Sunday

January 25, 2026

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Rev. Lindsay Popperson's Sermon: "Born Again?"

Gospel Reading: John 3:1-21     

Please click here to view the bulletin.

To make an online offering, please click here.

Life and Living Course Continues This Sunday

January 25, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM

"Forgiveness"

Our first meeting in the New Year is scheduled for this Sunday. 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, January 25, from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., or on-line via the Zoom link. Future dates besides January 25, 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

Discussion on Immigration Enforcement This Sunday

January 25, 2 PM

Diann Slavit Baylis and Nancy Norman, two immigration attorneys that live in Marblehead, along with Alexandra Piñeros Shields, who directs the MA Public Policy Program at Brandeis, will lead a community discussion about how the community can get involved in helping local immigrants. 

They have all received phone calls from residents after ICE came into Marblehead in Sept. The people who called them were desperate to know how this could happen and what they can do to help immigrants besides attending protests. Diann, Nancy, and Alexandra will address these issues in this community discussion. 

For those members who would like the opportunity to review the 2026 budget in advance, Treasurer Blair Lord will go over the budget and answer questions in a preview at 11:45 AM on Sunday, February 1, in the Parish Hall. The Annual Budget Meeting on February 8 will be followed by our always popular- and competitive- chili cook-off in the Parish Hall for members and families. We will be doing some new and interesting things at the church meeting this year, and invite all members to come participate and contribute to the meeting and the chili lunch. SEE YOU THERE!

Old North Church members will vote on a revised bylaw (4.c.iv) at the Annual Budget Meeting on Sunday, February 8. The Leadership Board unanimously endorses this change from 50 to 30 members to constitute a quorum at annual or special church meetings. 



4. GOVERNMENT

c. MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH

iv. Thirty (30) members shall constitute a Quorum at any annual or special Meeting of the Church.

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. 

SUNDAY, February 1, Jazz pianist Mark Shilansky will be joining the senior choir in leading our 10 AM worship service with special music. Mark has been providing memorable musical experiences for Old North annually on Jazz Sunday (traditionally on Mother’s Day) as well as performing for concerts and other services throughout the year. Please join us next week! 

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   

Maria needed to make a last-minute change to the calendar so please don't arrive this Sunday at 8:45!

Here's the updated schedule:


• January 25th: Help the Deacons! Arrive at 9:30am in the narthex to help the deacons with their duties: handing out bulletins, lighting candles, ringing the bell. Let me know if you have interest in a speaking part in the service!
• February 1st: Debrief in the Youth Room-Meet in the Youth Room at 9:30 to talk about these Middle School Sunday activities, brainstorm new ideas and give feedback (first bit of feedback: should there be food at these gatherings?)
• February 8th: Sing with the Choir! Arrive in the balcony at 8:45am to pick-up music and join the choir for the day!
  
  Please RSVP to Rev. Christine

Please enjoy the Prayer Shawl Ministry display in the narthex. We have been gathering for 24 years and still going strong!

Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting dates for winter/spring 2026 at Stacey Street 10:30-12 on the following dates: February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10

Yarn + needles supplied with pattern. Any questions?

Contact Alexandra Garfield alexandradane@me.com

Join our discussion of Walter Brueggeman's Materiality as Resistance. We meet weekly on Thursday mornings from 9-10am at 8 Stacey Street. For January 29th we'll be focusing on Chapter 2: Food. Contact Rev. Christine for details. 

The Scrabble Group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 2-4pm in the Great Room at the Stacey St. office building.

Newcomers are always welcome to join in the fun!

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