Priscilla Carvalho, Mary Knutsen., Don Baier, Gene & Elizabeth Wright, Hugh & Angela Stevenson, Robyn Chew-Gibbs, Amanda Cortese, and Nancy Hanke.

...for those who have died: Jane Sinclair, Lila Kane, Joe T., Katrina, Don Green, Mary Wolfskill, Gabrielle Jefferess, Mickey Halberg, Shawna, Geoff Wright.

click here for the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.

click here for the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.

Monday, September 6

Tuesday, September 7

Thursday, September 9

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.