The Call
January, 2026
A Message from the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
By the time you read this, many of us have returned to work, school, and familiar routines. Alarm clocks are ringing again. Calendars are filling up. The pace of ordinary life has resumed. And yet, the Church gently reminds us that Christmas is not over so much as it is unfolding.
What we celebrate at Christmas is not something we leave behind when life speeds back up. The good news at the heart of this season is that God has come close and stays close. The Word did not simply visit us. The Word took on flesh and chose to dwell among us. That is not a one-time miracle. It is a way of life.
As we move toward Epiphany, the focus begins to shift. The light that shone in the manger is revealed to the world. The child worshiped by shepherds is recognized by strangers from afar. God’s love, made known in Jesus, refuses to stay contained. It moves outward, drawing others in. And that is where mission begins.
Mission does not start with big plans or perfect answers. It begins with attention. With noticing where Christ is already at work. With carrying the light we have received into offices and classrooms, homes and neighborhoods. Into conversations, acts of kindness, prayers offered quietly, and love shown consistently. In the coming weeks, as we gather for our Annual Meeting, part of what we will do together is reflect on how we have seen that light at work among us and listen for how God may be inviting us to carry it forward in the year ahead.
Before looking too far ahead, it is important to pause and give thanks. Our Christmas celebrations were holy and joyful because so many people gave generously of their time, talent, and care. To our musicians and choir, altar guild, lectors, acolytes, ushers, decorators, children and youth, parents and volunteers, and to all who welcomed, prepared, cleaned, cooked, prayed, and showed up in ways seen and unseen, thank you. You helped make Christ’s love visible, and that matters more than you know.
As we step into this new season, my prayer is that we do not rush past the gift we have been given. Christ is with us. Christ goes before us. And Christ sends us, not in haste or fear, but in hope.
May we carry the light of Christmas into the days ahead and trust that God will continue to reveal that light through us, for the sake of the world God loves.
With every blessing,
Fr. David
2026 Stewardship Campaign- It’s STILL not too Late!
Thanks to your generosity, we have exceeded our stewardship goal for 2026! Not only will this give us a balanced budget- it will also allow us to focus more of our resources in area such as Youth Ministry, Children’s and Adult Formation and Fellowship and Welcoming. The final Budget, which has been approved by the vestry, will be presented at the Annual Meeting on January 11.
If you’re still considering making a pledge, this link includes the letter from the pledge mailing as well as a link to a Narrative Budget explaining the importance of each item, comparisons between the 2025 and 2026 budget amounts with explanations for changes. You may also mail your card to the church, put it in the collection at any time, or use this link to submit your pledge on-line.
Your vestry met on Sunday, December 14, in person, before a dinner hosted by Zach and Fr. David at their home.
The vestry approved the 2026 Budget, which will be presented the church Annual Meeting on January 11.
Pledges for 2026 exceeded our goal and included 9 new pledges.
The insurance company has issued a partial check for the stolen mower; an additional check will be issued upon proof that we have replaced it. Cameras have been installed near the House of Grace; however, this is not a monitored system. Options for an alarm system is being researched to determine feasibility.
Minutes from the November 9 meeting are at this link.
Give, and You Shall Receive, from the IRS
The recent tax changes include a potential benefit for people who don’t itemize their deductions (currently 90% of taxpayers) and thus haven’t been able to get any tax breaks when they donate to charity. Starting with the 2026 tax year, those who take the standard deduction can also deduct up to $1,000 in charitable contributions for Singles ($2,000 for Married filing Jointly) in addition to the Standard Deduction.
And don’t forget two other ways to save on taxes through charitable donations which have been around for a few years: If you’re 70.5 or older you can make a donation directly from your IRA to a qualified charity (called a Qualified Charitable Distribution) without incurring taxes and without it increasing your Adjusted Gross income. If you’re 73 and making Required Minimum Distributions, any portion of your RMD which is donated directly to a qualified charity is also not taxed and does not add to your Adjusted Gross Income. St. Mary Magdalene does have a brokerage account to receive these donations.
As always, if you have questions about how this affects your individual situation, please consult a tax accountant.
New Formation Opportunity Starting January 7
If your resolutions for the New Year include learning more about the Bible and our faith traditions, you can start almost immediately!
We’ll be starting a new study, The Path: A Journey through the Bible, on January 7 at 7:00 PM on Google Meet. This study offers a chance to take a broad, thoughtful walk through Scripture and see how the story of the Bible fits together.
If you’re interested in participating, please let Cyndi know or send an e-mail to frdavidwilcox@gmail.com so we know to order a book for you. All are welcome and we hope you’ll consider joining us in the New Year.
Join us on January 9 for a Celebration of Epiphany with Tacos and Margaritas!
