From the Rector: Three Sacred Days | Church of the Incarnation

Dear friends,

We stand at the edge of the Triduum, the Great Three Days, when we plunge most deeply with Jesus into the heart of sorrow, joy, death, and life.

For many centuries followers of Jesus have been gathering in this way to commemorate “those mighty acts by which God has given us life and salvation.” We celebrate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as a single extended liturgy. It encompasses Jesus’ tender, humble service on Thursday, the suffering and victory at the cross on Friday, the Sabbath rest in the tomb, and the new light of the risen Christ. You’ll notice that there are no dismissals from the beginning of Maundy Thursday to the end of the Great Vigil, for these services are all one.

Please see the full schedule of our Holy Week services here.

In addition to the main services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil, we have some extra devotional opportunities during these days. On Maundy Thursday we will share an agapé supper, a simple fellowship meal, in Farlander Hall at 6:00 before the 7:00 service. On Good Friday we will have one last celebration of the Stations of the Cross at noon, before the 1:30 liturgy of the day. On Friday our labyrinth will also be available in Farlander Hall for walking meditation between noon and 3:00 p.m. On Saturday morning at 9:00 we will celebrate the brief Holy Saturday liturgy, a service of about twenty minutes that commemorates Jesus’ sabbath rest in the tomb.

May these holy days bring us a deeper union with Jesus, a deeper compassion for all who suffer, and a deeper hope in God’s unfailing love.

In Christ’s peace,

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.

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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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.