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Sixth Sunday after The Epiphany -- Be and Do
Our own happiness, our own peace, can never be complete until we find some way of sharing it with people who know the way things are now and have no happiness and know no peace. Jesus calls us to show this truth forth, live this truth forth. Be the light of the world, he says. Where there are dark places, be the light especially there. Be the salt of the earth. Bring out the true flavor of what it is to be alive truly. Be truly alive. Be life givers to others. That is what Jesus tells the disciples to be. That is what Jesus tells his Church, tells us to be and do. Love each other. Heal the sick, he says. Raise the dead. Cleanse lepers. Cast out demons. That is what loving each other means. If the Church is doing things like that, then it is being what Jesus told it to be. If it is not doing things like that-no matter how any other good and useful things it may be doing instead-then it is not being what Jesus told it to be. It is as simple as that.
--Frederick Buechner
Suggested Reading:
Deuteronomy 30: 19-20
Romans 5:1-8
Consider: Write on a piece of paper something you wish to let go of at this time. It might be a place of unforgivingness or perhaps some lingering bitterness. Light a match to this piece of paper. Let it go. Give it to God.
There are still pledge envelopes waiting for those who asked to receive them. They are arranged by last name, on the table near the entrance to Farlander Hall. If you know someone whose envelopes are there but who cannot get to church, please let the Church Office know. TODAY, February 13, will be the last Sunday that they will be available in Farlander Hall; after today, please call the Church Office for assistance.
Happy Valentine's Day! We have a fantastic and beautiful selection of new items in our Incarnation Book and Gift Store. We have 2011 calendars, watches, bracelets, necklaces, picture frames, giftcard boxes and handmade mice figurines in different characters. You have to stop and shop for our reasonably priced gifts. Of course we also have lots of children books, special program books and bibles. If we don't have an item or book you would like to have, please let us know and we can make every effort to order it for you. We are very proud to offer reasonable prices at our Incarnation Book and Gift Store. We invite everyone to take a peek and shop!! Thank you for Shopping!!
Attention Newcomers! Have you started attending the Church of the Incarnation in the past six or so months? If so, the Welcome Committee is throwing a party in your honor! We would love to meet you, and this is a great opportunity for you to meet Father Matt, the members of the Vestry, and some other church folks. The party is THIS AFTERNOON, February 13 from 2 pm-5 pm in Farlander Hall, here at Incarnation. We'll supply appetizers, desserts, drinks, music and fun! Please feel free to bring your family or a friend.
The Evening Women's Group will meet on Tuesday, February 15, at 7 pm, at the home of Betsy Evans. All women are welcome to join us. We are a supportive group providing a place to share our lives and our spiritual journeys with each other, building friendships as we go. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Wiuff at (707) 837-8768.
The February group meeting for Prayer of the Heart is Wednesday, February 16, in the church, from 7 - 8:30 pm. All are welcome who wish to practice Prayer of the Heart in a group setting.
February is American Heart Month. American Heart Month is a time to battle cardiovascular disease and educate Americans on what we can do to live heart-healthy lives. Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. You are at higher risk of heart disease if you are: A woman age 55 or older, a man age 45 or older, or a person with a family history of early heart disease. Heart disease can be prevented. To keep your heart healthy:
--Watch your weight.
--Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
--Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
--If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
--Get active and eat healthy.
--Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55.
--Manage stress.
If you don't have a family doctor, make time now to look for one, and have your blood pressure checked at an Incarnation blood pressure check or any medical clinic.
Seeking aspiring chefs, willing cooks, and people with pans and a recipe! The giving freezer is attempting to move to a system that will allow us to meet individual parishioner needs for meals in a fresh and timely fashion. Would you be willing to add your name to the list? If called, could you put together a meal, or even a container of extra food from something you are already making? If you would be willing to help out occasionally (less than 1X per month) please add your name to the sign up sheet on the bulletin board in Farlander Hall. Susan Pearson (Giving Freezer Coordinator) will call you to discuss the plan. We REALLY need you!
