Kendall Testimony by Jonathan (Dad) & Lily Kendall (Daughter) | Church of the Incarnation

Jonathan Kendall’s Testimony:

The theme for this campaign is “Come and See” which perfectly captures my start with the Church of the Incarnation. I was raised in a non-denominational Christian tradition with home church leanings which for anybody who is unfamiliar is to say that things were loosely structured. That meant if the Holy Spirit moved things to look like 30 extra minutes of worship, then that was fine. So, when my wife Rebecca said she loved this old Episcopal church and that I should: “Come and See” what she meant. I struggled to imagine how it could feel like my other home church. But then, you all fed me. Quite literally, with all these Feast Days and coffee hour and few things evoke a sense of “home,” like a shared meal. And then, came the spiritual food: the Scriptures, the prayers, the sermons that felt earnest, the passing of the peace and communion with each thread of Liturgy, which has a purpose. These are just like the meaningful routines or rituals in a caring home. The irony of all this, you know, finding a church to call home, is that where we are at right now, I was born in a house just on the other side of the fence of our property 39 years ago today! So, it might’ve taken some time but I’m glad eventually I came to see the good things that are going on here and now. I’m a part of those things - which is why I give. Thank you.

Hello! My name is Lily and I love this church because it is very kid friendly. Well firstly, there’s godly play which is when kids gather together to hear Bible stories. Those are really awesome! There’s also children’s chapel which is basically church for kids and we always do a fun activity

after. And of course, we always have the nursery where we play until Rachel tells us its coffee hour and then, zoom off we go to the donut platter. I love the number of kids, here but I think other kids might like it too. So please tell everyone you know about our church. This church is my home and I hope it’s yours too. Thank you.

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.