Incarnation Sunday Announcements 9.20.09

Tuesday Morning Book Group continues on Tuesday, September 22nd, at 9:30 am in the Library, off Farlander Hall. We've chosen to read God: Stories, a book of short stories edited by Michael C. Curtis. We'll be reading and discussing this time, so there's no requirement for reading the text ahead of time. Come and join us! You can find out about purchasing a book when you come for the meeting.

The Numina: Taize Caritas Service happens this Friday, September 25th. A lecture and slideshow given by Kayleen Asbo starts at 7:30 pm, followed by a contemplative candlelit service of Taize chant accompanied by piano and cello at 8 pm.

Come help out on Odd Job Saturday! We still have plenty to do on our trimming and cleanup jobs around the Church. Fall is here, and we need volunteers to help with the various things that need attention. Please sign up in Farlander Hall today if you can spare four hours on Saturday, September 26th from 8 am to noon. Call Glen at 540-4493 for questions or suggestions.

Holy Family Episcopal Church in Rohnert Park is seeking volunteers to assist us with serving lunch to the 33 members of Board and Council and the Bishop and his staff, as they meet at our church on Saturday, September 26th. Later that afternoon the Bishop is consecrating our last stained glass window followed by a church dinner. This is proving to be a very busy day for our small congregation and we are hoping to get help with the noonday meal--setting, serving and clearing. The cost is covered by the diocese, and the meal will be catered. Please call Pastor Gail Cafferata if you can help (707-953-0202). Thanks!

Pancake Breakfast is back! Join us next Sunday, September 27th, by coming to the Pancake Breakfast after the 8 am and 9:15 am services. The pancake breakfast raises money for our youth programs, "youth group night" dinners, ski trips, and outings. So come, support the youth programs here at Incarnation by attending our Pancake Breakfast - we look forward to serving you!

Next Sunday, September 27th, we will be welcoming our guest preacher ~The Rev. Chris Bell, Pastor of the Unitarian Universalist congregation across the street. The Rev. Bell is a great preacher and should not be missed!

The Memorial Service for Bernice Winsor will be held here at the Church on Friday, October 2nd at 1:30 pm.

On October 4th, please join us at 9:15 for our combo Discovery Sunday and Blessing of the Animals service: bring your beasties great and small for a blessing. We will be worshipping outside in the Quad area, so bring an extra coat or blanket in case it gets chilly!

Inquirers & Seekers Class: Beginning Sunday, October 4th (for four consecutive Sundays) 12:30-2:30 pm. These classes are offered for you who are new to our church, for you who are seekers, and for the curious, for those who think they might want to join the church, and even for those who definitely plan to join the church. You'll have a chance to meet some of our clergy and lay leaders, hear about their faith journeys, and learn about the ministries and life of our congregation. Note - For those wishing to be confirmed next June: this course serves as partial preparation for confirmation, and is required as part of our confirmation process. If you're interested in attending these classes, please register by signing up in Farlander Hall.

Numina presents: Spiritual History through Art October 4th, 11th, & 25th, from 3 to 4:30 pm. here at the Church. From the Renaissance through the Wars of Religion, each session will highlight one of the foundational stages in the development of Spirituality in the West. Featuring slides of some of the world's greatest paintings, these presentations will have an interdisciplinary character, combining history, religious studies and art. Sessions are led by Professor Bruce Ellioitt, a professor at UC Berkeley, Stanford Continuing Studies, and Sonoma Statae Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. $15 per session, $40 for the series. Go to www.numinacenter.org for more details.

All-Parish Stewardship Dinner: You are invited to an all-parish potluck dinner to be held on Sunday October 4th, 2009 in Farlander Hall. The theme of the dinner will be "Gratitude." In addition to eating fabulous food and reconnecting with new and old friends, we will celebrate the joy we feel as members of this community. And yes, we'll all have the opportunity to make our pledge commitments to the parish as well. 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.

Outreach to Burbank School ~ Volunteering for even one hour a week helps teachers and students. The teachers need help grading papers or other tasks in the classroom that can be done. Call Patty Hickey for more information or to sign up (568-6856). Another way to help is to donate pencils and erasers, as supply money is more limited than ever. There will be a box in Farlander Hall to put your pencils and erasers in. The children will be very grateful.
Thank you.

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.

Wanted: More Time! Fr. Matt is looking for a volunteer for the job of Appointments Secretary. The job would involve managing Fr. Matt's appointments and keeping his schedule. This person would need to be easy to reach, available to parishioners, comfortable with email, and nice to people. If interested, please email Fr. Matt at revml@incarnation-sr.org.

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. Note: you have just two more weeks to register for this event!

Sign up for 9:15 coffee hour ~ Somehow our original list of the people who bring goodies and make coffee for the 9:15 service throughout the month has gone astray. However, this is an excellent opportunity to sign up to help out, if you haven't already! If you like goodies, why not bring some of your favorites to share? Become a part of this ministry that is dear to our hearts by signing up on the sheet posted in the kitchen. omething comes up later, you can always submit it for publication in the weekly bulletin announcements.