Reflection from our Co-Pastors - January 23, 2023

The Gospel of Mark 5: 21-43

In today's Gospel, the story about Jairus begging Jesus to heal his daughter who is near to death, is one which is familiar to us.

Jairus, one of the leaders of the synagogue, falls at Jesus’ feet and begs him to come and lay hands on his daughter “so that she may be made well, and live.” Jesus, though surrounded by a great crowd, follows Jairus immediately. But while they are on their way to Jairus’ home, some folks come to tell Jairus that his daughter has died. Overhearing their words, Jesus tells Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” When they arrive at Jairus’ house people are weeping and wailing loudly. Jesus tells them, “The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

They laugh at Jesus. Then he puts them all outside…We know the end of the story. Jesus takes the girl's hand and says, “Little girl get up!” and immediately the girl gets up and begins to walk about. He then instructs her parents to give her something to eat.

Often when we know one of the biblical stories so well, it is difficult to find something new to talk about. That is why scholars will tell us that we must read each piece of scripture with new eyes as though it is the first time we are reading it. Doing just that, what stood out for me today is that the people at Jairus’ home laughed at Jesus when he said that the girl was not dead but sleeping, and then he put them all outside.

We all know the voices that laugh at us, that disbelieve what we are capable of, that belittle our gifts, make fun of our dreams and accomplishments, and lend no support to our efforts to follow our calling in life. What does Jesus do to these voices? He puts them all outside. Literally, he places physical distance between himself and these destructive voices. Metaphorically, he is getting these voices out of his head-- banishing them if you will-- from any hold on his purpose to bring glory to God through the works he is able to do. In the end, the young girl gets up and begins to walk about.

As we approach the season of Lent, let us be reminded that we worship a God of unconditional love, a God of forgiveness and mercy, a God of compassion and healing. And as we seek to deepen our prayer life, let us listen to the One Voice that truly guides our way.

Amen

Image by Amanda Radebe from Pixabay

This Week at Mary of Magdala, ECC

Important Message from our Co-Chair, Michael Six

Michael Six, Co-Chair of our Leadership Council shares his perspective on stewardship and shares some important news about Mary of Magdala. Please watch this 3 minute video

First Friday Art Walk: February 3rd

Eli Crocker - one of our members - will have his artwork featured in 3 locations downtown and can be seen during the First Friday Art walk, this Friday 2/3.

His art will be at:

The Golden Poppy Apothecary
Walnut Creek -- The Stone Room and Merchant Room
The Gilded Goat Brewery

Eli will be upstairs from 6-9 pm at The Golden Poppy. This is hosted by The Petrichor Collective. Come say hi!

Concert, Food and Drink - Benefiting ISAAC

Your are invited to celebrate LOVE IN ACTION fundraiser with music, food and drinks, good company, and an opportunity to hear more about our collective impact in the community. Your $45 ticket includes a full-length concert, appetizers and a drink ticket.

Our musical guests, Larry & Joe, are a North Carolina-based duo comprised of GRAMMY nominated bluegrass and old time musician, Joe Troop, and Larry Bellorín, a Venezuelan asylum seeker and legend of Llanera music.

Saturday, February 11 at 4 pm
At the Lincoln Center
Purchase your tickets HERE today.

Love has no borders

Request for Prayers

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

+Peter Marshall, brother of member Margie Karuzas, member

+ Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll

+Everly, five years old and Kiersten, friends of Lynne Barnes, member

+ Mary Detweiller, member

+ Peter, friend of Sharon Troyer

+ Sarah Reveron and her daughter, Aliana - niece and grandniece of Rev. Jane Reina

+ Uriah - grandson of Mother Rosean

+ Joanne Gallagher - member

+ Edward for healing and Marge for hope, relatives of Ruth Conley, member

A special prayer request from Jeff Akkerman - In finding new empolyment. "Please contact me if anyone has connections or knows of a business looking to fill an entry level position for Python programming, Data Science, or even web development." 805-216-0702

+ Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother

+ Suzanne King - member-

+ Harry, 11 year canine companion to Gray La Fond.

