Our Vision Statement: ‘With the heart and mind of Christ, we transform the world.’

Reflection from our Pastors

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Hypokrites

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.” You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. (Matthew 23: 27-28)

A number of different things might pop into your mind when you hear the word hypocrite. Maybe it’s a politician caught in a scandal; maybe it’s a religious leader doing something counter to their creed; maybe it’s a neighbor who gossips but would never want others to talk bad about them.

But it’s unlikely that the theatre would come to mind.

The term hypocrite actually comes from the ancient Greek word hypokrites, which meant a stage actor. Greek actors wore large masks to play roles, which led to the word evolving into meaning someone who puts on a false face in real life. (merriam-webster.com)

Jesus used the word hypocrite frequently in the Gospels, especially in Matthew Chapters 6 and 23, to confront the religious leaders of His day. In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites and compares them to whitewashed tombs “which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.” He meant they were like actors wearing a mask, pretending to be holy on the outside while their hearts were full of pride, greed, and spiritual corruption.

The biblical definition of hypocrite emphasizes acting a part for public applause, social status, and human approval, rather than letting faith genuinely transform the heart.

In his book Why am I Afraid to Tell you Who I Am? (1999), Jesuit priest John Powell tells us that people hide their authentic selves behind psychological games, roles, and poses, to protect their inner vulnerability from pain or judgment. Powell summarizes the main fear with the idea: “I am afraid to tell you who I am, because if I tell you who I am, you may not like who I am, and it’s all that I have.”

There is always a risk when we engage in open and authentic interaction with others. It helps tremendously to love the person that God created in you. You are a unique, one-of-a-kind creature that will only appear on this earth once. You have no idea how many lives will be transformed in some way through their relationship with you. So let your faith and trust in God lead you to know that God knew exactly the gift God was giving to the world when You were created!

You are each one of God’s Blessings,

Mother Rosean

Coming Up at Mary of Magdala

Pass It On

Do you have any gently used medals, Holy Cards or Rosaries that are ready to be passed on? The supply at PVH is almost gone and we have patients periodically requesting them.

You can leave them in the Offertory Basket at the church on Sunday!

Bring them in during August and Deacon Dori Healy will make sure to pass them on with your blessings during their admissions. 

MoM Reading Group

You are invited to join Mary of Magdala Spiritual reading Group. We started again on August 11 with "The Soul's Slow Ripening " by Christine Valters Painter." Her subtitle says it all: "12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred." We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 10:30am for deep discussion.

To try us out, contact Rev. Jane Reina at jdelysswagner10@gmail.com.

All Colorado ECC Picnic

5 Communities are invited

Please plan to bring a side or dessert and your own non-alcoholic beverages

11 am to 2 pm on Labor Day

E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park

11701 Community Center Dr, Northglenn, CO 80233, USA

Service Recordings

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

The recording of readings and homily for 8/23 can be found here. Rev. Jane Reina was the presider and Dori Healy gave the homily.

Missed a homily or readings? Here is the link to past recorded services.

Social Justice Reflection

I had some misgivings about my choice of topic for today’s Social Justice reflection. I’m really NOT trying to draw even more attention to my recent wedding with Teri Harroun. And yet, questions we’ve been asked recently illustrate how inequities subtly persist, rooted in cultural traditions even as joyful as a wedding.

When planning the event, Teri and I worked diligently to push back against sexist traditions. For example, in traditional weddings, a father or male figure to whom the bride is connected walks her down the aisle and answers the question, “who gives this woman to be married” implying a transfer of “ownership”. Teri and I decided we each would walk accompanied by our kids and grandkids. The officiant’s question was not “who gives”, but rather, whether we’ve come of our own free will and with the blessing of our respective families.

Even small wordings, like introducing the married couple as “man and wife” instead of “husband and wife” implies a change of status for the woman but not for the man. Some traditional vows commit the bride to “honor and obey”, words not present in the groom’s vows. Fortunately, these are mostly relics of the past.

