Reflections from your Pastor 

December 7, 2023



As we wait in hope during this Advent season, let us receive this blessing…

Who wait for the night to end

bless them.

Who wait for the night to begin

bless them.

Who wait in the hospital room who wait in the cell who wait in prayer

bless them.

Who wait for news who wait for the phone call who wait for a word

who wait for a job a house a child

bless them.

Who wait for one who will come home

who wait for one who will not come home

bless them.

Who wait with fear who wait with joy who wait with peace who wait with rage

who wait for the end who wait for the beginning who wait alone who wait together

bless them.

Who wait without knowing what they wait for or why

bless them.

Who wait when they should not wait who wait when they should be in motion who wait when they need to rise who wait when they need to set out

bless them.

Who wait for the end of waiting who wait for the fullness of time who wait emptied and open and ready who wait for you,

O bless.

Jan Richardson

(copyright Jan Richardson @ www.janrichardson.com)

Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons)

Image by Shlomaster from Pixabay

A Passing of a Dear Friend

Our dear Mary of Magdala sister, Joanne Gallagher, passed into God's loving arms Monday night. While this is a great loss for all of us who have known her, it was indeed a blessing for her to be released from the pain and suffering she experienced. This last year was especially difficult for her. 

You are invited to a funeral Mass honoring her life on Saturday, December 16 at 10:30 AM in our Sanctuary at 301 E. Stuart St., Fort Collins. There will be a reception immediately following in the Fellowship Hall.

We are so grateful to know such a loving person. 

If you are interested in helping the Mary of Magdala Hospitality Ministry with the reception please contact Joan Chapman-Smith at jcs1320@gmail.com, 970-224-0297

FHN Thank You to our Volunteers

A hearty & loving thank you to all who volunteered this week as greeter, cooks, evening hosts & overnight hosts to serve the families of the Family Housing Network: Jean &Tom Christen, Lisa Jones, Sandra & Dick Life, Tom Moos, Carol & Mike Persons, Joan & Bill Smith, Mary Vogl, Carol Yeazell, Jim & Lynne Barnes. 

Our families were most grateful for your welcome, your kindness & your friendship.!

Upcoming For Mary of Magdala Community

Mary of Magdala celebrates Christmas 2023!

Each year, we like to salute our Mary of Magdala family’s Christmas celebrations at home. To do this, we need photos of household members as well as scenes of your crèche, Christmas tree, or any decorations that capture the season for you.

As an example, here is the video for Christmas 2022.

We especially invite new members of our Mary of Magdala community to participate by e-mailing high resolution images (phone pictures and “selfies” are OK if they are sent in original size) to Tom Moos (tjmoos@aol.com) by Dec 17, 2023. If you were in the 2022 slide show and are OK with reusing your slide as it was, you don’t need to do anything; otherwise, please send updated images and suggested changes/corrections to Tom.

Blue Christmas Worship Service

Maybe it's seasonal sadness, maybe it's the suffering going on in the world, maybe it's the loss of a loved one or the failures of love within a relationship or a family, but for whatever reason, many people find Christmas difficult. Not being able to be happy-clappy during this time can be further isolating. 

It is for this reason that St. Paul's is offering a Blue Christmas worship service for people for whom the holidays are hard. Enjoy prayers and Taize chant in an intimate setting.

Join us at 7 pm on Thursday, December 14, Room 2 (East Wing)

for a celebration that will speak to all our hearts.

December 301 pub fellowship

Otto Pint Restaurant will be our next gathering

1100 Oakridge Dr.-

December 14th.

3:30 pm

We were there last year in November with our first huge gathering! Otto Pint is a couple of blocks south of Harmony Rd off Lemay Ave. They have a great selection of brews and wonderful pizzas!

Let's celebrate the holiday season together as 3 churches- our Trinity! This month we welcome the 301 Joint Social Justice Committee! As always- we start at 3:30 pm - arrive when you can, leave when you must. We are ALL INCLUSIVE! Bring your significant other and friends! No RSVP.

The Season of Advent and Christmas – 2023

Our theme: ‘God's Gift of Hope--and Ours’

Advent Sunday Masses -

12:30 pm

Second Sunday              Dec 10

Third Sunday                   Dec 17

Fourth Sunday                Dec 24

Christmas Services -

On Christmas Eve

3:00 pm and 5:00 pm  

Trinity’s worship services

7:00 pm  

St. Paul’s worship service

Christmas Day Mass

10:30 am - Mary of Magdala

No 12:30 Mass

Share and Inspire

Reflecting on the week’s readings in our Advent Booklet – Waiting in Joyful Hope. Join Mother Rosean and Reverend Jane via Zoom

Tuesdays – Dec 5, 12, 19 at 7:30 pm

   With Reverend Jane

   Zoom Link HERE

   Meeting ID: 848 5409 9634

   Passcode: Advent

Thursdays – Dec 7, 14, 21 at 10:00 am

   With Mother Rosean

   Zoom Link; HERE

   Meeting ID: 870 8960 1942

   Passcode: Advent

Simple Supper and Prayer

All three churches are participating in this ‘Taize’ like prayer and song.

Wednesdays - December 6, 13, 20

Soup suppers                               5:45 pm

Holden Evening Prayer              6:30 pm

Giving opportunities during the Season of Advent

Mary of Magdala Social Justice Project

The Social Justice committee will be collecting cash or individual grocery gift cards to King Soopers in $25 denominations for our pastors to respond to emergency and individual requests for help with gas or groceries. Just drop them in the offertory basket (or cash/check designating it for a grocery card and the Social Justice committee will purchase cards with contributed cash.)

301 Faith Partners

• Reverse Advent calendar: Food donations go to our Lil Pantry on Stuart street. Non-perishables, low or non-liquid canned or packaged food items are preferred. Click here for information and food suggestions. Donation box in Fellowship Hall

Mary Magdalene Society

• Mary Magdalene Society is part of our Ecumenical Catholic Communion and provides grants to develop new ECC clergy and increase our youth programs.  Since ­­­­2018, MMS has been able to fund many worthwhile grants and support our aspiring clergy. We appreciate any donations, large or small. 

Please send donations to:  Mary Madgalene Society, ECC, 10 W. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119.

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

+Cache and Courtney, family of Jean

+Joanne Gallagher, member

+David Devlin, member

+Joanne Kresl, friend of Suzanne King, member

+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll

+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.

+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

+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.

Celebrating with the 1st Sunday of Advent

Celebrate with F. Terri Harroun presiding on December 3rd. The video of the homily and readings is available here.

Mass Schedule

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Dec 6 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Dec 10 at 12:30 pm

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

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Dec 13 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Dec 17 at 12:30 pm

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

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here

• Click here to read October/November ECC National Newsletter
• 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.