Elias testimony by Matthew (dad) & Eleanor (daughter)

My family and I pledge to the church because we believe in this church.

I believe that it is a place to encounter Christ through providing a structure that helps us slow down and get outside of ourselves and look at life from a broader perspective. For me it's moments like a solemn Good Friday service standing in the back and singing with the choir. Where the energy of everyone in the room felt united in a hopeful sadness.

I believe in it as a focal point to share Christ's love with others through welcoming everyone, serving those in need and providing a safe space for all. For me that's the feeling I get when I see my daughters joyfully running around in a safe and loving environment. Thank you for all the support and care you show my family.

I believe in it as a place that builds community, through sitting with one another in worship, serving others and working together, and sharing our stories with each other. What has drawn me into this community are moments such as Linelle inviting me to be part of the pastoral search committee, or when someone comes over to chat after church or the bond I have with my buddies Mike and David in the Bass section. (We have a text thread together that I call Ace of Bass)

I believe in this church as a steady protector of tradition. While the world moves forward at an alarming rate, this church can help remind us and our community of traditions that slow us down and keep us grounded. One of the most important ones for me is singing together. I feel comforted, inspired and more connected to people after singing together. And it is an experience that doesn't happen a lot in the world out there. This summer we had a family sing along in the garden and it was really fun.

I believe in the future of this church, that these values of love, community, slowing down and worshiping something greater than ourselves will continue to be important to the people of Sonoma County. I hope we can be a cornerstone to promote these values for years to come. And with our pledges we will make that hope a reality.

Thank you,
Matthew

Eleanor shares...
Me and my family pledged to this church because this church is an important place to us. The Church of the Incarnation is such a fun place to go because it includes everybody and not just the grown-ups but also all the kids. When I get to the church, I almost always have a smile on my face because this church makes me feel joy inside and not just because we have great food but also because we have such a healthy community that makes you feel happy - for example when it’s after church and I’m walking around in the courtyard I say: “hey or what’s up?” to people. Because I care about the people here. I hope that we’re able to raise enough money to keep the church thriving for many more years to come.