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The Call: July 2023

By July 1, 2023June 25th, 2024Newsletters

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church
Our Vision: To be a community… Real. Rooted. Relevant.
Our Purpose: To follow Jesus Christ so that we will be His hands and feet in the world.

The Call

July, 2023

Church

 A Message from Fr. Larry

 

The Gift of Freedom

 

Several years ago, we took a family vacation to New England. I had gone to graduate school there and wanted to share the delights of that part of our country with my family. We stayed at the Parker House in Boston. It was right on the famous ‘Freedom Trail’, and we even stayed in the ‘Freedom Trail’ suite. Our daughters were right at the age where they loved being together and were curious about new adventures. We did all of the things that a tourist does in Boston. We visited the Old North Church, Harvard Yard, Paul Revere’s House, Boston Common, Old Ironsides, Beacon Hill, Faneuil Hall, and took a ride on the legendary swan boats. It was great fun. It was also eye opening. Many different people took risks and sacrificed many things to confront the British Government in the name of freedom. Those events were clearly marked on the Freedom Trail. Little did those first patriots know that the struggle for freedom was just beginning as a nation. As a young country, we soon found out that freedom comes with a price and a long-term commitment. Striving for real freedom for all citizens is an on-going effort. The comforting thought is that we do this together.

Christian spirituality also talks of freedom. Freedom of the heart and spirit to give and receive love fully and gradually let that process transform us for the better. Our scriptures are full of stories of being healed, responding to being called, invitations of sharing the Good News that our God loves us and invites us to do the same to everyone we encounter. If we are honest with ourselves, that process is also a struggle and a long-term commitment. The comforting thought is that we do that together also, with God’s help.

This month, I invite you to celebrate freedom in all of its fullness and meaning.

 

Blessings,

 

Larry Ehren+

 


The New Spirit is published every two weeks. Read the latest issue here.

Diocesan Council met on June 17.  The Standing Committee has identified a consultant they will use in our search for a new Bishop.  They hope to have the process completed, with a candidate to be presented at Diocesan Cionvention, in November, 2024 but are more focused on getting the right candidte than meeting a deadline.  The Budget Committee has developed a budget based on our four “Pillars of Ministry” priorities and the Assessment Committee has obtained assessment formulas from 54 dioceses and will present 3 or 4 assessment models for consideration at the next Diocesan Council meeting.

The Bishop reported that she has found a retired professor of architecture who may have the expertise to assess the work needed to repair the perpetually leaky roof of Diocesan headquarters.  He is a new confrimand whom she asked about his profession.  God works in mysterious ways.

A letter of intent to merge has been signed between St. Luke’s and Barnes Jewish Health Center.  Full article at this link.

The Diocese had a very visible presence, including our Bishop, at the Gay Pride Parade.

Resources for prayer and worship at home are available at this link on the Diocesan Web site.

 

 

October 28- Save the Date!

Bell

We’ve agreed with a local handbell choir to let them use our beautiful space for a concert Saturday evening, October 28.  Details to follow!

Help Wanted: Mowing Team

Our large, beautiful property is maintained slely by volunteers- another example of our careful stewardship of our resources.  The Mowing Team needs more members.  We have a state-of-the-art riding mower to make the job easier.  If you’r einterested in helping, pelase talk to Rich Koch or Don Gerhardt.  Thanks!

 

On-Line Training:  Safe Churches, Safe Communities

If you’re involved in any kind of ministry at St. Mary Magdalene (and most of you are!), the Diocese strongly recommends this series of on-line modules. Each can be covered in 15 minutes or less.  Everyone- Chalice Ministers, Lay Readers, Acolytes, Vestry members, people with a key to the church, Sunday School teachers, etc.- needs to be educated on risks and risk mitigation to keep God’s people safe.
If you haven’t started these courses, contact Cyndi and she’ll set up an account for you.

New Way to access Ministry Schedules

From Regina:

A reminder from last month:

You will not be getting reminder e-mails from the churchscheduling.com software (I removed everyone’s e-mail addresses).  Ignore any you do get.  As we phase out Breeze you will not get them from Breeze, either.  You can, however, get the entire schedule any time at this link or from the “Ministry Schedules” button on the front page of our web site.

Please let me know of any upcoming changes and I’ll update the schedule.

 

On June 11, your vestry met and discussed the following:

  • Repairs are being made to portions of the roof damaged by hail.  Insurance willl cover all but a $1,000 deductible.

  • The 6-month, $50,000 CD from Arni’s bequest was renewed for 12 months at 5.25%.  Another $50,000 matures in December.

  • We need a Convention Delegate and an Alternate who can commit to attending the Diocesan Convention at the Catehdral in Kansas City, Friday evening and Saturday through 2 PM.   There are also Saturday morning Deanery meetings once a month to discuss issues that will come before the Convention.  This is a wonderful opportunity to represent St. Mary Magdalene and to learn about how the Diocese works to support churches and spread the Gospel.  PLease let Fr. Larry or Regina know if you’re interested.

  • We agreed to sponsor a local sports team in Belton; their T-shirts will include our name.

Minutes of the April vestry meeting are at this link.

 

Women‘s Book Club

 

Due to several of us taking vacations in July and August we will cancel our meetings for both months.

 

At our September 11th meeting (change of Mondays because of the Labor Day holiday on the 4th) we will discuss The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda.

 

At the October 9th meeting we will discuss The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris.

 



Daughters of the King 

 

Daughters of the King meets the third Sunday of the month in Education Room right after church.  .  If you’re interested, please contact Cyndi Troyer.

God and Guinness July 21

 


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.

 

Thank you for your consideration!

Here are some additional items you can donate; donations can be left in the Narthex.

 

Heart N Hand in Belton could use:

·       Hygiene items (Preferably travel sized items: wash cloths, small combs and brushes, deodorant, body wash, razors, lip balms, wipes)

·       Band-aids and individual sized medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, tums, etc.

·       Lightweight brand-new fleece blankets.

·       $10 HyVee gift cards to be used as gas cards for our clients.

·       Winter gloves

·       Size 4, 5, and 6 diapers

·       Adult diapers of varying sizes

·       Coffee creamer / sweeteners (individual packets)

·       Cleaning supplies (Lysol wipes, toilet bowl cleaner, multi-purpose cleaners)

·       Food donations (any non-perishable goods are always appreciated!), including individual bags of chips

·       Here is a link to items you can order from Amazon

 

 

Our Next Blood Drive will be Thursday, September 7 from 2 PM to 6 PM.

Our May drive results brought in 10 donors including one first-time donor and three who donated double units of red blood cells.

We still need plastic bags to make mats for the homeless. If you’d like to learn how to crochet them, contact Regina at berensregina@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Single Moms KC needs clothing for women and children and full-size toiletries.

Missouri Puppy Mill Rescue needs bleach and Lysol multi-surface cleaner.


The Call

We are still looking for another person to create The Call every other month (alternating with Regina). It can be done gradually as you get announcements of events, etc. Many other items are provided by others and you just have to incorporate them with some pretty straightforward “drag-and- drop” software. Please let Regina know if you are interested.

 

Events

We need someone to take over co-ordination of church events — the earlier, the better so Denise can show you how it works. Please contact her if this interests you.

 

Service Streaming

We are looking for someone to help stream the service so that people can access it on our YouTube channel. Frank and Brock will train you; talk to either of them if you’re interested.

More About Us

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.

 

 

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.

If you have a family illness or a personal concern, please contact the church office at 816-331-2222 and leave a voicemail.

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St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church | 16808 Holmes Rd., Belton, MO 64012

(816) 331-2222 | http://www.marymag.com