Reflections from your Pastors

February 27, 2024

Black History Month draws to a close

In these last days of Black History Month and considering our theme, Radical Resilience:

Transformation, here is a link to an interview with Cole Arthur Riley, author of “Black Liturgies.” 1

She says so much in a prayerful way about what we desire. She speaks her thoughts about the

Divine, about Resilience, and about confession and forgiveness. (If you get a commercial first, I apologize.)

Cole Arthur Riley is a young Black person whose authenticity and ability to create a legacy at a young age can remind us of Sunday’s homily reading by David Cloyd. Here are portions of the reading with the hope that we can see the connections among young Black people wanting to be martyrs. 

"When I Grow Up, I want to Be a Martyr’ is surely a peculiar answer [by a kindergartner]…but on second take, what word best describes me, crossbreed of butterfly and Super Fly aesthetics, other than peculiar! I suppose calling me a keen kid would also suffice in explaining my avidity for the kind of death that progresses the narrative of a gentling history, because that’s the only frame of greatness I seem to find for boys my shade and age to aspire to…the God-fearer impressed upon me begs the mythology of goodness delivered to the multitudes like loaves and fish…I want to evoke that level of pride [MLK, Jr., Malcolm X] in America’s democracy’s dark downtrodden because I know what it invokes in me…” 2

In the interest of knowing more about justice, you are invited to our ECC study group of The 1619 Project. Just email me if you are interested at this email.

Resilience can keep our heads above water as our compassion spreads out in creation,

Pastor Jane

1. Richard Rohr Daily Meditation, February 26, 2024 https://email.cac.org/t/d-e-elulyll-tlkrtlluhj-jy/

2. Full version of ‘When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Martyr” presented by Dr. David Cloyd at Sunday Mass at Mary Of Magdala Community, February 24, 2024, below.

For the full text of "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Martyr," please click here.

 Mary of Magdala Social Justice Committee

The Mary of Magdala Social Justice committee will meet on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024 at 6:30 pm on zoom:

Zoom Link Here

Meeting ID: 880 6124 0896

Passcode: 123456

All are invited to attend!

Family Housing Network THANKS!

We are so grateful to the many volunteers who helped during our two week rotation. How you have blessed these families with your kind & welcoming service!

Many thanks to: Ruth Alexander, Jean & Tom Christen, Cindy & David Cloyd, Dori Carroll, Lisa Jones, Jodi Merrill, Tom & Lisa Moos, Carol & Mike Persons, Len & Ginger Russ, Joan & Bill Smith, Bruce St. Peter, Mary Vogl, Carol Yeazell, Lynne & Jim Barnes. It truly takes a village…..

Linen Washers Needed!

Mary of Magdala could use a few more Linen Washers. This is a ministry you do mostly at home—picking up used linens, laundering, ironing, folding—returning to church sacristy. If you can help please reply to Gray Lafond graylafond@gmail.com Thank you for considering this ministry!

Simple Supper and Taizé Prayer

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 28; March 6, 13, 20

Taizé Prayer               6:00 pm

Soup Supper              6:30 pm

Left Hand of Lent: For the full announcement and the list of items to contribute, go HERE All donations will benefit the Larimer Food Bank

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

 'Our Lenten Journey', click HERE

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 2nd Sunday of Lent

A recording of homilies and readings from February 25th, with Pastor Jane Reina presiding and Dr. David Cloyd providing the homily, is available here.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.

Social Justice Reflection

I’d like to close our Black History Month reflections with Sheyann Webb who came to be known as Dr King’s “Smallest Freedom Fighter”. She was born in 1956 in Selma Alabama and was one of the first Black children to integrate into an all-white school where she suffered racism by her peers, being pushed down stairs, called derogatory names and was spat upon.



In January 1965, she and her friend, Rachel West, were drawn to Brown’s Chapel AME Church after observing black and white people gathering to attend civil rights meetings eventually led by Martin Luther King. She was so inspired by Dr King, that she disregarded her parents’ warnings, skipped school, and snuck out at night to attend meetings. Sheyann would ask movement leaders like Andrew Young or Jesse Jackson to walk her home after the meetings to avoid punishment by her parents. The meetings focused on voting rights - Blacks who attempted to register to vote were subjected to arbitrary literacy and civics questioning which typically resulted in denied applications. Those who successfully registered often lost their jobs. The SCLC planned a 54 mile nonviolent march from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery to protest unjust treatment.

At age 9, Sheyann participated in the thwarted Selma to Montgomery march on March 7, 1965, led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams which came to be known as Bloody Sunday. Though terrified because the march organizers had warned of the possibility of violence, she walked with Margaret Moore, a Black teacher. The marchers were met on the other side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge with tear gas and a wall of police who charged and beat the marchers with nightsticks. Sheyann ran home, physically unharmed. Televised images of the brutal attack roused federal support for the voting rights campaign, eventually pushing President Johnson to submit the Voting Rights Act to Congress. On March 21, a third Selma to Montgomery march ensued. Sheyann participated, again without parental consent. She and MLK’s secretaries were picked up and driven to Montgomery. She was suspended from her predominantly white school for participating in the march. Later in life, she and Rachel wrote “Selma, Lord, Selma” which Disney adapted into a TV movie. Today, we honor her courage and convictions.



Interview with Sheyann Webb available here.

Prayer Requests

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

+Natalie Rochester, for prosperity, love, and happiness.

+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 Christen

+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.

+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 others

+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

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 Feb 28 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday March 3 at 12:30 PM

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

Wednesday March 6 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday March 10 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 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.