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Reflections from Your Pastors
Thursday, September 5, 2024
The False White Gospel
In his book The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy, author Jim Wallis believes that the crisis of white Christian nationalism has put us at stake for the integrity of faith, the survival and promise of democracy, and the involvement of the next generation in communities of faith in America. He suggests that the reframing and refreshing of some of our ancient biblical texts will help our American churches to look more like the global body of Christ—which is the most diverse human community on the planet.
Luke 10:25-37: “You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” To love God and love your neighbor, including those neighbors who don't live in our neighborhood--will be a test of both faith and democracy in our time. “Who is my neighbor?” will become the primary question for the future of our democracy.
Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, let us make humankind in our own image, according to our own likeness.” Will we dehumanize those who are not like us or will we embrace the image of God in the created equal humanity of all people all humankind?
John 8:32: “You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” Will we be faithless and held captive by deliberate and destructive disinformation and loyalty to the lies of the false prophets of our day, or will we be faithful to the truth that Jesus promises can set us free?
Matthew 25:31-46: “As you have done to the least of these you have done to me.” Will we care for the marginalized and vulnerable, or will we ignore them? Jesus says how we treat the “least of these” is also how we treat him and that will be a test of our discipleship. These are the economics of Jesus and turn our politics upside down.
Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Will we accept the endless escalation of violence, or will we pursue peace in our vocation as peacemakers and conflict resolvers?
Galatians 3:28: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female, for all of you are one in Christ.” Will we seek the unity and diversity of the Kingdom of God, or will we reinforce the social barriers of race, class, gender, and tribalism?
Perhaps we could spend time with these scriptures as we struggle with who we are as Christians and what kind of country we want to live in.
May the wisdom and power of these scriptures offer guidance and support, encourage and sustain us and assist in the vital work being done by so many: pastors and priests, lay leaders, religious women, community activists, educators, medical and legal practitioners, elected officials and advocates for policy changes. For those seekers, young believers, and everyone looking for something to believe in, let us all try to live up to the integrity of faith and conscience and the promise of democracy.
Amen
Mother Rosean
(The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy, Jim Wallis, St. Martin’s Essentials, 2024)
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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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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
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Sunday Mass - September 15th, 12:30 pm
- M. Rosean Amaral is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.
Wednesday Midweek Mass -
September 18, 11:00 am
- M. Rosean Amaral, Presiding
- In the Fireside Room
- No Zoom available
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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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To read the August newsletter from the House of Laity, click here.
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To read the latest updates regarding the ECC Holy Synod of 2024, click here.
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To read updates regarding the music for the ECC Holy Synod of 2024, 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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