Ecumenical Catholic Communion
In Action
In our Communities
| |
|
February 10, 2025
Beloved,
In preparing for Synod 2024, I asked this question of our Ecumenical Catholic Communion communities:
| |
|
As I shared in my State of Communion presentation on Friday evening of Synod, my heart was very moved and encouraged to learn about all the ways our Communities are reaching out to others. A special display was created in the Chapel (which was located in the lower level of Longs Peak Lodge) so everyone could read, learn and get ideas from each other over the days we were gathered.
I realize not everyone had the opportunity to view and read these during Synod so we decided to create a series of Newsletters to offer to all the opportunity to learn more about the wonderful work being done within our Communion.
It is a joy to highlight the goodness happening
in our Ecumenical Catholic Communion
and I encourage you to read,
to learn,
and to connect with one another
about continuing this important work
in our Communities.
If your Community did not have the opportunity to answer this question before Synod, please feel free to do so now. You can email your response to Carolyn Sue Cecil at admin@ecumenicalcatholics.net), so our sharing and growth can continue!
Pax & Amor
| |
Bishop Paul "Pablo" Burson, M.Div., L.P.C.
Presiding Bishop, ECC
BishopPaul@ecumenicalcatholics.net
| |
|
Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Service and Ministry
Outreach
.
| |
|
This week, in our ECC Service and Ministry Outreach Series,
we will feature the wonderful ministries
happening at:
St. Clare Ecumenical Catholic Communion,
Spokane, Washington
and
Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Catholic Communion,
Fort Collins, Colorado
| |
St. Clare Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Spokane, Washington
.
| |
|
The Community of St. Clare has from early on made a commitment to tithe from our Sunday collection. We make a 2 yr
commitment to one non-profit and they receive 6% ~ then every
third month the community chooses another non-profit to receive
6% from the previous 3 months. All non-profits are chosen by the community.
| Women’s Hearth is a drop-in day center in downtown Spokane–a safe space for women who have experienced poverty, trauma and/or homelessness to find a “hearth” of welcome, respect, and community. Women’s Hearth provides activities, classes, social service referrals and housing-search case management in a compassionate and supportive environment 5 days a week. Participants also have access to phones, computers, internet, healthy food, hygiene supplies, and showers. | |
The Hearth is a safe, welcoming community that promotes growth and well-being in body, mind, and spirit for women of diverse backgrounds. It fosters nurturing relationships, encourages self-determination, and advocates for change in systems that oppress women. During 2022, a total of 1,035 women accessed services at the Hearth and 17 of those women obtained housing.
| |
St. Clare's has served a noon meal on the 3rd Friday of every month for the past 10 years. Food is prepared at home or purchased and brought into the center. The women are so grateful and happy to interact and visit with the volunteers.
| |
Photo from the "I stand with refugees" Program.
| |
We have worked on river clean up projects, participate in an Interfaith Pride Service, and show up for the annual PRIDE march.
In addition, we have studied together the issues of homelessness and restoration of salmon in Washington rivers. Community members are encouraged to support these efforts as they are able.
| |
Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Fort Collins, Colorado
.
| |
|
At Mary of Magdala, we try to respond to Jesus’ invitation, “whatever you do for the least of these, you are doing for me.” We try to incorporate local, national and international aspects in our ministry, primarily through volunteerism as well as financial support.
| |
For example, joining with over 20 other faith communities in Fort Collins through our membership in the Family Housing Network, we volunteer as cooks and evening and overnight hosts serving local homeless families.
| |
Members of the Rocky Mountain Region assemble “Blessing Bags” for homeless people in Fort Collins and Denver areas during the 2023 Regional Synod.
Photo courtesy of David Cloyd.
| |
Different churches take turns housing the families in their buildings and smaller communities like ours, provide meals, companionship and financial support to enable this program.
Locally we also support ISAAC which provides welcome, accompaniment and various services to immigrants.
An example of our international outreach is for Madonna Hospital in Nigeria through WADSO. One of our members volunteers as WADSO Board of Directors president and, in addition, much of our support is financial.
| Madonna Hospital –The photo doesn’t show Mary of Magdala volunteers but shows one patient wing of the hospital we help support and build. Photo courtesy of David Cloyd. His wife, Cindy Cloyd (inset), serves as WADSO’s president. | Len Russ and Associate Pastor Jane Reina perform a “multiplication of turkeys” blessing over a pickup truck loaded with “rock-hard” frozen turkeys for the Food Bank for Larimer County. | |
Another aspect of our Social Justice work is education and including a Social Justice focus in our liturgies and prayer.
One example: we begin the majority of our Sunday services with a Social Justice reflection on topics such as racism, climate change, immigration, gun violence and others. The reflections often includes an “implicit call to action” to speak out, vote, attend a march or educational presentation, or other actions.
| Tom Moos delivers a Social Justice reflection at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Regional Synod. Photo courtesy of David Cloyd. | |
Finally, we share a building and Social and Ecological Justice ministries with Trinity Lutheran and St Paul’s Episcopal – we are stronger and more effective together.
Mary of Magdala members volunteer as leaders of those combined ministries and we work on numerous projects every year such as supporting the local Food Bank, addressing needs of college students facing housing insecurity, environmental issues, reading with and mentoring elementary students for whom English is a second language, etc.
Mary of Magdala generously tithes 6% of its annual budget for Social Justice work, supporting and enabling these many ministries. In addition, we usually engage in Social Justice focused projects during Advent and Lent.
| | | | |
