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

Reflection from our Pastors

Tuesday, January 6, 2025

Guest author - Linda Joyce

The Epiphany

January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. Matthew 2: 1-12 tells the story about 3 Kings from the East looking for a newborn baby.

Some bibles call these 3 visitors “kings”, but a more likely term might be Magi, men who studied the celestial sky, similar to today’s scientists called astronomers. These Magi thought the sky was telling them something about earthly events. Though astronomers today can identify celestial activity around that time, it is difficult to say what happened because the precise date of their trip is not known.

We only know that these Magi identified something unusual in the sky. They used their science of the day to study the sky and found that this celestial event resonated with a story of a newborn who would become king. And, like all scientists, they started a journey to see if it was in fact true.

The journey would be long, through different countries with different rulers, and yet,unsure of what they might find, they were certain enough to start the journey. And in Bethlehem, they recognized the baby, the newborn King, with family, shepherds, and animals.

Do you sense the divine in the world around you – the world being plants, animals, humans, rocks, rivers, oceans, wind, sun, stars in the sky? Are you being nudged to take on a journey?

This Week at Mary of Magdala

Weekly Evening Peace Prayer 

Join us in a prayer for peace in the world and within ourselves. 20 minutes every Monday and Tuesday via Zoom. (Families invited!)

Tuesday Evening Peace Prayer

7:00 pm on this Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 881 2656 0118 Passcode: 295075

JANUARY 11th CHILI TASTING! 

Come one, come all to start the New Year off with good comfort food & our wonderful community.

❤️ Join us for our first ever Chili Tasting ❤️

We will need 6 hardy volunteers to each prepare a crock pot of chili…if you are sweet & kind enough to do this, please contact Joan Smith (970-214-6480 or jcs1320@gmail.com). There will also be a sign up for chili at Mass

If you can join us, please bring one of the following: cornbread, a salad or cut up veggies. We can’t wait to celebrate 2026 with you!

Sincerely, Hospitality Ministry

301 Pub Fellowship This Thursday

Happy New year 2026 ! Let's celebrate with our gathering at BJ'S RESTAURANT AND BREWHOUSE, located at 2670 E Harmony Rd. Yes, they do brew their own award-winning craft beer! It's a beautiful restaurant with an amazing food menu!

BJ's has us reserved on their calendar for Thursday, January 8, at 3:30 PM. Come when you can, leave as you need to. It's all informal!

As always, no RSVP. We're all inclusive!

Service Recordings

Service Recording for The Feast of the Epiphany

January 4, 2026

The recording of the readings and homily for 1/4/2026 has been uploaded here. Mother Rosean presided and delivered the homily.

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



Social Justice Reflection

by Tom Moos, chair Social Justice Ministry

Herod and the Strike on Venezuela:

Examples of Power Reacting to Systemic Fears

Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew recounts the story of the Magi, the Wise Ones, who followed a star to Jerusalem to find a newborn leader of the Judeans. The Magi expect to find this child in the home of the ruler, Herod, and approach him first. Herod’s response is fear, and, the Gospel asserts, all of Jerusalem feared with him. Herod resorts to secrecy and conspiracy in pointing the Wise Ones to Bethlehem and directing them to return and report the precise location of this child so he can also pay homage. The Wise Ones may know much about stars and astrology but apparently very little about reading people. It takes divine intervention through a dream to make them aware of Herod’s intent and encourage them to take an alternate route home.

This Herod is historically called “Herod the Great” and in his time he was known to undertake colossal building projects, notably the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and its expansion. But more commonly, he is remembered for the slaughter of the innocents motivated by the perceived threat to his power. Somehow, he managed to convince “all of Jerusalem” to share his fear. As the fear was systemic, not just personal, it became easier to initiate military action that resulted in senseless deaths.

The raid on Venezuela codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve early yesterday morning, seems in some respects similar to this story of Herod. Following anti-drug trafficking campaign promises and months of U.S. pressure and escalating actions against Venezuelan Maduro's government, a military initiative involving over 150 aircraft was launched to capture Maduro and his wife. The action is widely regarded as a “dangerous precedent” and “violation of international law” by the United Nations, the Eurasian Bloc, and even many neighboring Latin American countries. The US administration claims it will “run” Venezuela until a safe transition of power takes place and a US “partnership” with the Venezuelan oil industry is established.

For me, the parallel between this raid and Herod's slaughter of the innocents is the unrestricted use of power seemingly “legitimized” by systemic fears or attitudes. What are the unintended consequences of unchecked force, unchecked fears, unchecked attitudes? How do we respond? What are the implications of remaining silent?

Prayer Requests

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

+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

+Colleen DeMuth, 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

+The Grant and Cloyd families, for healing

+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.

+Roy Harsh - brother-in-law to Linda Joyce, 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

+Pauline Devlin, David Devlin's mother

+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 -

January 7 at 11:00 am

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

Sunday Mass -

January 11 at 12:30 pm

• In person and Zoom available
• Mother Alice Bradley presiding

Wednesday Mass -

January 14 at 11:00 am

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

Sunday Mass -

January 18 at 12:30 pm

• In person and Zoom available
• Mother Rosean Amaral presiding

Did you miss an article or announcement?



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

• News from Bishop Paul & 'The Mary Magdalene Society' here.
• Happy Thanksgiving from The House of Laity 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.