Friday, December 15, 6:30pm to 8:00pm: Blue Christmas Gathering of Support | Church of the Incarnation

“While the world gives us soft glowing lights, images of fireside family celebrations, and Hallmark-style romances in the snow, the reality is that this is a hard time of year for a lot of people.”-Regan Schutz, December 3rd meditation in Living Well Through Advent, 2023

On Friday, December 15, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, I will be hosting a Blue Christmas Gathering in the Library at Church of the Incarnation, for those of us who experience pain and sadness at this time of year. The reasons for our pain and sadness are varied, perhaps complex, but because it’s “The Holidays”, we are reluctant to talk about our feelings.Or if we do, others may be too busy or just plain uninterested in listening.

This Gathering is a safe space to give voice to what is real for you. We will take turns describing what is in our hearts, and hearing each other with respect and understanding. Feel free to bring pictures of loved ones, including your furry, fuzzy, or chirpy friends who have passed on. Please RSVP via text or call to me at 951-3347-1837 or email me at [email protected].

Doreen Van Leeuwen, LMFT, Pastoral Care Coordinator

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.

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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.