Open Forum today after all services! You may remember last week we were supposed to have the second of two Open Forums on our Values/Vision/Mission statements that the Vestry put forth for your review. It was moved from last Sunday to today, so after the service please head to Farlander Hall and give the Vestry your input on these important statements. Thank you! It unfortunately falls on the same day as the Heavenly Treasures Open House, so please try to visit both if you can.

Heavenly Treasures Open House today! Heavenly Treasures Thrift and Gift Store is open today after all services. Come over and discover YOUR treasures -- we have fabulous designer clothes, shoes, and handbags for ridiculously low prices. You'll look so great that no one will ever know how little you spent. You'll find cashmere, silk, wool, leather jackets, designer bags...the list just goes on and on. We even have brand new jewelry, scarves, and shawls. Come see us after services (we're just two doors north on Mendocino Avenue) and stretch your dollars until they scream!

Guild of the Incarnation Fall Meeting ~ After a busy summer the Guild is ready to start the Fall Season on Tuesday, September 1st, at 11:00 am with a short business meeting. Our Salad and Dessert Pot-luck Luncheon will start at 12:00 noon. All are welcome to join us. The program, at 1:00 pm, will be a speaker from The Children's Village of Sonoma County. She will tell us about this unique non-profit Home for Foster Children. I know this will be an interesting and informative program. It will be fun to join together for lunch and visit with each other.

A note about our Deacon: The Rev. Pamela Moore will be on vacation from August 30th through the month of September. We look forward to her return in October!

A few notes for September: The Fall season is upon us, and with it comes some September things that we'd like you to know about.

- Fr. Matt will be returning from his sabbatical this coming week. His first Sunday back with us will be next Sunday, September 6th. There will be a reception for him at coffee hour after the 10 am service that morning.

- We go back to our three service schedule on September 13th, with services on Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, and 11:15 am.

- The November/December/January newsletter deadline is September 18th, which means that if you have something that's happening in November, December, or January that you'd like publicized in the newsletter, please prepare what you want to say about it now, and send it to Cindy May at news@incarnation-sr.org. And if you miss the deadline and something comes up later, you can always submit it for publication in the weekly bulletin announcements.

The Prayer of the Heart group practice meeting in September is Tuesday, September 8th, 7:30-9 pm, in the church. All who wish to practice the Prayer of the Heart (the Jesus Prayer) in a group are welcome to come. If any questions or for more information, please contact Lisa Jang, 527-9549.

Mini Organ Recitals at Church of the Incarnation: A series of short, ½ hour organ recitals beginning at 6:00 p.m. will premier this fall on the second Friday of each month. Designed to feature the Incarnation Casavant Pipe Organ and local musicians, the recitals offer an opportunity to start your Friday evening with some enjoyable organ music, perhaps followed by a dinner in a downtown Santa Rosa or Railroad Square restaurant. The first of these recitals will be Friday, September 11th at 6:00 p.m., when Harold Julander will play a half hour program of Walther, Bach, Mendelssohn and Messiaen. On October 9th, Leslie Dukes will be the featured artist. Further recitals for this year will be held on November 13th and December 11th, and will continue in Spring 2010. A free-will donation is intended to cover expenses. We hope to see you there!

Small Group Events:

Hiking Group: The next outing for the Hiking Group is September 12th. We have had some very nice hikes the last few months. We look forward to you joining us for our next Hike! We will meet in the church parking lot at 8:30 am. If you would like to be added to our email list, please sign-up in Farlander or email Fernando Dizon at fdizon@gmail.com .

Game Night: Mark your calendars, Game Night will resume on September 12th at 4:30 pm in Farlander Hall!  More information to follow in next week's bulletin.

All-Parish Stewardship Dinner: The Stewardship Committee will be sponsoring an all-parish potluck dinner to be held on Sunday October 4th, 2009 in Farlander Hall.  The program will center around the theme "Gratitude", and the dinner will be the parish's primary pledge event. Pledge cards will be distributed, and those attending will be asked to complete and return their pledge card that evening. So mark your calendars, bring your favorite dish to share, and come prepared to make your pledge for 2010!  Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. for wine and appetizers, and dinner will served at 5:30 p.m.

Help the homeless from the comfort of your home. Want to make a difference in the lives of homeless women and children right here in Sonoma County? Heavenly Treasures is in dire need of a Scheduling Coordinator. The Scheduling Coordinator draws up the monthly volunteer calendar and makes all shifts are covered, so that we can continue to provide free clothing to Living Room clients. All this can be done from your home -- no need to come in to Heavenly Treasures. All you need is to be easily reachable by phone and have internet access.  The time commitment is approximately 5-6 hours a month. Please call Signe Sugiyama at 569-7448 for more information, or email heavenlytreasures576@gmail.com.

Adult Spiritual Formation Presents: A Centering Prayer Workshop. Save the date, Saturday October 10th, 2009, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Come to The Church of the Incarnation for an introduction to Centering Prayer, offered by the Rev. Amber Sturgiss (Episcopal Priest), and spiritual director Ruah Bull, Ph.D. Centering Prayer is an updated method of a prayer form that has been in the Christian tradition for centuries. Centering Prayer helps develop a state of contemplative prayer, which opens the mind and heart, our whole being to God. In this prayer we open our awareness to God, and consent to God's action and presence within us. The cost for the day is only $25.00 (lunch is included.) Some scholarships are available, please contact Mitch Garcia for information. If you're interested in attending, there are sign-up sheets on the Small Groups table in Farlander. Any questions, please contact: Mitch Garcia at (707) 703-4162 or email smallgroups@incarnation-sr.org, or Suzanne Kurtz at thruthewoods@hotmail.com.

Lost and Found articles: We have bibles and jewelry and glasses in the Welcome Center lost and found. If you've lost one or more of these items, please come take a look. See our office hours listed at the end of your bulletin.