Reflection from your Co-Pastors Tuesday June 15, 2021

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

In our first reading, Saint Paul is telling the Corinthians that their brothers and sisters in Macedonia though undergoing a "severe ordeal of affliction," were granted the Grace of God to enable them to share "their abundant joy and their extreme poverty" in a manner that "overflowed in a wealth of generosity."

The juxtaposition of these phrases immediately caught my attention-- "their abundant joy and their extreme poverty, overflowing in a wealth of generosity"

It is not often that the words abundant joy and extreme poverty are side-by-side. One may imagine that extreme poverty is a depressing and destitute condition in which joy is absent from the equation. A place where the overflowing of generosity could not possibly exist due to the lack that is already present.

Now I'm sure we all know or can find stories of people in extreme poverty who exhibit joy and generosity. However, finding solutions to global poverty benefits both the poor as well as those who help them.
Statistics show that 43% of the world cannot afford a healthy diet, 2 billion people lack access to safe water, and more than 1.5 billion are homeless.

Without these basic needs it is unrealistic to suggest that the extreme poor can exhibit joy and generosity. Basic necessities are human rights, not privileges. By respecting these rights and providing solutions to global poverty, the entire world is essentially happier and more prosperous.

Your help is always welcome and needed as we host homeless families through the Family Housing Network or volunteering at the Day Center. Please spend some time discerning if you are called to help the next time MoM hosts, beginning the week of November 14, 2021.

Thank you to all who serve our homeless in Fort Collins. For more information, or to sign up to help, 
call Jean Christen at 970-225-2131. You can be part of the solution.
Invitation and Reminders
Mark your Calendars - On June 20th, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of Pastor Jane Reina’s ordination, with a cake and ice cream social after the 5:00 pm Mass. 

Please mark your calendars and join us for this celebration!!!
Amazon's Prime Day is June 21 - and your purchase can benefit Mary of Magdala, ECC
Get ready for Prime Day! Sign up for AmazonSmile and select Mary of Magdala ECC as your preferred charity at by clicking here - smile.amazon.com/ch/45-5178098 . Use your same Amazon log-in information.

Remember to shop for deals using smile.amazon.com, or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon app. AmazonSmile will donate to Mary of Magdala, ECC at no cost to you!

Same products and same prices!
Service Recordings
Here is the recording celebrating the 1t1h Sunday of Ordinary time Sunday June 13. The presider and homilist was Father Michael Nicosia and his homily is available here. The service is also available in a printed document to assist with prayer.
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
301 Faith Partners
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