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

Mary of Magdala Announcements

News From Gray La Fond*

Hello to my friends of Mary of MagdaIa!!

I have been traveling in Central Europe --I have been to Kraków, Poland, Germany, then Czech Republic, and Italy for the papal mass during the Jubilee of Youth. Click here for a few of my travel photos I took over the last few weeks.

Next year, I will be living and working in Detroit with a Jesuit school, University of Detroit, Mercy. I am going to be an Assistant University Minister. I was not expecting this position, but I bet a lot of you will not be surprised at all. I will be doing this through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which is a program focused on spirituality, social justice, community, and simple living. If you want to learn more about the program, here is a link to the values page.

In short, they are ecumenically focused and very affirming of all sorts of people, so no need to worry about me.

I have been asked to raise some money to help with program costs, since JVC will cover my living expenses and UDM gets me pretty much for free. If you feel called to give, here is a link to my fundraising page.

Hopefully I will have an update about medical school soon! I hope everyone is doing great and I miss you all.

Much love from Gray.

*For those who hadn't met Gray, He was a CSU student, a Liturgical Assistant and member at Mary of Magdala.

- S A V E T H E D A T E -

Where is the Spirit taking us?

2nd Regional Synod

Rocky Mountain Region of the ECC

October 11, 2025

at Light of Christ

A Prayer to Share on Hope

"Loving God, I call you by many names

I come before you today in need of hope, as my companion on my journey."

Read the 'Hope Prayer' here.

Weekly Morning and Evening

Peace Prayer 

Join us in a prayer for peace in the world and within ourselves. 20 minutes every Monday and Tuesday via Zoom. (Families invited!)

Monday Morning Peace Prayer

At 9:30 am on this  Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 844 1669 8343, Passcode: 557026

Tuesday Evening Peace Prayer

At 7:00 pm on this Zoom Link < New Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 881 2656 0118 Passcode: 295075

May Mary, Mother of the World, who abhors all violence, pray for us. Rev. Jane

Pastoral Care Training Session - August 23rd

Expanding pastoral care within our communities could be a great asset.

Recognizing the desire of ECC Pastors to expand pastoral care within their church communities, this interactive training provides insights and practices designed to help lay people make visits to other community members, offering them additional caring contact beyond that which the priest gives.  It also considers ways to support the pastor and other clergy in the community.  

Content: The 4- hour session is made up of modules which are entitled as follows...

a. Why Provide pastoral care?  

b. Assuring confidentiality

c. Sharing prayer and Eucharist

d. Providing a listening ear (both active and reflective)

e. Maintaining healthy boundaries

f. Vetting volunteers for lay pastoral care ministry

g. Clergy support.  

The training will be held on Saturday August 23rd , from 10am to 2pm at Church of the Beloved, 10500 Grant Drive, Northglenn, CO.

The training will be open to everyone in the Rocky Mountain Region who is interested.

Chuck Cooper and Mary Franch, from Light of Christ ECC, are happy to bring this training session to the Rocky Mountain Region of the ECC. Both are experienced and trained Stephen Ministers and Stephen Ministry leaders. Mary also served as Lay Pastoral Associate at Light of Christ for many years and Chuck has been the Parish Council Staff Liaison in support of LOC’s pastor.

Non-critical pastoral care offers extra support for folks that just need a listening ear. It also makes a huge difference in support of the pastor. This is not a zoom telecast. Attend in person at COB. RSVP to Mother Rosean.

SAVE THE DATE!

September 20, 2025, 1-2:30pm

Immigration, Suffering, and God.

Lunch and Learn Forum at Trinity Church hosted by Mary of Magdala

Guest panelists: Bishop Paul Burson, ECC, Dr. David Cloyd, MoM, and more to come. Facilitated by Cindy Cloyd. Q & A to follow

Stay tuned for more information!

301 Faith Partners

ISAAC is excited to be hosting first-ever ISAAC Community Picnic. This is an ALL ISAAC COMMUNITY PICNIC - our community, volunteers, and our coalition and congregational partners. Join us Sunday, August 24, from 5-8pm. Our goal is to celebrate our community with joy and laughter.

The ISAAC Community Picnic will take place at 301 E. Stuart, Fort Collins thanks to 301 Faith Partners who is hosting us at their beautiful back lawn for this wonderful event. ISAAC will grill meats (we will provide halal meats). You may, if you wish, bring a side dish, a lawn chair and/or blanket. We are planning games for all ages as well as some activities tailored for children. Please encourage families to come and enjoy being together in community. 

SAVE THE DATE!

OKTOBERFEST 2025 – SEPTEMBER 27

The 301 Faith Partners at Trinity Lutheran Church are excited to host the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity! 

This event is on Saturday, September 27 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Lutheran Church. There will be beer, brats, sides, Oktoberfest music, and a drawing from each table for winning a free beer stein! And together, we team up and raise money towards one of our social justice areas- Habitat for Humanity. We will hear about the latest progress of home building for families that are approved to own their own home here in Fort Collins! Hear from the newly chosen families of their joy who actually help to build their homes. 

Email Amanda@trinitylutheranfc.org with any dietary needs, such as gluten free or vegan. To adequately prepare, please RSVP by September 20 here.

