The Call
April, 2025
A Message from the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we prepare to celebrate the new life given to us through Christ’s Death and Resurrection this Holy Week, I cannot help but notice the signs of renewal and new life happening all around us. This month, I wanted to take a moment to highlight a few of the ways I see God breathing new things into our community.
The pollen is in the air, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and just a few weeks ago, a dedicated group of volunteers gathered on a Saturday morning to prepare the Community Garden for another season of planting and feeding our neighbors in need. Just this week concrete has been poured for a new barbeque area to the left of the church, and preparations are underway to update the landscaping around the church sign.
In addition to that, our revamped Sunday School program is in full swing, with a new rotation of volunteer teachers and a regular group of students. We are also exploring the possibility of starting a Youth Group, open to both our church members and the wider community.
We continue to welcome more people to worship on Sundays, and we are blessed to have three individuals preparing to receive Holy Baptism on the Second Sunday of Easter (April 27th.)Please keep them in your prayers!
All of these are wonderful signs of God’s work among us, and I am deeply grateful to be part of it.
Above all I am thankful for the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which has set us free. As we enter into this sacred time in the Church’s calendar, I encourage you to take part in as many of the Holy Week services as possible, giving thanks for the new life each of us has received and for the renewal happening in our community of faith.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. David
On Sunday, March 9, your vestry met after church. Minutes are not yet available but topics discussed included approval of our request to the Diocese for a grant for sewage grinder pumps, the upcoming Lenten Zoom sessions based on the book, “Life in Christ”, a donation from Miracle-Gro in Harrisonville for the Community Gardens and receipt of a donation from an anonymous donor to build a patio for the area where the grills are now stored.
The next vestry meeting will be on Sunday, April 13.
Minutes from the February meeting are at this link.
Dates to Remember in late March/ Month of April
Saturday, March 29: Last Day to Register for Bishop-Elect Amy’s Consecration
Sunday, March 30: Healing Eucharist
During the Eucharist we will pray in a special way for all those who need healing in body, mind, or spirit. During the service those who desire it will be invited to come forward to receive laying on of hands with sacramental anointing.
This sacramental rite is always available for those who desire it, but it is especially appropriate in times of illness, or before surgery. If you are ever in need of this means of grace please let Fr. David know!
Monday, March 31: Blood Drive, 2- 6 PM.
Monday, March 31: Daughters of the King serving lunch to staff and visitors at Hospice House on Wornall Road, Kansas City. Contact Kim Gerhardt if you’d like to help.
Sunday, April 13: Palm Sunday
Wednesday, April 16: Quiet Eucharist, 7 PM.
Thursday, April 17: Maundy Thursday service, 7 PM.
Gethsemane Watch begins at 8 PM.
Friday, April 18: Stations of the Cross, 12 PM.
Good Friday service, 7 PM.
Saturday, April 19: Holy Saturday Liturgy of the Word, 11 AM
Great Vigil of Easter, 7 PM.
Our Easter service will be at 10:30 AM April 20. It will be followed by our annual Easter Egg Hunt.
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 download a printable calendar for the month here or pick one up in the Narthex.
Join us for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
A big thank you to Denise Koch who has agreed to organize the Easter Egg hunt again this year after the Easter Service on April 20. There will be plenty of eggs hidden around the grounds (or inside if the weather doesn’t co-operate) filled with Easter treats.
We need your Help Outside!
We still need members for our Mowing Team. We have a state-of-the-art riding mower. Contact Steve or Don if you’d like to help.
A volunteer parishioner maintains the plantings at the front door and in front of the sign by the road, which make our property so welcoming to visitors and people who pass by. We’re establishing a fund to buy flowers and other plantings. If you’d like to donate, please designate any amount you put in the collection as a donation to the landscaping fund.
“Pay off Principal” Has an Impact!
Over the last two years we’ve paid off over $40,000 in principal in addition to our regular mortgage payments thanks to your generosity.
Under some reasonable assumptions (depends on the interest rate and term of the new loan) every $10,000 we pay against the mortgage now can reduce our future monthly payments by about $100.
Planned Giving Reminder: If you are in the process of revising your estate documents and wish to discuss planned giving, Qualified Charitable Distributions, CDs, 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.
The New Spirit is published every two weeks. Read the latest issue here.
Items from the March Diocesan Council Meeting:
On-Line Training
If you’re involved in any ministry at St. Mary Magdalene (and most of you are!), the Diocese strongly recommends the “Safe Churches, Safe Communities” series of online 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.
Women‘s Book Club
Lenten Book Discussion with the Author of “Life in Christ” at St. Mary Mag
This book is currently the source for our Lenten Bible Study on Wednesday nights. The author, Rev. Dr. Julia Gatta, will be presenting a session based on her book on Saturday, May 24, between 10 AM and 2 PM, with lunch provided.
Registration is free but you must register by May 17 . More information and the registration form are at this link.
Daughters of the King – Volunteer opportunities
On Thursday, March 13th, Daughters provided and serve lunch to the homeless at Heart-n-Hand right here in Belton. Volunteer opportunities include meal contributions and/or helping set up and serve at Heart-n-Hand during the day on Thursday. Approximately 100 people are fed at these events. Please text Linda Wallace, 816-520-2342, if you are interested or need more information.
On Monday March 31st, Daughters will provide and serve dinner to the staff and visitors of Hospice House on Wornall Road in Kansas City, MO. Volunteer opportunities include meal contributions (which can be dropped off the Sunday before at St. Mary’s) and/or helping set up and serve at the House on Monday evening. 20-30 people are fed. Please call Kim Gerhardt, 913-515-7599, if you are interested or need more information.
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 Night at Conroy’s:
April 25
Please join us for a fun gathering of fellowship, drinks, and food.
Contact Karen Hauswald 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!
At our drive on January 23 we collected 11 units of blood- this is a slow time for year for blood banks although the need for blood products never stops! Please donate if you can.
Our next drive will be on Monday, March 31 from 2 to 6 PM. All donors will get a free A1c test on their donated blood. This is an important measure of diabetes risk.
Single Mom KC needs clothing for women and children and full-size toiletries. They can be left in the bin marked for SingleMom KC in the narthex.
