Reflection from your Co-Pastors - Tuesday, July 27

Reflection from Your Co-Pastors

Tuesday, July 27

Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting…

'When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.' Exodus 33: 7-11

Here is Moses going far off from the Israelite's camp to a tent where he talks with God. It is called the "tent of meeting." Whenever Moses went out to the "tent of meeting," the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent and the Lord would speak to Moses.

I suspect we all have a favorite place where we go to talk to God. It could be anywhere--a room in our home, a spot out in nature, in our cars, at church, or maybe out in our own tents when we go camping. This very personal, very sacred time with God, guides our next steps and gives us the strength to walk them. Moses spoke to God daily just as Jesus did, and we too, would benefit from following their example.

This scripture reading makes me think of all the zoom meetings we have had during the pandemic and even now. They have all been far away from camp--our church--and whether they were a church service, a leadership council meeting, or a 301 Partner meeting, they all began with calling on God to be with us, guide us, and best instruct us to continue the work of creating the kin-dom of God here on earth.

Recently, I found a prayer entitled "A Meeting", by Anne Johnson in her book Miriam of Nazareth: Woman of Strength. I would like to share it with all of you. Please feel free to use this prayer to begin one of your many meetings. It is a beautiful way to invite God to our "tent of meeting."

A Meeting

Today we gather.

Meeting together to consider

where we stand

and who we are.

We come to order ourselves

into a new sense of order according to our progress

from the last gathering to this one.

Be with us, O God,

in this space and time

as we affirm and shape the changes in our understanding of the Way.

We desire not to fly apart

in garish fantasy of vision

but rather to move the boundaries that we have set before

in order to encompass and embrace the living and breathing growth of each and all.

We work in prayer and dialogue.

In going back to see where we have been, we steady ourselves for the journey forward today.

We are here

to reconcile all that we were,

our trust... our hopelessness

our joy...our despair

our confirming... our betrayal

to offer a farewell to those departed and to welcome those who are newly come.

To confess, absolve, reconcile, renew.

To be all that we can be.

To set firm a pathway that is possible. Possible for us to walk until we meet again to reassess the journey and again set firm a pathway.

Each step along the way we clear the stones and obstacles, healing and refreshing each other.

We listen openly to each tale of travel and hear each one's proposal for the time ahead.

Knowing you are here, God,

we are freer in our interaction, more daring in the sharing of our personal visions, loving in our confrontation, deeply silent in consideration, and accepting in the choices that for a little while will help us to define our actions until broader definitions draw us on.

In this Your Presence,

we meet to order ourselves anew, to consider where we stand and who we are.

Today we gather.

AMEN

Image by zandy126 from Pixabay

Let's Have a Town Hall!

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I mentioned last month in the ECC Report that I would continue our little tradition of Zoom calls with a "town hall" format for any ECC member who might like to gather and have a conversation together about the Communion. We can talk about whatever you might like.

There has been a lot of discussion in some quarters about local church/diocese/ ecclesiology/etc. Maybe that is something you would like to discuss with me. Maybe that is the last thing you want to discuss, but you have other things on your mind that you would rather talk about. Bring it on! Let's have a conversation about whatever is of concern to you. If you have a certain topic or question you'd like to propose, I would appreciate it if you would send it to me ahead of time at the link below. You can also use this link just to let me know you are coming. That way we can plan a little better (Don't worry! If you don't have time for this process, just show up.)

Join the Town Hall with Bishop Francis on:

Weds, August 4, at 6:30 MT

Zoom meeting Link -

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89109458936?pwd=Z1NqdktrYVJzZ211RzB3bTMwRUdjQT09

Click here to say you are coming and maybe suggest a topic.

Please come if you would like to be a part of this conversation!

Thanks! I hope to be talking with you soon!

Your brother,

+Francis

Service Recordings

Recording for Sunday - July 25, 2021

The recording of the readings and the homily given by C0-Pastor Dcn Rosean Amaral is available here. You can also view or print the Mass here to assist in prayer.

Past Recordings, Bulletins, and Announcements

For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com. And feel free to call the office at 970 493-9536.

Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal

What are our partners in ministry up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin

Who Are the 301 Faith Partners?

The 301 Faith Partners have a Vision,

Mission and Values statement that guides our relationships, interactions, and shared projects and ministries.

Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’

Weaving a tapestry of love, hope and justice for the world.

Read the Vision, Mission, Core Values and Covenant here.

Click here to visit the Mary of Magdala, ECC website