St. Mary Magdala Spiritual Center and Chapel are minisry
centers of The Community of the Cross, an intentional community of Christians affiliated with the Orthodox-Catholic
Church of America. ALL ARE WELCOME.
FIRST SUNDAY
July 2015, Volume 9, Issue 7
2800 Rolston Street, Fort Wayne, IN &
835 Lane 275, Jimmerson Lake, Angola, IN
Inside this Issue
1 Independence Day
1 Board & Clergy Contact Info
2 Clergy Schedule/July
2 ICMEP Rally
2 Sophia’s Portico Celebrations
2 Update on Work at SMM
3 Remember in your prayers
3 Readings for July
WANT MORE? Send me some
news to print - Fr. John
www.crosswood.org or
www.stmarymagdala.org
Editor: Fr. John Newbauer
E-mail: [email protected]
phone: 260-615-0156
Liturgy Schedule
10:00 AM Sunday
St. Mary Magdala
2800 Rolston Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
9:00 AM Sunday
835 Lane 275
Jimmerson Lake
Angola, IN 46703
Call Mthr Joan for directions
260-413-4306
INDEPENDENCE DAY
July 4th is our nation’s birthday and we celebrate it with fireworks, picnics and gettogethers of all kinds. We celebrate freedom, freedom from tyrants, freedom from
fear, freedom to practice our religion, freedom of speech, freedom of/to _____ you fill in the blank. I think it is important to put freedom in perspective. I know, it
sounds like limit setting - yes, you’re absolutely right. As George Bernard Shaw said,
“Liberty means responsibility. That is why most people dread it.” Yes, with freedom
comes responsibility and that is sometimes too much for us. For who, what am I
responsible, you might ask.
Cain asked something similar of God - Genesis 4:9 “Then the Lord said to Cain,
‘Where is your brother Abel?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’”
God didn’t really respond to Cain’s question - it was a moot point because he had
already killed his brother. But sometimes I think we’re asked that question by
that still, inner voice. And I think we all know the answer that is expected. So I
guess freedom, which was essentially God’s gift to us from the time of our genesis,
demands some responsibility for each other, for the earth and it’s care, and for
ourselves. I think we can’t separate “independence” from “interdependence” as
human beings. It’s just impossible.
Equality is also tied in to the freedom issue. Equality under the law, we often say
but equality is something that Jesus seemed to preach in his actions. He treated
all as worthy, except those who thought they were a “bit more worthy” than their
neighbors. He spoke to peasants of their dignity: “You are the salt of the earth” was
an extreme compliment. “Blessed are the poor,” “The meek shall inherit the earth”
and he seems to have enjoyed the company of persons who were outcasts from time
to time and he even taught women - something some modern cultures and religions
still refuse to do today. In fact, one of his closest friends seems to have been a
woman, Mary of Magdala, for whom our church is named.
Women played a major role in the leadership of the early church and Mary of
Magdala seems to have been one of the foremost women leaders in the Church. This
Community of the Cross Board & Clergy Contact Info
Fr. Cliff Polubinsky, President, 260-4331971; e-mail: [email protected]
Bishop John Newbauer, Treasurer, 260615-0156 email: [email protected]
Ken Erlenbaugh, 260-833-1313
Mother Joan North, 260-833-3412
email: [email protected]
Bart Putnam, 517-617-5526
email: [email protected]
Archbishop +Robert Zahrt, 260-471-6573
email: [email protected]
Bishop +Vince Cuestas,260-797-8123
Sherry Camp, Secretary,
email: [email protected]
month we will celbrate her feastday on July 22. Since we
usually don’t get much of a crowd on weekdays, I thought
we would move it to July 19 and make it a feast we can
enjoy. Perhaps we can have breakfast together after Mass
that morning in the lower level. And perhaps we can do
something else that would make the day more special.
Please let me know what you think would make it a better
celebration of her feast.
+John
Rally and March Commemorates Israel’s
Assault on Gaza
(Operation Protective Edge, 2014)
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Place: Allen County Court House green
Schedule:
5:30-6.30 Rally and March
7:00-8:30 Film “The War Around Us”
produced by NBC correspondent Ayman
Mohyeldin. Viewing at Plymouth
Congregational Church. 501 W. Berry St.
If you are able, please consider attending this rally and
march sponsored by our friends at the Indiana Center for
Middle East Peace.
