Reflections from your Pastors

March 19, 2024- Feast of St. Joseph

Broken Open, Dying, to Bear Fruit

Last Sunday’s Gospel of dying seed comes just before Palm Sunday when we re-member the Passion of Yeshua*. The story of the grain of wheat needing to fall and die to produce more fruit reminds us that Jesus already knew and accepted the truth about the end of his life as Yeshua, the Beloved of many.

“Beloved,

In love you have throne the seed of yourself

Into the soil of us.

You have sown yourself in the wound of us,

the dark, rich hummus of our sorrow and lostness.

You have surrendered yourself to our pain

and the taunting of the demons that haunt us.

You’ve allowed the seed casing of your life to split open,

and your love to bleed out, reaching,

fingering tenderly through the dark soil,

infinite power of life creeping out.

You’ve already said, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”

You have already died,

And been raised by life that is eternal.

So now you are ready

to ride your little donkey toward us,

Resurrected One, ready to be crucified.” **

Are we able to stand at the cross and live?

Can we be vulnerable enough to be broken open too?

*The name would have been known by in his community.

**From Unfolding Light, March 14, 2024.

Zoom Links can be different for each service.

Use the one listed below for each service.

Stations of the Cross - See full description below

o  March 18 - 21 and 25-28 from

9:00 am to 3:00 pm and Good Friday 11:00 to 1:00pm

o  Reflection guide available

Palm Sunday: The Passion of Christ -

o  March 24 12:30 pm Mass

o  In Sanctuary and Zoom available - Click HERE to join

 Holy Thursday -March 28

o  7:00 pm - Mary Magdala, St Paul’s and Trinity will celebrate together.

o  Foot Washing (Towels provided)

o  In Sanctuary and Zoom available - Click HERE to join

Good Friday: Veneration of the Cross March 29

o  Seven last words of Christ at 7:00 pm

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STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The Stations of the Cross began as a remembrance that pilgrims had when they were retracing Jesus’ finals steps in Jerusalem up to the hill where He was crucified. Wanting to share that practice and experience with people who couldn’t make the trip to Jerusalem, they created local stations of meditation that became in itself a tradition.

The Stations of the Cross will be available to all in Trinity’s Sanctuary for the week of March 17 and during Holy Week. This “new look” is a symbolic interpretation of Christ’s journey to the cross, and a self-guided journey for each of us. Artist Scott Erickson says about his work:

“These stations are a cross-section of elements, ideas, and objects from Jesus’ journey to the cross. As you work through these stations, may you see that we are not troubled guests in this world… that we are not forsaken … and that the good news of this season was expressed best by Jesus when He said … “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Please spend some time with the images, as well as the questions posed by the creator of the Stations, as we enter into the last two weeks of the Lenten season. The Church is open from 9am-3pm, Monday-Thursday for viewing and reflection, and Good Friday from 11:00am – 1:00pm. Laurie Gudim and Deacon Katie Kline will be there on Good Friday to answer questions.

Artwork by Scott Erickson

ECC Pilgrimage- Spring 2025

The ECC Truth & 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 - Last one this 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.

Wednesday - March 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

Service Recordings

Celebrating the 5th Sunday of Lent

A recording of homilies and readings from March 17th, with F. Michael Nicosia presiding, is available here.

Other Mass recordings can be accessed via our website here.

Social Justice Reflection

To celebrate Women’s History Month, I’ll focus today on 3 women representing some historical “firsts”.

Everyone knows about Harriet Tubman, the American social activist and abolitionist.  You may not know that she was born, Araminta Ross, and later chose the name, Harriet Tubman, taking her mother’s first name and the last name of her husband, John Tubman, a freed Black man.

Although the marriage of free and enslaved persons was common in Maryland, the doctrine of Partus sequitur ventrem stipulated that children of enslaved mothers were also legally enslaved. So, guided by her faith and the North Star, Tubman escaped to freedom and later personally led 13 missions freeing about 70 relatives and friends via the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, she worked as a Union spy and later became the first woman to lead Union troops.  She planned and led a raid into South Carolina that freed over 750 formerly enslaved people.  Since 2016, the US mint has intended to replace Andrew Jackson with her image on the $20 bill, a plan stalled in American bureaucracy.  If it happens, Harriet Tubman would become the first woman and first African American to adorn modern US paper currency.

Jeannette Rankin was a politician and women’s rights activist. In 1911, she became the first woman to speak before the Montana legislature and argued for women’s voting rights. In 1914, Montana became the seventh State to grant women the vote.  Representing Montana in 1916, she became the first woman in Congress, elected to the House of Representatives.  She proudly introduced legislation that became the Constitution’s 19th Amendment, granting voting rights to women nationwide.

Nellie Tayloe Ross and her lawyer husband moved to Wyoming where he was later elected governor.  Nellie dedicated herself to the Temperance movement, advocating for Prohibition.  In 1925 when he died in office, Nellie was elected to replace him and became the first woman governor.  After her term, she remained heavily involved in the Democratic Party and FDR appointed her Director of the Federal Mint, the first woman to hold that position.

Today, we honor all women who have “broken through glass ceilings” and particularly those who have “fought the good fight” for equality and freedom.

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.

NO Weekday Mass on Wednesday March 20 at 11:00 am

Sunday March 24 at 12:30 PM- Palm Sunday

• R. Jane Reina is presiding. In-person and on Zoom.

Weekday Mass on Wednesday March 27 at 11:00 am

• Weekday Mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

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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.

Mary of Magdala Parish Community

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

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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.