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

Reflections from our Pastors

Thursday, October 2, 2025


We are all Vessels of Love and Light…with a few exceptions.


Last week, a dear friend shared the prayer below with me. It made me laugh, and as I continued reading it, I realized I was laughing at myself, not just at the author. Funny how that happened. Then I started to think about my own exceptions. Oh! The list gets longer. So, I wanted to share this eyeopener with all the other vessels of light and love that I know.


Feel free to add your own exceptions! And be sure to read the last stanza of the prayer.


Thanks for being vessels of love and light to me.

Blessings,

Mother Rosean

 


A Vessel of Love and Light by Rich Orloff (slightly adapted)


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I haven’t slept well

And then I’m just cranky.


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I’ve been fasting...

For over half-an-hour.


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when people interrupt me,

And then I think

“I am a vessel of love and light,

so just be quiet!”


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I’m on hold with Verizon

And then I would like to smite Verizon.


I am a vessel of love and light

But sometimes when I see another vessel of love and light

I get vessel envy.


I am a vessel of love and light

Except last Thursday night

Don’t even ask.


I am a vessel of love and light

But sometimes I’ll watch the news

Just because I’m in the mood to get angry.


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I’m around my family

But around your family I can be a vessel.


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I’m reciting a poem

And I look at everyone looking at me

And I begin to wonder

“Do these people even like vessels of love and light?”


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I meet someone I like but who I’m not sure likes me

And then I become a babbling idiot

(Which also explains why

When I pray to God

I often mumble).


I am a vessel of love and light

But I’m not always skillful at it

So sometimes the love comes out as ambivalence

And the light comes out as a glare.


I am a vessel of love and light

Except when I’m insecure

Or hungry

Or feeling broken

Or when I don’t believe my needs will get met by being me

And I refuse to be vulnerable

Or even ask for my needs to get met

Because I’m afraid that if I do

Someone may destroy my vessel.

 

So, I pray:


God, let me be your vessel of love and light

And when I’m not

May we both forgive me

For we both know

How difficult it is to be a vessel

And how scary it can be to let the light either in or out

And if I can remember that with every breath

Then I can be your vessel of love and light.


Amen

Image by Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay

Appreciation & Listen Gathering Postponed


The Appreciation and Listen Gathering is cancelled for this Saturday October 4th.


The Liturgy Committee will reschedule it for a time when more people can attend, probably after mass. We do thank you for all you do to make our Liturgies work and we do want to hear any ideas for making them better. Speak to any Liturgy Committee member any time if you have comments or ideas.

Blessing of the Animals


October 5 marks the end of the Season of Creation. We will finish off with a Blessing of the Animals outside.


October 5

11:30 am

on the back lawn at 301 E. Stuart


Bring your beloved pets or pictures of them or their “jewelry” (collars, for instance), and we will bless them. We will also bless all the creatures of the earth with whom we are in relationship.

Holy Beer Steins!


A letter of gratitude from Habitat for Humanity, Fort Collins


Hey all,


I just received the deposit total including online giving from Oktoberfest... You may want to sit down...


Total, to date, raised from Oktoberfest is $9,669. That's almost $10,000 from one event!!!!!!!


A-ma-zing.


Thank you all SO much for the hard work. This was such a winning event on so many levels; you raised a LOT of money for habitat, multiple churches worked together to pull the event off, It was a great highlight for a home buyer Brian, it brought more than 7+ different Faith Communities together under one roof, and we had really good food!! 


As a former Church employee, I cannot tell you all how difficult this is to accomplish. What you did was incredible... Be happy, be proud, be thankful!!


Habitat will follow-up with donation thank you letters for all donations received, so everyone will receive a personalized follow-up. If we have that digital RSVP list, either myself or someone from 301 can follow-up with them to share a huge Thank You and the total raised. Mara calls this the 'follow-up touch point', which continues to build excitement and energy for HFH and for what the faith communities are doing to support our mission. Let me know how I can help with tis follow-up.


Thank you and have a blessed day!!


Chad Bauer

Faith and Legacy Giving Manager

Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity

Join us for our Synod Mass on Saturday October 11, at 5:00 pm.  


Whether you have been part of Synod during the day or not, all are invited to gather for our worship together.  Our presiders will be Bishop Kae and Bishop Paul.  This Mass will be a Hybrid offering in the sanctuary and online (YouTube, not Zoom.)  


Our MoM musicians will be playing and singing at the Mass along with singers and musicians from other communities. It’s going to be great!


You can join us in the sanctuary at Light of Christ,

  • Saturday October 11, at 5;00 pm.  
  • 1000 W 15th Ave in Longmont. 
    

Or join us online via our YouTube Link:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 


There will NOT be a Mass at Mary of Magdala on Sunday October 12

September 29, 2025

Dear Beloved,


May the grace and peace of our Holy Trinity be with us!

 

Every now and again I hear stories from my students who, while studying abroad, awaken to find themselves traveling on the wrong train, going in the opposite direction from where they hoped to be going. Panic, fear, and high anxiety are their new companions along with frustration, anger, and embarrassment coupled with the urgent questions, “How could this possibly be happening?” and “How can I get off this train and find another one going in the correct direction?” 


To read the full pastoral letter from

Presiding Bishop Paul Burson, please click here

Service Recordings

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time


The recording of the readings and homily for the season of creation, September 28, 2025 has been uploaded here.


Associate Pastor Jane Reina presided and delivered the homily.


Kerrie Anderson of the Leadership Council provided an update on recent business by the council so there was no Social Justice reflection.


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

Prayer Requests
prayer believe.jpg

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

+Kendal, daughter of Steve and Lisa Jones, member


+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 and 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.


+Donna Lusby, friend of Ralph, Anne, Debbie, Mark, Dori, and Tom, members

+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

+Barbara Lange, grandmother of Gray La Fond

+Leonard Urban, husband of member Liz Urban


+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.

Upcoming Mass Times

Sunday Mass -

Oct 5, 12:30 pm

  • In person and Zoom available
  • Mother Rosean Amaral presiding


Wednesday - Weekday Mass

October 8, 11:00 am

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

October 12- No Mass in the Sanctuary!


October 11, 5:00 pm

All are invited to attend the Holy Synod Mass on October 11 at Light of Christ ECC or via a link on Saturday, October 11, at 5:00 pm.


Light of Christ, ECC

1000 15th Ave, Longmont, CO 80501

... 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:


  • Read the 'Hope Prayer' here.
  • August ECC News 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
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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.

Mary of Magdala, Ecumenical Catholic Community | 301 E Stuart St. | Ft. Collins, CO 80525 US

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