Sunday

February 15, 2026

Transfiguration

Rev. Lindsay Popperson's Sermon: "The Path Through the Valley"

Scripture Lesson: John 10:1-18  

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Stay up-to-date with the latest calendar of events!

In the past couple of months, we have been studying the life and works of Jesus as an example of how to live. Our lesson for this Sunday's youth group is: The Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep

• Discussion Questions: Why do you think God celebrates the one who has gotten lost or turned away when they have been found again? Do you think this is fair? What are some places you see this happening in your life?

The Winter Walk has been postponed due to the continuing weather advisories. The new date is March 22. If you would like to join, please let Jess know by March 15. 

Our Parent's Night Out has been postponed to Friday March 6, 5:30-9:30 due to many of our families leaving town for February break.

After some conversation with the youth, it seems that a homework study group could be helpful for the group. Please let Jess know which day/time(s) would work for your youth generally: Mondays 4-5:30, 4:30-6 or Wednesdays 4-5:30, 4:30-6.

Men’s Night Out (Men’s Dinner), Friday, Feb. 20

This Sunday, Feb. 15, is the last day for men to reserve and pay ($30) for a spot for attending the men’s dinner on Friday night, Feb. 20, in our ONC Parish Hall. We will gather around 6:30 and start dinner around 7. The dinner is catered by Louise Moore of “Every Little Breeze Catering”. On the menu are ribs, pulled pork, cornbread, rolls, mac & cheese, coleslaw, and brownies.  To drink, we’ll have water and soft drinks. BYOB or wine if you want it. These dinners are planned every few years. They are a nice opportunity for men connected to ONC to get together. One of us (Tom Day, Frank Arren, Richard Thibedeau, or Dave Hostetter) will be available during coffee hour this Sunday to answer questions and collect reservations and payments ($30 cash or check). Between now and then, men can also reserve with Tom Day, 978-764-6089 or Dave Hostetter, 781-631-3216.  

LAST CALL FOR DONATIONS

Rehearsals for the annual Palm Sunday Lenten Choral Concert will begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The centerpiece of our Lenten Concert is John Rutter's beloved Requiem, featuring Old North soloists and the Old North Festival Chorus and Orchestra.  The Rutter Requiem is an extraordinarily beautiful work, composed in 1985. It consists of rich choral writing and incorporates texts from the Latin Requiem Mass, as well as the Book of Common Prayer. The Requiem is performed widely throughout the world and is generally experienced as a work which inspires comfort and hope. This hour-long concert will be performed by candlelight and will include additional music of the season.

All interested singers – from high-school-aged students to adults – are welcome to join this special choral performance. (last performed at Old North in 2019!) There are no auditions, and it is not necessary to be a member of Old North Church or the Festival Chorus to join, but previous choral experience is required. 

Please help spread the word! Singers are asked to purchase their scores at the first rehearsal unless they already own one. There will be a limited number of scores available to borrow from the Old North Music Library.  Please contact Maria at vankalken@gmail.com with questions and/or to reserve a score to be picked up or purchased at Registration on February 18. 

Registration & First Rehearsal:

Wednesday: February 18 at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary

Weekly Rehearsals:   

Wednesdays: 7:30 -9:00 (9:30 when needed)

Monday: March 16: 7:30 -9:30

Saturdays: 10am -12pm TBD

Dress Rehearsal (mandatory):    

Saturday, March 28, 10am – 1pm

Concert:     

Sunday, March 29, at 7:30pm   

Life and Living Course Postponed to February 22

11:30 AM-12:30 PM

"Forgiveness"

Our first meeting in the New Year is rescheduled to February 22. I have been thinking about possible topics for the coming months – suggestions are always welcome - and have selected: “Learning to Love Your Enemies: A Conversation with Matthew Potts” . The Rev. Matthew Ichihashi Potts is Pusey Minister at Harvard’s Memorial Church and Professor of Religion and Literature at Harvard Divinity School. We live in a savage political climate and conversations with others are often troubled and fractured. The notion of “loving your enemies” taught by many religious traditions, appears rather strained in a secular world. But, whether we approach ‘forgiveness’ from a religious or secular point of view, it is a problem fraught with difficulty. By clicking this LINK you can read a copy of the transcript of the conversation with Rev. Potts, which might invigorate discussion and an exchange of opinions on ‘forgiveness’.

I am looking forward to meeting again and either gather in person in the Great Room of Old North Church’s Stacey Street Office, on Sunday from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., or on-line via the Zoom link. Dates are: February 22, March 22, April 26, May 31, and June 28. If you would like to join the discussions and are not on the mailing list, email: elsewiersma@comcast.net or contact the church office (781-631-1244), or email: office@onchurch.org

Our Lenten book group with other area churches will read For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional by Hanna Reichel. About the book:

"In an era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism, many Christians find themselves disoriented, wondering how their faith should inform myriad daily decisions. Drawing upon both scholarship and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval."

We will meet Wednesdays at 7pm starting Feb 25, rotating between churches. 

A photo journal & highlights of a Pilgrim’s 568 miles (914 km) 42 day walk on The Way of St. James. Beginning in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France and ending in Finisterre, Spain, you’ll view the spectacular everchanging beauty of the terrain, the magnificent churches and historic monuments, a peek into nightly accommodations, and other Pilgrims making this journey. If you’re inspired, have questions and/or want to learn more, please contact Kathi Vander Laan kvanlaan@comcast.net. 

Welcome the Stranger (WTS) is an interfaith partnership of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Temple Emanu-El, and Old North Church, providing practical help to families in need. Since 2017, WTS has supported asylum-seeking families and local households transitioning out of homelessness, and more recently has partnered with HAWC in Salem to help survivors of domestic abuse set up new homes.



Thanks to a donated storage room at Old North, WTS can now respond quickly to requests for small household items. With gratitude to all who support this ministry—and special thanks to Old North’s worker bees: Judy Conner, Linda Duvel, Lynda Hare, and Richard Thibedeau. 

If you know of anyone, either here at Old North or in the wider Marblehead community, who is going through a difficult time, the Community Life Board would like to reach out with a little plant and a friendly note. Please contact Lynda Hare at hares8carrots@hotmail.com or 781-639-0107 if you know someone who would appreciate a little extra cheer.

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 on 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.

Accessing Rev. Lindsay’s Calendar