Urgent: 8 am Kitchen (Coffee Hour) Help Needed. We need some volunteers to help pour coffee and bring goodies one Sunday per month - we have four Sundays open and need 6 people. Please contact Marilyn Payne (707-545-2597) if interested.
"EVELYN, YOU ROCK!" Says a student at Burbank School in a thank you letter for all the help and supplies that we all and the volunteers have given to the teachers and students this year. Several of the 'priceless' letters are posted on the OUTREACH section of the bulletin board. Here is another example: "Your generosity touches our hearts. It is as though you are angels trumpeting our cause. Thank you so much." There are many more letters in the brown envelope attached to the board. Take them out for an amazing read (and put them back in). Letters will be rotated on the board. Supplies continue to be needed - please place donations of supplies in the bag in Farlander Hall. Thank you!
Come to one of the Congregational Leadership Conferences (CLCs). Attending CLC is free! CLCs are open to all clergy, vestry members (new and continuing), treasurers and any other congregational leaders interested in this opportunity to DISCOVER, SHARE & LEARN innovative best practices used by other congregations in your deanery -- not to mention a unique opportunity to network with your peers! Please save the date: Southwest Deanery Conference, March 5 at St. John's, Petaluma. Can't make this date? Others are available, see the Diocesan Website (www.norcalepiscopal.org) or call the Diocesan Office (916-442-6918) for info. All Congregational Leadership Conferences will take place on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be served.
Come and share in the Mystery of Centering Prayer: The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to Contemplation, is the indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ, and discerning our call to action. With discipline this practice leads to building communities of faith and bonds people together in mutual friendship and love. Truly learning how to love our neighbors as ourselves. Now that the new year is here, please consider trying something that will make an impact on you and the community in which you live. We meet on Monday nights between 5 pm and 6 pm. All are welcome. On our website (www.incarnation-sr.org) there is short video introduction by Fr. Thomas Keating explaining this contemplative practice. Go to the Small Group webpage and then click on Prayer + Contemplative.
Here at the Incarnation Book and Gift Store, we are in need of volunteers to help us keep a good schedule to have the store open during our Sunday services. Carla and I like to attend the 9:15 service so if someone can help us keep the store open during that hour that would be wonderful. We are hoping we can get several volunteers to set up some sort of regular schedule to keep the store open more hours during our Sunday services. Please let me (Jose) or Carla know what times you can help us. We do have a special discount program for whoever volunteers. Have a Wonderful Blessed Week!
Create your own Small Group. On the Small Group table in Farlander Hall is a flyer with information for anyone who is interested in creating their own Small Group. In the next few weeks there will be information for new groups starting, maybe one of them will be yours!
How Can I Support the Open Table Ministry?
--Prepare and deliver beans, rice, boiled or deviled eggs or egg salad to Farlander Hall on Saturday afternoon or Sunday before 7:00 am.
--Volunteer during the breakfast on Sunday mornings.
--Bring your travel or trial size toiletries (soap, shampoo, shaving kits, laundry detergents) to our collection box in Farlander Hall.
--Contribute towards the weekly costs of food and paper goods - Visit the The Open Table Donation Box in Farlander Hall.
--Shop for Open Table
The Open Table Ministry welcomes and feeds between 50 -75 of our neighbors from the neighboring street community each Sunday morning at 7:00 am. Contact Terri Hobart, Barbara Avery, Carolyn Rauch, or Rich Wagner for more information or to volunteer.
Health Tip: What you can do to protect your lungs? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a general term for the narrowing of the small bronchi, the smaller airways that carry air to the lungs. The two prime diseases that make up COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The American Lung Association suggests these steps to help protect you from COPD:
--Don't smoke, and quit if you currently smoke.
--Stay away from secondhand smoke, and don't allow other people to smoke in your home.
--Avoid exposure to lung-damaging chemicals (e.g. in products used in your home, car, workplace and garden)
--Take steps to help promote clean air in your community.
Schedule a visit with your doctor if you suspect that you may have COPD, particularly if you are 45 or older and have a history of smoking.
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