Reflection from your Co-Pastors - March 25th
Announcement of the Birth of Jesus
Luke 1: 26-38.
Today is the feast of the Annunciation. This is a story that we are well acquainted with. The angel Gabriel, sent from God to a young virgin in Nazareth, tells this girl that God has chosen her to be the Mother of Jesus, God Incarnate. In her undeniable love of God and trust in God, this child herself, gives her 'Yes!' to the most important angelic announcement in salvation history!
Does this story continue to give us insight into the workings of God?
How unlikely was it that the angel of God would come to the town of Nazareth, a small secluded agricultural village in Galilee populated by no more than 150 residents? Nazareth was not situated on any major trade route. Nor was it ever mentioned in the Old Testament. It was far from the social-religious center of Jerusalem. Many Jews held Nazareth in rather low esteem, hence Nathaniel's comment,"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" That God chose a poor teenage woman from a poor lowly village to be the Mother of God, the Theotokos, would have seemed incredibly surprising.
However, if one has been paying attention to God's actions previously, perhaps it is not as surprising as we may think. This same God came to Moses and chose him to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
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Moses, a man who by his own admission was "slow of speech and tongue," and who pleaded with God, "If you please Lord, send someone else!" And then God rejected seven of Jessie's big strapping sons to choose young David out shepherding his father's flock of sheep. God sees deeper than appearances, God sees into the heart and thereby makes God's wise choices.
Today, we remember and celebrate God's choosing of this faithful young woman, Mary of Nazareth, and her unequivocal 'Yes!' which welcomed the Messiah within her, the Son of God, Jesus, our brother. Mary, of whom Pope John Paul II in his book Theotokos (God-Bearer) writes;
"Everything in Mary derives from a sovereign grace. All that is granted to her is due to God's free and gratuitous choice. Hail, full of grace. Full of grace is the name that Mary possesses in the eyes of God."
Today, let us celebrate Mary's 'Yes!' to God as well as ponder in our own hearts how God is seeking our 'Yes!' in the continuance of God's plan.
Amen
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We Beg to Differ
Our ECC Council of Bishops have issued a letter of support for LGBTQIA2+ persons who have been deeply hurt by the Vatican's decree issued last week. To read the letter from our bishops, click here.)
Co-Pastor Dcn. Rosean has written an open letter and sent to area news outlets for publication titled 'Our Position is Different'. To read the letter, click here.
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Upcoming Services and Prayer Requests |
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Mar 28 - Palm Sunday - **11:00 am Service** Presider is Co-Pastor Rev. Jane Reina assisted by Co-Pastor Dcn Rosean Amaral
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Drive-up communion after the Service Palms will be available at drive-up communion and this week for pick-up at the church. Stop by Wednesday from 12-2:00 pm or Thursday from 11:30-1:30 pm.
Holy Week Schedule - available here
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For the complete and
perfect recovery of:
+Hope - granddaughter of Co-Pastor Rosean, for her upcoming surgery
+Laura Templet - member
+Adele Eastman - friend of Co-Pastor Rev. Jane Reina.
+Rob Frank - friend of Kerrie Anderson- member
+Jerry Padilla, father and Ryan Cordova nephew of Lisa Jones - member.
+Lisa Moos - member,
+Joanne Gallagher - member, and for her sister, Dr. Barbara Immroth.
+Aidan - grandson of Mother Kae.
+Lauren Roob - friend of Rosanna Bateman.
+Liz and Ken Zornes and family, friends of Sandra and Dick Life, whose daughter is struggling with addiction.
+Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe.
+Dona Bosse - member.
+Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother.
+Dani - niece of the Cloyds and Mary Crosby – member
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+Jim and Lucille Bowen friends of Suzanne King, member
+Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll.
+Leo Six – father of Michael Six
+Mike Gudim
+Suzanne King - member
+Robert Browell
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For the peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the families.
Clint Wisdom - brother-in-law of Joan Chapman-Smith
Leon - father of Mother Cynthia
Kristin - daughter of ECC priest Scott Jenkins. Joan Kneeland - sister-in-law of Bill Kneeland
Rita Ortiz, friend of Deacon Rosean
Margie Weitz - member
Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones
Bob, husband of Joyce Dehaven -
friend of Cathy Engel
David Heyman - member
Teri Kent - member
Bill McClellan - Father of Jennifer Pfeister
Father of Julie Shoenbauer, member
Edwin White - brother in law of Pastor Jane
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Service Recordings
The video recording of just the homily by Fr. Michael Nicosia is available here.
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For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com
Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal
What are our partners in ministry here up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin
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