News & Notes - February 21, 2021
The First Sunday in Lent
Online Service: 9:30 a.m.
|
|
From the Rector: Looking Ahead to Regathering |
|
Dear friends,
Last week our Bishop Megan Traquair sent out a pastoral message in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that overturned the state of California’s prohibition on indoor religious services for counties in the purple “widespread” tier of COVID-19. Bishop Megan’s message reads, in part:
While the ruling of the Supreme Court lifts some of the legal restrictions in gathering, we are not guided solely by the law, but by these guiding principles:
-
We are motivated by the love of God and the call to love one another as Christ loves us. (John 15:12-13; 1 Corinthians 13)
- ·We are grateful for our rights as Americans and as Christians, but we put priority not on standing up for our rights, but rather to have the mind of Christ and become servants of God, of our congregation, and of our community. (Philippians 2:5-11)
- We seek to protect, serve, and advocate for the most vulnerable among us. (Matthew 25:31-46)
I appreciate Bishop Megan’s focus on our core values of love and servanthood in Christ’s name. My own view is that, even though we may now have the legal right to worship indoors, the public health implications of doing so haven’t changed, and so I will not be ready for us to hold indoor services while Sonoma County remains in the purple tier. We have learned a lot about worshiping outdoors, and outdoor worship will continue to be an option for us, as with this week’s Ash Wednesday service.
Having said that, we are clearly entering a new season in our response to COVID-19. As slow and frustrating as the process may sometimes be, the number of people being vaccinated is increasing. Meanwhile, the winter surge in cases is receding—thanks be to God for that. So it is time to plan ahead for a future when indoor worship will indeed again be possible. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be reconvening our parish’s Task Force on Regathering, which did such good work for us last summer to develop our plan for outdoor services. If you’d like to be a part of that Task Force, please let me know.
Meanwhile, we are embarked on our Lenten journey to Holy Week and Easter. Many have said this past year has felt like one long Lent. For sure, the basic practices of Lent—simplicity, self-examination, generosity—will help sustain us through the rest of the pandemic … and for all of life to come.
In Christ’s love,
|
|
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, Evening Prayer, and Stations of the Cross :
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.
|
|
Ideas for Lenten Practices |
|
Would you like some ideas for how to deepen your experience of Lent? Please see any of the following ones that would be wonderful additions to your Lenten practice.
Daphne Vernon - Director of Spiritual Formation
|
|
Tuesday February 23: Incarnation Living Compass Lenten reading at 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 [email protected]. |
|
Wednesdays in Lent: Incarnation 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).
|
|
Fridays in Lent: Incarnation Online Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.
On the Fridays in Lent, from February 19 through March 19, we will be celebrating the Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. Please note that this is a change from the earlier announced time of 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).
|
|
From Trinity Cathedral: Five Days on Jerusalem
Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:00 pm | February 23 – March 23
This Lenten class will look at five days in Jesus’ last week.
|
|
The Center for Bible Study and St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Rocklin, present:
Finding God in the Midst of Chaos
A five-week journey examining the Biblical book of Ezekiel.
Tuesdays 11:00 am | February 23 – March 23
Dr. Lindy Williams of Fuller Theological Seminary
The Biblical prophet Ezekiel’s life was upended by cultural change. He and 10,000 people were exiled due to war made to leave their homes, their towns, and their temple. These lost people had to reconstruct their lives in a place away from their sacred home. Join us for a five-week journey examining how they learned to survive in their new topsy turvy world. Where was God during change and hardship? How did God recast their dismal outlook to protect the faith’s future? How did one faithful leader, Ezekiel, use storytelling to enable them to thrive amid massive upheaval?
This five-week Zoom class will spend one week exploring how the book of Ezekiel highlights incomprehensible loss, before spending the next three weeks on the book’s reimagining of Jerusalem, the Davidic monarchy, and the Promised Land. It will close with a discussion on lessons learned, and how we can apply these lessons to our own uncertain times.
|
|
Growing Back Better - Lent Retreat
Pray As You Go is a website that provides a daily prayer resource that is based on Ignatian Spirituality. They are currently offering an online Lent Retreat.
We have all come through a year like no other in living memory, and now we have arrived in a new year, carrying all the hopes and dreams of a new beginning, but also the many fears and troubles of the year just passed. The season of Lent gives us a heaven-sent opportunity to reflect prayerfully on our recent experience and the difficulties and the possibilities it has set before us.
2020 challenged us, individually and collectively, in ways no-one could have imagined. It has confronted us with the question of whether we want to go back to how things were, or to ‘grow back better’. It has challenged us to reflect on what kind of people we truly desire to become and what kind of world we hope to pass on to future generations.
Join us for a Lent retreat over seven sessions in collaboration with Sacred Space, written by Margaret Silf. Please click HERE for more information.
|
|
Godly Play Foundation: the Mystery of Easter
On Ash Wednesday we began our journey to get ready to enter the Mystery of Easter. Through the Faces of Easter stories we prepare for the king who is coming, going, and coming again. We begin with his coming when God chose Mary to "be the mother of God." We invite you to share this video with your family to encourage you to wonder during this time.
- I wonder if anyone in this family was ever born? I wonder what that amazing day was like? (Take this opportunity to tell birth stories as a family.)
- I wonder if there is anything in our house that we could bring to this story to help us tell it better? (Bring baby photos, perhaps figures from your nativity set, etc.)
|
|
Open Table Update
Sunday Open Table continues to serve 80-100 hungry neighbors each Sunday. We also have a monthly program to provide some toiletries – toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo as well as some winter warmth in the form of scarves, socks and gloves.
If you are looking for a Lenten volunteer project, it might be a good time to check out our needs at incarnation.ivolunteer.com. You could also contact Mark Neumann at 707-292-6710 if you want to get a better idea of what the job entails. It’s a good time to try it out, even once, to get a better feel for the program and the people we serve.
Another possibility is to provide some more socks or new toiletries to our collection. Jackets and coats in good condition are always appreciated. We don’t have the capacity right now to handle more clothing. Open Table is looking to returning to warm meals once the Covid 19 situation seems more stable.
The Steering Committee will be sending out surveys to former volunteers to get some feedback on their needs and ideas. (You can add your name to this list by e-mailing [email protected].) We will also survey our guests to better understand their wants and needs. We are very thankful for the parish’s continued support. |
|
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...
...Sharon, Fran, Lila, 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: Lorin Leitner, 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.
|
|
Sunday, February 21
Monday, February 22- President's Day, office closed.
- 3 pm - 3:15 pm: Prayer for America. For Zoom details, contact Brad, [email protected]
Tuesday, February 23
- 2:00 pm: Living Compass Lent
- 7:00 pm - Through the Ear to the Heart: contemplative singing. Contact Devi Mathieu to request the Zoom invitation: [email protected], 707-829-0815.
Wednesday, February 24
-
7:00 pm: Online Evening Prayer (see Online Services above for link)
Thursday, February 25
- 5:00 pm: Rainbow Group
- 6:00 pm - St. Cecilia Choir
Friday, February 26
- 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Open Table prep
- 7:00 pm: Online Stations of the Cross (see Online Services above for link)
Saturday, February 27
- 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Open Table Prep
- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Daughters of the King
Sunday, February 28
|
|
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 [email protected]
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