The fun starts at 6 PM. Church will provide taco meat and chicken, sides and margaritas. You can sign up for taco toppings or desserts or beverages at this sign up genius link:
Dates to Remember in January
Thursday, January 1: Quiet Eucharist at noon.
Tuesday, January 6: Quiet Eucharist for the Feast of the Epiphany at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 7: The Path: A Journey Through the Bible begins on Google Meet at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 9: Epiphany Party at the church at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 11: Church Annual meeting (lunch provided) followed by Vestry meeting.
Friday, January 16: God and Guinness.
Sunday, January 18: Youth Group at Chicken and Pickle.
Thursday, January 22: Red Cross Blood Drive, 2-6 PM.
You can view the current version of our Calendar any time at this link – or by Selecting “Calendar” from the drop-down menu under News and Events at the top of our web page.
You can also pick up a printed copy in the Narthex.
The New Spirit is published every two weeks. Read the latest issue here.
Women‘s Book Club
The January 5 meeting will be at the home of Susan Petrakos (13204 Jefferson Ct., Kansas City, MO) at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5th. We will discuss The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. All women are welcome to attend. Please come anytime you see a book you would like to discuss. Dessert is always served.
What a Wonderful Christmas Pageant!
The Children’s Christmas Pageant was held on Sunday, December 21 during the service. It included Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, assorted angels (including Gabriel) and an evangelist who read the Bible story. They worked hard on putting it together, including a dress rehearsal the Sunday before.
Thanks to the participants and the supportive Sunday School team members who helped them put it together!
January 16
Join your friends at St. Mary Magdalene on Friday, January 16 at 6 p.m. for our monthly God & Guinness Night at Conroy’s, 12924 State Line Road in Leawood.
Single Mom KC needs clothing for women and full-size toiletries. They can be left in the bin marked for SingleMom KC in the narthex.
KC for Refugees Needs Household Items
A few years ago we opened up the basement of the House of Grace to KC for Refugees, an organization that provides support for newly-arrived refugees from war-torn countries. They’re in need of all the basic necessities. Here’s their most recent communication:
We need your help! Our Welcome Closet is nearly out of all supplies! We need lots of help to replenish our storehouse for the refugees arriving weekly to the KC Metro area!
Needed donations include: Towels, blankets, small kitchen appliances (rice cookers, electric tea pots, pressure cookers, etc), dishes, silverware, pots and pans (the bigger the better), diapers, sheets (twin and queen size) and hygiene and cleaning kits, diapers, maxi pads, socks and underwear for children and adults.
Our Amazon wishlist is available for easy donation! All items purchased are delivered to a KC for Refugees volunteer who delivers to our Welcome Closet.
Or donations are always welcome in person! All donations should be new, or very gently used with lots of life left in them. They can be dropped off at the lower level of the House of Grace on Thursdays from 9-11am, or brought to church.
Thank you so much for your help! We cannot do this great work without your help and support!!!
Heart-n-Hand Ministries
Heart-N-Hand Ministries, right here in Belton, serves the homeless as well as others just needing a hand up. At their website, www.heartnhand.org, there is always a current list of donated items they are seeking.
Heart-N-Hand would also appreciate volunteers to assist in their Thrift Store, Monday-Saturday; the store hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For for more information, please contact Alexis Butterfield, Executive Director, at 816-322-1133 or 417-551-2470. Her e-mail is alexisjbutterfield@gmail.com.
Here’s the latest list of items they need most. Donations can be left in the Narthex.
Canned meals like Chili, Ravioli, Spaghetti-O’s, stew (pop top preferred)
Pancake Mix Eggs
Pork & beans Crackers
Refried beans Ready to eat Soup
Spaghetti sauce White rice
Boxed mashed potatoes Baking goods: Flour, Sugar, cooking oil
Peanut Butter Grape Jelly
Canned chicken, ham, or pork Canned fruit
Condiments Powdered milk
Fresh produce Meat ( ground beef, ground turkey)
Lunch meats Cheese
Juice Dressing
Baby wipes Dish soap
Toilet paper Paper towels
Household cleaning products Shampoo and conditioner
Tampons and pads Kleenex
Here is a link to items you can order from Amazon
Help Save Lives with Your Donation!
The need for blood products never stops! Please donate if you can.
Our next drive will be on Thursday, January 22 from 2 to 6 PM.
If you have a family illness or a personal concern, please contact the church office at 816-331-2222 and leave a voicemail.
We miss you when you cannot participate in church, and we want to know when one of our members can be comforted from a pastoral visit, being added to our prayer list, or by receiving communion at home.
St. Mary Magdalene offers in-person Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m. We are also live streaming the service for those who prefer to join us from home, on our YouTube channel at this link.
St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church | 16808 Holmes Rd., Belton, MO 64012
(816) 331-2222 | www.marymag.com
