Bring your calendars, your Blackberries and iPhones, your laptops and iPads, your briefcases and backpacks, your work-a-day weariness and time-driven anxiety to church this Sunday for our annual Blessing of the Backpacks! This Sunday at the 10 am service is the day for anyone who seeks God's blessing on their work life or study life.You will be invited to process with the choir and to lay your object at the foot of the altar for a blessing. Also today, we party after the 10 am service at the All-Parish Fall Festival! Come for a BBQ, bouncy house, Velcro wall, tons of fun and fellowship! Bring your friends!
 
Please note: The Church Office will be closed on Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day.
 
The Guild of Incarnation meets this Tuesday, September 7. ALL ARE WELCOME to attend! We start at 11:00 a.m. with the business meeting, followed with a potluck luncheon at about 12:00 noon.  After the luncheon, the guest speaker will be The Rev. Dr. Gail Cafferata, our Health Ministries Coordinator. Come hear what is happening with this wonderful program at Incarnation. 
 
David Link, Sacramento Episcopal Cathedral Organist, will be our featured guest for the Twilight Pipe Organ Mini Recital on Friday, September 10, at 6:00 pm. His program will entitled, "Cathedral Echoes." This is the first of the season's performances that will occur the second Friday evening, 6 pm, approx. 1/2 hour each, September through June. Dinner to follow with the artist at a local restaurant. Artists for October and November, Beth Zucchino (local artist who manages concert organists internationally), and David Rothe, professor from Cal State Chico.
 
Numina brings a second Taize. Where....? In Sebastopol at St Stephen's Episcopal Church. Friday night, September 10, and every second Friday of each month.  Terri Hobart and Benjamin Mertz will guide the contemplative chanting service.  There will be a  light supper after the service at Jean and Mark Farmers' house. Service starts at 7 pm.
 
Please note: NEXT SUNDAY, September 12, we go back to our three service schedule, with services at 8 am, 9:15 am, and 11:15 am. So don't come to church at 10 am, or you'll be late for one service and early for another! 

Tuesday Morning Book Group resumes Tuesday, September 14 with Listening for God, Volume 2, edited by Paula J. Carlson and Peter S. Hawkins.  The book includes short stories by John Updike, Anne Tyler, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Tobias Wolff, Carol Bly, Gail Godwin, Kathleen Norris and  Andre Dubus. We meet in the Library.
 
The Community of Hope (COH) class begins Thursday, September 16 (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) and runs for 14 weeks. Openings are still available in this course that's ideal for people who serve as Eucharistic Visitors, friendly visitors, flower or food deliverers, outreach workers or as caregivers in other settings. It's also of value to anyone who wants to be a good listener and care for others-whether at our jobs or in our families. COH is centered in Benedictine spirituality and builds a faithful and compassionate community. It requires a written application and interview before admission to the class, so please let Pastor Gail know right away if you're interested. For application or further information please contact Pastor Gail at 579-2604 x103 or email pastorgail@incarnation-sr.org.
 
We are all invited to two important conversations with other people of faith in Santa Rosa. These conversations will give us a chance to get to know one another and make connections around issues that are important to us. 
 
"The Personal Impacts of the Economic Crisis," 
Monday, September 27, 7 pm
Resurrection Parish, 303 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa
 
"Wanting the Best for our Children in Sonoma County,"
Monday, October 4, 7 pm
Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa
 
These conversations are part of the North Bay Sponsoring Committee's work to help congregations connect with each other.  All are invited!
 
For those on the path to Confirmation - On September 25 (9-4 pm) Fr. Matt will be leading the Confirmation Retreat which is a requirement (along with completing the Via Media classes and the Inquirers and Seekers sessions) for confirmation or being received into the Episcopal Church. Some of you have already signed-up for this Confirmation Retreat-Day. If you desire to be confirmed or received and have completed the Via Media and Inquiries and Seeker classes, please contact Mitch Garcia (pastorgail@incarnation-sr.org or 707-703-4162).
 
Volunteers needed to help stock the Giving Freezer! We will be cooking up some care and comfort in the church kitchen from 1 to 3 pm on Sunday, September 26, 2010. Please join us in reviving this important component of pastoral care. We need all skill levels to help in food preparation, cooking, and clean up, and we desperately need donations to help cover the cost of food and supplies. Please, if you are able to contribute talent, time, or treasure, contact the new Giving Freezer Coordinator, Susan Pearson at (707) 494-5049, or sign up to join us on the clipboard in Farlander Hall. You could be the world's best chef, or a champion dishwasher - it doesn't matter, just come on down!
 
Please note: We just had this event on August 29, but no one showed up! We are trying again with this September date, hoping that more people will be ready & willing.
 
A message from the Pastoral Care Committee: Every so often, members of the pastoral care committee conduct an All-Parish Check-in. We try to connect with every member of the parish to check-in, update our information, and ask if there's anything you'd like us to know about or pray for. You can expect a call sometime in the month of September - we're looking forward to connecting with you!
 
A plea for wayward jelly glasses: Do you have any that you could recycle to the busy jelly makers for the Christmas Bazaar? Don't worry if they are topless. That can be remedied. We have a wonderful offer of special Spanish grapes from a parishioner. We also have bountiful local fruits that would make lovely jams and jellies as well. There will be a container by the Bulletin Board near the Outreach section. Thank you!
 
Are you a photographer in your spare time? We are looking for professional-quality photos for our website! Please contact Mitch Garcia for more info: smallgroups@incarnation-sr.org.
 
Gift and Bookstore Under New Management! 
A message from Jose Ramirez:
 
Hi folks, Maggie has decided to take a break from her volunteer work, managing Our Church of the Incarnation Gift and Bookstore. I would like for all of us to give thanks to Maggie for the wonderful job she did while on this special volunteer duty. I want to let everyone know in our congregation, I will be available to serve the best way possible as our new volunteer manager. It is "OUR" Gift and Bookstore, I am open for new ideas and suggestions. Please keep in mind there are always openings for volunteers.  If you find yourself with a little extra time on Sundays in your busy life just let me know. I certainly could use time off! Just kidding! Thank you, and THANK YOU MAGGIE! My Prayers to all of YOU! Jose A. Ramirez (707) 239-3944.