Saturday, July 25, 2026: Join Us Tomorrow and Celebrate the Feast of Mary of Magdala.

We begin at 3:45 with a greeting followed by our celebration and potluck.

In person at Christ Church United Methodist

1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403 or on Zoom

Or Join the Zoom Meeting using this link (copy and paste it into your browser)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=85439930916

Passcode: 1234

or start Zoom and copy the meeting ID when prompted

Meeting ID: 519 315 8573

Passcode: 1234

Liturgical Order of Service Celebrating 

the Feast of Mary Magdalene

Victoria rings the Singing Bowl X 3 (to signal the start of liturgy),  greets and welcomes the Emmaus Community and any new participants and offers a brief explanation of the theme of our liturgy

Dan Opening Prayer: (written by Dan Vrooman)

As we celebrate the Apostleship of Mary Magdalene today, let us imagine the authority Jesus deposited into her as she was sent to ‘go and tell the others.’ Ah, Mary of Magdala, were you also imprisoned by your story never told? 

Until one day, ah one glorious day, destined to shine through history, beckoning like a flaming beacon to women throughout the ages, He looked upon you, Mary, and saw your soul beauty starved for light and voice. 

The man, Jesus, capable like a lightning rod of burning through darkness, recognized you as his own—claiming and honoring all you were as he dispelled in you the demons of fear, doubt and repression, raising you up into fullness, calling forth your powerful presence.

How radiant you shone! Your joy leaping up unfettered as your dreams spilled out in the free hot breeze of a village in Galilee! How was it with you, then as freedom led you dancing in the market place? By his side now strong you stood, supportive and affirming of the One who broke your chains. 

So never again, Mary, in spite of the threats, would you be less than you knew yourself to be. And did you nurture a fragile hope that the crowds would be raised up too and throw off their demons of oppression?

Opening Song/Hymn: Tears of Grace: A Devotional Song and video for Saint Mary Magdalene: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfNt1AtUY0w

Liturgy of The Word:

Ed: First Reading: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (by Jean-Yves LeLoup p. xiv)

The canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) mention Mary Magdalene by name a handful of times, though many have assigned to her the identity of other unnamed women who figure in these four texts. 

For instance, there has been some assumption that she and Mary of Bethany, Lazarus’s sister, are the same person. Likewise, Luke refers to a woman, a “sinner” often assumed to be a prostitute who brings unguent to anoint Jesus at the home of Simon, a Pharisee, and some have believed that Magdalene is the sinner who receives forgiveness after washing Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-50).

Mary’s identity as a prostitute stems from Homily 33 of Pope Gregory I, delivered in the year 591, in which he declared that she and the unnamed woman in Luke 7 are, in fact, one and the same, and that the faithful should hold Mary as the penitent whore:

“She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark. And what did these seven devils signify, if not all the vices? … It is clear, brothers, that the woman previously used the unguent to perfume her flesh in forbidden acts.”

Responsorial Psalm: I found You inside Me You. – Rumi (video)

Mary Second Reading: From The Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Jean-Yves LeLoup (p. xvii) …[I]t’s important to remember that Jesus Christ does relieve Mary of seven demons—or perhaps, those aspects that can cloud vision and energy at each of the seven chakras.

Presumably, she no longer possesses the seven deadly sins— pride, lust, envy, anger, covetousness, gluttony and sloth. In their place exist the corresponding virtues— the way has been cleared for “the seven virgins of light.” If her purification is viewed in this way, it makes her the most thoroughly sanctified person mentioned in the New Testament. 

Imagine being completely cleansed of prejudice and old grudges, fogs of illusion, hereditary obstacles to health, all desires. 

Once healed, she can truly see the spiritual truth that works in all things. She can see the barbarity of other human beings, as well as the transcendent beauty of Jesus Christ’s teachings. In modern terms, her heart and energetic centers are open.

Two Gospel Readings: 

Reading 1: From the Gospel of Luke 8: 1-3

Jeanine Now it happened that after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments. Mary, surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Suzanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.

Reading 2: The Gospel of Mary

Jim McFadden In the days following the crucifixion, in the upper room…Peter said to Mary: “Sister, we know that the Teacher loved you differently from other women. Tell us whatever you remember of any words he told you which we have not yet heard. Then, Mary shares her words from a vision she had of Jesus… 

“…I left the world with the aid of another world; a design was erased, by virtue of a higher design. Henceforth I travel toward Repose, where time rests in the Eternity of time; I go now into Silence.” Having said all this, Mary became silent, for it was in silence that the Teacher spoke to her. 

