Children and youth meet Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Here's this week's preview: | Church of the Incarnation

Godly Play (preschool-elementary, in Room 3): Introduction to Godly Play. In this first week we'll learn about our Godly Play in room 3, where everything is, and what to anticipate for the year, plus a short lesson on the Bible.

What is Godly Play®? The Godly Play® method is a curriculum of spiritual practice exploring the mystery of God’s presence in our lives. The Godly Play curriculum engages what is most exciting about religious education: God inviting us into—and pursuing us in the midst of—scripture and spiritual experience. Godly Play practice teaches us to hear what God is saying and then to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in our lives. The Godly Play method teaches Christian language as a means to know God and to make meaning in our lives. Different from the traditional model in which a teacher tells us what we need to know, Godly Play practice is not just about learning lessons or being entertained. It is about locating each lesson in the whole system of Christian language and involving the Creative Process to discover personal relevance and meaning. It is about understanding how the stories of God’s people connect with our own experience and relationship with God.

Youth Group
Youth group will focus on Bible Journaling this year. If you have a student in Middle School or High School reach out to Daphne Vernon for more information, [email protected].

Children’s Chapel Also Resumes This Week at Our 10:15 Service
What is Children’s Chapel? All elements of the Liturgy of the Word (the first half of our eucharist service) have been incorporated in the Children’s Chapel model, but they are done in a child-friendly way. Music, songs, prayers, and message are all presented in an age-appropriate way. This format allows children, ages preschool-12, to lead the worship services in a special chapel format. Kids begin in "big church" with their families, then go in procession to Children's Chapel shortly after the start of the service, and return before Communion. Of course, kids of all ages are also always welcome to stay in "big church" for the entire service if they wish.

Tags: News & Notes

People decide to visit a church for lots of different reasons, often because they're at some sort of transition point in their lives. Maybe you're a longtime Episcopalian; maybe you have experience in another faith tradition; or maybe you've never been to a faith community at all.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you enrich us with your presence, and there's a place for you here.

Learn more about visiting Incarnation.

Incarnation is located at 550 Mendocino Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa, just south of the corner with Cherry Street.

Our church parking lot is located around the corner at 636 Cherry Street. The lot often fills up for our Sunday morning services. Additional free church parking is available in the small gravel lot at the corner of Mendocino and Cherry, or in the city garage at 521 7th Street (free on Sundays), which is a two-minute walk from the church. Finally, street parking is also free on Sundays.

We're also located close to several bus lines, and we have a bike rack in the central courtyard.

Children aren't just the church's future—they're an essential part of our faith community right now. At Incarnation we strive to serve our kids' growing faith, and we know they have much to teach adults, too. Children are always welcome in worship: any age, any time.

Learn more about our children's ministries.

Episcopal worship follows an ancient pattern that dates to the earliest days of the Christian church. The first half of the Eucharist is the Liturgy of the Word the second half is the Liturgy of the Table, also called Holy Communion. If you've spent time in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Eastern Orthodox churches, much of our liturgy will seem familiar. If you're unfamiliar with liturgical Christian worship, don't worry. You're welcome to participate as fully as is right for you, or to just relax into the liturgy and let the rest of the congregation carry you in worship.

Click here for online worship, or to learn more about Episcopal worship.

To stay connected with everything that's going on, please subscribe to our e-newsletter, News and Notes.

Often someone who's been visiting for a while will ask us how to become a member of Incarnation. Learn more about becoming a member.

To support our work sharing God's love here in Sonoma County, you can make a donation online.

Giving is one of the most powerful spiritual practices in existence. It's a statement of gratitude and trust in God.

At Incarnation we encourage all our members and friends to prayerfully choose a percentage of their income to give toward causes that serve God's mission. We ask that part of that intentional giving be a pledge of financial support to the parish, both so our leadership can plan ahead in making a budget, and as a tangible commitment to what God is doing here at Incarnation. For more on the practice of proportional giving, see this FAQ.

You can make a donation to Incarnation online, toward your pledge or as a special offering, by clicking below.