Worship Returns to the Sanctuary this Sunday, September 8

This Sunday we will return to the Sanctuary with two services at 8 am and 10 am. Our Livestream of the 10 am service will resume September 8th as well.

Please join us for coffee in the parish hall after the 10 o’clock service Sunday.

Nursery Care begins this Sunday, September 8; Sunday School begins Sunday, September 22

Teaching and nurturing children is part of who we are at Old North. There will be Sunday school and nursery care every Sunday during the 10am service. Nursery Care begins this Sunday; Sunday School begins Sunday, Sept 22. Your children are encouraged to attend the Candidating Sunday (September 15) to meet Rev. Christine!

You can register your children for Nursery Care and Sunday School online at bit.ly/ONCkids

Meet and Greet with the New Youth Pastor

tomorrow, Friday, September 6, at 6:30pm

at St. Andrews Episcopal Church

My name is Jess Easter (She/Her) and I am so excited to be starting as the new youth pastor serving the Marblehead Youth Collaborative Ministry (MYCM). This upcoming school year I am a rising second-year at Boston University School of Theology working to earn my Master of Divinity. I am still quite new to Massachusetts (and the East Coast in general!), having just moved from Southern California for school last year, so I’d love ideas of fun places to go!

Now that you know a little bit about me, on Friday, September 6th at 6:30, I will be hosting a Meet and Greet Event for families with youth at St. Andrews Episcopal Church (135 Lafayette St, Marblehead, MA 01945) for us to all have the opportunity to get to know one another. Come ready for lemonade, snacks, and chats. I hope you all can make it to this event, however I understand that schedules are busy, especially at the beginning of the school year!

If you can’t make it, I will be present at all four churches that are part of the MYCM this September according to the following schedule:

· 9/1 Old North Church 

· 9/8 St. Andrews

· 9/15 First Church Swampscott

· 9/22 Clifton Lutheran



You’ll be able to find me at coffee hour (probably with coffee in hand!) after all of these services. Please come up and introduce yourself!

First Youth Group Meeting this Sunday

Our very first youth group meeting will be this Sunday, September 8th, at Old North Church (35 Washington St, Marblehead, MA 01945). Middle school age youth (6th-8th grades) will be meeting from 4-6 pm and High School (9th-12th grades) from 6-8 pm in the Parish Hall. There will be pizza and snacks for everyone to enjoy! It is important that youth attend this if possible, because we will be building programs for this year based on the interests they share during this meeting.

ONC Reading Group September 11 at 9am



The next meeting of ONC Reading Group on Preserving Our Democracy and Environment will be held on Zoom on September 11^th from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. It will open early, by 8:45 AM, for solving technical problems, etc.

This will be the latest of a series of meetings on this subject that have been hosted for all by the ONC Men’s group. You are invited to participate regardless of the amount of your preparation, or whether you have attended a previous meeting. At this meeting we will continue our discussions of various approaches toward preserving our democracy through and beyond the upcoming elections. We will also continue our discussions of Heather Cox Richardson’s latest book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. 

To join the meeting, just click on

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82896213028?pwd=n0feMmXa3axBgJknqu1IUD3qTwialx.1 .

To use your telephone for audio, dial +1 929 205 6099 (in New York) and follow the operator’s instructions with Meeting ID: 828-9621-3028 and Passcode: 537613. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry Reconvenes

Knitters! Please join us to make shawls for the ONC community. Basic knit-purl is all you need. The prayer shawl knitters reconvene from summer break on the following dates at Stacey Street, 10:30-12. 

September 11

Oct 9

Nov 13

Dec 11

Yarn and needles are provided for the adult + baptism shawls. For more information contact Alexandra Garfield: Alexandradane@me.com or 781.929.0540.

Monthly Bell Ringing to Call Awareness About Climate Change

Listen for the bells this Wednesday, September 11, at 11 am, for 11 minutes. It’s our monthly event with other congregations in Marblehead and across the North Shore to remind us that we are indeed in the 11th hour of creation care – a reminder that this gift of creation given to us in our lifetime is fragile and mightily impacted by human behavior. I

t is 11 minutes of a prayer of thanks to God for this precious gift, of confession that we have not attended well, and resolve that we will do our small part to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem of climate change. 

Join us in that prayer at home or at the church to take your turn at the bell rope.

Please consider joining the Senior Choir  this year!

Singers of all ages (high school and up) and varied levels of experience are welcome and encouraged. Singing is gratifying, fun and in fact, good for your health and well-being!

Regular rehearsals for the Senior Choir take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:30pm -9:00pm, and at 9am on Sunday mornings. The first weeknight rehearsal for this season is Wednesday, September 11th and will be followed by some social time.

Designated Term Associate Pastor Search Team Update

The Search Committee is pleased and excited to announce that Reverend Christine Hribar has accepted our part time Designated Term Associate Minister position at Old North Church!

We will have a Candidating weekend on Saturday September 14 and Sunday September 15. On September 14 there will be a Meet & Greet at 10:30 am in the Parish Hall (Refreshments provided; children welcome!). Christine will preach on Sunday September 15, followed by a congregational vote. Christine’s broad experience (inside and outside of the church), her creativity, and her ability to connect with people of all ages make her an excellent candidate for our next associate pastor.

Death and Dying/Life and Living Course Continues

Our next sessions are scheduled on September 22, October 20, and November 17 in the Great Room, or you have the option to join on-line by clicking the link below.

