Reflections from your Pastor 

December 5, 2023



Sunday's Gospel reading was Mark 13:24-37. It is apocalyptic in that it signals something ending so that something greater can appear or arise.  It is awe-inspiring and frightening. It is life-changing and transforming. It requires that we stay alert to its coming. In our own time there are people and Christians who believe that the end is coming because the events are frightening. We however can hope because we try almost everyday to wrap our minds around the newest discoveries that keep coming, and quickly, for example, AI, misinformation, cosmic events, entanglement, star dust, entrancing photos from the JWT,  medicine and medical technology, human development, and the list goes on. It can be exhausting to keep up the effort as  it promotes hope when we consider that the new discoveries may help us re-new what we are loosing.

Our perspective determines if we become dread-filled or awe-filled. If we consider that some of life as we know it is ending, then we also can consider how a new  creation is beginning. Our fear is because we don't know what that is or how it will happen. Our hope is that the human person and all of our human collective power is being developed for the good of all and is being used in service  of creation .  This is our hope. Maybe in order to stay in the realm of the awe-filled we need silence to process, to turn to God, to let the Holy Spirit fill us with the Divine that animates all.

Verse 37 of Mark's Gospel reads, "What I say to you, I say to all: stay alert!" This rings with the need for silence in spite of life's moment to moment distractions. Is there enough silence for the Word to be heard, for the awe-filled to be experienced?

If you wake up early, do not wake up to

maximize productivity

for someone else's agenda,

but wake up early to sit on the border of dark

and light

and listen for the Word,

If you stay up late, do not stay up to fulfill a

list

that will never satisfy

but stay up late because your spirit is caught

in something true.

If you say yes, say yes from a place of your

soul's landing in the world.

If you say no, say no to be free for your own

verses.

Move in the world—early, late, between, yes,

no—

you made of holy stuff,

like eternity and found Light,

and remembering that.

~ Laura Martin, “Untitled” in Friends of Silence, December 2023 (Vol. XXXVI, No. 11)

Peace within,

Pastor Jane

Image used with permission from Good Free Photos.

Upcoming at Mary of Magdala

Mary of Magdala celebrates Christmas 2023!

Each year, we like to salute our Mary of Magdala family’s Christmas celebrations at home. To do this, we need high resolution jpg photos of household members as well as scenes of your crèche, Christmas tree, or any decorations that capture the season for you.

As an example, here is the video for Christmas 2022:

We especially invite new members of our Mary of Magdala community to participate by e-mailing high resolution images (phone pictures and “selfies” are OK if they are sent in original size) to Tom Moos (tjmoos@aol.com) by Dec 17, 2023. If you were in the 2022 slide show and are OK with reusing your slide as it was, you don’t need to do anything; otherwise, please send updated images and suggested changes/corrections to Tom.

Blue Christmas worship service

Maybe it's seasonal sadness, maybe it's the suffering going on in the world, maybe it's the loss of a loved one or the failures of love within a relationship or a family, but for whatever reason, many people find Christmas difficult. Not being able to be happy-clappy during this time can be further isolating. It is for this reason that St. Paul's is offering a Blue Christmas worship service for people for whom the holidays are hard. Enjoy prayers and Taize chant in an intimate setting.

Join us at 7 pm on Tuesday, December 14, in Room 2 of St. Paul's for a celebration that will speak to all our hearts.

December 301 pub fellowship

Otto Pint Restaurant will be our next gathering on the second Thursday of the month- December 14th. We were there last year in November with our first huge gathering! The address, for anyone who needs it, is: 1100 Oakridge Dr.- a couple of blocks South of Harmony Rd. off Lemay Ave. They have a great selection of brews and wonderful pizzas!

Let's celebrate the holiday season together as 3 churches- our Trinity! This month we welcome the 301 Joint Social Justice Committee! As always- we start at 3:30 pm - arrive when you can, leave when you must. We are ALL INCLUSIVE! Bring your significant other and friends! No RSVP.

