Reflection from Our ECC Priest - Father Don Sutton

November 22, 2022

In light of the tragedy in Colorado Springs, this recent response from Fr Don Sutton to the Roman Catholic 'Guidance' document is even more important to reflect upon.

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Father Don's response to the 'Archdiocese Guidance for Catholic Schools'

Recently, the Denver Archdiocese’s 17 page “Guidance” regarding local Catholic schools’ handling of issues related to LGBTQ students and parents became public, prompting the Denver Post to publish a front page article titled “Document’s Guidance: Don’t Enroll Transgender Students.”

The article summarized other policies such as not recognizing both people as parents in gay couple marriages.

That same morning, Fr. Don’s wrote a letter to the editor which was published in the Denver Post on Sunday, November 13. Here are some of his points:

This is a sad commentary on the Archdiocese’s inability to accept contemporary science and incorporate its findings into their teaching.
It took the Roman Catholic church 350 years to accept Galileo; at that pace, it will be the year 2350 before they accept the science surrounding LBGTQ people.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of love, compassion, and inclusivity. It teaches that each of us is a child of God and made in God’s image.
The language of this “Guidance” is mean-spirited, and following its directives could lead to great harm for children and for their gay parents and families.
It’s hard to reconcile the language of the guidance with Jesus’ fundamental message to “love one another.”
There are many Christian traditions (including many which are Catholic) that respect, support, and welcome all people. I pray that those hurt and excluded by the “Guidance” will seek such a church home.

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Last Night's Vigil in Denver

The Interfaith Alliance and One Colorado co-hosted a vigil last night and addressed the heartbreaking mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs. You can view the live-streamed recording here.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Ld7H1LVR0

To Support the Victims

Coloradans can securely contribute to community members in need by giving to the Colorado Healing Fund. Other giving options include:

The Season or Advent and Christmas

Next Sunday begins Advent and the season has many events and opportunities for celebrations, worship and connections.

Here is the calendar for Advent and Christmas with complete information and Zoom links.

--> Printed Advent and Christmas calendars

available at Mass. <--

This Week at Mary of Magdala

Annual Time and Talent Initiative

We are asking all friends, families and members to choose an area (or two) from our list of opportunities to help us live into the mission of Mary of Magdala.

As an independent Catholic community we depend on friends and members to realize our mission - from creating meaningful worship services to ministries of service, to keeping this wonderful building in good repair or working with the regional or national ECC.

We have printed copies of all the volunteer opportunities and will be handed out to everyone after Mass on Sunday. Please read and complete or if you prefer completing on line at this link.

Please complete individually and return by November 27 to complete the first part of our campaign (our 'treasure initiative' begins in January.) No gift of Time and Talent is too small. We appreciate each and every one of you.

Thank you, THANK YOU !!

Your Leadership Council

P.S. Our 'treasure initiative' begins in January

Are you available to help with the preparation and drop-off for the food-insecure program?

We are in need of help to prepare and drop off prepared food and drop it off at the LuMin student center for the food-insecure student program. This is a one time request on November 29.

A main dish, vegetable and dessert is the standard fare. If you can help, please email me, Lisa, at lpjones@gmail.com

+--- From Denver, St Paul, ECC Newsletter ---+

Rev. Jane Officiates at St Paul, ECC

On Saturday, November 19, the St. Paul ECC was blessed to have a visiting priest, - Rev. Jane Reina,

Rev. Jane inspired us with the questions raised by Jesus in Luke 22:27, "For who is greater, the one who is at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." And Rev. Jane challenged us to be the ones who serve.

Jane talked about her own faith journey leading her to be a servant of Jesus as a priest in the ECC.

Request for Prayers

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

+ Erin McDonald, member

+ Grace Robinson, member

+ Richard Life, member

+ Susan Wagner-White, sister of Co-Pastor Jane

+ Jeff Akkerman -for discernment and guidance in finding a new job

+ Sarah Reveron and her daughter, Aliana - niece and grandniece of Rev. Jane Reina

+ Uriah - grandson of Mother Rosean

+ Joanne Gallagher - member

+ Edward for healing and Marge for hope, relatives of Ruth Conley, member

+ Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother

+ Suzanne King - member-

+ Harry, 11 year canine companion to Gray La Fond.

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A blessed and peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the friends and families.

+ Miles, young friend of Ted (nephew of the Devlin's, members)

+ Sherry Shead, wife of Tim Shead, administrator at Light of Christ

+Steve Muzikar, cousin of Co Pastor Jane

+Wendell Schwarz, brother of Sr. Mary Colleen, OSB

+ John Hynes - father of Rev. Jane's children

+ Mother of Bishop Kae Madden

+ Dennis Snyder. brother-in-law of Ruth Alexander, member

+ John Crowfoot, friend of Jean Christen, member

+ Tom Froehlich, brother of Ann Russell, member

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.

Service Recordings and More

Sunday November 20, 2022 - 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A video recording of the readings and the homily given by Father Michael Nicosia is available here.

Sunday Social Justice Reflection

Tom Moos, Chair Social Justice Ministry

Francis L McIntosh was a free African-American and cook aboard the steamboat, Fiora. On April 28, 1836, the boat arrived in St Louis. McIntosh left the boat to visit a chambermaid aboard the Lady Jackson moored nearby. As he disembarked, he encountered 2 police chasing a sailor who had been in a fight. The police ordered McIntosh to help them stop the sailor. He refused, was charged with “breach of the peace” and arrested by the police. When he asked how long he would have to remain in jail, they responded “five years”. He panicked, grabbed a knife and stabbed both policemen - one died. He escaped the jail but was accosted by a crowd that returned him. Later, a white mob broke into the jail, removed McIntosh, took him to present-day 7th and Chestnut streets, chained him to a tree, piled wood around him, and burned him to death.

A grand jury was convened the following month to investigate the lynching. Judge Luke Lawless oversaw the hearing. Some believe Lawless, true to his name, had been part of the lynch mob itself. No-one was indicted or convicted for the lynching. The miscarriage of justice spurred several abolitionists to condemn the lynching. One of these, a newspaper editor, Elijah Lovejoy, left Missouri after his press was destroyed in retaliation. But a white anti-abolitionist mob eventually tracked him down in Illinois, attacked, and killed him.

Today, the site of the Francis McIntosh lynching has no marker or memorial. It was one stop in the Truth and Reconciliation tour at the 2022 Synod. Bishop Krebs offered a meditation asking us to honor the sacredness, the feelings and the human experiences of the life of Francis McIntosh. Although we remember the horrific circumstances of his death, it is by thinking about and relating to his life and the lives of victims of racial violence, that we can build a community where we all might be regarded as brothers and sisters.

Upcoming Mass and Service Schedule

See Advent and Christmas Calendar with Zoom links here. Links for Sunday Masses can be viewed here.

Wednesday November 23 - 11:00 am

Canceled - Blessings on your Thanksgiving week
See you the following Wednesday

Sunday November 27 12:30 pm

Fall/Winter schedule. Mass at 12:30 pm (no 5pm Mass)
First Sunday of Advent

Wednesday November 30- 11:00 am

In the Fireside Room
No Zoom available

Sunday December 4 12:30 pm

Fall/Winter schedule. Mass at 12:30 pm (no 5pm Mass)
First Sunday of Advent

Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’

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

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.

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

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