This Sunday is Candidating Sunday

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!

 Christine will be preaching this Sunday September 15 at 10 am (the 8am service will not be held this Sunday), 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.

Please join us Sunday at 10!

Sunday School and Nursery Care

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 will be offered 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

Pastor Lindsay’s installation, Sunday October 27, 3pm

Our church will hold a Service of Installation for our new senior minister on October 27 at 3pm. This is a time for us to join with clergy from other area churches to celebrate with our congregation as we embark on our shared ministry. Please plan to attend! 



Meet MYCM Youth Pastor

Jess Easter (She/Her) has started as the new youth pastor serving the Marblehead Youth Collaborative Ministry (MYCM). This upcoming school year she is a rising second-year at Boston University School of Theology working to earn her Master’s of Divinity. She is new to Massachusetts (and the East Coast in general!), having just moved from Southern California for school last year.

She will be present at all four churches that are part of the MYCM this September according to the remaining schedule:

· 9/15 First Church Swampscott

· 9/22 Clifton Lutheran

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

Next Youth Group Meeting September 15

Our next youth group meeting will be Sunday September 15th at Clifton Lutheran Church. Middle school age youth (6th-8th grades) will be meeting from 3:30-5:30pm and High School (9th-12th grades) from 6-8 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

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.

Death and Dying/Life and Living Course Continues

Our first Fall session is scheduled for Sunday, September 22, in the Great Room, at 11:30AM following the 10:00AM service. Additional sessions are planned for October 20 and November 17. 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. 

See You at the Fair

The Old North Church Holiday Fair will be held on November 23rd from 9:30 - 1:30 in the Parish Hall. This is an ALL CHURCH event and we're hoping that everyone will participate in some way to make this Fair a success!!!!

Food is always an enticement, so to start things off - breakfast will be served starting at 9:30 followed a bit later by our ever popular lobster roll or chicken salad roll lunch. If you desire something to satisfy your sweet tooth, meander over to the Bake Table and select the solution and/or take something home for your Thanksgiving spread. 

Bring your children and grandchildren and their friends as we'll have lots for them to do. In addition to the Children's Book Exchange, there will be opportunities to create Thanksgiving cards for the fire, police and EMTs, and big crafting area with many unique projects to keep them busy.

Ginny von Rueden will be offering crafts and jewelry at the Africa Table the proceeds of which will be going to the Outreach Ministry Board.

The Fair Flyer lists areas where your donations would be appreciated and the person/people to contact with questions and offerings. Since the church has limited storage capability, we would appreciate if you deliver your donations to the Parish Hall on the 21st of November. If that isn't possible, please contact the appropriate person to make arrangements for an earlier drop off.  

Thanks so much to everyone for their help, contributions and support. The ONC Holiday Fair will not succeed without your help!!!!!!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

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

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.

Green Tip of the Week

Do laundry in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water saves energy, keeps clothes looking newer longer and decreases the amount of microfiber flowing into our lakes and oceans and waterways.

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.  

Land and Sea Cleanup

Join SPUR and Sustainable Marblehead for their annual Land & Sea Cleanup on Saturday, September 21. Beach cleanups are being organized from 9am - 10am and park cleanups from 2pm - 3pm.  Signup from the volunteer page on their website at spurnorthshore.org. 

Sustainability Fair

Sustainable Marblehead will host a Sustainability Fair on Saturday, September 28 from 10a to 2p at the Brown School. Test drive EVs, learn about bike safety for children, explore green technologies for your home, discover ways to reduce waste and hear from expert speakers on environmental topics. Visit with nonprofits to learn about their efforts to protect the planet and speak to businesses that offer green solutions. Fun and engaging activities for children will also be included. 

High Holy Days Event with Temple Emanu-El

Rabbi Jenn Mangold, the new senior rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, has invited our church to participate in Selichot festivities as part of the fall High Holy Day season. 



On Saturday, Sept 28, there will be dinner (5:30), a prayer service (6:15), and an interfaith conversation led by Rabbi Jenn and Pastor Lindsay on faith and forgiveness (7). 



For more information and to RSVP, visit https://www.emanu-el.org/selichot-dinner-rsvp.html

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

Scaffolding has been erected on the North side of the Sanctuary and portions of the front of the church 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.

Congregational Caring



We are holding in prayer the families of these Old North Church members who recently died:

Colin Brenan, age 63, died August 30 (click here to read the obituary)

Mary Malcolm, age 97, died August 13 (click here to read the obituary)

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.