Reflections from Your Pastors

Tuesday, August 3, 2024

Month of Creation

Inclusive language is used where possible. However, to maintain the integrity of the author cited, it could not always be changed.

This month we are offered the opportunity to reflect on creation and our place in it. Nothing

like starting with human nature. This past Sunday, Jesus faces, expresses, and decries the

shadow side of our human nature. He reprimands the religious leaders and lawyers for what we learn later: “What comes out of a person defiles them. For it is from greed, malice, deceit,

lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

We realize as we look deeply within ourselves that we are all capable of ‘these evils’ and may

have committed some if not all of them. We can understand that it is pride, a sense of ‘me

greater than you,’ at work here.

When we are open, nature can save us from getting dragged again into this often undetected

muck. Lean on a tree, eyes closed, its energy is sensed coming flowing into our bodies; we are

humbled. When humble, we can ‘join in’ and are not apart. We feel joy! We feel love!

Sometimes, we can’t help but sing!!!

“The human community and the natural world must be seen as a unified, single community with an over-arching purpose: the exaltation and joy of existence, praise of the divine, and

participation in the great liturgy of the universe.” Thomas Berry in The Not-Yet God

This call from Thomas Berry is repeated by others with different expressions because this unity

is a mysterious Truth. We can experience this Truth with Christ in matter. Creation is Christic (2)

It is a wonderous and sacred, nurturing us on our, at times, difficult journey and, at times, joyful

journey. It is an invisible, infinite beyond-our-understanding gift of love. Sometimes we can’t

help but sing!!!

How can I keep from singing!

What do we feel, as we see all created things centered on God, and not just on our needs? Are

we called to let go of a way of thinking and to embrace a new one?

Rev. Jane

1.The Not-Yet-God. Ilia Delio, p. 259. 2023

2. Julian of Norwich. Amy Frykholm, p.58. 2010

Update on Mother Rosean’s Surgery

Dear friends,

I want to thank you all for your prayers and concern during this time of surgery and recovery. The surgery was on August 15. After that, a pathology report was generated that had some good news about my sentinel lymph node being cancer free. It was also discovered that most of the margins were clear except for one area in the breast. My surgeon would like to ensure that the margins are totally clear. He advised another surgery. We have set a date for a second surgery on September 9th. Following that surgery there will be a 4 week healing period, followed by 4 weeks of radiation.

Thank you for your continued prayers. I am so grateful to each and every one of you.

God’s peace, Mother Rosean

Mary Magdalene Society at Work

Over the next few months Mother Tammy Fuqua with the Mary Magdalene Society Advisory Committee will bring us interviews with MMS grant recipients. These interviews will allow us to hear how the recipients will use the funds awarded to them by the society, and why these grants are so important to the future growth of the ECC.

This month Mother Tammy interviewed Father Teri Harroun and Mary Lu Stenson from Light of Christ in Longmont, Colorado to talk about how their community benefited from receiving a grant for their youth group from the Mary Magdalene Society.

Click here for the interview.

Or Click Here to Register

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

A recording of readings from September 1st with Fr. Teri Harroun delivering the homily is available here. There were many prayers this week, so there was no Social Justice Reflection.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.

Prayer Requests

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

+Yvonne Keefe, member

+Rachel & Ryan Honeybourne, family of Julia Morrow, friend of Mary of Magdala

+Mother Rosean, clergy of Mary of Magdala

+Rev. Kate Luhman, ECC clergy

+Amanda Staut, friend of Lisa Jones, member

+Ted Newbre (Devlin), member of Mary of Magdala

+Jean Powers, daughter of Mary Powers, member

+Vanity, for comfort at this time of loss

+Ruth Wolfe, member of Light and Christ ECC

+Frederique Pesin, and her family, friends of Mother Rosean

+Patsy Connor, friend of Linda J.

+Natalie Rochester, for prosperity, love, and happiness

+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Cache and Courtney, family of Jean Christen

+David Devlin, member

+Sabrina and her two children, currently homeless

+Linda Browell, member

+Jerry Padilla, father of member Lisa Jones

+Rachel, daughter of Mary Lou Devlin, member

~~~~~~~~~~~

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

+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

+Jack Wolfe, member of Light and Christ ECC

+Promise, age 22, for the peaceful repose of her soul

+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

+Juanita Newbre, aunt of MaryLou Devlin, member

+Flavian Reising Jr., Father of Steve Reising, member

+Betty Jones, mother-in-law of Lisa Jones, member

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.

Upcoming Mass Times

Wednesday Midweek Mass -

September 4, 11:00 am

M. Rosean Amaral, Presiding
In the Fireside Room
No Zoom available

Sunday Mass - September 8th, 12:30 pm

Bishop Kae Madden and M. Rosean Amaral are presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Wednesday Midweek Mass -

September 11, 11:00 am

M. Rosean Amaral, Presiding
In the Fireside Room
No Zoom available

Sunday Mass - September 15th, 12:30 pm

M. Rosean Amaral is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

... and More

Did you miss an article or announcement?

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

To read the August newsletter from the House of Laity, click here.
To read the latest updates regarding the ECC Holy Synod of 2024, click here.
To read updates regarding the music for the ECC Holy Synod of 2024, click here.
To read the ECC Council of Bishops' statement on the War in Gaza and Israel, click 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 <--

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

Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’

Weaving a tapestry of love, hope and justice for the world.

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.

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.