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The Call

published twice a month by
St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church

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Graduation
Third Thursday
May 2016
Walking the Road....
 
I am so grateful to God, for many reasons. I hope you are, too!
 
One of those blessings that really helps me is the moments of inspiration that reveal things I have no right to know. As I have said before, that is a certain sign that God exists and His Spirit is alive and well in me...when I know more that I have any right to know.
 
Sometimes it comes through people I have been privileged to have in my life. Again, I hope you, too, can look back and hear the guiding or inspiring words of certain persons, perhaps a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a coach. Sometimes they are little comments, like my grandfather telling me when working in his locksmith shop, "Don't force, persuade." Some are life changing, even when they may not have been meant to be, like my high school geography teacher calling me "a lazy genius." Sometimes it is how the words are expressed, like my graduate professor from Belgium gently talking about the meaning of life.
 
Sometimes the words were from those who put their inspirations and discoveries on the written page. It might be a poet, a historian, a novelist, creator of song or playwright. While not all their words stay with you, some hang on with the poignant message for you that, when it came to you and the Holy Spirit within you, they had no idea what they were writing.
 
Others are passed down to us, words of faith, as in our Holy Scriptures. Here are ages of people, simple ones like the prophet Amos, others... lofty like King David in his psalms... or the fortunate men and women who walked directly with our Lord. Their words are remembered because they bring us the hope of God's love and redemption, listened to down through the centuries.
 
Every verse, every remark, every proverb, every lyric, every thought that you recall as inspiration, is a gift from God. It is a gift because His Spirit encouraged you to listen, to absorb, and to embrace the gift of those words. Oh, that we should treasure those gifts and rejoice for what they bring to our lives.
 
And let us also be more mindful of what we say and do, for we may be a vehicle for such inspirations for others. So be careful what you say! For all this happens by the loving voice of God, through His Holy Spirit...be open... and listen...
 
Fr. Evan+
throwing_caps_in_air.jpg Recognizing Our Graduates

This Sunday, May 22nd, we will recognize our high school and college graduates.  
Join us for this special celebration hosted by the Children's Ministry.  We will have an ice cream sundae bar for coffee hour.  

Please provide the names of graduates to Denise Koch, at 913.568.9383 or Groupsale@sbcglobal.net 
Better Than Ever Dinner Group

On Saturday, May 21st at 5:30 PM
we invite you
 to join us for dinner at

Bravo Italiano


Bravo Cusina Italiana
5005 W 117th St, Leawood, KS 66211
Located in Town Center Plaza - On the North Side
 
It's not too late to sign-up. Please send and email if you would like to join us.  Contact Lou at: betterthanevergroup@yahoo.com
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Campus Outreach Ministry

Starting in the fall St. Mary Magdalene will be sponsoring an outreach program for young adults who are away from home attending college. We are looking for about 8 families.  Each family would sponsor one college student.  

The sponsoring families would be expected to provide and mail one care package a month and another during finals.  The Diocese will track finals week for each school we have registered.   The care packages do not have to be expensive; small gift cards or snacks from the dollar store work well.  

Please contact Denise Koch, groupsale@sbcglobal.net, if you can sponsor a college student and provide this important connection to our young adults.  If you are a college student living away from home or the parent of one, please provide Denise Koch with their student mailing address so that they can be included in this outreach. We want them to know they have the support of both their family and their church family.
 
St. Mary Magdalene and the House of Abraham 

MaryMag has a long history with this Habitat for Humanity project, and it is a great opportunity to share about our church with the wider KC community when we participate with them.  For those who are not familiar with the House of Abraham, the project brings together members of the three Abrahamic faiths, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish, to build a home for a homeless family.
 
Groundbreaking for the latest project took place on May 3rd, and our own Mike Barnes was there for the event, along with Rebecca Bell, who coordinated the event's music.  Bill Tammeus was there, too, and published an entry about the event in his KC Star Faith Matters blog at this link: http://billtammeus.typepad.com/my_weblog/2016/05/5-3-16.html.
 House of Abraham 10th Anniversary & Ground Breaking






They are currently recruiting workers for this home rehab (not a build from scratch), and if you would like to participate, please contact Jim Grant at jcgrant4th@aim.com. 

If we have enough volunteers, we can organize a 'Mary Mag build day' and make it a party!
The Women's Book Club
 
meets monthly at the home of Ida Cox (12323 Ash, Overland Park, KS). All women are welcome and encouraged to attend. An on-going commitment is not required.
 
Please join this fun group of ladies whenever you see a book you wish to read and discuss. Dessert is always served. The contact person is Susan Petrakos, (816) 810-4362, swpetrakos@yahoo.com.
 
The June meeting will be held on June 13th at 7pm
 
The group will discuss
"Me Before You" by JoJo Moyes.

The July book is "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson.
 
The Mother's Day Tea was a wonderful success
               
And we are grateful to all who supported and especially those who attended the fundraiser for our music ministry.
 
The event was well attended and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. 
   
The tables were beautifully decorated with crystal and china provided by members of our committee. This special day included live music, provided by members or our music team, door prizes, a display of Victorian dolls, paintings, vintage dresses, and hat boxes. Plus, there were Victorian style hats provided for all - what fun!
 
Check out some of the photo booth pictures at http://stmarymag.shutterfly.com/5123.
Around the Diocese



Ministry Quick Links





Episcopal Community Services


This Sunday Beau will be with us at Mary Mag.  Come meet him and find out more.
Children's Ministry

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Children's Ministry is seeking 3 volunteers to
help in the nursery.  

If you would like to play with babies and toddlers every once in a while, please contact Mickie Hodapp or Denise Koch.
 
Youth News & Events



 
Benedictine Prayer and Study Group
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will meet 
June 14th
6:30 pm to 8 pm

at the House of Grace

If you have questions, contact Arnetta Johnston at 816-331-7015 or arni@marymag.com
 
Upcoming Events

Construction of the School of the Incarnation is underway!

The School of the Incarnation in Le Pretre, Haiti, is under construction by buildOn.org.   Ground was broken on Friday May 6th, and they estimate that it will be completed by the end of June.   Once we have a firm date for the completion, a trip will be organized for the dedication and blessing, before the next school year starts.  We are hoping that Father Eric Long, founding priest of Mary Mag, and inspiration for the Incarnation Project, will be able to attend this event.

A lot has been accomplished in our partnership with St. Christopher's in Pensacola, FL in the five years since our first visit to the remote mountain village of Le Pretre, including having a well dug for clean water, construction of latrines next to the school site, and numerous repairs to the Church of the Incarnation, next door to the school site.  For the past year and half we have been helping to pay the teachers' salaries, too, since they had been working without full pay for several years.

Construction of the school will include furnishing it with desks, and  a new administration building next to it.

If you would like to join the group that will attend the dedication and blessing ceremony, please contact Jim Grant - jcgrant4th@aim.com , and stay tuned for more information!


 


Belton Community Days  June 15 - 18 at Markey Park

Carnival  * Shopping  * Live Performances  * Great Food

NEW THIS YEAR
 Every Night is Wristband Night!!

AGAIN THIS YEAR
The Kids Pavillion

Friday, June 17: Opening Ceremony * Miss Belton Contest * Live Music

Saturday, June 18: Parade * Entertainment * Shopping * Live Music * Fireworks

More details go to: www.beltoncommunityprojects.com