Reflections from Our Pastors - September 14, 2023

Philippians 2:6-11



Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross…

This reading from Philippians is one which reflects the humility of our God as shown in Jesus. He took “the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Jesus’ humility is evident even from before the Incarnation--asking Mary to make a body for him; completely dependent on Mary and Joseph's response; growing unrecognized in Mary's womb; accepting a food trough for his throne; living the majority of his life engaged in ordinary human activity; known only as a carpenter by the people of Nazareth.

To complete our faith, we have to believe not only in God, but in people, just as God does. Becoming a Christian begins with recognizing our humble God in one human being—Jesus-- and then going on to recognize God in every person. God practices the presence of people, and we must do the same. To practice the presence of people (humility) is to enter the prayer life of God, seeing people as God sees them, and entering the presence of others letting them teach you who they are. We must find a way to cast off our separateness. God holds nothing back in relating to us. We become most truly ourselves when we hold nothing back from each other. This is the charity of the humble.

Mother Rosean

(Adapted from Vie Thorgren, Director of Restoring Connections,

formerly Center for Spirituality at Work, Denver, CO)

Image by (El Caminante) from Pixabay

Gentle Reminders

301 Faith Partners Get Together TODAY

Join us at this month's get together.



When: Thursday, September 14 at 3:30 pm

Where: Stodgy Brewing Company 1802 Laporte Ave.

Who: Everyone is invited!

The brewery is located on the north side of the street just before the old Salud Medical Center. A parking lot is included. This brewery is a fascinating old establishment that was previously a store selling wood stoves and fireplaces called Friendly Fire dating back to 1974 - 2007.

The brewery has preserved the old wood theme and provides customers with a beautiful outdoor patio as well as cozy indoor seating. Project Pizza food truck will be on location that day!

REMEMBER: all Fellowship gatherings are all-inclusive, informal and no RSVP is needed! The 3:30 meeting time works best for a quieter period for conversation.

Spanish Classes - TODAY

at 3pm & 4pm

Spanish Classes is now in progress! Taught by Dr. Margaret Wicks and Lulu, our native speaker. Not too late to join in!

• Thursdays through October 26.
• Beginners session at 3 pm
• Intermediate/advanced speakers at 4pm: For those with basics or more knowledge.

We will meet in Room 2 and zoom will be available

To join via Zoom click HERE. 

Meeting ID: 350 899 592 Passcode: 028929

The Food Truck Festival Returns!

Friday September 22

We need help! Sign up to help with flier distributors, poster hanging in local businesses, set up, clean up, and more.

Click here to volunteer.

Monty Hogan's trio will provide music and the lines will be shorter with three trucks this year

Love walking?

Want your walk to benefit the Foodbank?

Register this week!

The 301 Faith Partners are invited to participate in the Ft. Collins CROP WALK this year on Oct. 1st at 1 PM at First Presbyterian Church. It is a 3-mile walk through Old Town Ft. Collins to raise funds and awareness about world hunger. Ft. Collin’s churches and organizations have participated in the effort for 34 years and raised tens of thousands of monies for alleviating hunger world-wide and for our own Food Bank of Larimer County. 

If you’re interested in being a walker or a sponsor, go to crophungerwalk.org/fortcollinsco and registering there. We have a team established—301 Partners “Hunger Busters” so register under our team. If you cannot walk on Oct. 1st, we have an alternate date, Sept. 24. 

Questions? Contact Jo Gearhart at gearhartjm@yahoo.com or Rebecca Roland at rebeccalynneblue@gmail.com

Read the newsletter from the

ECC House of Pastors

In this September issue:

• News and updates from around the US
• The 2024 ECC Synod (here in Colorado)
• Celebrating 20 years of the ECC in North America
• Click here to read.

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.

Celebrating the 23nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrate with Mother Rosean Amaral presiding on September 10. The video of the homily and readings will be available soon.

Mass Schedule

Sunday Sept. 17 at 12:30 pm

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

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Sep 13 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Sunday Sept. 24 at 12:30 pm

• Rev. Jane Reina is presiding. In-person and with Zoom

Weekly Mass Wednesday, Sep 20 at

11:00 am

• Weekly mass in the Fireside Room
• No Zoom available

Did you miss an article or announcement?

Past e-bulletins posted here



• ECC House of Laity, NEWSLETTER, August 2023, read 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.

• The Summer newsletter from the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Ecumenical Communion can be read here

Mary of Magdala Parish Community

All are invited and ALL are welcome to join our parish community.

• Here is the webpage with more information on membership
• If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala, here are ways to schedule a single or recurring Sunday offertory.
• Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click 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.