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OnWeGo is a collaboration between David Thorne Scott (voice/bass), Mark Shilansky (piano/voice), Sara Caswell (violin), and Eric Byers (guitar/voice) embracing jazz, popular, and world music, with an emphasis on vocal harmony and collective improvisation. Original songs are heard side by side with carefully chosen covers, in arrangements that feature the group members’ virtuoso playing and telepathic interplay.

Youtube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/@OnWeGoBand

Mark Shilansky

"Inventive, modern mainstream jazz pianist” (Jon Garelick, Boston Globe) Mark Shilansky provides melodic improvisation and infectious compositions on his own and to a host of jazz luminaries, as well as to the classroom, as a professor at Berklee College of Music and the University of New Hampshire. Shilansky’s recordings as a leader include 2007’s “Join the Club,” a mostly Latin Jazz affair featuring David Bowie saxist Donny McCaslin, and 2013’s “Fugue Mill,” the eponymous debut of his Jazz/Bluegrass/Celtic project, and “Greensky” (2023) an original modern jazz recording co-led with vibraphonist Rich Greenblatt, and he is featured on over 60 recordings as a keyboardist, vocalist, composer/arranger, or producer, and in performance as band member with such artists as the New York Voices, Luciana Souza, and Sean Jones. As an artist he embraces the history of the styles in which he works, while seeking connections between them as a way of expressing a personal musical vision, characterized by lush harmonies, the exploration of the line between composition and improvisation, and an ever-present sense of humor. His works have been recorded by Robin McKelle, Kim Nazarian, and by Jazz All-State and College ensembles around the world.  

David Thorne Scott is a singer and songwriter who “explores the intersection of Jazz and Americana, city and country, instrumentation and lyrics to create lush compositions and covers that are unifying, and healing, in their beauty.” (Eponymous Review) David has long been known for bringing a modern edge to the classics of the Great American Songbook. His album "Shade" was named a "Top 5 CD of the Year" by the Jazz Education Journal. Cadence Magazine said "he phrases like a saxophone player and is as slippery and hip as the young Mel Tormé." Herb Wong, one of the west coast's leading jazz experts, wrote “I haven’t been this moved by a performance of ‘For All We Know’ since Carmen McRae.” David's recent release is called "Thornewood", an album that explores the sweet spot between Jazz and Americana: Cole Porter and Harold Arlen placed next to John Denver and Townes Van Zandt. Special guests on the album include Paula Cole, Peter Eldridge, Jason Palmer, and Walter Smith III. David is a Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music.

Grammy® Nominee Sara Caswell “is a brilliant world-class violinist...one of the very best of the present generation of emerging young jazz stars” according to the late David Baker, internationally-renowned jazz educator and Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. Rooted in an early exposure to a variety of musical genres, Sara’s technical facility intertwined with her gift for lyricism continue to attract growing attention to her artistry as a jazz soloist, sideman, and teacher. Voted into the DownBeat Magazine Critics and Readers Polls every year since 2013, Sara has released three highly-acclaimed albums under her own name – The Way to You (2023), But Beautiful(2005), and First Song (2000). She has been part of groups led by esperanza spalding (Chamber Music Society), Linda Oh (Aventurine), and has performed and/or recorded with artists and ensembles including Brad Mehldau, Brian Blade, John Patitucci, Donny McCaslin, Henry Threadgill, Dave Stryker, Helen Sung, Miho Hazama, Christian Sands, Regina Carter, Kishi Bashi, and Bruce Springsteen. She is a member of Joseph Brent's 9 Horses trio, Chuck Owen's The Jazz Surge, and the Caswell Sisters Quintet (a group she co-leads with her sister, vocalist Rachel Caswell). In 2013, Sara and Rachel joined forces with Grammy®-nominated jazz pianist Fred Hersch and recorded the album Alive in the Singing Air to rave reviews and its selection by jazz critic Thomas Cunniffe as one of the year's “Best Vocal CDs” on Jazz History Online. Sara has performed at Carnegie Hall, Village Vanguard, Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, SFJazz, Blue Note (NYC and Tokyo), and at jazz festivals including Newport, Montreal, and Montreux. Sara is Currently on faculty at the Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, and New York University. Sara’s artistry and unique sound led international recording artist/violinist Mark O’Connor to write: “Most good violinists will never experience what Sara creates with her instrument. It is beautifully refined emotion that lifts the spirit…Jazz violin needs a universal ambassador...a player who can pick up where the last generation left off. Sara  is well on her way to extending that tradition to touch new audiences.” 

Eric Byers’ extraordinary proficiency and versatility as a guitarist and composer/arranger have been heard on recordings and in concert halls (including at Berklee College of Music where he serves as a professor of Harmony and Jazz Composition) and clubs around the world, with artists like Dave and Maureen Budway, George Russell, Jr, The Fifth Dimension, Lydia Harrell, No Static (New England’s Premier Steely Dan tribute band), Adrian Sicam, and Andrea Capozzoli. 

Summer is here and time to move our eight o'clock service to Marblehead's beautiful Chandler Hovey Park, beginning this Sunday, June 21st.  Once again, the Welcome/Nurturing Committee of the Community Life Ministry Board will be providing coffee and homemade goodies after the service. 

If you have never been to the lighthouse service, you might want to give it a try. Bring your own chairs or blankets, dress as you please, bring your furry friend.... just come and immerse yourself in the beauty that God has created. Then stay for coffee and a chat with friends. As we have done in the past, and in keeping with the church's commitment to sustainability, all service goods used will be carried out and composted. Better yet, bring your own coffee cup to further preserve this beautiful planet that the Lord has given us.

