A Message from the Development Committee
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:45-46)
It seems ordinary and routine. We gather each Sunday morning. We greet one another. The church bell rings. The music director queues up the opening hymn. The cross leads the way. The choir and the ministers enter in procession. And off we go.
Ordinary, yet extraordinary. In that simple weekly gathering, we take a leap of faith, again and again, to seek and experience the presence of Christ. Just like Nathanael in the Gospel of John. Just like the millions of hopeful Christians who came before us over the course of millennia. And we extend a welcome, again and again, to friends, visitors, strangers, travelers, migrants. To one another.
Come and see who we are.
We are Christians of all ages, races, and genders. From different ancestry, different upbringings, diverse in the ways we live and love, bringing different abilities, talents, skills, and resources. Each of us is unique, and yet we all come together in search of Christ. We are a community of friends, a place of comfort for the weary, of nurturing for the young, of help for those in need. A place of worship, learning, growth, and redemption.
Come and see what we can become.
With faith and hope, we aspire to become the community we know we can be. A place where we:
- Continue to worship God, spread the good news, and celebrate the eucharist – together.
- Recognize godliness in all people and offer hospitality and belonging to all.
- Become better stewards of God’s creation.
- Acknowledge wrongs courageously and seek justice.
- Teach the young, while making a commitment to life-long learning.
- Remain open to dialogue and strive for peaceful resolution of conflict.
- Take action against poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
- Work toward a sustainable future, financially and environmentally, for those who come after us.
- Create space for joy, celebration, and artistic expression.
Building the beloved community is not the work of one person, or even one generation. It will take all of us working together, each of us investing our time, skill, and resources.
We therefore invite you to join us in making a pledge to support Church of the Incarnation in 2025. Each year, our pledges support the mission and ministries of Incarnation. It is impossible to put a dollar value on the transformative work being done each and every day in our little corner of Santa Rosa, California. But every dollar we pledge supports and furthers our work to spread the love and good news of Christ in the world.
Please know that each and every pledge, irrespective of the amount, is received with immense and heartfelt gratitude. It is not just the dollars, but the spirit of generosity of our parish family, which sustains us year after year. Together, we are building something extraordinary.
2024-2025 Development Committee
Joe Ferrucci, Chair
Inese Heinzel, Chair Emerita
Karin Dutra, Rebecca Kendall, Mark Neumann, John Torres
