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Reflection from Your Pastor
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr birthday tomorrow
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr will forever hold a place
in the hearts of millions of people around the world.
The immediate need for freedom from racism,
discrimination and flat out brutality toward African Americans will forever be King’s message.
The official federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is January 20, Monday, although
his birthday is January 15, tomorrow. The reason this and some other federal holidays are
celebrated on Mondays in the United States is because of the "Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by Congress in 1968, which officially moved federal government observances of many holidays to Mondays, largely at the behest of the travel industry. The resulting long weekends are often termed ‘three-day weekends’ as a result.” (AI response to “Why?”)
In Pres. Lyndon Johnson’s 1971 announcement, he refers to the resulting ‘new efficiency to our
economy from the three-day weekend.” This change was publicized as intended ‘for the
worker’ but in our deeply capitalist culture, the focus is on efficiency and the gains to be made
by business are the objective. He talks about what the ‘worker’ will gain even as the bill intends
to support increased revenues for the travel and retail industries (more here.)
Some of us objected believing that making efficiency for business and government the primary
reason trivializes the significance of the day. Some of us might say that we want to remember
the holiday on its actual day as recorded in history not an assigned day for convenience. What
do we sacrifice for continuing to seek the greatest efficiency? Amazon is a good example today
of ‘worker’ irrelevance in the contest with efficiency. Is there a future where fewer decisions
will be based on monetary gain and more decisions based on human reverence and relevance?
What would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr say about this 3-day weekend? In his nonviolent way, Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr, might pray for a renewed reverence for life:
Blessed are they who use this day in service, to empower other communities and to provide
some essential services to those of us without
Blessed are they who are present to family and friends, reverencing Life
Blessed are they who work for national peace and world peace
Blessed are they who put down their weapons
Blessed are they who melt weapons into plowshares
Blessed are they with privilege who normalize privilege across all humans so that privilege no
longer exists.
How will you spend your January 20th 3-day weekend?
Blessed are they...(you finish this line)
Blessed are you.
Rev. Jane
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Join Us for a Prayer Service on January 20th
Rev. Jane Reina is offering an open zoom prayer site to the Rocky Mountain Region during the Presidential Inauguration on January 20th from 11am until 2pm MT.
Prayers are for national unity, rationality and peace, international peaceful cooperation across cultures and geography, humane treatment of our sisters and brothers who are struggling in any way. Love is our salvation not our possession.
Anyone from the RMR communities and friends are welcome. You are invited to bring a prayer of your choice to share.
Monday, January 20, 1:00– 4:00pm
Zoom link HERE
Meeting Number:81686213792
Password =LOVE
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January 16 is Habitat Build Day for the 301 Faith Partnership
Get out your work gloves and coffee thermos to build a Habitat house next week. No experience necessary. A lot of variety of tasks with a lot of camaraderie and just plain fun!
Our next Habitat Build Day is a rare, non-Saturday one:
Thursday, January 16, 2025, 8:45 AM to 3:15 PM.
Guidance is given by Habitat’s friendly onsite staff. There is no lasting commitment, come out once or come often. You’ll have a rewarding day working alongside volunteers from other local faith communities, you’ll make new friends, and you’ll likely learn a lot. You’ll go home tired but gratified you’ve helped build an affordable home for a hardworking family. For more information or to get signed up, please email Len Russ at lenandgin@yahoo.com.
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Save the date - Tuesday January 21, at 6:30 pm
Prayer Service for Christian Unity
Hosted by Rocky Mountain Region of the ECC - At 301 E. Stuart St.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18-25, 2025) has a history of over 100 years, in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity responding to Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one." (cf. John 17:21).
This year's theme, "Do You Believe This", focuses on the interaction between Jesus and Martha after Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. The theme honors the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea which produced the Nicene Creed, perhaps the most widely shared statement of faith across Christianity.
