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

Reflections from our Pastors

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Our Wondrous God

“God is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.” (Psalm 145: 8)

Each one of us is blessed with unique God-given gifts and characteristics. Some of us have awesome singing voices; others are good with numbers; some are writers and artists; some are healers; some are teachers. This list goes on infinitely. Hopefully, you are aware of your gifts and can add them to the list. God has scattered these gifts generously among the people of God.

Today’s refrain from Responsorial Psalm 145, shares with us four character qualities of God. This verse helps us to develop a better understanding of who God is.

God is gracious…Grace is God’s love in action. God’s grace is an unearned gift to us, something that can’t be earned by works, but received through faith. God’s grace is never-ending and overflows to us. We will never tap the depth of God’s incredible grace.

God is Merciful…God’s mercy is another expression of God’s love. It is compassion, forgiveness and kindness even when God has the power to act in a punishing way. God’s mercy opens the door to God’s presence.

God is Slow to Anger…God patiently gives time for repentance and restoration. The Prince of peace gives us a peace beyond understanding--an inner tranquility found through prayer and trust in God, not the absence of problems--a deep, divine calmness that goes beyond human logic or circumstances, guarding your heart and mind from worry, fear, and anxiety.

God is great in loving-kindness…Loving-kindness is the cultivation of unconditional benevolence and friendliness, aiming to foster happiness and reduce suffering, acting as an antidote to anger and selfishness. Loving-kindness wishes happiness and freedom from suffering for all beings, not just a select few. This is God’s steadfast love for God’s people. Some translations call it “loyal love.” God is overflowing with commitment to love you today.

Think about how you have seen God’s graciousness, mercy, peace and loving-kindness in your life? These are times of consolation. Write them down and keep them near for comfort during the times of darkness or desolation.

This Advent, as we wait for God to be born in the world again, think about how God’s qualities can be born in us and grow into fullness for all God’s people.

Blessings,

Mother Rosean

Adapted and expanded from https://dailypromise.com/the-lord-is-gracious-and-merciful/)

Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash

For Zoom links and information on Mass, Prayer and Service scheduled in December click here. (Updated 12/2/25)

This week at Mary of Magdala

 Community Christmas Video

One of our Mary of Magdala traditions for our Christmas Mass is a video sharing images of how our members celebrate Christmas in their homes. The Christmas video for 2024 can be viewed here:

Please review the video. If you have changes in your household since last Christmas or have new images you would like to share, please send to Tom Moos (tjmoos@aol.com) with the details or new, high resolution JPG pictures by Dec 17.

In addition, please get any pictures of your Christmas creche decorations to Tom for the Christmas Day video. Pictures can include people!

Remember: The last day to send is December 17th.

Family Housing Network Sign-Up

Many thanks to all those who have already signed up to serve our FFH families during such a busy holiday time. We still need to fill one volunteer position: 

• one overnight host (8 p .m. to 7 a.m.) for Monday December 29th

You will get to eat dinner with our families and help with the children after dinner while the parents have a meeting. You can sign up here

Thank you, Lynne and Jean

TODAY!! for the 301 Faith Partners Pub Get Together

Mark your December calendars for Thursday, December 11th at 3:30. We will gather at another favorite pub- Otto Pint, located at 1100 Oakridge Dr., just a few blocks South of Harmony on the corner with Lemay.



Happy hour is daily from 3 - 6 PM. For those who haven't been there, Otto Pint offers 42 different brews and a pizza menu that is out of this world!

No RSVP necessary, all are welcome! And yes, 8 different kinds of wine for wine lovers!

Christmas Poinsettias Donations

You are invited to remember family and friends this Christmas with a suggested donation of $12 for poinsettias that we will display right before Christmas. Your name and intentions (“In memory of …” “In celebration of …”, etc.) will be listed in the Christmas bulletins.

If you would like a poinsettia to take home or to a shut-in, they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis after the Christmas services of all three congregations are over. If you would like to remember or celebrate someone with poinsettias, please email Amanda by Monday, December 15.

Fellowship Hall has been a bit cool this month!

Hi everybody,

Many of you probably noticed that the fellowship hall has been a bit cooler than normal lately. About a month ago we had our HVAC company out to perform a tune up on the big old furnace that heats the fellowship hall and kitchen. During multiple visits we would get it running, then it would stop again. 

Unfortunately we discovered that the 60 year old fire eye flame controller. Without this part we don't get a flame and therefore no heat. The technician who has been helping us is working to figure out what all is needed to replace it and or figure out a work around so we have heat over the winter. 

He understands that it is Christmas time and wants to ensure we have a safe option for heat. He is not willing to risk the safety of the church just to give us some heat.

In the meantime we will do our best to try and keep the fellowship hall at a reasonable temperature. 

Thank you for your understanding in this!

'Warm' regards,

Soren

Service Recordings

Service Recording for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

The recording of the readings and homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent, December 7, has been uploaded here. Mother Rosean Amaral presided and delivered the homily.

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

Prayer Requests

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

+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.

Sunday Mass -

December 14 12:30 pm

• In person and Zoom available (see above for Zoom link)
• Rev. Jane Reina presiding

Wednesday - Weekday Mass

December 17, 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
• No Zoom available
• Mother Rosean Amaral presiding

Sunday Mass -

December 21 12:30 pm

• In person and Zoom available (see above for Zoom link)
• Mother Rosean Amaral presiding

Wednesday - Weekday Mass

December 24, 11:00 am

• No Wednesday Mass

Did you miss an article or announcement?



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

• House of Laity Newsletter Nov. 2025 here (lots of photos included!)
• Read the Sept 29th pastoral letter from Bishop Pablo 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.