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A blessed and peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the friends and families.

+ Lee Yeazell, brother of Bruce Yeazell, member

+ Miles, young friend of Ted (nephew of the Devlin's, members)

+ Sherry Shead, wife of Tim Shead, administrator at Light of Christ

+Steve Muzikar, cousin of Co Pastor Jane

+Wendell Schwarz, brother of Sr. Mary Colleen, OSB

+ John Hynes - father of Rev. Jane's children

+ Mother of Bishop Kae Madden

+ Dennis Snyder. brother-in-law of Ruth Alexander, member

+ John Crowfoot, friend of Jean Christen, 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.

Service Recordings and More

Sunday Mass January 29 2023

Celebrating the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A video recording of the readings and the homily given by Bishop Kae Madden is available here.

Sunday Social Justice Reflection

Tom Moos, Co-Chair Social Justice Ministry

Altruism is a selfless concern for the well-being of others. Effective altruism is a recent philosophical and social movement that seeks to allocate resources for the maximum benefit for the greatest number of people based on evidence and reasoning. Some key underlying concepts:

Impartiality: each person’s well-being counts equally. Morally, we should look beyond the interests of our own society. Helping an unknown Bengali is as important as helping the neighbor next door.
Cause Prioritization: resources should be distributed based on what will do the most good, regardless of the identity of the beneficiary.
Long-termism: the welfare of future individuals is just as important as the welfare of those existing today. Because the number of future humans could be vast, positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time.

Long-termists argue that we are living at a pivotal time. Humanity has weaponry capable of annihilating itself. Natural and engineered pandemics, extreme climate change, trends towards stable global totalitarianism, and technologies like artificial intelligence

and nanotechnology could pose existential risks.

Historically, what problems have resulted from the lack of a longterm perspective? For example, did the popes who wrote “The Doctrine of Discovery” in the late 1400s anticipate the evil and suffering that would be inflicted through colonization and the slave trade, actions that these documents justified morally?

Scientists continue to warn that we are fast approaching a catastrophic climate change tipping point. Linda Joyce, a member of Mary of Magdala, has agreed to co-chair our 301 Faith Partners Eco-Justice team with Jim Frye. Towards the goal of learning this community’s priorities for the ecology and environment, she asks all of us, via an online survey in the bulletins later this week or after Mass next Sunday, to suggest and rank the importance of various environmental issues.

The Blessing Ceremony of our new ECC Presiding Bishop celebrated at the Church of the Beloved on January 21

Share in this wonderful and grace-filled time with our ECC region. Click here to view this 3-minute video. Click here and here for more pictures

Thank you to Tom Moos and David Cloyd for your time and talent to create and share this video and pictures

Mass and Service Schedule

Wednesday February 1 - 11:00 am

In the Fireside Room
No Zoom available

Sunday February 5 12:30 pm

Mass at 12:30 pm (no 5pm Mass)
Father Teri Harroun presiding

Wednesday February 8 - 11:00 am

In the Fireside Room
No Zoom available

Sunday February 12 12:30 pm

Mass at 12:30 pm (no 5pm Mass)
Mother Rosean Amaral presiding

Wednesday February 8 - 11:00 am

In the Fireside Room
No Zoom available

Sunday February 19 12:30 pm

Mass at 12:30 pm (no 5pm Mass)
Father Michael Nicosia presiding

Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’

Weaving a tapestry of love, hope and justice for the world.

The 301 Faith Partners--Mary of Magdala, Trinity Lutheran, St Paul's Episcopal --have a Vision, Mission and Values statement that guides our relationships, interactions, and shared projects and ministries.

Read about our Mission, Core Values and Covenant 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.

Mary of Magdala Member Directory

Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click here.

There are mobile apps available.

Apple App Store: Get the iPhone / iPad app here

Google Play Store: Get the Android app here