The Rocky Mountain Region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion invites you to an in person and Zoom prayer service to be led by ECC communities and the hosting faith communities where we find our "homes". Please join us in the sanctuary or on Zoom
We welcome you and anticipate our unity through prayer and song.
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January 26th Chili Luncheon!
Please join us for a delicious Chili Luncheon after Mass on January 26th. There will be a sign up at Mass on January 19th for the following foods: we will need 4 crockpots of meat chili, 2 crockpots of vegetarian chili, 5 green salads, cornbread & cinnamon rolls. If you would like to bring a food item but will not be at Mass this weekend, kindly call Joan at 970-214-6480.
Let’s warm our bodies & souls with delicious food, friendship & fellowship! We hope that you will join us!
The Hospitality Committee
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NEW - Introduction to Centering Prayer
Mark your calendars
You are invited to participate in a free workshop “Introduction to Centering Prayer” on Saturday, March 29th, from 9 AM to Noon in the Sanctuary.
In this workshop, you will discover a centuries-old prayer method. Centering Prayer consists of simply sitting in silence with God - beyond thoughts, words, and emotions - and opening our mind, heart and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery. You will learn the basics of Centering Prayer, experience it in a guided setting, and be able to ask questions and share experiences with the presenter and your fellow initiates.
Centering Prayer is based on a Christian contemplative practice first described in The Cloud of Unknowing, written in the latter half of the 14th Century. It calls us to abandon any consideration of God’s attributes and actions, and to surrender to His/Her influence in our lives. It is a very personal prayer practice but can also be practiced in groups. It opens us to God’s presence within and to His/Her infinite love and power to heal.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Mary of Magdala and address your message to Pedro: marymagdalaFC@gmail.com
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Read with Trinity Readers in 2025!
If your New Year’s resolution is to do more reading
in 2025, consider joining in the discussions of the Trinity morning book group, with the next one being at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room on February 3. We will be looking at the issue of the oppression of women by discussing Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The authors call this the “paramount moral challenge” of the present era.
Come every month, or just when the book interests you. Questions?
Call Nadine Hunt at 970-825-3730.
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The Baptism of the Lord
January 12, 2025
We invite you view the recording of the readings from this Sunday and the homily given by Mother Rosean. Click here to view.
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Social Justice Reflection
Today, we celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, an event that ends the liturgical Christmas season and marks the start of Christ’s public ministry. John preached a baptism of repentance, a public declaration of turning away from sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing and a commitment to following God’s law. The baptism of Jesus is found in all 3 Synoptic Gospels. Along with the crucifixion, some biblical scholars view it as one of the two most historically certain facts in the life of Jesus. The graphic shows the excavation at “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”, the site where the baptism is believed have occurred. In Matthew’s account, when Jesus approached him to be baptized, John protested. But Jesus insisted. What might that mean?
From a Social Justice perspective, the baptism of Jesus represents an act of humility and vulnerability. Though blameless, Jesus consents to being counted a “sinner”, just like everyone else called to transformation by John’s preaching in the wilderness. This act also anticipates the sacrificial aspect of his crucifixion near the end of his ministry. He aligns himself with all those oppressed by the religious and political powers of his time. With the Spirit that descends like a dove and the Voice emanating from the heavens, Jesus demonstrates that God is a God who is present, a God who accompanies, a God in solidarity with us.
John was a prophetic figure who preached Social Justice - “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” - calling people to live a life of justice. By embracing John’s baptism, Jesus continues that prophetic ministry. Our Christian baptism is modelled after this baptism of John. We embrace the love of God, renounce indifference and injustice, and accept the responsibility to act with kindness and compassion.
That is the end of my reflection for today. I would like to take a minute to say that personal life circumstances will be demanding more of my time in the coming months and so I will be reducing my Social Justice reflections to 2 per month, probably on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. I invite you, my Mary of Magdala siblings, to contemplate what Social Justice topics are important to you and to consider presenting a reflection on one of the other Sundays. I will happily provide whatever guidance and review you might welcome as well as find graphics to project on screen while you share your Social Justice wisdom with our community. Let me know (tjmoos@aol.com) if you are interested in helping with this ministry. Thank you.
