From the Rector: Dove and Fire | Church of the Incarnation

Holy Spirit, gentle as a dove, living, burning as fire …

That’s one of my favorite images of the Holy Spirit. It’s a line from the New Zealand Prayer Book and I love the way it holds together gentleness and fierceness. Like the dove in whose form she descended on Jesus at his baptism, the Holy Spirit is a peacemaker and a comforter. Like the flames that fell on the disciples at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is powerful and wild.

This Sunday we celebrate the gift of that Spirit, not just to the first disciples, but to us. As Anglicans we believe the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to each of us in our baptism. When we are baptized that same Spirit descends on us and fills us with gentleness and fire. But it’s not only at baptism that the Spirit falls on us. There are times throughout our lives when the gift of that Spirit is stirred up in new ways. Some people have dramatic conversion experiences. Some even pray in tongues or experience amazing healings—things that were part of the charismatic renewal movement that became widespread in the 1970s and that many Pentecostal Christians prize today. Others of us will experience the Spirit’s power in less dramatic ways: in the insistent inner call that helps us make a hard choice; in the hunger for justice; in the fierce love we feel for one another.

Join us to celebrate Pentecost this Sunday. It is the feast day of the church, filled with God’s Spirit, sent out by Christ to spread the good news to the world.

This Sunday is also my last day at Incarnation before my sabbatical. I’ll be away from this Monday through August 27. I’m so excited about this time for rest, study, and refreshment. I know Incarnation will be well served by our vestry, our staff, all our ministry leaders, our clergy, and our sabbatical pastor Rod McAulay while I’m away. And I know the Spirit will be guiding all of us on new adventures this summer. I’m looking forward to sharing them with each other when I come back.

In Christ’s love,

Stephen

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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