Announcements
Hello Church,
As the week of Vacation Bible Camp draws to an end, I want to send heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this week possible. With the guidance of Beckie Steller and many devoted volunteers this week was formative and fun for all who were involved. God is Awesome!
The week presented a challenge with some COVID cases redirecting responsibilities and keeping a few volunteers at home. Thanks to every one of our onsite volunteers who agreed to wear masks while working with the students! Thanks to all the parents who trusted our protocols to keep their children safe.
Going into this weekend, I want to encourage all who attend worship to please wear a mask while indoors. This is not a mandate. This is a request that each individual can decide what is best for them. The increase in COVID cases in our communities is concerning. As I said earlier this week, it feels like a step backward, but I do believe it to be the right step to take for everyone’s well-being during this current increase in cases. Masks will be available in the sanctuary and the Lighthouse.
At Bible Camp, they are learning and singing about how awesome God is. Let’s keep that as our focus as we continue to share the joy and blessings of Christ in our lives.
Deacon Mindy
Currently our summer mission trip to Africa is underway. Here are some of the happenings over the past week.
The team arrived safely on Tuesday, July 5th. On Wednesday they went to the new center and dormitory and met the girls. They brought all of the donations from the congregation including handmade dresses, quilts, clothing and other materials for projects the team is doing with the girls. The team ate at the center with the girls, Sophie and the nuns.
Thursday the team had a day where they set up several stations. They taught the girls how to crochet, make friendship bracelets, get their hair done, and the girls also got a visit with the doctor who is one on the members of the team.
Over the weekend the team, girls, nuns and Sophie drove down to the coast for an overnight trip to the beach. This is an annual event that the staff tries to make happen for the girls. They went swimming in the ocean (a first for some of the girls) and they saw some wildlife that is not usually seen up in Yaoundé.
On Monday the team did fiber work with the girls, jumped rope and passed out a bar of soap to each girl. The girls were vary excited to each have their own bars of soap. They have also done yoga together and goofed off with Snapchat on some of the team member’s phones.
Please continue to pray for continued relationship building between the team and the girls and also within the team as they get to know each other. Some team members are getting ready to head back to the US and Canada this week. Please pray for safe travels. Incarnation team members will be heading back on July 20th.
Please click on the link below to see photos of what has been happening. A big thank you to Mary Talle for posting these and many more photos on Facebook.
Photos of Summer Mission Trip to Cameroon 2022
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/102MNeZJKw9ExWwuiF8NdRhkpBPruz4rY
Thank you again for your prayers and your overwhelming support for this mission and all of our mission work at Incarnation.
Thank you, to all who helped make VBC such a FUN week!
Summer Education Opportunity
Tired of watching reruns of shows you didn't like to begin with? Want to spend some summer hours enriching your spiritual life? Check out the Great Courses DVDs in the church library on such topics as History of Early Christianity, the Old Testament, History of the Bible and others, or shorter programs on Martin Luther, the Dead Sea Scrolls and Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was martyred in WW2. Your church library holds a wealth of resources; take advantage of it.
Clothing Drive The monthly "Service after Service" clothing project will take a break for a few months - but that doesn't mean that we are not still collecting good, clean clothing for refugee families in San Diego and for TACO. You can bring them to church on Sundays (or during the week) to leave in the church office. We anticipate that the need will only grow with more resettlement of families from Afghanistan and the Ukraine. Tell your friends and neighbors about this program as a way of promoting our church family.
And -- mark your calendar for November 6 as our annual Interfaith Day of Service when we celebrate All Saints Sunday with " God's work - Our hands" in the community.
WOW! The cost of groceries is skyrocketing!! Which has cost us a significant decline in food donations. If you are noticing this at the checkout imagine how it’s effecting those who are already food insecure. Feeding our neighbors in need is one of the most important things Jesus tells us to do! We can still do this, if each and every one of you brings a little. Just 3 or 4 cans each week from everybody will make a huge difference. There are often sales on canned meats, hearty soups, beans and vegetables. Let’s get back in the habit of bringing something every time we come to church. Food and hygiene products can be put in the food barrels in the narthex, or in the library, someone is in the front parking lot Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 9 and 11 or if you are not comfortable going out just yet, email me and I will pick it up from your front door. joycemiller7062@att.net Thank you for your never ending generosity!! -The Food Donation Team
PRAYER CHAIN The purpose of our prayer chain is to provide spiritual support and healing for church members and their families and friends. If you'd like to be a member of our prayer chain or if you would like to submit a prayer request, please notify the church office either by phone or email: 858-487-2225 or pegwalden1@att.net.
Thrivent Action Teams If you already know how to apply online, this is a good time of the year to run a project. If you need more information please contact Jess Reimnitz, 858.345.0757 or jess.reimnitz@thrivent.com.Examples: Collecting food and clothes items for families in need; Assembling Thanksgiving boxes; Operation Christmas Child; Supporting Mission Trips; Sunday School projects. They provide seed money, so you can support causes important to you. Thrivent created a program to encourage its members to live lives of generosity. Are you a Thrivent member? If so, do you know you can apply for between $50-$250 dollars to help your church with a project?
Incarnation Lutheran Church COVID-19 Policy - As of March 20, 2022 In accordance with the current Centers for Disease Control, State of California, and San Diego Health Department guidance, Incarnation Lutheran Church is updating its COVID-19 Policy for Sunday services and all other events as follows:
• Masks are no longer required for individuals regardless of vaccination status, but are strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. • San Diego County is now listed by the CDC as having a Low community level. Specific guidance is to: o Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines o Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 • ILC will maintain its current practice of communion and other elements of worship in accordance with ELCA and Pacifica Synod guidelines • While masks are no longer required, any person coming onto our campus is welcome to continue wearing a mask, maintain a safe distance, or other measures as individually appropriate to their personal choice or personal health concerns. • We highly encourage everyone to treat each other with love and grace as we move forward. We have all been through a difficult time. Emerging from the pandemic will also be challenging. We will react to each change in guidance and church policy in our own ways as we perceive our own individual experience.