In May I completed writing the history of the Salem Mission at the Crombie Street Congregational Church –the first shelter for homeless people in Salem, which in 2005 became Lifebridge North Shore and relocated to its current location fronted on Riley Plaza. The Mission was the ground Lifebridge North Shore was rooted in. I added an Addendum: Charity and Social Consciousness, which I wrote with a sociological bend and should give us food for thought during discussions in the Fall. Among other things to ponder: how government, non-government organizations, private initiatives of volunteerism and fund raising, each play a role in responding to the needs of the destitute without basic necessities of life. Many of us volunteer our service to make a difference in our communities and beyond. Non-government agencies and volunteer efforts are likely no more than bandages to ameliorate profound structural inequities and social inequalities. -- Else Wiersma 

If you would like to join the discussion and not on the mailing list, email: elsewiersma@comcast.net or contact the church office (781-531-1124),or mail office@onchurch.org.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89664581912?pwd=S2pxa2RUZDRVM1FKeng1NnVvUWdzZz09

Rehearsals for the 44th annual Festival Chorus concerts will begin on Wednesday, September 25th in the Old North Sanctuary.

Please arrive early to register - doors will be open at 7:00pm and rehearsal will begin at 7:30pm. All singers are welcome! We do not hold auditions, but previous choral experience is expected. Singers are required to purchase their musical scores (which will be provided at registration) and there is a nominal registration fee.

Rehearsals will take place from 7:30pm-9:00pm every Wednesday and will extend to 9:30pm as we get closer to the concert dates. This year’s program will feature Magnificat in D, by Jan Dismas Zelenka, Felix Mendelssohn’s Christmas Cantata, Vom Himmel Hoch (From Heaven on High), International Carols of the Americas arranged by Mark Hayes, The Bellringer’s Holiday arranged by Randol Bass, and other seasonal favorites. 

High school students grades 9-12 are encouraged to join with our adult singers of all ages. Each section is led and encouraged by the wonderful professional soloist/section leaders from the regular Old North Church music program.

This year’s team of Old North section leader/soloists includes Holly Cameron, soprano; Kevin Hayden, tenor; and Andrew Scoglio, baritone who are all returning from last season. We are currently holding auditions to replace mezzo-soprano, Gabriela Fagen who is moving to Germany this Fall. We wish her the best of luck in her musical endeavors abroad! We are excited to welcome Anne Burgett, soprano, to our team of professional singers while our search to replace Gabi continues.



Please visit the Festival Chorus Website at: www.oldnorthfestivalchorus.org or contact Maria vanKalken at:vankalken@gmail.com for questions about the Music Program at Old North. 

Green Tip of the Week

Use drying racks or clothes line for your laundry instead of automatically using the dryer – saves energy and extends the life of your clothes. The dryer is a place to top off any dampness.

The Old North Church Green Team is starting a new initiative – “Green Tip of the Week”. It is especially apt as we enter the “Season of Creation Care” that some places of worship are signing on to. It goes from September 1 to October 4.



Here’s how it works: we will have a tip of the week in our weekly church bulletin, both on-line and in print. We would very much welcome church-wide participation. Please send us a “green tip” from your household so we can pass it on to others. Send your suggestion(s) to Mimi: mimi.hollister@aol.com. We will collect them and use them over time. It’s all about sharing our piece of “creation care” in the time we are each given to walk this walk of life on earth.  

Babysitting Assistance for Temple Emanu-El

Temple Emanu-El is looking for help with babysitting during their Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Because it is the holiday, the teens/young adults that would normally do that are occupied during the service. It’s October 3rd (Thursday) and October 12^th (Saturday), 10am-12:30pm (high schools have off on that Thursday). If you know someone willing to help watch children during services, please contact Jaime F. Meyers of Temple Emanu-El at jmeyers@emanu-el.org.

Welcome the Stranger

An update from Welcome the Stranger, a wonderful collaboration of congregations from Old North, St Andrew’s and Temple Emanu-El. Last week, as evidenced in these photos, and thanks to the generosity of those who offered and gave donations, we filled one car and two Uhaul vans (yes, we had so many wonderful items that the first van had to make a return trip to Marblehead!). In addition, many folk gave very generous gift cards to various stores. Thank you again to all those who so generously gave. YOU have made a difference to one very grateful family.

Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Please join us for coffee hour after the 10am service at the Parish Hall. Don't forget to bring your travel cup so we can reduce waste and save trees.

Garden Volunteers

We appreciate the help of garden volunteers who have worked in the hot summer months. Garden maintenance will continue through the fall in the Memorial Garden , front of the church and around the parking lot. Our new Pollinator Garden is flourishing with lovely blooms. If you can help for an hour or two to keep our gardens looking healthy and beautiful Please contact Ginny von Rueden: rvonrueden@comcast.net or 781-631-7898.

Capital Campaign Projects Update

With the Sanctuary roof work and painting of the sanctuary ceiling and front wall behind the pulpit completed, scaffolding has been taken down in the Sanctuary. The right side interior wall of the sanctuary has been washed and that has finished up the interior work for this year.



Erection of scaffolding on the North side of the Sanctuary and portions of the front of the church is underway to provide access to the gutter on the south side of the roof and portions of the roof trim to be repaired. This work will continue for the next two months or so. The scaffolding will not interfere with access to the building. 

Gifts of Cheer



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.

Lectio Divina

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. When Dennis was here, he led the practice. Since his leaving, 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.