LuMin's Student Housing Security Initiative (SHSI)



Saturday, August 23 from 10 am–1 pm

Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ

916 W Prospect Road, Fort Collins

CSU’s Office of International Programs and the Fort Collins International Center help welcome their students to campus. SHSI students will be housed this year at Rams Village, where apartments come with beds, desks, chests, table and chairs, couch/chairs/coffee table, major appliances, and empty kitchen cabinets. Housing for international students varies in size and what is provided.

The purpose of the Welcome Event is to provide, at no cost to the students, items that will help them make their space functional, conducive to study, comfortable and HOME.

How can you help? Spread the word with friends, neighbors, fellow faith community members, anyone you know who might be downsizing, relocating or simply has more than they need. For further information and a list of most-needed items, go to plymouthucc.org/studentsupport.

DONATIONS MAY BE DROPPED OFF AT PLYMOUTH AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES:

• TOMORROW, Sunday, August 17 from 9 am-12 pm
• Wednesday, August 20 from 1-4 pm
• Thursday, August 21 from 3-6 pm

Saints & Sinners Golf Group

Saints & Sinners Golf Group is back for the 2025 summer season! We plan to play nine holes on three Friday mornings and then gather for snacks and fellowship. Tee times will be reserved at Northern Colorado courses, most within 30 minute drive of Fort Collins. We are a small but committed group. If you would like to join the group, send an email to Donna.

Saint Paul's and Mary of Magdala members are invited to join this Trinity small group ministry. Our upcoming play date is September 12.

Join the 301 Quilters!

Would you like to be a part of the 301 Quilting small group, but you have some concerns like:

I can’t sew! That’s not a problem. There are many tasks that need to be done without touching a sewing machine. We have people in the group that have never used a sewing machine.

I can’t be on my feet for that length of time. We have a solution for that. The main task of tying knots once a quilt is assembled, can be done sitting with the quilt on a table in front of you.

I can’t commit to every Friday. No worries, we all have appointments, family visits, travels that keep us from attending every week. We come when we are able and in town.

I’d be the only male in a female group. That’s not true. We have one faithful male that comes most weeks.

I’d be the only person from my congregation. Actually, we have at least one person from each of the 3 congregations. It is truly a 301 group.

Hopefully, these solutions have eased your hesitation and you’ll be more willing to join us. We’re a fun, caring small group that has a purpose of aiding those in need. Join us any Friday in Room 2 from 10:00 to noon.

Chapter Two Book Group

For our August meeting we will read "The First Ladies" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.  

"A novel about the extraordinary partnership between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune—an unlikely friendship that changed the world, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian."

The meeting will be on Thursday, August 21 at 6 p.m. in the Library/Fireside Room.

We discussed reading the Fort Collins Reads selection, "Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books" by Kirsten Miller, in October.  

The tickets to hear the author speak at the Fort Collins Marriott on Saturday, November 1 are on sale at Old Firehouse Books. More about this program may be found here.

We all agreed to bring suggestions for our September book to the August meeting. Please make a list of what you're enjoying to share with all of us.

Save the Date for Trinity Readers' September Meeting

Members of all of the 301 Faith Partner churches are invited to join the Trinity Readers on the first Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room for a book discussion. On September 8th we will discuss the book JAMES by Percival Everett. This historical fiction is a reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - both harrowing and ferociously funny - told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. A National Book Award winner and candidate for a Pulitzer Prize.

(The date of this meeting was corrected to September 8th from Sept. 1st. September 1st is Labor Day, so there will be no meeting that day.)

Questions? Call Cheryl Smith at 970-218-5750

Service Recordings

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

The recording of the readings and homily for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary time, August 10, 2025 has been uploaded here.

Mother Rosean was the presider and homilist.

Prayer Requests

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

+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

+Hope Kunze,  granddaughter of Mother Rosean

+ Valerie Dorr, mother of Deana Andrist, TLC

+Cindy Cloyd, member

+Sandra Life, member

+Julie Lucas, daughter of Bruce and Carol Yeazell

+The Grant and Cloyd families, for healing

+Carolyn Sue Cecil and family, friends of Mary of Magdala

+ Mary Lou and David Devlin, members

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

+ Sharyl Hoepfinger, for prayers of healing

+ Jenny Witzke, for prayers of support

+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

+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Kelly Cahill, friend of Ruth Alexander

+Pauline Devlin, David Devlin's mother

+James Lyons, brother-in-law of Mary Lyons, member

+Carole Lyons, sister-in-law of Mary Lyons, member

+Jessica Melton, family friend of Jane Reina

+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 -

August 17, 12:30 pm

• In person and Zoom available
• Rev. Jane Reina presiding

Wednesday - Weekday Mass

August 20, 11:00 am

• Mother Rosean is on retreat this week. No weekday mass

Sunday Mass -

August 24, 12:30 pm

• In person and Zoom available
• Rev. Jane Reina presiding

Wednesday - Weekday Mass

August 20, 11:00 am

• Mother Rosean is on retreat this week. No weekday mass

Did you miss an article or announcement?



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

• July News from the Office of Presiding Bishop - here
• ECC News from the House of Laity - May - here
• Spring News from the Office of Presiding Bishop - here.
• Read the recent 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.