Reflection from our Co-Pastors - Tuesday Oct 20

Reflections from our Co-Pastors

October 20, 2020

Ephesians 2:12-22

"You were strangers to the covenants of promise...but Christ has broken down the dividing walls...and through Him we have access in one Spirit to God...and are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God."

What a message we have from our scripture reading today! St. Paul must have heard what is happening at 301 East Stuart this Sunday.

Covenants between God and human beings form a unifying thread in scripture. The Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9: 8-10) is an unconditional covenant between God and all living creatures. It is unconditional because it does not depend upon anything Noah or his descendants had to do to fulfill the covenant. The promise is based upon God's faithfulness alone. It is the promise God made to Noah and his descendants after the flood that God would never again send a worldwide flood to destroy the Earth. This covenant was sealed with a sign--the rainbow.

The Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3), is also an unconditional covenant. God tells Abraham that God will make him a great nation and that Abraham will be a blessing to all the Earth. This covenant gave to the Israelites the promised land, and blessed Abraham with many descendants, as many as the stars in the sky. The sign of the Abrahamic covenant was circumcision. All males in Abraham's line were to be circumcised and would carry with them a lifelong mark in their flesh that they were part of God's physical blessing in the world.

The Mosaic covenant is a conditional covenant made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. In this covenant God reminded the people of their obligation to be obedient to God's law. The people agreed to the covenant by saying "All that the Lord has spoken we will do!" (Exodus 19:8). The covenant set Israel apart from all other nations as God's chosen people. The Mosaic covenant was centered around God's giving God's divine law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is conditional in that the blessings that God promises are directly related to Israel's obedience to the Mosaic law.

The Davidic covenant refers to God's promises to king David through Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel ). This is an unconditional covenant between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kin-dom that would endure forever. This covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment.

The New Covenant was originally given to Israel and includes a promise of fruitfulness, blessings, and a peaceful existence in the promised land. After the resurrection of Christ, Gentiles were brought into the blessing of the New Covenant. (Ephesians 2: 13-14 and Acts 10). Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant. It is through this covenant that we are given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift. Through the life-saving Holy Spirit who lives in all believers, we share in the inheritance of Christ and enjoy a permanent unbroken relationship with God.

These are the five main covenants of our Old and New Testaments. As you can see, their importance is essential to our understanding as the people of God in relationship with God.

This Sunday, October 25th,at 10:30 a.m., our three communities will enter into a covenant relationship. As all God's covenants with God's people, this covenant begins with love. Love of God, love of self and neighbor, and love of our partners in ministry, seeking unity through the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This covenant is a milestone in our communities' history. Christ has "broken down the dividing walls...that we might be built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God."

We hope you can join us for this glorious celebration where God's Holy Spirit will be present and rejoicing right along with all of us. Amen

Schedule of

Sunday Services

Oct 11 - Deacon Rosean; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM

Oct 18 - Father Michael; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM

Oct 25 - Faith Partners (3-Church) Service at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom

Nov 1st - Father Teri at 11:00 a.m. via zoom with a virtual event following. (More information on Wednesday)

Nov 8 - Pastor Jane; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM

Nov 15 - Father Michael; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM

Nov 22 - Deacon Rosean; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM

Prayer Requests and Service Links

For Mike - son of Ann Russell, who had to evacuate due to the fires. For Lauren Roob entering into new cancer treatment- friend of Rosanna Bateman.

Healing prayers for Dianna Padilla, sister of Lisa Jones, who underwent surgery for cancer. For Liz and Ken Zornes and family, friends of Sandra and Dick Life, whose daughter is struggling with addiction.

For Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe. For Dona Bosse - community member and Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother. For Dani - Niece of the Cloyds and Mary Crosby –

parishioner and Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. For Dani - Niece of the Cloyds and Mary Crosby – parishioner. For Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. And Leo Six – father of Michael Six, Mike Gudim, Margie Weitz, Suzanne King, Robert Browell.

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For peaceful repose for the souls of those who've passed and comfort for the families.

For Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones.

Bob - Husband of Joyce Dehaven,

friend of Cathy Engel

David Heyman - member

Teri Kent - member

Pat DeMuth -sister of Jim DeMuth, member

Bill McClellan - Father of Jennifer Pfeister, member

Father of Julie Shoenbauer, member

Edwin White - brother in law of Pastor Jane

Bill, Greg, and Calvin -

friends of Deacon Rosean

And for Ted Boltz and comfort for Fr. Frank Quintana and family - an ECC Pastor of St. Oscar Romero, ECC in Albuquerque.

Our Service Recordings and More

View our Oct 18th Sunday servic e celebrating the 28th Sunday in ordinary time. You can also access a printable document of the entire service to assist with prayer. Here is Father Michael's homily.

For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection

with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com

Click here to visit the Mary of Magdala, ECC website