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Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany - Allow God
"I have done nothing but open windows-God has done the rest. There has been a succession of marvelous experiences of the friendship of God. I resolved that I would succeed better this year with my experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God than I succeeded last year. And I added another resolve-to be wide open toward people and their need as I am toward God. Windows open outward as well as upward. Windows open especially downward where people need the most!" - Frank Laubach
Suggested Reading: Psalm 23 · Matthew 11:28-30
Consider: You might like keeping a brief daily gratitude journal. Each day, write down everything for which you are grateful. Notice what situations recur; notice any changes over time in your relationship to gratitude.
OPEN HOUSE next weekend AT HEAVENLY TREASURES! Are you ready for the best shopping experience you've had in a while? Come over to Heavenly Treasures next Sunday, February 27 after services. You'll gently used items, along with brand new gifts like high-quality French soaps, jewelry, and warm, gorgeous shawls. Take advantage of bargain basement prices, and know that your purchase does real good--90% of our profits are donated to social service and justice causes. We'll be open until 1:00, so stroll over and discover YOUR treasures!
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.
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 ( ) 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.
Mardi Gras for EYF Mission Trip: Sponsored by the Incarnation Youth Group. March 8 from 6 pm-9 pm. Join us for our Mardi Gras pancake supper with all the fixings. Bring your beads and your party mojo! Fun for all ages. Dress up in your festive New Orleans attire. We are going to party like never before. Fun, food, and music. All proceeds will be donated to this year's Mission trip to Arizona. We will build a house on the San Carlos Apache reservation June 11-18, 2011.
The Poetry Group is back! We will meet March 9 (1:30-3 pm in the library). "Poetry is the language of devotion in prayer, chant and song. Reading poetry creates clarity, deepens and expands spiritual inquiry, and cultivates wisdom, compassion, self-confidence, patience and love" (Robert McDowell). This group explores a wide range of poets and their poetry. Through readings and discussions we discover the richness of this art and how it can be used as a spiritual practice in our lives. There is a sign-up sheet on the Small Group table if you're interested in joining.
The Outreach Commission Needs You! The Outreach Commission is looking for new people to join our group. The commission considers and recommends to the vestry ways in which our resources can be best employed, with the objective to make a positive Christian impact on the world around us. The group currently meets about once every other month, so the commitment is low but the need is high! Please contact Stephanie Blair if you are interested: 837-2972. Thank you!!
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!
The Flower Chart for the year 2011 is now on the South wall near the back of the Church. You will find spaces after each Sunday date for each Month of 2011. You can sign up for one or more dates. Someone from the office will call you to learn how you want your flowers noted in the bulletin. The flower offerings can be given in memory of someone, in Thanksgiving or in Celebration of some event, etc. The members of the Altar Guild will buy the flowers to arrange and place on the Reredos for the proper Sunday you have chosen. More than one family may sign up for any given Sunday. The cost for each Sunday is $50. Just put your check in the offering plate, marked "altar flowers," or mail it to the Church Office.
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!
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.
Have you constantly dreamed of volunteering in the Church Office? Well, probably not. But we sure do need you! We have some fantastic and extremely dedicated volunteers already, but very few substitutes. Some of our volunteers also travel in the summer, and with Claire going out on maternity leave in mid-June, it will be more important than ever that the Church Office remains an open and welcoming place for all with Church business. Graciously answering the phone and greeting people can be so valuable, both to the staff of Incarnation as well as its constituents. Shifts last 3 ½ hours, from 9 to 12:30 or from 12:30 to 4 pm. If you are interested, we would love to hear from you, whether you want a steady gig or want to be a substitute. Contact Claire in the Church Office (707-579-2604 ext. 104 or email Claire@incarnation-sr.org ). Thank you!
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!
Small Changes to Help You Move More and Sit Less: Having an exercise routine you can stick to is great for your health. But even just moving around more can be beneficial. Below are some Small Changes that can make a Big Difference in getting more movement into each and every day.
--Stand up whenever someone enters your office or work space.
--Hold standing meetings. (An additional benefit is that they will probably be over sooner!)
--Move your trash can across the office, and get up each time you throw something away.
--"Sit for 50, Move for 3" - Get up at least once every 50 minutes and move around.
--Walk over to tell someone something instead of sending an email.
--Park ten minutes away from your destination; walk there and back and you've gotten twenty minutes of activity.
--Stand up while you're talking on the phone.
--Take a walk at lunchtime.
--On cold days, walk inside a mall.
--Lean into a wall and do a few standing push-ups from time to time.
--Carry packages one at a time from the car to the house.
--Stand up and walk or run in place during television commercials.
--Take your dog for a longer walk than you usually do.
--Ask a friend to take a walk with you.
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