Reflection from your Pastor

April 25, 2024

Risen Christ

By Joyce Rupp

No one expected your return.

You astonished your disciples,

When you slipped from the tomb.

You came extending peace,

Offering forgiveness for denial,

Extending faith to the doubtful.

You met them at the seashore,

And on the road toward home.

Each one's grieving heart overjoyed.

Each one's closed mind opened wide.

Today: I let myself be astonished.

Think about your own Eastertide experience. Where is there new life? Where is there wonder? Where do you see God’s love made real?

Let the unexpected new life of the resurrection, heal our hearts, open unimagined possibilities for the present, and give us hope for the future. And may the God who spoke the Word and there was light, and who raised Christ from the dead, also enliven our souls and bodies. None of us has exhausted the possibilities of what God may be willing to do in us and through us because of the power of the resurrection of Christ in us.

Let this Easter faith live in you.

Amen,

Mother Rosean

Celebration of Life for Grace Robinson

A Celebration of Life honoring Grace Robinson will be held on Saturday, May 18, at 10 am.

Reception to follow. Further details to come.

Thank you to participants in the Harmony Cottages Habitat for Humanity Build Day!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Katie Lea and Alex Brown for braving the inclement and cold weather last Saturday, the 20th at the Harmony Cottages Habitat for Humanity Build Day! And thank you for representing Mary of Magdala. You gave your time and talent in helping to build a home for well deserved applicants who dream of owning their own home!

Katie and Alex are shown here at the far left. It looks like they had a great day in spite of the weather! Thank you Jerry Freire for bring a much encouraging hot lunch to everyone!

The very next Habitat Build Day will be on June 15. Please let us know if you are interested in having a great day working with fellow faith partners in helping build a home for our neighbors.

Call or email Len Russ, at lenandgin@yahoo.com or 970-481-5541.

Social Justice Letter Writing Campaign

The Social Justice committee will be hosting a pizza luncheon after Mass on Sunday, April 28 combined with a letter writing campaign in response to the Social Justice reflections delivered during the month of April:

1. “Stand Your Ground” or “Shoot First” laws. Presented by Tom Moos on Apr 7. A letter will be sent to Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona, thanking her for vetoing HB2843 which would have expanded the definition of “premises” beyond a home to include all of one’s property. Critics of the bill asserted the redefinition sets a dangerous precedent allowing ranchers to shoot trespassing immigrants, a new form of legalized lynching. One letter will be sent. Members of the community can sign on a signature page which will accompany the letter.

2. Cash Bail Injustice. Presented by Bruce Yeazell on Apr 14. Form letters will be available for Colorado Senators Bennet and Hicklenlooper and Congressman Joe Neguse encouraging them to introduce or support legislation that ends the use of cash bail in federal courts. Form letters for each recipient will be provided which you can personalize and/or simply sign.

3. Sexual Assault Awareness. Presented by Miranda Bateman on April 21. Each of the 4 sponsors of Colorado HB24-1072 will be sent a letter with signature pages thanking them for their work protecting victims and witnesses of sexual assault and encouraging them to continue introducing further protections for victims. Members of the community are encouraged to sign on one signature page for each of the 4 sponsors.

4. War in Gaza. To be presented by Mary Vogel on April 28. (Details still being worked out.) We will send a letter to officials in Washington DC encouraging them to push for ceasefire and an end to the genocide and displacement of people in Gaza.

The letter writing event is structured for simplicity and efficiency. The letters will be preprinted. In some cases, signers may be able to add a personal note before signing and including your mailing address. Members of the Social Justice committee will collect the letters, stamp and mail them. Your participation is 100% voluntary. No one will be pressured to sign a letter whose message you do not endorse or support.

Baptism of Jonathan Richard Poché Tomorrow, April 26th

All are invited to the baptism of Jonathan Richard Poche, son of David Ponché and Zaria Torres-Poché, member of Mary of Magdala tomorrow, April 26th at 9:30am. The baptism will be held in the sanctuary.

Celebration of Life for Mary Detweiler

A Celebration of Life honoring Mary Detweiler will be held during the April 28th Sunday mass. Mary was a long time member of Mary of Magdala. Eucharistic Ministry and Social Justice projects were her passion. Her obituary is on Legacy.com. The Social Justice letter signing and refreshments will occur after the mass, which Mary would have loved.

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 4th Sunday of Easter

A recording of homilies and readings from April 21st, with Fr. Michael Nicosia presiding is available here.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.

Prayer Requests

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

+Ellen Williams, sister of Mary Cobb, friend of Mary of Magdala

+Pauline Devin, David Devlin's mother

+Vanity, for comfort at this time of loss

+Eli Crocker, for healing

+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

+James Fuller, friend of Mary of Magdala and

seeker, returning to Houston

+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

+Kolten Weitzel, grandson of Kerrie Anderson, member

+Sabrina and her two children, currently homeless

+Linda Browell, member

+Sandra Carter, friend of Mary Vogl

+Kris Jenkins, wife of Father Scott Jenkins

+Jen Banks, friend of Mary of Magdala

+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.

+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

+Joanne Gallagher, member

+Daniel, cousin of Pedro Engel

+Juanita Newbre, aunt of MaryLou Devlin, member

+Jeanette Marian Banks (Brown) mother of Jen Banks

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

+Marge Gruber, friend of Michael Six, member

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

+Jean Preslan, friend of Mother Rosean and others

+Josy Moos, Godmother of Tom Moos

+Fr. Fred Ball, OFR, ECC priest

+Bob Colhour, father of member Mark Colhour.

+Candy Palmer, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Linn Zink, friend of MoM, Social Justice advocate

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 - April 28, 12:30 pm

Pastor Jane Reina is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Wednesday Midweek Mass -

May 1, 11:00 am

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

Sunday Mass - April 28, 12:30 pm

Pastor Jane Reina is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

... and More

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here

To read the ECC House of Pastors Newsletter and Holy Synod Updates, click here.
To read the ECC House of Pastors Newsletter and Holy Synod Updates, click here.
To read the January News from the Office of the Presiding Bishop Paul (Pablo) Burson, click here (English) and here (Spanish).
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.