Reflections from your Co-Pastors
May 24, 2021


Feast Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary,  Mother of the Church

"Standing near the cross of Jesus was his mother...Jesus said "Here is your mother." John 19: 25, 27

 Our Blessed Mother is present at the foot of the cross in today's Gospel. She is there for her Son as a loving mother and also as a disciple who follows Jesus unto the hour of his exaltation. 

The Gospel tells us that Mary was "standing" at the cross of Jesus. She did not flee as many of the other disciples did. Instead, she "stands," giving all her spiritual sons and daughters the example of a firm witness who follows in the footsteps of Christ. Jesus, in his last words, gives this loving Mother to all of us as our spiritual Mother.

Today we celebrate the feast day of Mary as Mother of the Church.
In all her actions she exemplifies the mission of the Church. She agreed to the will of God to give birth to Jesus and supported and displayed her faith in her Son throughout his ministry.
She was with Jesus at every stage of his life on earth and followed his teachings.

Though this feast day was established by Pope Francis in 2018 to be celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost, devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary under the title Mother of the Church is very ancient. The church specifically recalls Mary's reception of the Holy Spirit with the Apostle's at Pentecost, as well as her desire to protect all who come to her Son in his Holy Church.

So let us celebrate and honor our Blessed Mother, Mother of the Church. As she stood by her Son all the way to the cross, she stands as well by each of his followers. May she inspire us to stand with others in love and compassion.

Hail Mary, full of grace...
Amen
Community Prayer Requests and Recorded Services
Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times

+Sue Harari - friend of Cathy Engel
+Mary Detweiller - member
+Rob Frank - friend of Kerrie Anderson - member
+Jerry Padilla, father and Ryan Cordova nephew of Lisa Jones - member

+Aidan - grandson of Mother Kae.
+Lauren Roob - friend of Rosanna Bateman
+Liz and Ken Zornes and family, whose daughter is struggling with addiction - friends of Sandra and Dick Life

+Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe
+Dona Bosse - member
+Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother
+Dani - niece of the Cloyds - members

+Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll
+Joanne Gallagher - member, and for her sister, Dr. Barbara Immroth
+Jim and Lucille Bowen friends of Suzanne King, member
+Leo Sixfather of Michael Six
+Mike Gudim
+Suzanne King - member
________________________

For the peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the families.
 
Mary Crosby - member
Clint Wisdom - brother-in-law of Joan Chapman-Smith
Leon - father of Mother Cynthia
Kristin - daughter of ECC priest Scott Jenkins.

Joan Kneeland - sister-in-law of Bill Kneeland
Rita Ortiz, friend of Deacon Rosean
Margie Weitz - member
Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones

Bob, husband of Joyce Dehaven - friend of Cathy Engel
David Heyman -member
Photo by Grant Ritchie on Unsplash
Service Recordings
The recording of our first outside service and Pentecost Sunday did not record well. We were able to capture the homily of Co-Pastor Jane Reina. Here is a printed version of the liturgy to assist with prayer.
On Sunday we Honored Derrick Bell, an originator of Critical Race Theory
Derrick Albert Bell Jr. (1930 – 2011) was an American lawyer, professor, and civil rights activist. In 1971, he became the first tenured African-American professor of law at Harvard Law School, and he is often credited as one of the originators of Critical Race Theory.

Before beginning his academic career, Bell served as counsel for the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund. He then became one of a few Black lawyers working for the Justice Department’s civil rights division but resigned his position when the government asked him to relinquish his membership in the NAACP because his objectivity might be called into question.
Bell’s first law faculty position was at USC’s Law School and he later was hired to the faculty at Harvard. There he researched racism in America’s foundations and legal history and was instrumental in developing Critical Race Theory, which is loosely unified by two common themes: first, that white supremacy (societal racism) exists and maintains power through the law; and second, that transforming the relationship between law and racial power, and achieving racial emancipation and anti-subordination more broadly, are possible.

Today, Critical Race Theory is under legislative attack in various states to prohibit teaching about systemic racism, implicit bias, or CRT. Other states, such as Texas, are pushing bills that develop new state standards for civics education with corresponding teacher retraining programs that reject systemic racism while emphasizing an idealized American history.

How can we ever achieve equity and “justice for all” if governments continue to institutionalize the suppression of open and honest conversation about oppressive systems?

For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com

Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal  
What are our partners in ministry up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin