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The Call
July, 2025
A Message from the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
As many of you know, I was away during the first week of June serving on staff at Episcopal Summer Mega Camp, alongside approximately 150 children and youth from across Kansas and Missouri. It was a wonderful experience—watching so many young people have fun, form friendships, and engage deeply with their faith.
As you might expect, camp includes a lot of singing, and each year I seem to come home with a different song stuck in my head. This year, it was “Father Provides”, a perennial favorite. The song is a musical setting of Jesus’ words from Matthew 6, where he tells us to consider the lilies of the field and not to worry about tomorrow.
Over the past few weeks, that song has stayed with me—not just melodically, but spiritually. Its message has echoed in my heart as I’ve reflected on our shared life here at St. Mary Magdalene. God is, indeed, consistently providing for us—in big ways (I hope you’ll take a moment to read more in the Financial Update below) and in the small, quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
Our community is growing and strong. We continue to welcome new faces on Sundays. Our Sunday school is is alive with energy and our youth group just met for the second time and is already growing.
In the midst of summer’s busyness—with its travel, events, and distractions—I hope you’ll make time to join us on July 27th as we celebrate our patronal feast. Let’s gather to give thanks for all that God is doing among us and recommit ourselves to inviting others, like St. Mary Magdalene did, into the new and abundant life that Jesus offers.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. David
In its June 22 meeting, Diocesan Council approved the Diocesan Finance Committee’s recommendation of a $300,000 grant to St. Mary Magdalene from the Expansion Fund. It was joyous news for all of us. Our mortgage must be renegotiated every 5 years and it was likely that the interest rate would almost double from our current 3.57%, resulting in a much higher monthly payment. The new payment (subject to approval by the bank’s Credit Committee) will be about $1,500/month LOWER, allowing us to deploy more of our income to the mission of our church rather than the building itself.
“Pay off Principal” Continues
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. We will continue to make extra principal payments from designated donations.
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.
Your hard-working vestry met in person Friday evening, June 14 and most of Saturday for planning sessions facilitated by Walker Adams, Director of Recruitment ad Admissions at the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee.
This was an opportunity to think ahead to where we want to be and what dreams we have for St. Mary Magdalene. We are working on concrete steps to get us there.
The next vestry meeting will be after the service on June 29.
Minutes from the May meeting are at this link.
A Book to Add to Your Summer Reading List
Longtime members will remember Fr. Jerry Skillicorn, a retired priest who was often in our pews and sometimes in our pulpit before he and Melisande moved to NJ to be closer to family. He’s still active and has recently published “Our Dance with Grace: Spending the Day with God”. The Amazon link for the book is here.
The last Diocesan Council meeting opened with an excerpt from the book, which lists practical ways in which you can spend the day with God, no matter how busy you are.
Dates to Remember in late June/July
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.
Diocesan Council met on June 22 and Regina and Fr. David were both present.
The most significant item (for us) was Diocesan Council’s decision, discussed above, to deploy $300,000 from the Expansion Fund to reduce our mortgage principal when it comes up for refinancing in July.
Bishop Amy reported that she’s already put 11,000 miles on her car since she joined us. She asks for our prayers for herself and her family as the put their house in Arkansas on the market. They’ve already closed on a house in Lees Summit.
Mother Kary Mann, a former member of our parish who has since been ordained to the priesthood, is organizing a formation event with Biagio Mazza, a well-respected theologian who has held many classes at St. Sabina’s.
This year’s Northwest-Metro Deanery event will be an ice cream social and church trivia contest at St. Andrew’s in Kansas City on July 19. This is your chance to enjoy ice cream and Q&A with the Bishop and meet members of nearby churches. Details at this link.
The New Spirit is published every two weeks. Read the latest issue here.
Check out our Updated Bulletin Boards!
Fr. David has re-organized the Bulletin Boards, removing old items and adding current ones. Find out what’s new on your way to or from the kitchen and the rest rooms.
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.
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
We will be meeting on Monday, July 7th at 1:00 p.m.at the home of Susan Petrakos (13204 Jefferson Ct, Kansas City, MO). We will be discussing Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. All women are welcome to attend. Please come anytime you see a book you would like to discuss. Dessert is always served.
At our August 4 meeting we will be discussing Digging to America by Anne Tyler.
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 provided and served dinner to the staff and visitors of Hospice House on Wornall Road in Kansas City, MO. Volunteer opportunities for our next visit 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:
July 18
Join your friends at St. Mary Magdalene on Friday, July 18th, 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.
And save the date for the SingleMom KC Walk at Sar-ko-Par Trails park on October 18 from 9 AM to noon!
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 June 4 we collected 10 units of blood. The need for blood products never stops! Please donate if you can.
Our next drive will be on Wednesday, August 27 from 2 to 6 PM.
