Reflections from your Pastors

Tuesday, February 15, 2024

How do you prepare for Lent?

Here we are on the second day of Lent and have we asked ourselves this question? How do you prepare yourself for this season? What needs to

happen within, so that you can practice with more integrity and intention whatever you’re doing on the outside? It’s good to have a plan for doing. It’s also good to have a plan for being.

How do I want to be during Lent this year? More quiet and thoughtful? More open to God’s desires? Better able to sit with people who need me? More attentive to sacred readings, whether in church or in private? Do I need to be more compassionate toward my own fears and failings? Do I need to become more courageous about using the gifts God has given me?

Here are three short and simple prayer starters to ready yourself for the holy season.

Ask God, every day, “What does my soul need?” Just ask and wait

quietly. Because we’re very good at fooling ourselves about how we’re

doing, it might take several days of praying this question before we’re truly

open and humble enough to know the answer.

Ask God, every day, “What about my life makes you happy?” Yes, when God looks at your life, some parts of it—perhaps many aspects of it—bring joy to God’s heart. Think of how your children or grandchildren or other people close to you make you happy. God is in relationship with you, which means that your growth and love and freedom and kindness bring joy to the God of the universe. Again, you will probably need to pray this a few times before you are willing to consider that you give God pleasure, that you make God happy in any way. Stick with this prayer and keep listening.

Tell God, and yourself, every day, “I want to be open to the graces of this Lenten season.” Maybe you’re not open right now, or you’re not as open and willing as you’d like to be or think you should be. We can always open our lives a bit more, let go of more stuff, listen better, and do more quickly and passionately what we know helps nurture God’s kin-dom on earth.

I wish you all a deeply meaningful Lenten season. Mother Rosean

(adapted from “How to Prepare for Lent” by Vinita Hampton Wright)

301 Shared Service - February 18

10:30 Service Followed by Brunch

-->No 12:30 Mass<--

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!

NO 12:30 pm service on February 18th

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

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).

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

 'Our Lenten Journey', click HERE

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Celebrated with F. Michael Nicosia as presider on February 11th. The video of the readings and homily is available here.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website 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.

+Gary Steinmüller, father of Kathy Krohn, friend of Mary Magdala.

+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

+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

+Fr Don Willet, from John XXIII

+Linn Zink, friend of MoM, Social Justice advocate

+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 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.

Wednesday Feb 21

• 11:00 AM Mass
• Held in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available.

For a complete list of services during Lent (Taize, Soup Suppler and Holy Week) click here

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.