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, 2024
A Message from Steve Hirtzel, Vestry Warden
As Vestry Warden, I was asked to write a column in place of Father Larry’s. That is where the similarities end. I do, however, want to recap the past month and look ahead to July.
As I write this, the temperature has soared near 100 degrees. I can’t help but think about those who do not have air conditioning and feel blessed that we do. As we check on our friends, family and neighbors’ well-being, let’s also keep the less fortunate in our prayers.
The Search Committee is in full swing in the process of finding a new clergy. Karen Hansen heads up the committee. In June, they met with the congregation to get our views, suggestions on topics related to the search. They are using that feedback, along with the results of the Holy Cow survey to compile the church profile. Karen will update the congregation regularly on their progress.
Revs. Bill Fasel and Mark McGuire have served as supply priests this month; Rev, Mary Margaret Saxon will preside on June 30. All of July and August are scheduled for either supply priests or with Brock, Regina Berens or Scott Laurent preaching.
Special thanks to Karen Hauswald on the beautification of the front of the church with the lovely flower beds. They really brighten it up and make a difference. Also, thanks to Sarah Hirtzel for all of her continuing hard work in the community garden. To date, we’ve been able to donate 15 lbs of leaf lettuce, 20 lbs. of potatoes and countless amounts of onions to the Heart & Hand Ministries. Coming soon will be pole beans, tomatoes and other goodies.
If you have been around the House of Grace, you may have likely seen our unwelcome visitor(s), in the form of a ground hog. I am happy to say that one of the little guys has been safely relocated to a nice woodsy home in Minor Park.
Through Sunday July 21st, we will be collecting non-perishables for Heart & Hand, as their food pantry is running low. There is a box in the narthex for the collection. Please see the updated list of items they especially need in the “Opportunities to Serve” section below.
Finally, as we go through this period of change and transition, we can all become anxious about where we’re headed. I want to conclude with this verse from Isaiah:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.
God’s Blessings,
Steve Hirtzel
On Sunday, June 23, your vestry met after church.
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Steve has assembled a full schedule of supply priests through August. Scott, Brock and Regina will each be preaching the sermon at one service.
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Discussion on the possible use of classrooms for a Montessori Pre-School has been postponed unti we know more about our plans for a new priest.
The Diocesan Deanery Meeting was held at at SMM, June 8th and the Master Gardeners met on June 13th. The Master Gardeners have worked hard at supplying Heart n Hand with fresh produce from our Community Garden and they’ve just planted tomatoes.
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Minutes of the May vestry meeting are at this link.
“Pay off Principal” Continues
Last year we were able to contribute $25,000 towards additional principal on our mortgage thanks to your generosity!
This will be an ongoing effort to encourage year-round awareness of stewardship as one way to give from what God has given us. Please take an envelope home so you can add donations to the offertory plate when you’re moved to do so. No amount is too small!
Planned Giving Reminder: Members of our leadership frequently receive material on Planned Giving and sometimes attend educational sessions. We were surprised and blessed when Arni, our former Business Manager, left us her house in her will and the proceeds have provided a nice finacnial cushion, which is being kept partly in cash and mostly in CDs yielding over 5% annually. This is a relatively small congregation and people don’t update estate documents frequently, but if you are in the process and wish to discuss planned giving, QCDs, donation of appreciated stock or any other non-cash forms of donation, please talk to Dave Pierson, Chair of the Finance Committee, Cyndi Troyer, our Treasurer, or Regina Berens.
Update on our Priest Transition
We first met with Fr. Chas Marks, the Diocesan Transition Officer. We have begun to create a profile of St.
Mary Mag to let applicants know what we are all about. It contains the History of our church, our
ministries, demographics, strengths and challenges, and what we are looking for in a rector,
among other things. This will be posted on the Diocesan website for interested applicants.
We are currently in the process of writing up the different sections. The “Holy Cow” survey you all answered a few months ago told us a lot about our strengths and challenges, and we followed up with an in-person meeting after the June 9 service, asking the following questions:
1. What gifts and skills would you like the new rector to have?
2. What ministries would you like the new priest to be especially passionate about?
3. What are St. Mary Magdalene’s strengths/challenges at this point in time?
There was a splendid turnout for the meeting with excellent suggestions. We will use them to
write up a summary of the answers to add to the profile.
We would like to finish the profile and get it posted on the Diocesan website sometime in July.
Please keep on praying for us! The sooner we can accomplish this, the sooner we will have a
new priest!
Thank you,
Karen Hansen
Chair, Rector Search Committee
chances to provide their input about the joys and challenges of their own church and community and what they want in their next Bishop. The results of the on-line survey are available at this link. It’s interesting to note the small number of paritcipants by parish for most churches; only 7 from St. Mary Magdalene responded. The Survey responses were heavily-weighted towards clergy and vestry; 80 out of the 248 responses were from clergy or vestry.
The most important qualities for our next Bishop included the ability to work and communicate across differences of any kind, being an effective pastor, ability to manage change and a vision for reaching the unchurched.
We on the Search Committee are committed to communicating what we can while maintaining necessary confidentiality. The Bishop Search page of the Diocesan Web site will be updated weekly and the Diocesan Profile (information about who we are and what we do as a Diocese) should be available on the Diocesan web site in early March.
Please pray for us during this challenging and important process.
A detailed description of the process, potential time line and the work of the three Committees involved (Search, Transition and Consecration) in the selection of the new Bishop is here.
The New Spirit is published every two weeks. Read the latest issue here.
On-Line Training: We Especially Need a Sunday School Team!
If you’re involved in any kind of ministry at St. Mary Magdalene (and most of you are!), the Diocese strongly recommends the “Safe Churches, Safe Communities” 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.
As we think about how to attract young families, having Sunday School is key. For this effort in particular, we need a team of people who can be “on call” if there are children in the congregation who want to be in Sunday School. You won’t be put on a schedule but if you’re in church and there are kids in Sunday school you’d be asked if you can serve. All you need to do to prepare is to go over the readings in the Bulletin and lead a discussion on one. There are plenty of supplies in the classroom for recreation and crafts afterwards! We require two adults for Sunday School so you’ll have help. Please let the clergy or any vestry member know if you’re interested.
If you haven’t started these courses, contact Cyndi and she’ll set up an account for you.
Women‘s Book Club
At the July 1st meeting we will discuss The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
On August 12 we will discuss The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin.
Meetings will be held at the home of Susan Petrakos (13204 Jefferson Ct., Kansas City, MO 64145).
Daughters of the King
Members of our chapter of Daughters of the King helped serve dinner for the second time at Heart-n-Hand in Belton.
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.
July 19
God and Guinness Night at Conroy’s
Please join us for a fun gathering of fellowship, drinks, and food.
Contact Rich Koch 913-707-0148 or koch0520@sbcglobal.net for questions or information.
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.
Amazon Wish List Link
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!
Our Next Blood Drive will be Wednesday, August 28 from 2 PM to 6 PM.
Single Mom KC needs clothing for women and children and full-size toiletries.
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.
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.