Teri wore black, not white. The reason was simple. She is a priest and would preside at the Liturgy of the Eucharist that was the 2^nd part of the ceremony. Teri almost always wears black when she presides. But she got questions why she didn’t wear white. Let me just say, no one asked me why I wore black!

Teri also got questions about whether she took my surname and how she should be called. We struggled a little with this one because “Mrs Teri Harroun” seems to associate her more with her ex-husband whose name she took when they married. However, Teri has earned her MDiv and Doctorate degrees, was ordained, bore her children, and achieved many important accomplishments while identified as “Teri Harroun”. She chose to keep the name which is core to her identity and also bonds her to her children. I fully support this. And again, let me say, no one asked me how I should be called or whether I changed my name!

Some wedding traditions harken back to a time when women were considered an asset used to advance a family’s standing or fortune. Some persist reinterpreted in a way that seems sweet or honoring. Traditions can provide identity, stability, and a meaningful connection to the past. However, blindly accepting traditions can also preserve inequities embedded over time. When tradition goes unquestioned, injustice can wear a disguise of faithfulness or respect. Healthy communities must be willing to examine their traditions honestly, asking whom they benefit and whom they harm.

A recording of Tom and Teri's wedding ceremony can be found here. Congratulations to the wonderful couple!

Prayer Requests

Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times.

+ Fr. Don Sutton, Pastor Emeritus, St. Paul, ECC, Denver

+ Jennifer Geraci, for discernment, member

+ Sean Raynes, grandson of Sandra Life



+ Rachel Devlin, daughter of MaryLou and David Devlin, members

+ Audrey Coleman, mother of Laura Williams, friend of ECC

+ Cindy Cloyd, member

+ Peter Postma son of Sharon Troyer, friend

+ Karen Neuman friend of Lisa Jones, member

+ Yvonne Keefe, member

+ Hannah Zehner, daughter of Cheryl Zehner, member of ECC, East Rochester, NY

+ Cathy Engel, member

+ Lili Grimm, niece of Rosanna Bateman, member

+Ryan Mayer, nephew of Denise Mayer, member

+Deborah Hughes, for healing, spouse of Laura Templet, member

+Len Russ, member

+Fr. Frank Quintana, ECC priest

+Zoe Wahl, sister of Kristina Bulik-Hocum, member

+Courtney and Cache, family of Jean Christin, member

+Jane Kommrusch, spouse of Richard Kommrusch, member

+Jeff Klein, son of Debbie Klein

+Mary Powers and Katie Richards, members healing from long COVID

+Milo Pasquale Cushman, brother of Liz Urban, member

+Julie Lucas, daughter of Bruce & Carol Yeazell

+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

~~~~~~~~~~~

A blessed and peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the friends and families.

+ Karen Johnson, member of Church of the Holy Family, ECC

+ Jim Barnes, spouse of Lynne Barnes, member

+ Audrey Coleman, mother of Laura Williams, friend of ECC

+Donna Colhour, mother of member Mark Colhour.

+Larry Johnson, father of Russ Johnson, member

+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

+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 Mass -

August 26 at 11:00 am

• In person in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available
• Mother Rosean presiding

Sunday Mass

August 30 at 12:30 pm

• In the Sanctuary and on Zoom
• Father Teri Harroun presiding

Wednesday Mass -

September 2 at 11:00 am

• In person in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available
• Mother Rosean presiding

Sunday Mass

September 6 at 12:30 pm

• In the Sanctuary and on Zoom
• Presider TBD

Did you miss an article or announcement?



Past e-bulletins are posted on our website here. Below are links to some key articles:

• July Newsletter from the office of the Presiding Bishop here.
• Prayer request for Poland here.
• Read the ECC statement on immigration here.
• Ongoing Giving Opportunities in Fellowship hall; see list here.
• Dedicating Altar Flowers? Contact Joan Stepleton at JoanStepleton@gmail.com or 864-650-2816. A $25 dollar donation is kindly requested.

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 <--

CONTRIBUTIONS TO MARY OF MAGDALA

If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala,

click here 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

The ECC Regional Website - View here.

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.