The Call
June, 2026
A Message from the Rector
Dear Friends,
As we transition from spring to summer, and from a busy season of events and celebrations to the Church’s long green season and the more relaxed rhythm of summer vacation and travel, it can often feel like this time in the Church year is somehow less important. After all, we have just moved through Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday. Compared to all of that, the Season after Pentecost can feel a little ordinary.
But this long green season is not a break in the life of the Church. It is a season of growth. It is a time when we are invited to settle more deeply into the ordinary practices that shape us as followers of Jesus. And at the center of those practices is the Eucharist. Week by week, we gather on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, to hear God’s Word, to offer our prayers, to receive Christ’s Body and Blood, and to remember again who we are and whose we are.
So as summer begins, I encourage you to keep the Eucharist at the center of your week. When you are in town, come and worship. When you are traveling, look for a church nearby. And when life feels full, scattered, or out of rhythm, let Sunday be the place where your week begins again in Christ. The Eucharist is not just one more thing on the calendar. It is the gift by which Christ gathers us, feeds us, forgives us, strengthens us, and sends us back into the world to love and serve in his name.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. David
Daughters of the King
Daughters of the King typically serves meals once a month at places such as KC Hospice. They’re taking June off but Contact Cyndi or any other member of Daughters of the King if you’re able to help with a future meal.
Web site and The Call
As many of you know, Regina is planning on moving to Des Moines to be near family in a few months.
She’s been maintaining the church web site and The Call for years, but it’s time for someone else to learn the process and take it over. We use the WordPress platform, paid for by the Diocese, and help on-line is widely available since it’s a commonly-used platform. She’ll also be available after the move if you need support.
Please let Regina or Fr. David know if you are willing to take on this important ministry. Both the web site and The Call are vital communication tools for our parishioners as well as people looking on-line for a new church home.
Red Cross Blood Drives
Blood Drives are held every few months at St. Mary Magdalene from 2 to 6 PM. Donated blood is a true gift of life for the surrounding community and it also brings people into our beautiful space. Typically someone opens the building for the team to arrive at 1 PM and a second person takes over from 3 or 4 PM till the team packs up and leaves around 6:30 PM. You’ll be greeting donors and signing them in.
If you’d like to volunteer for this important ministry which doesn’t represent a major time commitment, please contact Regina, Penny, Susan or Fr. David. Thanks!
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.
We’ve been gathering on Wednesday evenings to walk together through The Path, exploring the sweeping story of Scripture and how God’s purpose unfolds from Genesis through Revelation in a way that draws us deeper into faith and understanding.
Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we continue this rich journey through God’s Word!
Dates to Remember in June and Beyond
Monday, June 1: Feast of the Visitation. Private Confessions at 4:30 PM, Holy Eucharist 6 PM.
Tuesday, June 9: Red Cross Blood Drive at the Church.
Monday, June 8: Women’s Book Club.
Friday, June 19: God and Guinness.
Sunday, June 28: Newcomers’ Gathering in the Education Room after the Service.
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.
June 5-7: Kansas City Pridefest
Kansas City Pridefest is almost here! We will hold a parade-prep gathering on June 4 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City from 5 – 8 p.m., where people will gather to paint signs and prepare SWAG materials based on this year’s theme, “We’re Your Biggest Fan!” Then, we’ll gather for the Pride Mass at 9 a.m. on June 6 at St. Paul’s to pray and worship. Check out the full list of activities and volunteer opportunities at this link.
June 20: Juneteenth Celebration
In honor of Juneteenth, the historic day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received news that they were free, the diocese is hosting a celebration at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral with fun activities included throughout the day. Register and share this event with your friends with this link.
June 27: Centering Prayer Workshop
Centering Prayer, a form of Christian meditation, is drawn from an ancient form of Christian prayer that focuses on the presence and gracious action of Christ in the stillness of our being. Join us at Calvary Episcopal Church for an introduction to this prayer, facilitated by the Rev. Rita Kendagor. Registration at this link.
MissionPalooza, our Diocesan youth event for grades 8 through 12, will be held at St. Paul’s, Kansas City July 21-26. Details and registration information at this link
The New Spirit is published every two weeks. Read the latest issue here.
Women‘s Book Club
June 19
Join your friends at St. Mary Magdalene on Friday, June 19 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.
Help Save Lives with Your Donation!
Our April drive brought in 19 donors who donated a total of 14 units of blood- well above the levels we saw in the winter!
We will have another drive at St. Mary Magdalene on June 9. Please donate if you can.
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
