PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND
We hold our siblings in the Holy Land close during this time of escalated violence, and we raise our prayers to the heavens. We acknowledge that Jews, Muslims and Christians consider this land of promise to be sacred and call it home. We grieve not only the loss of life and and condemn all acts of terror; we also grieve the hard-heartedness that has kept people from negotiating peaceful resolutions to their conflicts and has brought us to this crisis. And so we pray...
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God of All, You are to us the Father of Promise, the Mother of All Consolations. As the psalmist prayed, "in the day of distress we call to You, for surely You will answer" (Ps 86:7). Distress is again at hand, felt in searing tears and bones chilled to the core by the horrors on display. War and devastation have again disrupted our hope for peace in the Holy Land — holy because it is there that you have promised to draw all peoples to Yourself. You established it as a place of safety and bounty for the anawhim, the poor ones who sought refuge from oppression while remaining faithful to You in times of difficulty. Help us to remain faithful to humility, faithful to justice, faithful as peace-makers, faithful to love. Have mercy on us and grant us peace. Amen.
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On Monday, October 9th, Fr. Michael attended a Community Vigil for Peace in Israel
at Temple Emmanuel, representing us and the Colorado Council of Churches.
(See article in the Denver Gazette.) Fr. Michael's main takeaways:
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The Jewish community greatly appreciates our solidarity in this time of crisis and grief; visiting clergy thanked numerous times throughout the evening.
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Almost everyone in the local community has family members or knows individuals are who are impacted in Israel.
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The distinction was made between supporting Zionism (Israel's right to exist and have a safe home of their own) and certain policies of the current government.
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Similarly, one can condemn Hamas/Hezbollah/Iranian regime (who vow to destroy the Israeli state) and support the Palestinian people.
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Terrorism and acts of war are never justifiable.
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Israel's defense is a rare issue that has bi-partisan support in Congress.
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was incredibly eloquent, speaking heart to heart and journeying with those in crisis. He shared about how parents' hearts are outside of themselves — in their children, cherished as part of themselves.
He went on to recognize how Jewish Americans' hearts are in Israel, and assured those in attendance that he and Denver are holding them, part of our hearts, part of us.
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THE ECC COUNCIL OF BISHOPS'
STATEMENT ON THE WAR
IN GAZA AND ISRAEL
Mission Statement / Being Church Together
"... together as a communion of communities in response to our baptismal call to preach the Gospel of liberation and justice; to offer a refuge in Christ for those who suffer prejudice; to stand open to dialogue with others so called and to conform our lives to the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Our Regional Bishop Elected By The People
"The Right Reverend Kae Madden was elected in May 2021 to be the first bishop to serve the five communities of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC). She is the co-founder (2004) and pastor (2006) of Church of the Beloved Ecumenical Catholic Community in Northglenn."
ECC Presiding Bishop Pablo Burson
visits communities around the country
& extends his thanks to retiring Bp. Denise Donato
Read the October Newsletter from the Office of Presiding Bishop here.
Bishop Kae's invitation
to let your light shine
“You are the light of the world. You do not build a city on a hill, then try to hide it; do you? You do not light a lamp, then put it under a bushel basket; do you? No, you set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, your light must shine before others so that they may see your good acts, and give praise to your God in heaven.” (Mt 5:14-16, Inclusive Lectionary)
Jesus calls us to “let our light shine.”
Sometimes the rules of the faith tradition we inherit have the effect of putting a “bushel basket” over who we are and who we are called to be. For example, maybe we are in a committed gay relationship? Or a woman called to priesthood? Or a married priest? Or we are divorced and quietly remarried? Or? So we hide our light. And then…some incident or the Holy Spirit may nudge us to risk exploring alternatives.
I was called by the Spirit to priesthood from my youth. My faith tradition did not include women priests. Eventually, the call was so strong that I could no longer remain in the faith tradition in which I grew up – it was too restrictive. It was painful to disentangle God’s enlivening and affirming presence within me from my family’s religion, and to move toward the radically inclusive Catholicism of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. It took time. Research. Grieving. The assurance that I could be Catholic AND let my light shine. The supportive company of others. The experience of a Catholicism that welcomes and affirms us.
If you are looking for an inclusive Catholicism, we are here to journey with you; we have five communities along the Front Range. How might it feel to come out from under the bushel basket and shine?
SOCIAL JUSTICE CONCERNS
offering a place of welcome and affirmation
On November 7, 2022, the Denver Post reported on the Roman Archdiocese of Denver's directing its Catholic schools to deny the lived experiences of transgender youths and same-sex parents in a document entitled “Guidance for Issues Concerning the Human Person and Sexual Identity.” In response, we have tried to articulate an alternate Catholic narrative.
As our Bishop Kae Madden said in an interview on Denver7 News, we are heart-broken that a population traditionally marginalized is being turned away by a segment of Christ's Church. See her interview here.
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You can also read responses from around our Region. E.g., from St. Paul Catholic Community of Faith
STRONGER TOGETHER
Rocky Mountain Regional Synod
Our first regional Synod - it's how we do church TOGETHER with every voice heard and honored! We also celebrated a Chrism Mass and reaffirmed our ministerial commitments as baptized laity, clergy and bishops!
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View the video of Chancellor George Von Stamwitz's keynote below.
Celebrating the life of
Mother Sheila Dierks
JULY 29, 1943 – FEBRUARY 20, 2023
MASS OF THE RESURRECTION
We gathered to celebrate Mother Sheila's life on
Friday, May 5th at 10 a.m. at Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Community,
The celebration was recorded on Light of Christ’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LOCLongmont.