As in the past, if it is raining at 8 am, the service will be moved to the Sanctuary. Look for the sandwich board sign at the Devereux Beach entrance: if green, go to the Lighthouse; if red, the service will be held in the Sanctuary.  

At the beginning of the summer boating, sailing and racing season we will participate in an ancient tradition: the Blessing of the Boats. As we gather in worship at the mouth of historic Marblehead harbor, we'll name and bless our boats (racing yachts, whalers, kayaks, dinghies, lobsterboats, etc!) Please pass this along so your friends, boat mates and sailing buddies will know they can join us. If you can't be there and want to include the name of your boat (or a friend's boat) please email them to Rev. Lindsay (lindsay@onchurch.org)

Last Sunday, I was honored on my retirement day at Old North Church. I have had the pleasure of working there for 24 years.  After working at Bank of Boston (now Bank of America) in various capacities for 16 years and leaving there as an Assistant Vice President in Finance and Information Systems, I was a happy stay at home mom for 5 years before life circumstances drew me back into the work force.  Kate was in kindergarten when I started work at the church and is now turning 30! Life sure moves quickly. 

I have loved serving the church as office manager. My job has changed and grown in responsibility over the years. Besides the weekly tasks of producing the bulletin and newsletter, I have been honored to be able to help guide people through weddings, baptisms and funerals. It has been a fun challenge to assist with the stewardship campaign, to manage building and parking lot usage and rentals and to manage bookkeeping and payroll accounting. My banking background prepared me well!

At the same time, so many of you have supported me through both difficult and also fun personal times over the years. I have been so grateful to have been supported by so many of you in different ways. I am going to miss my Old North family and your fun phone calls and visits, but I am leaving you in excellent hands with Anastasia. 

I extend my sincere thanks to Lindsay, Christine, Maria, Ana, the Leadership Board, all of the Ministry Boards, the Choir (thanks for making me cry with your Anthem), to Rick von Rueden and Katharine Redmond for their touching recognitions during the annual meeting, and to the entire congregation for such a heartfelt day on Sunday. Thank you all for the special gifts. I felt loved and honored. It was a perfect send-off!

Our church has been proudly Open and Affirming to LGBTQ+ people since 2008. On this Sunday in Pride Month, we will re-commit ourselves to the work of sharing God's love with all people, and seeing God's image in all people. 

First Summer Intergenerational Dinner at the Goldthwait Reservation

Join us Wednesday July 8th, 5-6:30 for a picnic dinner. These beloved dinners are an opportunity for people of all ages to gather in a gorgeous setting. Feel free to bring a dish or just show up! Please RSVP with Ana in the Church Office (office@onchurch.org). 

Life & Living Course Continues

We are meeting on June 28, to discuss “Friendships” – it is our last session prior to a summer break and we will start up again this coming Fall. There is a timeless Swedish proverb: “Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow”. I believe this captures the power of human connection. Close friends enhance our lives.


As always we gather in person in the Great Room of Old North Church’s Stacey Street Office, from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., or on-line via the Zoom link below.

Topic: Life and Living

Time: This is a recurring meeting 
Join Zoom Meeting by clicking HERE

Meeting ID: 894 6648 8441

Passcode: 979357 

The Merrigan family invites you to an open house 
Celebration of Life for Don Merrigan on

Sunday, June 28

12:30-3:30 pm

Marblehead VFW Hall

321 West Shore Drive

A light luncheon will be served.

Please RSVP to 617-974-0244 or to merrigan.carol@gmail.com if you can join us.

Leadership Board May Meeting minutes are available by 


clicking this LINK. The next Leadership Board meeting with our new 2026-2027 roster will be on Thursday, July 9^th at 7pm.

On Sunday, June 7th, our congregation welcomed seven families into our church as new and transferring members. They are Don and Maria Hall; Larissa Cartwright and daughter, Aviana; Andrea and Erik Mygrant and son, Turner and daughter, Darien; Nancy Slamet; Anastasia and Bart Lowden and daughters, Aurora and Skye; Michael Bender and Zameera Fida and sons, Simon and William; and transferring member Dale Bruce. Each has provided us with a little description of themselves and their families in order for us to get to know them better. "Spotlight on New Members" will feature each family over the next few newsletters. Please help us welcome them into our fold.

The Narthex Display for Spring/Summer

America's 250th!

"First Church Members in the Revolution”

In honor of America’s birthday, the narthex display through the summer features historical members of the congregation who were heroes in the cause for Independence as well as modern ones who portray them.

A monastic practice of scripture, reflection and prayer dating back to the 4^th century, at Old North lectio divina has been adapted and practiced for more than ten years every Tuesday morning from 9 to about 10:30 am. We all take turns being the leader to select the readings.

We have welcomed newcomers, some not from Old North, who seem to find soul food in the practice and the shared reflections that are part of it. 

We meet at 9 am both in person in the “Great Room” on Stacey St. and on Zoom.

We begin each meeting with a context-setting call to worship. Then we pair a scripture reading with a poem, chosen by the leader for the day and read aloud. We then move into 21 minutes of silent meditation, marked by chimes, and finally we share in “safe space” our responses – personal and intellectual. We end each session with prayers for healing and the Lord’s Prayer.



It is a rich time of being together in community and quite like no other. We invite you to give it a try.