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Reflections from your Pastors
May 20, 2025
The Ash Tree Loves?
There, out the 2nd story window, is a large Ash tree. Now, in the late afternoon, she is in the path of the sun and it brightens some of the leaves into a glow. I imagine that’s the same glow as the halo we always see around the heads of saints.
The leaves that hang in the path of the rays seem to drink in the sunlight. Their transparency swallows the light whole, absorbs it into itself so fully that its veins pulsate. What do they pulsate? Could it be joy, a joy of a kind that we of a different species cannot know, yet still a joy?
Life is a window to joy. Are we feeling the same love that the tree feels because of the affinity for the love by both the tree and us? Do we have an affinity for each other, the tree and us, because of love? Ilia Delio defines love as ‘the affinity of being with being.” She explains, “It is the dynamic energy of all life and embraces all the forms successively adopted by organized matter. If there were no internal inclination for unitive life, even at the basic level of molecules, it would be physically impossible for love to appear higher up, in this human form. It is love that draws together and unites. Teilhard wrote that ‘love is the most powerful and still most unknown energy in the world.’” (The Not-Yet God, p 107)
Recently, someone asked, “What is the future of Christianity?” Part of the answer might be wrapped up in the experience of luminosity and joy. Where is the pulsating life in Christianity? In what ways do we experience it: its container, its openness, its luminosity, its love, its joy? When do we experience it? And when we do, are we aware of sharing it?
Meditating on these questions might raise up answers that find their way to a future of what Jesus may have had in mind. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:31-35) and by love’s outreach because it cannot be contained. Love endures for all eternity because God is love, eternal!
The Ash leaves are waving their agreement.
Pastor Jane
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Weekly Monday Morning
Peace Prayer
Join us in a prayer for peace in the world and within ourselves. 20 minutes every Monday morning via Zoom.
Monday morning at 9:30 am on this Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 844 1669 8343
Passcode: 557026
May Mary, Mother of the World, who abhors all violence, pray for us. Rev. Jane
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Members and Friends of Mary of Magdala
Please beware!
Yet another scam has happened this week. An email, supposedly from Mother Rosean, is asking for the recipient to purchase gift cards which she'll then reimburse.
Please delete and, if possible, block any 'phony' email address. If you have any questions, please reach out via email to marymagdalafc@gmail.com.
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Interested in the Enneagram?
We invite anyone and everyone to join us for an Intro to Enneagram panel this Tuesday, May 20, 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Sun Room at 301 Stuart St.
Enneagram is an ancient tool used by people around the world to learn more about themselves, others, and the way they interact in the world. In this panel, we have members of our community - each who represent one of the enneagram triads - speak about their experiences through the lens of their enneagram number. This narrative method of learning is useful for getting real insight into the experiences of the enneagram.
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From Fr. Teri Harroun to the friends and members of Mary of Magdala
Hello friends.
I am sending you this email because you are an important friend and ally for Light of Christ. It is amazing to think that this year on Pentecost we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary as a community in the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.
I wanted you to know about our celebration on Saturday June 7th. Mass is at 5pm and a party in the Fellowship Hall will be after Mass. Please consider joining us.
No RSVP is required. But we share this invitation with you because you are part of why we continue to be Light of Christ after 20 years.
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May 18th, 2025
5th Sunday of Easter, and celebrating Father Michael and CSU graduates
On Sunday, May 18th, Father Michael Nicosia presided and delivered the homily. The service recording is available to view here.
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Social Justice Reflection
Honoring the Work of Fr. Michael Nicosia
by Tom Moos, Social Justice Ministry Co-Chair
Today we wish Fr Michael Nicosia our dear friend and priest, activist, leader, artist, composer, and performer, well as he moves to NY. I thought it appropriate to share a little bit about the ministry and social justice work Michael does for our Colorado region of the ECC.
As a priest, Fr. Michael has been assistant pastor at St Paul Catholic Community of Faith as well as presiding at the Denver chapter of Dignity USA and here, at Mary of Magdala. He has been a strong voice for the ECC. In public forums among strangers, he introduces himself as a “Gay, Married, Catholic Priest” which certainly draws the crowd’s attention. When given the opportunity to speak, he always educates how the ECC is a different way of being Catholic. He attends monthly ECC Chaplains meetings and was instrumental in formally establishing of a Retired Clergy ECC ministry group.
As an activist and leader, Michael has served on the Board of Directors, most recently as Chairman, for the Colorado Council of Churches, a partnership of 14+ faith denominations in the Denver area focused on ecumenical relationship building and advocacy for justice particularly concerning local political and legislative issues. The Colorado Council of Churches also sponsors the Red Rocks Easter Sunrise Service. Although the ECC is one of the smallest partner denominations, his involvement with the Council keeps the regional ECC communities informed of area justice concerns and gives the ECC voice in responding to them. Michael’s move to NY leaves a big gap in this outreach. If anyone is interested in learning more about or taking on this ministry, please talk to Michael today for time commitment, responsibilities, and other details. The Council meets monthly on zoom. Fr Michael has also been a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, marching, protesting and supporting legislative change. He has been the primary organizer of the ECC’s participation in Denver PRIDE events as well as attending PRIDE fests in other cities. He regularly participates in protests and rallies in support of marginalized groups, affordable housing, DEI, against gun violence and a myriad of other justice topics.
Michael often incorporates social justice themes into his iconography, and into his prayer and musical compositions, as well as blogs and social media articles on websites he has administered.
In short, Fr Michael has had a significant presence and made huge and diverse contributions across the region. He leaves big shoes to fill. Again, I invite you to consider ways you might be able to serve in one of these ministries. If you feel so called, talk to Michael today or Mother Rosean or myself. Thank you Michael for all you do. God bless you!
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Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times.
+Mary Powers and Katie Richards, members healing from long COVID
+Milo Pasquale Cushman -- brother of Liz Urban, member
+Hope Kunze, for healing, granddaughter of Mother Rosean
+ Valerie Dorr, surgery, mother of Deana Andrist, TLC
+Cindy Cloyd, member
+Sandra Life, member
+Julie Lucas, daughter of Bruce and Carol Yeazell
+The Grant and Cloyd families, for healing
+Pedro Engel, for healing
+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
+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.
+Donna Lusby, friend of Ralph, Anne, Debbie, Mark, Dori, and Tom, members
+Lois Hug, mother of MaryAnne Heyman, member
+Richard Life, member of Mary of Magdala
+Donald Sherlock, brother-in-law of Dori Healy
+Joseph Grant, nephew of David and Cindy Cloyd
+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
+Carole Lyons, sister-in-law of Mary Lyons, member
+Jessica Melton, family friend of Jane Reina
+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll
| | 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. | | |
Wednesday - Weekday Mass
May 21, 11:00 am
- Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
- No Zoom available
- Mother Rosean presiding
Sunday Mass
May 25, 12:30 pm
- Feast of the Ascension
- In person and via Zoom
- Jane Reina presiding
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Wednesday - Weekday Mass
May 28, 11:00 am
- Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
- No Zoom available
- Mother Rosean presiding
Sunday Mass
June 1, 12:30 pm
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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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Spring News from the Office of Presiding Bishop - here
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Message from Presiding Bishop Paul and Bishop Kae on the passing of Pope Francis here
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Easter message from Presiding Bishop Paul - here
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Read the recent ECC statement on immigration 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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