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Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times.
+Carolyn Sue Cecil and family, friends of Mary of Magdala
+ Mary Lou and David Devlin, members
+Rachel, Ryan, & Chloe Honeybourne, family of Julia Morrow, friend of Mary of Magdala
+ Sharyl Hoepfinger, for prayers of healing
+ Jenny Witzke, for prayers of support
+ Fr. Frank Quintana, for healing
+ Sean Raynes, grandson of Richard and Sandra Life, members
+Rachel, daughter of Mary Lou Devlin, member
+Cathy Engel, member, for her healing process
+Mother Rosean, clergy of Mary of Magdala
+Rev. Kate Lehman, ECC clergy
+Amanda Staut, friend of Lisa Jones, member
+Ted Newbre (Devlin), member of Mary of Magdala
+Jean Powers, daughter of Mary Powers
+Frederique Pesin, and her family, friends of Mother Rosean
+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran
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A blessed and peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the friends and families.
+Dennis Healy, Tom Healy's brother and Dori's brother-in-law
+Barbara Lange, grandmother of Gray La Fond
+Leonard Urban, friend of members at MoM
+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member
+Kelly Cahill, friend of Ruth Alexander
+Pauline Devlin, David Devlin's mother
+James Lyons, brother-in-law of Mary Lyons, member
+Arlene Miller, former secretary at John XXIII
+Carole Lyons, sister-in-law of Mary Lyons, member
+Jessica Melton, family friend of Jane Reina
+Betty Smith, mother of Bill Smith, member
+Grace Robinson, member of Mary of Magdala
+Mary Detweiler, member of Mary of Magdala
+Allen Wilberton, brother of Tom Wilberton
+Sharon L. Six, mother of Michael Six, member
+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll
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Please send prayer requests to marymagdalafc@gmail.com. Prayers will be listed for one month unless requested for longer. Prayers for the repose of souls will be listed for six months unless requested for a longer time. | |
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Wednesday - Weekday Mass
January 15, 11:00 am
- Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
- No Zoom available
- Mother Rosean presiding
Sunday Mass-
January 19, at 12:30 pm
- Baptism of Jesus
- Mother Michael Nicosia presiding
- In person and via Zoom
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Wednesday - Weekday Mass
January 22, 11:00 am
- Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
- No Zoom available
- Mother Rosean presiding
Sunday Mass-
January 26, at 12:30 pm
- Baptism of Jesus
- R. Jane Reina presiding
- In person and via Zoom
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Did you miss an article or announcement?
Past e-bulletins are posted on our website here. Below are links to some key articles:
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November news from around the US Ecumenical Catholic communities. Great pictures and updates.To read, click here.
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Synod Links to Presentation and Parade of Parishes, click here.
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To read the ECC Synod newsletter, click here.
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To read the ECC Council of Bishops' statement on the War in Gaza and Israel, click here.
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Ongoing Giving Opportunities in Fellowship hall; see list here.
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Dedicating Altar Flowers? Contact Joan Stepleton at JoanStepleton@gmail.com or 864-650-2816. A $25 dollar donation is kindly requested.
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Mary of Magdala Parish Community
Members: Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click here.
-->If you are in need of a picture for the directory, contact David Cloyd via this email. Put 'Need Picture for the Directory' in the subject line and include your name and telephone number in your email <--
If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala, here are ways to schedule a single or recurring Sunday offertory.
All are invited and ALL are welcome to join our parish community. Here is the webpage with more information on membership
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Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’
Weaving a tapestry of love, hope and justice for the world.
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The 301 Faith Partners--Mary of Magdala, Trinity Lutheran, St Paul's Episcopal --have a Vision, Mission and Values statement that guides our relationships, interactions, and shared projects and ministries.
Read about our Mission, Core Values and Covenant here.
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The ECC Regional Website - View here.
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Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal
Click here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin.
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