Reflections from your Pastors

January 16, 2024

National recognition of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Of the many perspectives that can be taken from Sunday's second reading and Gospel is that obeing called to freedom from fear which was experienced by Martin Luther King, Jr. Yesterday  we, as a nation, honored the day of his birth. He may be the greatest American who ever fougfor equality and freedom within our society.  

Martin Luther King, Jr. lived at a time of great social upheaval over intense racial inequality  between oppressed Black Americans and privileged white Americans. Today, we can say that hlived when the change he was fighting for was so slow (even ongoing today) that he may have  found himself in the space between, that unknown space of not knowing, a space that causes  anxiety and fearfulness as he was trying to push the cause for equality into reality. 

Sunday's readings speak to a call from God: a call to Hannah, a call to Samuel, a call to Martin, call to Andrew, Cephas, Phillip, and Nathanael. The Hebrews are called in different ways,  through different people, and yet the call is effective and they follow. They have know idea whlife will be like following Jesus, but they do know what life is like under the merciless rule of  Roman law. They needed hope. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. knew the oppressive and merciless rule of our white American culture,  and yet by the time he gives the speech "I've been to the Mountaintop" he is unafraid. He says"When I got to Memphis, some began to talk about the threats that were out. What would  happen to me? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter to me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about thnow. I just want to do God's will and He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've lookeover. And I've seen the promised land. And I'm happy tonight. I am not worried about anythinI'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." The eye of  his heart was open. 

Let us practice opening the eye of our hearts. God is at all times calling us. We only have to takone small step at a time. God will do the rest if we agree. Let us be Hannah, Martin, Andrew,  Cephas, Phillip and Nathanael.  

Here's one offering in that direction: The Truth and Reconciliation Committee is inviting each  ECC community to form their own Reading Group of the book The 1619 Project developed by  Nikole Hannah-Jones in March. The committee will supply supplemental material and questions.

Here's one offering in that direction: The Truth and Reconciliation Committee is inviting each  ECC community to form their own Reading Group of the book The 1619 Project developed by  Nikole Hannah-Jones in March. The committee will supply supplemental material and questionfor consideration. This will be followed by an invitation to the entire ECC for a discussion in thesummer and during the 2024 Synod. 

Here are some recommended films: "Rustin" on Netflix by Bayard Rustin, which is the backstorof the March on Washington; "History of HUBCs "(Historically Black Colleges) on PBS's  Independent Lens which includes much Black American history; and "Brother Outsider " at  https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/brotheroutsider/ 

A positive religious faith does not offer an illusion that we shall be exempt from pain  and suffering, nor does it imbue us with the idea that life is a drama of unalloyed  comfort and untroubled ease. Rather it instills us with the inner equilibrium to face  strains, burdens, and fears that inevitably come, and assures us that the universe is  trustworthy and God is concerned. ML King, Jr. in Joy Unspeakable, 2nd Edition by  Barbara A. Holmes. 

Blessings, 

Rev. Jane

Sunday Luncheon on the 28th

It is time for another gathering for this wonderful community! There will be a Sunday Luncheon on January 28th after Mass. The Hospitality Committee will provide sandwich fixings & beverages, & asks our members to bring a side to share (a salad, fresh fruit, a simple dessert, etc.).

Please join us, we’d love to see you there!

Image by Galia.

Weekly Monday Morning Peace Prayer 

Join us in a prayer for peace in the world and within ourselves. 20 minutes every Monday morning via Zoom.



Monday mornings at 9am 

on this Zoom link

Meeting ID: 844 1669 8343

Passcode: 557026

May Mary, Mother of the World, who abhors all violence, pray for us. Rev. Jane

Family Housing Network News

As many of you know, our community helps this organization (FHN) provide housing, food & support for homeless families, working with the communities of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church & Christ United Methodist Church (30+ other church communities help throughout the year) FHN has continued to grow and evolve and make a very positive impact for families in northern Colorado. 

Our next weeks to volunteer will be in February & we will need lots of help for the following nights:

• Monday 2/12, Wednesday 2/14,
• Monday 2/19 and Tuesday 2/20. 

This will involve one of these: 1. cooking and serving, 2. evening host, and 3. overnight host. 

