Reflection from our Pastors

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Matthew 24 42-51

"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,

whom the master has put in charge of his household

to distribute to them their food at the proper time?

Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.”

Author and Jungian psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola Estes, believes that stories, in their oldest sense, are a healing art. The best story tellers she knows are “those whose stories grow out of their lives, like roots grow a tree. The stories have grown them, grown them into who they are.”

Some stories are worth telling because of how our living God shows up in our everyday, ordinary lives. So, I’ll share with you this personal story…

When I moved to Fort Collins in 2005, I decided that having worked as a social worker for 30 years, I was going to take early retirement and seek out a part time job to supplement my income. This would give me the time to explore some of my other God-given gifts like sculpting and writing. Two part time jobs were advertised that interested me—one was at Elderhaus, a non-profit providing holistic and therapeutic daytime care to seniors and adults with disabilities; the other was kitchen manager at a charter elementary school in Fort Collins. I applied for both and was called to interview for each one. The day following the interviews, I received a call from each employer informing me that they would like to hire me. I asked if I could have overnight to discern and get back to them the next day. They consented.

That night I spent some time alone, out in nature, just me and God and God’s creation. I asked for guidance, or a Word, or a nudge in the right direction. Then I slept on it.

The next morning, I awoke and went about my prayer discipline of reading the daily lectionary. The Gospel reading from Matthew proclaimed, “Who then, is the faithful and prudent servant whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.”

I called the school and accepted the position of kitchen manager. The Word had come to me! When something like this happens, I sing praises of thanksgiving and gratitude to God for this incredible, and miraculous orchestration of events.

Now you might be thinking, really Mother Rosean? Would you have us believe that taking a part-time job as a kitchen manager helped you fulfill your God-given purpose or changed your life in ways that deepened your spiritual path? Well, yes it did. Being the “lunch lady” was sometimes like being the shoulder that many little ones felt safe to cry on and have their needs recognized and shared with their teachers and counselors who could attend to them. And when some of our Synod delegates in 2016 unexpectedly called me to be a deacon for MoM, I had lots of time available for the study necessary prior to ordination. Eventually, the diaconate led to the priesthood, and here I am, fulfilling my call to be a faithful servant of God. A journey that spanned 11 years!

The Living Word of God in Scripture is a communication that speaks to us and guides us in the Spirit to discern and carry out the will of God in our lives. It is filled with the stories of the people of God.

Dr. Estes encourages people to do their own mining of story. “For the scraped knuckles, the sleeping on cold ground, the groping in the dark and the adventures on the way are worth everything. I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom. Then you will see what medicines they make, and where and when to apply them. That is the work. The only work.”

Think about how your stories could be medicine for the world.

Amen

Mother Rosean

Image by Fathromi Ramdlon from Pixabay

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a senior Jungian analyst who has practiced and taught for 30+ years. Her doc-

torate is in multi-cultural studies and clinical psychology. Quotes in this reflection were taken from the afterword from Women Who Run With The Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Copyright © 1991, Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Incorporated.

Friendly Reminders

Make your Reservation this Week For September/October

Try this opportunity to get to know other members of Mary of Magdala in smaller groups.

To participate, select the RESERVE TABLE button or call 970 224-0297.

Participants are put into a group of 4 and they decide whether to go out to breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks, etc.

Each Table will meet one time during the two month period. Table for 4 is open to singles and couples. Join when it fits into your schedule.

Reservations are due September 5th.

Request for Prayers

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 the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrate with Rev. Jane Reina presiding on August 27. You can view the video of readings reading and homily  here

Mass Schedule

Sunday Sept. 3 at 12:30 pm

• Father Teri Harroun is presiding. In-person and with Zoom

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Sep 6 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Sept. 10 at 12:30 pm

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

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Sep 13 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here



• ECC House of Laity, NEWSLETTER, August 2023, read 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.

• The Summer newsletter from the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Ecumenical Communion can be read here

Mary of Magdala Parish Community

All are invited and ALL are welcome to join our parish community.

• Here is the webpage with more information on membership
• If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala, here are ways to schedule a single or recurring Sunday offertory.
• Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click here.



The ECC Regional Website is now live - 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.