The Season of Advent and Christmas – 2023

Our theme: ‘God's Gift of Hope--and Ours’

Advent Sunday Masses -

12:30 pm

First Sunday      Dec 3    

Second Sunday                Dec 10

Third Sunday                     Dec 17

Fourth Sunday                  Dec 24

Christmas Services -

On Christmas Eve

3:00 pm and 5:00 pm  

Trinity’s worship services

7:00 pm  

St. Paul’s worship service

Christmas Day Mass

10:30 am - Mary of Magdala

No 12:30 Mass

Share and Inspire

Reflecting on the week’s readings in our Advent Booklet – Waiting in Joyful Hope. Join Mother Rosean and Reverend Jane via Zoom

Tuesdays – Dec 5, 12, 19 at 7:30 pm

   With Reverend Jane

   Zoom Link HERE

   Meeting ID: 848 5409 9634

   Passcode: Advent

Thursdays – Dec 7, 14, 21 at 10:00 am

   With Mother Rosean

   Zoom Link; HERE

   Meeting ID: 870 8960 1942

   Passcode: Advent

Simple Supper and Prayer

All three churches are participating in this ‘Taize’ like prayer and song.

Wednesdays - December 6, 13, 20

Soup suppers                               5:45 pm

Holden Evening Prayer              6:30 pm

Mary of Magdala will be hosting the simple supper of soup and bread. We need volunteers to bring a 'crockpot' of soup and help for clean-up. Please call Joan at- 970- 224-0297

Giving opportunities during the Season of Advent

Mary of Magdala Social Justice Project

• The Social Justice committee will be collecting grocery gift cards to King Soopers in $25 denominations for our pastors to respond to emergency and individual requests for help with gas or groceries. Just drop them in the offertory basket!

301 Faith Partners

• Alternate Giving Fair. Sun Dec 3, 8:30 – 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Various charities supported by the 301 Partner communities will be represented to take donations.  Please consider stopping by before our Dec 3 Mass and give a gift on behalf or in memory of someone dear to you.

• Reverse Advent calendar: Food donations go to our Lil Pantry on Stuart street. Non-perishables, low or non-liquid canned or packaged food items are preferred. Click here for information and food suggestions. Donation box in Fellowship Hall

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

+Cache and Courtney, family of Jean

+Joanne Gallagher, member

+David Devlin, member

+Joanne Kresl, friend of Suzanne King, member

+Lisa Moos, member

+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll

+Kolten Weitzel, grandson of Kerrie Anderson, member

+Sabrina and her two children, currently homeless

+Grandneice of Father Michael Nicosia

+Linda Browell, member

+Sandra Carter, friend of Mary Vogel

+Kris Jenkins, wife of Father Scott Jenkins

+Jen Banks, friend of Mary of Magdala

+Francisco Cruz Antonio, friend of Rev. Jane

+Yvonne Keefe, member

+Jo Anne, friend of Sandra Life, member

+Grace Robinson, member

+Jerry Padilla, father of member Lisa Jones

+Janessa and Hayden, sister and niece of Jen Banks

+Rachel, daughter of Mary Lou Devlin, member.

~~~~~~~~~~~

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

+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 Yvonne Wootten, member

+Josy Moos, Godmother of Tom Moos

+Fr. Fred Ball, OFR, ECC priest

+Bob Colhour, father of member Mark Colhour.

+Candy Palmer, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Johnny Berlyn Thomas, friend and benefactor out of his own poverty, of Pastor Jane

+Fr Don Willet, from John XXIII

+Linn Zink, friend of MoM, Social Justice advocate

+Bishop McGrath - RC diocese of San Jose, Friend of Suzanne King

+James Ryan cousin of Mary Lyons, member

+ Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother

+ Mother Sheila Dierks, ECC priest in Boulder

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.

Celebrating with the 1st Sunday of Advent

Celebrate with F. Terri Harroun presiding on December 3rd. The video of the homily and readings is available here.

Mass Schedule

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Dec 6 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Dec 10 at 12:30 pm

• Mother Rosean Amaral is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Dec 13 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Dec 17 at 12:30 pm

• F. Michael Nicosia is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here

• Click here to read October/November ECC National Newsletter
• To read the ECC Council of Bishops' statement on the War in Gaza and Israel, click here.
• Ongoing Giving Opportunities in Fellowship hall; see list here
• Dedicating Altar Flowers? Contact Joan Stepleton at JoanStepleton@gmail.com or 864-650-2816. A $25 dollar donation is kindly requested.
• The purpose of the Mary Magdalene Society is to financially support aspiring and current priests and encourage the development of youth in their spiritual journeys. Read more here.

Mary of Magdala Parish Community

Members: Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click here.

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



The ECC Regional Website - View here.

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.