Reflection from your Co-Pastors
August 10, 2020

Yesterday’s gospel was full of intrigue and dread:
  • insisting the disciples, compelling them, to get into the boat;

  • sending all the other followers away so that Jesus separated them from the disciples;

  • ordering the disciples to precede him and then not going to the boat but going off by himself to remain alone as night fell, as it became dark;

  • fierce winds are ‘dread’ as Deacon Rosean described;

  • near drowning to death is dread;

  • seeing a ghost is dread.

It’s 3 a.m. and Jesus hears them calling for help. Jesus hears and feels their fear, that’s important. He walks on the lake at 3 am toward them and they think they see a ghost. Peter tests Jesus to confirm or dispel his doubts and then seems to succeed in walking on water too. He begins sinking and crying out to Jesus, “save me”. Those words, “save me,” that’s important.

Jesus extends his hand, saves Peter and simultaneously confirms that he is the person who is One with the Spirit, that’s important. Nothing can distract or dispel Jesus’ oneness. I have always heard that Jesus is God and so he could walk on water. But it is more meaningful to me to understand that the flow of Spirit is the core composition of
Jesus, there can be no separation. Peter however is like us, he is distracted by doubt and fear; he cannot remain open to the Spirit, he can no longer hold that sacred space. He sinks and is in dread of drowning.

By Peter’s call for help, Jesus saves him. That call for help is everything in prayer; that’s important. When we call for help from our deepest depths of doubt and fear, that’s when our call is purely authentic and we deeply connect with God. How deep might Peter’s connection with Jesus be when sinking?

The tone of Jesus’ voice for Peter was the tone he needed to hear. It was compassion -- not judgement or criticism -- but warm and loving and teaching. Jesus’ tone reaches the deepest part of Peter’s authentic heart. Peter may have learned in the near sinking that Jesus the Christ never leaves us. Jesus the Christ holds out his hand, we need not fear.
Peter may have learned that Jesus is God, one in being with God and that God is unconditional Love who is always present. Christ loves each one of us individually and totally. Connecting to that Love requires that we actively connect to our God who is always waiting for us, for me.

May you be blessed and Be in Love, God is with you.
Photo by Tory Morrison on Unsplash
Discovery and Perspective
An open discussion of scripture

Thursday at 9:00 am
All are welcomed!
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Join in conversation and connection weekly with Pastor Jane

Thursdays - 9 a.m.
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Our Service Recordings and More
View our August 9th Sunday service celebrating the 18th Sunday of Ordinary time. You can also access a printable document of the entire service to assist with prayer. Here is Deacon Rosean's homily.
During the service we honored Bishop William J Barber, II, a minister and political activist. Rev. Barber is working to turn the tide against systemic racism, systemic poverty and ecological devastation and could open people's eyes to the heretical nationalistic evangelism. Listen to these powerful speeches.
Community Prayer Requests
Please pray for -

The peaceful repose of the soul of David Heyman and comfort for his wife, MaryAnne, and their family.

Jim DeMuth and family for the loss of his sister, Pat DeMuth. For Jennifer Pfeister and family for the passing of her father, Bill McClellan.
For Courtney, daughter of Jean and Tom Christen. Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe. For the continued recovery of Linda Joyce. The Kent family whose Mother Teri (community member) and Father recently passed.

Dona Bosse - community member. Julie Schoenbauer and family for the passing of her father and for the family of Edwin White, brother-in-law of Pastor Jane.
For the peaceful repose of the souls of Bill, Greg, and Calvin - friends of Deacon Rosean. .

For Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother. For Dani - Niece of the Cloyds. Mary Crosby – parishioner. For Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones and Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. For Lynne Barnes and family.

And Leo Six – father of Michael Six, Mike Gudim, Margie Weitz, Suzanne King, Robert Browell.
For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage and other videos are located here.

Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection
with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com
Please contact us at marymagdalafc@gmail.com or at 970-493-9536
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