Visiting Incarnation
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.
As we often say on Sunday mornings,
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.
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 parking is available in the small gravel lot at the corner of Mendocino and Cherry, or in the city garage at 521 7th Street (first hour free, then $0.50/hour), which is a two-minute walk from the church. Finally, street parking is free on Sundays.
We are also located close to several bus lines, and we have a bike rack in the central courtyard.
An usher will greet you at the front door of the church and hand you a bulletin. The ushers can also help you with any particular needs you have: large-print bulletins, earpieces for hearing assistance, help with mobility issues, etc. Have a seat anywhere you like; people will be happy to share a pew with you. Before the service you may see some people in prayer, others chatting quietly with their neighbors, and others moving around the space helping prepare it for worship.
Children are always welcome in worship—any age, any time. Activity bags are available from the ushers, and there are baskets with quiet toys in the front pews on either side. For kids from infancy through about preschool age, we also offer a professionally staffed nursery. It's in Room 2, off the courtyard (see an usher for help finding it). Your child can remain in the nursery while you're in the service or for any part of it. You can also drop into the nursery for a quick diaper change or whatever you need. The nursery is open from 9:00 onward. From fall through spring we also offer Sunday School for all ages during the 9:00 hour between the 8:00 and 10:15 services.
The second half is the Liturgy of the Table, also called Holy Communion. We believe the bread and wine over which our thanks are given become the Body and Blood of Christ. When we share in Communion together, we are fed with the life of Jesus himself and renewed for our lives as his disciples.
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.
We share coffee and refreshments after each Sunday service in our parish hall, Farlander Hall, which is off the church's inner courtyard. Just follow the crowd of people to get there. Please do join us and introduce yourself.
While you're here, please stop by the Welcome Center, get some information about our church, and receive a special gift. The Welcome Center is staffed by church members who are here to help make you feel at home, answer your questions, and orient you to life at Incarnation. You can sign up for classes and groups here and get a name tag, too.
We hope to see you soon!Getting Here
When You Arrive
During the Service
Episcopal worship follows an ancient pattern that dates to the earliest days of the Christian church. Our principal Sunday service is called the Holy Eucharist, from a Greek word that means "thanksgiving." The first half of the Eucharist is the Liturgy of the Word, when we hear readings from the Old and New Testaments and a sermon based on the scriptures of the day. We respond to the readings by offering our prayers for all people everywhere and all of God's creation, as well as our own individual needs.
After the Service
