Reflections from our Pastors

February 8, 2024

Last night, we were blessed by gathering with Fr. Teri Harroun, pastor and poet laureate of Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Community in Longmont. Fr, Teri presented a workshop entitled “Jesus, Justice and Poetry.” She connected us to many strong voiced justice poets—Amanda Gorman, Mary Oliver, Dimetri Manabat, Joy Harjo, and, of course, Fr. Teri

herself.

The workshop was interactive, and participants were encouraged to use their own creative juices in the spiritual practice of Lectio Poetica, where we listened to a poem read twice and chose a word or phrase that resonated with us. Then we took that word(s) and wrote an acrostic poem using each letter of our word as the beginning of each line of our poem. For example, if

you have chosen the word “poem,” your acrostic could be as simple as:

Poetry

Opens

Every

Mind

The workshop culminated in the entire group writing a poem with our collective voices. Since February is Black History Month, we were reminded of the murder of George Floyd. We were instructed to imagine the police officer’s knee on George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and to use phrases that spoke of what that knee represented.

Below is the poem born of all our voices in memory of the life of a Black

man taken by the abuse of a White man’s power:

“the breath of George Floyd”

By Mary of Magdala ECC members and friends

the weight of the world

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

the hardness of smug white supremacy

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

the gesture of prayer and turning it into an act of torture,

a weapon of death

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

the noose of lynching

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

the terror of privileged men

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

the fear of difference

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

the Execution of the Crucified;

the Executor of the crucified

the Execution of the Crucified;

the Executor of the crucified is on our chest

I can’t breathe

and your privileged eyes that look away, ears that do not hear

is on our chest

I can’t breathe

I can’t breathe

I can’t

breathe.

breathe

breathe,

do something

one something

to open the airways

that everyone might

breathe

the world waits,

weights

to breathe

©️with Teri Harroun, 2024

Amen,

Mother Rosean

Winter Gear (and Clothing) Donations 

Do you have some winter coats and other winter clothing you don’t need? Here are some places to donate. Winter gear (tents, sleeping bags, etc.) along with food and toiletries are also needed. See the links below. Homeward Alliance ONLY accepts items on their list (due to storage limitations)

1.     Homeward Alliance 2024 Donation List can be found here. More information can be accessed at this link.

2.     For a VERY comprehensive list of other local non-profits that accept donations click here (this includes clothing of all types and for all ages).

301 Shared Service - February 18

10:30 Service Followed by Brunch

There will be NO 12:30 pm service on February 18th. February 18th will be our first 301 Faith Partners Shared Service in 2024. It will be at 10:30 AM with a Brunch/Potluck to follow. Mary of Magdala will be in charge of cleaning up after the potluck. We need 6 wonderful volunteers. You can sign-up to volunteer here for both clean-up and to bring a brunch dish!

Thank you from your Hospitality Ministry.

Simple Supper and Taizé Prayer - Mark Your Calendars

All three churches are participating in the Lenten Soup Supper beginning on 2/21. If you can assist in bringing Soup or with clean-up, please sign-up below.

Wednesdays - February 21, 28; March 6, 13, 20

Taizé                             6 pm

Soup Supper              6:30 pm

For details and other 301 Faith Partners services and all links for

 'Our Lenten Journey', click HERE

ISAAC - Love in Action, a Heart-centered Fundraiser

Regular seating is SOLD OUT— Thanks to all for supporting ISAAC!

Two options have been added: Overflow Room Seating - (speaker viewed on a large screen $30) and Virtual Tickets ($15) are available

301 Faith Partners Joint Social & Eco Justice Team and Immigration Task Force are coordinating one (or more) “301” tables for this event. Contact Judy Matthews if your are interested

in seating at one of these tables, and/or pre-purchasing a table ($500-seats 8) to be reimbursed by individuals.

soc-ecojustice@stpauls-fc.org

___________________

ISAAC is pleased to welcome as keynote speaker internationally-known keynote speaker, Father Greg Boyle. Your ticket includes a complimentary drink, light dinner and fellowship.

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Celebrated with F. Teri Harroun as presider on February 4th. The video of the readings and homily is available here.

Prayer Requests

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

+James Fuller, friend of Mary of Magdala and seeker, returning to Houston

+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Cache and Courtney, family of Jean

+David Devlin, member

+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

+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.

+Sharon L. Six, mother of Michael Six, member

+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll

+Joanne Gallagher, member

+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

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.

Sunday Feb 11 at 12:30 pm

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

Wednesday Feb 14 - Ash Wednesday Service- 7 PM

• Mother Rosean Amaral is presiding.

Sunday Feb 18

• There will be no 12:30 pm Mass on Feb. 18th. There will be a 301 Service at 10:30 am. followed by a brunch for all 301 faith communities.

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here

• To read the January News from the Office of the Presiding Bishop Paul (Pablo) Burson, click here (English) and here (Spanish).
• 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 are in need of a picture for the directory, contact David Cloyd via this email. Put 'Need Picture for the Directory' in the subject line and include your name and telephone number in your email <--

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.