Reflections from your Pastors

March 7, 2024

Lent- Week Three

As this third week of Lent comes to a close, have you found some time to slow down, sit in silence, step out of the “rat race” and embrace the pause-- the rest that can liberate your body and soul?

It is incredibly challenging to know where to begin to dismantle our busyness, especially when we live in a culture where busy is seen as the mark of a full and desirable life. “We tend to assign a lesser social value to those whose ‘doing’ cannot be enslaved in a given output.” *

What might it be like to allow just a five-minute window to sit in silence between appointments or meetings? Or after checking your e-mail, taking five long slow deep breaths before pushing on to the next thing? Or sitting with this prayer by Christine Valters Paintner and reading it once, or twice!

Holy One, you call us to the lavish gift of rest. Support us as we lay aside our tasks, our plans, our worries, and turn to You with open hearts.

Whisper to us in the silence of Your love for us, simply for who we are.

Bless us with the deep renewal that rest brings and transform our daily patterns so we might weave Sabbath into every day.

Slow us down when our minds race, when our calendars overflow with demands, when our hearts flutter with overwhelm.

Hold us in that holy pause . . .Reveal to us again the beauty of this world: Of steam rising from coffee, of the dog’s pleading eyes, of the rose blooming. Help us to see how everything in creation takes its time, no rushing, no pushing.

In that open space, gather all of our scattered parts together into the wholeness of who we were created to be. **

Blessings to all for a Sacred Lenten Season,

Mother Rosean

(*Quote from This Here Flesh, Cole Arthur Riley, **Prayer from A Different

Kind of Fast: Feeding our True Hungers in Lent, Christine Valters Paintner)

Daylight Savings Time begins early Sunday morning. Turn your clocks forward 1 hour Saturday night. 

March 14th 301 Pub Fellowship

Equinox Brewing will; be our next gathering location on Thursday, March 14 at 3:30.

This will be our first time at Equinox. It is located at 133 Remington Street, right off East Mountain Ave. and directly across the street from the city parking garage. Perfect place to park your car or bike. Equinox has a great lineup of brews and offers snacks as well!

We enjoy our monthly gatherings with great friends, discussion topics, and plenty of laughs! We usually number around 15 of us from all 3 of our churches! Bring your spouse and friends! We are all inclusive. No RSVP is necessary. Show up late or leave when you must. Many of us are still there until 5:30!

Survey for Spring 2025 Pilgrimage

The ECC Truth and Reconciliation Commission is planning a Communion-wide Pilgrimage in the Spring of 2025 to visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL. To help us plan the logistics of that pilgrimage please fill out this short survey by March 25. Our hope is to have at least a couple of representatives attend from each region or diocese of the ECC.

Simple Supper and Taizé Prayer - Beginning next Wednesday!

All three churches are participating in the Lenten Soup Supper beginning on 2/21. If you can assist in bringing Soup or with clean-up, please sign-up below.

Wednesdays - March 13, 20

Taizé                             6 pm

Soup Supper              6:30 pm

Left Hand of Lent: For the full announcement and the list of items to contribute, go HERE All donations will benefit the Larimer Food Bank

ISAAC Reads- Save the date!

Save the date!  The date of the book group will be March 19th on Zoom. The book is Our Migrant Souls by Hector Tobar.  

More details to come. Contact Lisa Jones at lpjones99@yahoo.com for more information.

Contact Rev. Jane Reina for more information

at this email address

ECC Holy Synod - October 2024 needs Volunteers!

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 3rd Sunday of Lent

A recording of homilies and readings from March 3rd, with F. Teri Harroun presiding, is available  here.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.

Prayer Requests

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

+Natalie Rochester, for prosperity, love, and happiness.

+James Fuller, friend of Mary of Magdala and seeker, returning to Houston

+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Cache and Courtney, family of Jean Christen

+David Devlin, member

+Kolten Weitzel, grandson of Kerrie Anderson, member

+Sabrina and her two children, currently homeless

+Grandneice of Father Michael Nicosia

+Linda Browell, member

+Sandra Carter, friend of Mary Vogel

+Kris Jenkins, wife of Father Scott Jenkins

+Jen Banks, friend of Mary of Magdala

+Francisco Cruz Antonio, friend of Rev. Jane

+Grace Robinson, member

+Jerry Padilla, father of member Lisa Jones

+Janessa and Hayden, sister and niece of Jen Banks



+Rachel, daughter of Mary Lou Devlin, member.

~~~~~~~~~~~

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

+Allen Wilberton, brother of Tom Wilberton

+Sharon L. Six, mother of Michael Six, member

+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll

+Joanne Gallagher, member

+Daniel, cousin of Pedro Engel

+Juanita Newbre, aunt of MaryLou Devlin, member

+Jeanette Marian Banks (Brown) mother of Jen Banks

+Flavian Reising Jr., Father of Steve Reising, member

+Marge Gruber, friend of Michael Six, member

+Betty Jones, mother-in-law of Lisa Jones, member

+Jean Preslan, friend of Mother Rosean and others

+Josy Moos, Godmother of Tom Moos

+Fr. Fred Ball, OFR, ECC priest

+Bob Colhour, father of member Mark Colhour.

+Candy Palmer, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member

+Johnny Berlyn Thomas, friend and benefactor out of his own poverty, of Pastor Jane



+Fr Don Willet, from John XXIII

+Linn Zink, friend of MoM, Social Justice advocate

+Bishop McGrath - RC diocese of San Jose, Friend of Suzanne King

+James Ryan cousin of Mary Lyons, 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.

Sunday March 10 at 12:30 PM

• Mother Rosean Amaral is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Wednesday March 13 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday March 17 at 12:30 PM

• F. Michael Nicosia is presiding. In-person and with Zoom.

Wednesday March 20 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Did you miss an article or announcement?



Past e-bulletins posted here

• To read the January News from the Office of the Presiding Bishop Paul (Pablo) Burson, click here (English) and here (Spanish).
• To read the ECC Council of Bishops' statement on the War in Gaza and Israel, click here.
• Ongoing Giving Opportunities in Fellowship hall; see list 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.

Mary of Magdala Parish Community

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

-->If you are in need of a picture for the directory, contact David Cloyd via this email. Put 'Need Picture for the Directory' in the subject line and include your name and telephone number in your email <--

If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala, here are ways to schedule a single or recurring Sunday offertory.

All are invited and ALL are welcome to join our parish community. Here is the webpage with more information on membership



The ECC Regional Website - 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.