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Your Pastor’s Reflection
May 7, 2025
This past Sunday’s message is a continuation of the gospel of John where the story began with the vine and the branches, “Abide in me as I abide in you.” There is hope in this gospel chapter of John, hope for inner peace and endless expressions of selfless love. Jesus preaches the flow of love. Jesus is asking that we love as he loves.
Sunday, Jesus urged his disciples to follow his example and teaching on love, his main message, that hardest of messages. “As the Beloved loves me so I also love you. Remain in my love.” “I tell you all this that my joy may be yours, and your joy may be complete.” How do we even get to, discover, or find the love that Jesus asks us to remain within.
John, chapter 15, begins with the metaphor of the vine and branches. Going deeper into that metaphor, we can see the inextricable combination of nutrients from below and above ground flowing through the plant, sustaining it in its wholeness. The grapevine can do nothing else but live in this flow which comes from the Beloved. Jesus is the one in whom he Beloved’s beingness, love, is emptied. Jesus gives it away showing us that love is our salvation not our possession.
Jesus preaches the flow of love. Jesus is asking that we love as he loves. That is a big ask! How does the love become our salvation; this love that Jesus brings, gives, and asks of us? One way may be that it leads us to know ourselves more deeply and so be able to love others as Jesus asks. As difficult as that is, the grace is there for the asking. God is within ourselves. We save ourselves by the Divine within ourselves: a journey for sure!
It may be that to love as Jesus asks is possible to the extent that we love ourselves, a place of ruthless honesty and therefore vulnerability. We suffer. Our hope, our faith, our belief, our knowing is that the effect throughout the process of self-knowing is transforming, cataclysmic.
Let us pray together:
God, teach me to love myself
as you have loved me:
to cherish myself, to delight in my soul,
to appreciate my journey, to care for my well-being,
to commit to my wholeness.
Give me grace to respect and nurture myself,
to offer myself both challenge and rest.
Teach me to forgive myself, to be gentle with myself,
to believe in myself and your hidden greatness in me.
Trusting in my belovedness, I am free and at peace:
in need but not needy, not compulsive, not afraid,
not easily seduced by either pride or despair.
Teach me to love myself
even as you do.
Unfolding Light, 5.6.2025 www.unfoldinglight.net
Pastor Jane Reina
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Celebration of Life for Grace Robinson
Grace Briggs Robinson has gone to her heavenly home to be united with her three brothers Walter, Jim & Bill and her parents Grace and William. She is survived by her sister, Carol.
She loved riding horses. Grace was a nun in the Sacred Heart order for 20 years teaching Middle school students.
Grace adopted three children Christina, Denise and Corey.
Grace was active in the faith communities of St. Joseph, St John 23rd and the Mary Magdala. Grace volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages, the L'arche community, and Neighbor to Neighbor. Her life purpose was to serve especially those less fortunate.
Her bright spirit touched many.
Grace's celebration of life will be held Saturday May 18,2024, 10 am at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Stuart St. in Fort Collins. RSVP by May 8, for the service to baileystenson@aol.com.
Donations can be made to: www.thevegetableconnection.org an organization her niece, Bailey, created to serve and educate low income families with farm fresh foods.
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Family Housing Network (aka FFH)
THE DONATION TASK FORCE IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF TABLES/CHAIRS, LIVING ROOM CHAIRS, QUEEN, FULL & TWIN MATTRESSES FOR PERMANENTLY PLACED FAMILIES!!!
If you are interested in donating coffee makers, crockpots, pots, or towel sets, please email Jodi@familyhousingnetwork.org
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Mark your Calendars - Annual meeting of the Membership of Mary of Magdala on May 19, 2024
Please plan to attend the annual meeting of the members of Mary Magdala ECC after Mass on May 19th. As a non-profit (501(c)3), we are required to conduct an annual meeting but more importantly we will update the parish on our ministries and financial health, ratify the proposed budget, elect new leadership council members and obtain feedback from those attending.
Sincerely,
David Cloyd and Michael Six, Co-chairs of the 2023-24 Leadership Council
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Can't attend the annual meeting?
If you are a registered member of Mary of Magdala and cannot attend PLEASE click
below to complete a proxy form for voting. You can designate another member to vote on your behalf or designate Lisa Jones, Secretary of the Leadership Council.
Please click here to complete the proxy form.