Then Andrew began to speak, and said to his brothers: “Tell me, what do you think of these things she has been telling us? As for me, I do not believe that the Teacher would speak like this. These ideas are too different from those we have known.” And Peter added: “How is it possible that the Teacher talked in this manner, with a woman, about secrets of which we ourselves are ignorant? Must we change our customs, and listen to this woman? Did he really choose her, and prefer her to us?”

…At this, Levi spoke up: “Peter, you have always been hot-tempered, and now we see you repudiating a woman, just as our adversaries do. Yet if the Teacher held her worthy, who are you to reject her? Surely the Teacher knew her very well, for he loved her more than us. Therefore let us atone, and become fully human [Anthropos], so that the Teacher can take root in us. Let us grow as he demanded of us, and walk forth to spread the gospel, without trying to lay down any rules and laws other than those he witnessed.

Victoria:  offers a brief Homily Starter to open our Community Dialogue with the following questions for reflection and dialogue:

• As you listened to the readings tonight, what word or phrase captured your attention and why? 

• How do you think our world today might be different if The Gospel of Mary hadbeen accepted as one of the canonical Gospels?

Dan: Offering the Basket (in honor of John Poole and our Emmaus Community tithing)

Dan: What Do We Bring to the Table tonight? (Using our hand motions)

Offertory Song/Hymn:  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPY2ib8DcgH/

Liturgy of the Eucharist:

Eucharistic Prayer

Victoria: On the night before he died, Jesus was at table with his friends.  He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his friends saying,

All:  "This is my body, broken for you."

Dan: As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again he gave thanks to you, gave it to his friends and said,

All: "This is the new covenant of my lifeblood shed for you and for all.  As often as you do this, do this in memory or me."

Victoria: Now gathered at your table, we offer to you our gifts of bread and wine, and ourselves, a living sacrifice.  Pour out your Spirit upon all these gifts that they, and we, may be the Body and Blood of Christ.  

Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth and make us your new creation. In the fullness of time bring us with all your saints from every tribe and language, from every people and nation to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world.

All: For it is through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, O God, now and forever. Amen.

Dan: Now together, as one community, we offer to you O God,  our prayer, in the name of your beloved son and our brother, Jesus: 

All: Our Mother, Our Father Holy and blessed is your true name.

We pray for your reign of peace to come. We pray that your good will be done.

Let heaven and earth become one. Give us this day the bread we need. 

Give it to those who have none. 

Let forgiveness flow like a river between us, from each one to each one. 

Lead us to holy innocence beyond the evil of our days.

Come swiftly Mother, Father, come. 

For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy: 

Forever your name is All in One.

Victoria: The Sign of Peace: Let us offer one another (and those on ZOOM), a sign of `God’s peace?

Dan: Distribution of Communion

Everyone is welcome to this table. 

Our God, whom the universe cannot contain is present to us in this bread.

Our God, who redeems us and calls us by name, now meets us in this cup. So, come, Beloved Friends, and take this bread, Drink this wine, In them, God comes to us, so that we may come to God.

We invite everyone now to partake of their communion. 

Communion Song/ Hymn: Gift of Finest Wheat:

Blessing of Sharon Fujier: (Blessing written by Dan Vrooman)

May God’s peace, grace, and comfort surround you, Sharon, as you begin this new chapter.

Thank you for the beautiful threads of faith, wisdom, and love you have woven into the fabric of our Emmaus community. Your presence has been a true blessing to us, and while we will miss seeing you on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, we celebrate the season of rest and care ahead of you.

As you move into your new home in Eugene, may it quickly become a sanctuary of warmth, comfort, and deep peace. We pray that you find gentle rest for your body, joy in new friendships, and a constant, reassuring sense of God’s presence in every quiet moment.

Remember that no distance can dim the love this community holds for you. You go with our deepest gratitude, our fondest memories, and our unceasing prayers. May the Lord bless you and keep you, shine His face upon you, and give you peace.

Victoria: Closing Blessing: (excerpts from:) The Magdalene’s Blessing (by Jan Richardson)

This blessing is an invitation, a choice, a threshold, a gate.

This is your life calling to you from a place you could never have dreamed,

but now that you have glimpsed its edge, you cannot imagine choosing any other way.

So let the tears come as anointing, as consecration, and then let them go.

Let this blessing gather itself around you.

Let it give you what you will need for this journey.

You will not remember the words— they do not matter.

All you need to remember is how it sounded when you stood in the place of death 

and heard the living call your name.

And the good people of this, our beloved Emmaus Community, say Amen. Amen! 

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