Don't worry if you haven't helped for awhile, as there will be opportunities for a one-hour training to bring you up to speed and help you feel more comfortable. 

Please pencil in the dates and prayerfully consider helping out. The signup is at the link below:

Thank you for considering to volunteer! Lynne & Jean

All are welcome to join us on Zoom



• Zoom Link here
• Meeting ID: 896 4199 2874
• Passcode: unity

The Order of Service will be available at https://www.coloradoecc.org by January 15th. Participants are asked to prepare their sacred space with a shallow bowl of oil or soothing lotion.

The service is an adaptation of that jointly prepared and published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.

Image: JESUS MAFA. The Good Samaritan, from Art in the Christian Tradition.

Save the Date for "Jesus, Justice, and Poetry"

Join Fr. Teri Harroun, ECC priest and poet laureate of Light of Christ in Longmont, for a workshop called Jesus, Justice, and Poetry. 

This workshop will expose you to poetry, some that Fr. Teri has written, and other poetry as well.  There will also be opportunities to pray with poetry, write poetry, and see poetry in Scripture.  

Bring a listening ear, an open mind, and a prayerful heart, along with some paper and pencils for this two hour long workshop.

• Wednesday, February 7th .
• 6:30pm 
• via Zoom only, Link will follow.

Easter Pilgrimage to Greece/Ephesus - April 2-13, 2024

Dear 301 Faith Partner Communities,

Would you like to go to Greece and Turkiye Easter Season on a journey in the Footsteps of Paul?  

The dates for this experience will be April 2-13,2024. The cost is $4,390 per person.

We currently have 11 folks registered with room for a few more. I know it is short notice, but please consider coming with us. 



This is our finalized itinerary - including a 4-day cruise around the Aegean Sea - https://www.eliastours.com/tours/trinity-lutheran-church-footsteps-of-paul-tour-with-rev-rick-reiten.

Please click the link and follow the direction to register. There currently is not a deadline listed, but it will close soon.

Please email Pastor Rick pastorrick@trinitylutheranfc.org if you have any questions.

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Celebrated with Mother Rosean Amaral as guest presider on January 14th. The video of the readings and homily is available here.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.

Social Justice Reflection

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King day.  As in other years, I have chosen to reflect on someone, who, though perhaps not well known, was crucial to the Civil Rights Movement and to Dr King’s work.  No one fits the bill better than Ella Josephine Baker.

She was born in 1903 and developed and gained a sense of social injustice as a child, listening to her grandmother’s horrific stories of experiences as a slave. After graduating as valedictorian of Shaw University in Raleigh, she immersed herself in the cultural and political milieu of 1930’s Harlem.  She became associated with the NAACP and rose to become the Director of Branches in 1943.  During this period, she became a proponent of decentralized leadership, believing the success of any movement depended fundamentally on the commitment and hard work of the rank and file and their ability to engage in discussion, debate and decision-making.  She famously said “Strong people do not need strong leaders.”

In 1957, she left the NAACP and joined the fledgling Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). After demonstrating a unique blend of grassroots organizing abilities for campaigns focused on voter registration and other local grievances, she became the first staff member as Associate Director.  But by 1960, she became frustrated with the top-down, male-dominated power structure of the SCLC and MLK’s “distance from the people”, she left and began to organize what became the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) led by Black college students.  She mentored SNCC to being a “participatory democracy”, wherein decisions were made by consensus.  Baker felt that anyone putting their life on the line against aggressive mob responses to sit-ins at whites-only lunch counters or freedom rides had a right to be heard, to question the actions of the organization, and participate in a consensus resolution of any and all issues while the event was being planned.  As a result, SNCC organizing meetings sometimes lasted not just hours, but days.  However,  the members became invested in and committed to the group’s operations and SNCC became the most active organization in the Mississippi Delta and bred generations of life-long activists. 

Ella Baker remained an activist until her death in 1986, living and instilling her mantra: “Give light and people will find the way”.

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

+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.

+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

+ 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 17 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Jan 21 at 12:30 pm

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

Wednesday Jan 24 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Jan 21 at 12:30 pm

• R. Jane Reina is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Did you miss an article or announcement?



Past e-bulletins posted here

• To read the Christmas newsletter from our Presiding Bishop Paul (Pablo) Burson, click here (Spanish) and here (English).
• 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.