Celebrating the Holy Family

December 31, 2023

Just as the light has given me morning,

so you, Holy One, have given me hope.

—Joyce Rupp

On December 31st, join us at 12:30 pm in the Sanctuary or on Zoom for Sunday Mass with Father Frank Quintana presiding. Cindy and David Cloyd are serving as our Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers.

Here is the worship aid (view or print) to assist with prayer.

Gratitude to our marvelous Music Ministry for always providing spirit-filled song.

• Zoom Link: Here
• For Zoom App:  431 502 8167
• Call-in Audio Only:  +1 669 900 6833
• Meeting ID: 431 502 8167

Image by beauty_of_nature from Pixabay

Mary of Magdala Advent Social Justice Project

On behalf of the pastors, heartfelt thanks goes out to all Mary of Magdala friends and members that contributed so generously to our Advent Social Justice project. By collecting grocery cards we have enabled our pastors to respond quickly to emergency requests for food and gas as well as helping a few individuals who “fall through the cracks” of local agency support. 

In total, the community donated 74 grocery cards worth an estimated $,1875.  

Again, sincere gratitude for your generosity and support of our

parish's programs. These will be used throughout 2024.

Tom Moos and the Mary of Magdala Social Justice Ministry.

Pastor Reflections & Monday Peace Prayer for the

Week of January 1-5

Our Pastors Mother Rosean and Reverend Jane will be enjoying the holidays with family and friends. A group Monday peace prayer is canceled for January 1 and reflections will not be published January 2 and 4. All will resume the week of January 8th.

End of Year Contributions

As we approach the beginning of the calendar year, we will start to create each member's annual contribution letter for 2023 tax documentation.

Checks can still be submitted tomorrow at Mass for the 2023 tax year. Please date any check with December 31 to be counted in your 2023 contributions. Any check received this week (or next week) that has a date prior to January 1 will also be counted in the 2023 contribution letter.

Any online donations via our web tool must be made before midnight December 31, to be counted in the 2023 tax year.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Yvonne at marymagdalafc@gmail.com

Christmas Newsletter - Office of Presiding Bishop of the ECC

Read the Christmas newsletter from our Presiding Bishop Paul (Pablo) Burson:

• In Spanish here
• In English here

To message Bishop Pablo, use this email.

Service Recordings

Celebrating with the 4th Sunday of Advent

Celebrate with Rev. Jane Reina presiding on December 24th. The video of the readings and homily is available here.

Celebrating Christmas Mass December 25, 2023

Celebrate with Mother Rosean Amaral presiding on Monday, December 25. The video of the readings and homily is available here.

Also, view the Christmas Video of pictures contributed by Mary of Magdala members at the end of the Christmas Mass recording.

(At the 32 min. 13 second mark.)

301 Faith Partners

The Trinity Readers

The Trinity Readers will meet on Monday, January 8 at 9:30 am in room 2 to plan our reading list for 2024. We will start with a potluck brunch and then select our books. Bring an item to contribute to brunch (juice, yogurt, fruit, muffins, etc.) and come prepared to recommend both a non-fiction and a fiction book. 

If you have thought that our list of books could be improved upon, this is the time to join us and make your recommendations! And you may join us by Zoom if you are not able to attend in person HERE!

301 Faith Partners Prayer Group

On the last Monday of each month at 10:30 am, the 301 Faith Partners Prayer Group meets to pray for the 301 Faith Partners! The group opens by calling on the Holy Spirit to be present. They then take one of the Core Values of the 301 Faith Partners and reflect on it. Following this, they engage in Lectio Divina and then share their reflections. They pray for the clergy of Mary of Magdala, St. Paul’s, and Trinity, and the leadership bodies of all three congregations. And they close with a Litany of God’s Mission for the

301 Faith Partners, which was first prayed at the Bishops’ Blessing on May 31, 2023. 

Contact Pat with any questions.

301 Quilters Update

The 301 Quilters have been busy and productive these past 4 months. We’ve finished 4 quilts that have been sent to the Chicago area to be given in an immigrant/refugee community. In addition, we’ve been asked to donate quilts for the new home-owners of the Habitat for Humanity building. We will have 2 quilts (one for the single mother and another for her son) ready for that home dedication. A large box of Christmas fabric was donated which we turned into lap quilts, wall hangings, pot holders, coasters, appliqued totes and star ornaments.

These were sold at the Alternative Giving Fair to benefit Habitat for Humanity. We anticipate the quilts we make here in the new year to be sent to Lutheran World Relief. We are so grateful for the donations of fabric. We continue to collect donations in the red tote in the Fellowship Hall. It is never too late to join the group. If you are interested, please come any Friday starting again on Jan. 12 at 10:00-12:00 in Room 2. All are welcome!

301 FP Joint Ecological Team (JET) ECO Tip of the Month

WATERSHEDS Every body of water has a watershed - the land area where rainfall and snow are collected, filtered, and then drained into creeks, streams and rivers. The streams and rivers flow into larger bodies of water which are lakes, bays, and oceans. The Front Range and cities of Fort Collins, Greeley, Timnath, and Windsor are supported by the Cache la Poudre River Watershed. This watershed drains approximately 1,900 square miles above the canyon mouth west of Fort Collins.

A healthy watershed is important to our ecosystem as it helps protect water quality, safe drinking water, and soil to grow food. It provides habitats for wildlife. A watershed helps in climate change adaptations by cooling the air and absorbing greenhouse gas emissions. Watersheds also provide natural recreational areas for everyone to enjoy through fishing, boating, and swimming.

Because watersheds are important it is important to protect them. Here are a few ideas:

1. Do your part to conserve water by taking shorter showers

2. Participate in community clean-ups.

3. Support environmental legislation

4. Collect rainwater for watering your garden

5. Learn about our local streams…Spring Creek

6. Consider joining or supporting the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, www.poudrewatershed.org

7. Plant a tree or shrubs to hold soil in place

8. Use plants in your yard

9. Wash your car on the grass to catch the runoff

10. Properly dispose of toxic chemicals and prescriptions, never into drains or toilets but take to a hazardous waste center https://www.larimer.gov/solidwaste/haz/household

The Joint Ecological Team meets as needed to plan: educational events, bike to work day, volunteer opportunities and advocacy. Our next meeting is Tuesday, January 30 at 5:30 pm. Be sure to check out the JET bulletin board in the NW corner of the Fellowship Hall. Please email any suggestions for future Eco-Tips to the Trinity church office.

Prayer Requests

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

+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Cache and Courtney, family of Jean

+David Devlin, member

+Joanne Kresl, friend of Suzanne King, 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

+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.

+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

+ 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.

Wednesday Jan 3 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass is canceled. Resuming January 10, 2024

Sunday Jan 7 at 12:30 pm

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

Wednesday Jan 10 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Jan 14 at 12:30 pm

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

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here

• To read the ECC November bulletin, click here.
• 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.