Reflection from our Pastors

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

To our priestly community:

“I Do Not Know The Potter.

I do not know the hands.

I do not know the glaze.

I do not know the kiln’s heat.

Yet each morning,

I choose the blue cup

swirled at the handle

I bought at a morning market

beneath an overpass

in Jacksonville, Florida.

This before the preachers

let the houses empty out.

Before the sun reigned high in the sky.

This morning I slather

butter onto raisin toast

watch it disappear.

Hold my cup with two hands

like an offering the way I’ve

seen the clergy do.

Take this. And I do

eat my bread and drink my cup.”(1)

“The action of the Last Supper points beyond itself, as did every action in Jesus’ life. In the Eucharist we receive, become, partake of God’s outpouring kenotic [God’s emptying God’s self of God’s own God-ness] divinity, which is our being and our life even though we are still distinct from God, created by God.” (2)

It is Christ who gathers the people of God and indwells them in priestly being, into Body and Blood; it is Christ who meets them in Bread and Wine

to be fused, renewed, broken, and sent out. It is Christ whose indwelling bestows and enables our priesthood that is mirroring of divine love that goes to the heart of pain to find and generate new life, hope, and love in each of our human solitudes and therefore in the common life. Individual Kenosis enables Eucharistic community.”(2)

“In this we are a Eucharistic people, the body of Christ incarnate, the blood of Christ poured out for the life of the world.” (3) 

And, now, we start here with the person next to us. This is a good place to practice Being the Christ we know today in 2023. Bring what you are this moment as human into more human, becoming more whole. Find the Christ within you and the Christ in others will shine in your eyes. (4)



1. McGarry, Sandy. 1^st Place winner in the Florida State Poets contest and published by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. (NFSPS). Sandy McGarry is a member of the Columbine Poets of Colorado.

2.     Ross, Maggie. Pillars of Flame. 2007, Church Publishing, NY.

3.     Mass, Mary of Magdala. In every weekly Mass.

4.     Reina, Jane. Homily, August 27, 2023.

This Week at Mary of Magdala

Make your Reservation this Week For September/October

Try this opportunity to get to know other members of Mary of Magdala in smaller groups.



To participate, select the RESERVE TABLE button below or call 970 224-0297. Reservations are due September 5th.

If you are not aware of Table for 4: It is an opportunity for MoM members to meet in smaller groups to get to know one another a little better. Participants are put into a group of 4 and they decide whether to go out to breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks, etc.

Each Table will meet one time during the two month period. Table for 4 is open to singles and couples. You do not need to join every time reservations are open... only when it fits into your schedule.

Table for 4 will be offered FOUR times a year: January/February, March/April, May/June, September/October.

Save the Date to Celebrate-Learn-Create

Trinity Readers

The Trinity Readers will meet on the second Monday to discuss: This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us.

When: September 11 at 9:30 am

Where: Room 2 and on Zoom here-

The author is writer and poet Cole Arthur Riley, the creator of Black Liturgies.  In this debut book the author weaves stories from her family with contemplative reflections.   

Questions?  Call Nadine Hunt at 970-825-3730.

Spanish Classes - Two Levels Offered

Spanish Classes will begin again for eight weeks

Two classes, beginning and intermediate/advanced levels, will be taught by Dr. Margaret Wicks and Lulu, our native speaker. 

• Starting Saturday September 7 through October 26.
• Beginners session at 3 pm: for those who want to learn conversational Spanish
• Intermediate/advanced speakers at 4pm: For those with basics or more knowledge.

We will meet in Room 2 and zoom will be available. 

All are welcome! Our group is easy-going and relaxed. Fun and learning are what we are all about! Bienvenidos a todos!

301 Quilters

We’ve set the date for our first meeting. It will be Friday, Sept. 8 at 10am until noon in Room 2.

We will continue to meet each Friday. All are welcome to come-male and female, any age, no experience is required. Come if you can only attend every other week or once a month. Bring a helping heart and your favorite coffee mug or water bottle

Request for Prayers

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 the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrate with Rev. Jane Reina presiding on August 27. You can view the video of readings reading and homily  here

Mass Schedule

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Aug 30 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Sept. 3 at 12:30 pm

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

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Sep 6 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Sept. 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



• ECC House of Laity, NEWSLETTER, August 2023, read 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.

• The Summer newsletter from the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Ecumenical Communion can be read here

Mary of Magdala Parish Community

All are invited and ALL are welcome to join our parish community.

• Here is the webpage with more information on membership
• If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala, here are ways to schedule a single or recurring Sunday offertory.
• Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click here.



The ECC Regional Website is now live - 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.