Dear friends,

In her book A Place for Baptism, Regina Kuehn writes that “The font in its baptistry is a home for the church, a regular meeting place for believers, a recognizable location to which one can point in memory of a liturgical event, a location from which energy emanates. It is a holy place . . . the place where a personal covenant binds together an entire people and establishes once and for all that relationship with God.”

Kuehn goes on to write that a baptismal font is a womb, a place of new birth. It is a tomb, a place where we die with Christ and are raised with Christ. It is a tub, a place where we are washed clean. Together with the altar, the font is one of the two central focuses of the church space.

For about thirty years, our font at Incarnation has been a portable wooden pedestal with a blue glass basin on the top. This replaced the stone font which now stands as a fountain in the courtyard outside the ramp to the Marian Chapel. Unfortunately, back in October 2019, the glass basin developed a crack and then broke beyond repair.

A group of Worship Committee members formed a task force at that time to explore possibilities. We considered simply replacing the glass basin or reconditioning the historic stone font. However, the stone font has stood outdoors for thirty years and is really best suited as a fountain now. And as our discussions continued, we began to explore the possibility of commissioning a new font that would be a work of art, something more substantial than the previous portable one.

The pandemic stopped us in our tracks for over a year, but in the spring of this year we brought the group back together. Our research led us to Ralph Carlson, a local sculptor and woodworker based in Sebastopol. Ralph is a friend of Incarnation’s already, having carved a replacement statue for one of our Stations of the Cross after the original had been stolen a number of years ago. Remarkably, he specializes in containers and basins; and while most of his work is in a more modern style, he was excited at the possibility of creating a font that would harmonize with Incarnation’s Carpenter Gothic interior.

Ralph created a proposal for a font to be carved out of wood from a valley oak tree that stood in the Fountaingrove area but had to be cut down after being burned in the 2017 Tubbs fire. This creates a profound connection to our local environment and the traumatic event that has been so much a part of our history. The font itself is an octagonal base, representing the “eight days of the new creation” (with the resurrection of Christ inaugurating a new first day), with a 34-inch glass bowl—large enough for an infant to sit in the bowl to be baptized, and for an adult to have a more substantial amount of water poured over their head. The design incorporates shapes and motifs already found in the altar and the wood trim around the sides of the church.

Meanwhile, after the recent passing of Maureen and Don Green, their family approached me and asked if there was an item the church needed that might be given as a gift in their honor. At our July meeting the vestry voted to proceed with Ralph’s proposal. Our new font will be given in memory of Don and Maureen, and should be ready to be consecrated by November.

By ancient tradition, only a bishop can consecrate a new baptismal font. I’m delighted to announce that Bishop Megan is planning to be with us on November 14 for her first official congregational visit to Incarnation since becoming our bishop. Our hope is that she will have not only a font to bless but our new solar panels as well! This will also be an opportunity for baptism, confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, or reaffirmation of baptismal vows for those interested in undergoing those rites. Some of our members have already undergone preparation for confirmation/reception/reaffirmation in the past couple of years; for others, we’ll offer an opportunity in early fall.

Our previous font pedestal served as our place of new birth for thirty years. We will find an appropriate place to reuse it: perhaps in our children’s worship space, or perhaps at St. Andrew’s Mission, which currently lacks a font.

Our identity as followers of Jesus is grounded in our baptism, the act by which we are made one with the Body of Christ and anointed with the Holy Spirit. I’m looking forward with joy to this new place of new birth for our congregation.

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.

Stephen, the hiring committee and I are happy to announce that we have found our new team member as our next Children’s Ministry Leader: someone who is already a part of our faith community, our own Karin Dutra!

Karin brings with her excitement for children’s ministry and building community. Karin’s most important gifts are her experience in leadership in ministry and working with children, from Godly Play teacher to preacher. Karin has led multiple ministry teams throughout her church life and holds a masters in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.

With all the uncertainty that we continue to face in our world and community it’s a blessing that we have the resources to build and support the ministry of young families. Thank you for your good will and prayers during this process.

Did you know that the Episcopal Church has official agencies that work to assist migrants and refugees? Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations for a conversation about The Episcopal Church's response to the Afghanistan evacuations and how we can support our Afghan neighbors. The presentation will include a status update, information about pathways by which Afghan immigrants and refugees may arrive in the U.S., and information about how individuals and congregations can help. Registration is required.

Are you someone who loves being hospitable and helping people feel at home? Maybe you are called to be a Coffee Hour Host! Thanks at first to Catherine Priestley and Inese Heinzel, and now to Julie Verhoeff, we have been enjoying coffee hours after the outdoor 10:00 service for the last several weeks. Now we’re ready to get further organized and develop a volunteer schedule and a basic routine for how coffee hour works each week. For anyone who may be interested in hosting coffee hour, please join us for a meeting this Sunday, August 29, in Short Hall, after the 10:00 service (so, about 11:45). It will take no more than 45 minutes. If you’re not able to attend but you’d still like to be a coffee hour host, please contact Stephen at sshaver@incarnationsantarosa.org.

We will resume meeting the first and third Saturdays of the month from 3-4:15 PST. This will be a hybrid Zoom-In person meeting in the office conference room. Women of the parish who would like to attend our meeting are welcome. If you need to attend via Zoom or have any questions, please contact me at DOK@incarnationsantarosa.org for Zoom meeting information.

The Order of the Daughters of the King is an Order for women who take an oath of Prayer, Service and Evangelism.

This has been a month of gratitude for our Sunday Open Table. Thank you to those who added a contribution to us in the past month. Your help is very much appreciated. We are always thankful for those who remember us on a regular basis. It helps us keep within our budget.

Special thanks this month to the Bolchazy family. Allan contributes a part of his real estate commission when church members use him to buy/sell a home. Allan’s mom, Marie, gave us a sizeable donation this month which helped make up for our lack of fundraising over the past 2 years. Shirley and Bob Dempel bought us half a pig at the County Fair. This is a win-win situation benefiting both the future farmer and our guests. We so appreciate all of these blessings.

Our guests often thank us also. One of them told me his story. He has a brain injury which affects his motor skills and his speech. At one time he had an apartment. His rent was $375 a month and he had his own bathroom and even air-conditioning. He had a state sponsored job helping with highway maintenance and he could walk there from his apartment. When the employment program ended, he eventually also lost his ability to pay rent on disability benefits alone. He told me this story laboriously as a way to let me know how much it meant to him that people were willing to feed him sometimes. He really appreciated our breakfast and our to-go lunch. We are blessed to be able to continue this service.

For more information and a complete schedule of concerts click here!

Just a reminder about our current COVID-19 practices for in-person worship:

Thank you for helping us gather in as responsible a way as possible and reducing the risk for our congregation and our wider community.

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 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.

Our celebration of Morning Prayer has expanded from one 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. Masks are required for all until further notice. We are usually a group of around 4 to 8. All are welcome. Enter from Mendocino Avenue.

...Andrea, Beverly, Ishika, Mary, Julie, Sarah, Dave, Bob, Sam, Ella, Linda, Ashley, Gretchen, Manuel, Elizabeth, JoAn Blackstone, Nate, Peggy Zimmerman, Caroline, Alyce Sugiyama, Kate, Shelby, Demi, Ethan, Drew, Susan, Grizel, Pamela H., Alice, Sonja, Cindy Leonard, John C., Ed, 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: 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, August 30

Tuesday, August 31

Thursday, September 2

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.