CLERGY SCHEDULE FOR JULY
Proper 9
Angola
Sun 9:00
Joan+
Fort Wayne
Sun 10:00
+John
July 11
Proper 10
Joan+
Cliff+
July 19
St. Mary of
Magdala
Joan+
+John
July 26
Proper 12
Joan+
Cliff+
Aug 2
Proper 13
Joan+
Cliff+
Aug 9
Proper 14
Joan+
Cliff+
Aug 16
Proper 15
Joan+
+John
Sun
July 4
Friday ~ July 31, 2015 ~ 7:00 pm
Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren
2910 Beacon Street (Beacon & Kenwood)
Lammas reminds us to reflect on the abundance and
magnanimity of the Universe. Following in the tradition
of our ancestors, this is the time when the first grains are
collected and honored to ensure the continuance of the
cycle of life, both physically and spiritually.
Lughnasadh (Gaelic - Lammas in English) celebrates
transformation. The seeds that were planted grow,
flower and bloom becoming the food that sustains us. In
this celebration, we respectfully offer our trust to Gaia
for the benevolence of Her Love as we break bread, offer
soul-deep gratitude and walk the labyrinth.
UPDATE ON WORK AROUND THE CHURCH
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Date
SOPHIA PORTICO CELEBRATIONS
Lammas
Well, we had a little mouse that decided it wanted to be
a church mouse. It somehow came in to the basement,
chewed its way through a wire that was connected to
our thermostat on the furnace, tripped the breaker,
and toasted our thermostat, which ended up costing
us about $500. So don’t be surprised if you see a
mousetrap or two around the church - just stay away
from them- unless you want to empty it or reset it or do
something useful with it.
On the outside, we have plans for the landscaping
developed by Hoot Lawn and Design and will show you
those Sunday for input.
The painting of the panels on the south and west walls
has been delayed because of rain and rain and rain. The
painter wants a couple of dry days before and a promise
of a couple of dry days after to make sure it sticks. The
cross for the south wall is finished and ready to be hung
but we are waiting for the painting to be done first.
You may have noticed a new cross hanging over our front
porch when you came in today. Fr. Cliff took the one that
was up there, which was a bit too small, and mounted it
neatly on a bigger cross so now it shows up much better
and is truly another one of Cliff’s works of art here at the
church.
We are still entertaining ideas for the west panel - we
have a few but nothing concrete yet so if you have some
suggestions, we are open to hearing them.
REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
I’ve got to confess that I’m terrible at remembering all
those who ask us to pray for them so please pardon me
if I’ve forgotten to mention you on our list.
Pray for our country and all it’s many and varied citizens
and those who live here from other countries as well,
whether temporary guests or legal or illegal immigrants.
We are all God’s children, varied and different though
we may be. Keep in mind that in differences we find
strengths. This is a basic law of biology and eco-systems.
Help us learn from each other the things that help us
become better human beings.
Please remembrer all those who suffer from terminal
illnesses. We have many friends who are sick, please
pray for them as they continue on their healing path,
and especially those who are alone in their sickness and
have no one to reach out to them.
Pray for an end to terrorism, an end to genocide and
the displacement of people all over the globe. Pray
especially for those displaced by the ISIS and the warfare
in the middle east. Pray that we may grow stronger as
witnesses for the gospel.
Remember all those who have lost loved ones in recent
days and years. Pray for protection of those in situations
that are potentially harmful: for those in war zones, for
those in our city who live amidst violence, for those who
live in abusive homes or work or study in places where
there is violence, bullying and abuse.
Pray for the underemployed, those who need assistance
and are having trouble finding it, those who are in war
zones or victims of tyranny or oppression all over the
world. Remember those victims of bullying and abuse
who are in our schools and in our neighborhoods.
Please pray for your leaders, both political and religious.
May they keep in mind the responsibilities they have for
the welfare of all that they serve and the welfare of all
the world.
READINGS FOR JULY
Proper 9 (14)
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
July 5, 2015
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Ezekiel 2:1-5 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Psalm 48 Psalm 123
Mark 6:1-13
Proper 10 (15)
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 12, 2015
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Amos 7:7-15
Ephesians 1:3-14
Psalm 24
Psalm 85:8-13
Mark 6:14-29
Proper 11 (16)
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 19, 2015
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:11-22
Psalm 89:20-37
Psalm 23
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Proper 12 (17)
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
July 26, 2015
2 Samuel 11:1-15
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 14
Psalm 145:10-18
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21
Proper 13 (18)
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 2, 2015
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 51:1-12
Psalm 78:23-29
John 6:24-35
Be especially mindful of those who have no one to pray
for them, for those who are alone and lonely, and for all
who seek consolation of any kind.
Archbishop Peter and Bishop John will be going to a
synod of bishops of OCCA August 7, 8 and 9. Please keep
them and all the leadership of OCCA in your prayers.
July 19 is St. Mary Magdala’s Feast Celebration
• Invite someone new to join us for
worship
• Bring a dish for brunch afterwards
• Pray for all the women leaders in the
Church