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Cheers to Springtime and Fellowship
May 9th - 301 Faith Partners Pub Fellowship - 3:30p this Thursday
This month we will meet at SPARGE'S BREWERY which is a new destination for us! Wellington is just a short drive NORTH ON I-25. Don Garman has checked this one out for us. It was started by a U.S. Army veteran who wanted to offer varied and quality beer and a welcoming atmosphere.
TAKE EXIT 278 and then turn left towards Wellington. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto 6th St. which is also NW Frontage Rd. Drive 2 miles before turning Right onto G.W. Bush Ave. Sparge's will be on your immediate left, (3999 GW Bush Ave., Unit 1.)
Gator Tails food truck will be on site, and next door is Slurpz. They offer panini sandwiches and soup. If you want Charcuterie Boards, they are best ordered the day before or after the noon hour on the 9th. Call 970-889-6024.
See you all there and don't forget- there is no rsvp. Let's see more of your spouses or favs! Everyone is welcome! Arrive late, leave early- it's ok! We are all informal.
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Celebrating the 6th Sunday of Easter
A recording of homilies and readings from May 5, with Father Teri Harroun presiding is available here. This recording includes homilies by Mother Rosean and Pastor Jane, Tricia’s message read by Linda Joyce, and a Eulogy for Mary Detweiler read by Taylor Dower.
Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.
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Social Justice Reflection
Tom Moos, Chair Social Justice Ministry
(The topic of today’s Social Justice Reflection was suggested to me by Mary Lou Devlin.)
Tomorrow, May 6, is National Nurses Day. In that context, today’s Social Justice reflection honors a truly extraordinary nurse.
Lillian Wald was born in 1867 into an affluent German-Jewish medical family in Cincinnati, Ohio. At age 16, she applied to Vassar College but the school thought she was too young. A few years later, she attended New York Hospital’s School of Nursing.
After graduating, she began teaching in-home medical care to poor immigrant families in New York City’s lower East Side. She abandoned her life of privilege and moved into the tenements to more effectively serve its poor. Wald coined the term “public health nurse” to describe those who worked outside hospitals in mostly poor and middle-class communities. With the help of donors she started the Visiting Nursing Service of New York to bring decent, affordable healthcare to the neighborhood. In 1894, she co-founded the Henry Street Settlement House, an organization providing social services and self-help instruction for the Lower East Side community.
By 1913, through her skills at fundraising and publicizing, the Settlement grew to seven buildings on Henry Street with two satellite centers and had 92 nurses making an estimated 200,000 home health calls a year. Wald established special education and free school lunch programs, and, she paid salaries for some of the first public school nurses in NYC.
Beyond her work with the Henry Street Settlement, Wald was a tireless advocate for the rights of women, children, immigrants, and laborers. She helped start women’s trade unions and founded organizations to fight against child labor. She was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement and lobbied for workplace health and safety. She chaired the Red Cross’s campaign to end the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 and represented the U.S. at International Red Cross meetings. She was a cofounder of the NAACP, and, as a civil rights activist, insisted on racial integration in all her many projects. In 1922, the New York Times named Wald one of the 12 greatest living American women.
In closing, I’d like to salute our Mary of Magdala members and those in northern Colorado that have served or still serve as nurses, nurse educators or social workers. You continue to play a critical role in bridging the gap between underserved populations and quality healthcare delivered efficiently and with utmost empathy.
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Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times.
+Jean Powers, daughter of Mary Powers, member
+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
+Sabrina and her two children, currently homeless
+Linda Browell, member
+Jen Banks, friend of Mary of Magdala
+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.
+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
+Bob Colhour, father of member Mark Colhour.
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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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Wednesday Midweek Mass -
May 8, 11:00 am
- M. Rosean Amaral, Presiding
- In the Fireside Room
- No Zoom available
Sunday Mass - May 12, 12:30 pm
- Father Michael Nicosia is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.
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Wednesday Midweek Mass -
May 15, 11:00 am
- M. Rosean Amaral, Presiding
- In the Fireside Room
- No Zoom available
Sunday Mass - May 19, 12:30 pm
- Rev. Jane Reina is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.
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Did you miss an article or announcement?
Past e-bulletins are posted on our website here. Below are links to recent newsletters and key articles
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To read our regional Bishop's (Bishop Kae) Easter message, click here
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To read the April/May newsletter from our presiding bishop, click here.
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To read the Office of the Presiding Bishop's Spring 2024 newsletter click here.
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To read the ECC House of Pastors Newsletter and Holy Synod Updates, click here.
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To read the ECC House of Pastors Newsletter and Holy Synod Updates, 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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