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Marblehead's Little Harbor
from the Old North Church Tower
Sunday, December 2, 2018
First Sunday of Advent
Worship Services at 8am
and 10am in the Sanctuary
Scripture Lessons:
Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36
The Rev. Dr. Dennis B. Calhoun's Sermon:
" Look Both Ways"
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Our Vision Statement
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| Old North Church is an inclusive Christian Community called to bring to life God's love and grace by sharing the gospel for this time and place; extending the hospitality Christ showed; embodying God's love and compassion to those in need; and growing together in our understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst. |
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Our Stewardship Campaign for 2019 is Underway!
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Results to date: 109 Pledges, $241,609 Thank you!
Old North Church, while proud of its rich and storied history, remains committed to having a vital mission and ministry in the future, which is why your financial support is crucial. We are excited about the Stewardship campaign this year. Our goal is to reach 100% participation, that is, to have every member and friend of Old North Church make a pledge of financial support for the work and witness God has called us to in this time and place. If you haven't returned your pledge card yet, they are available in the pew racks and your completed card can be placed in the offertory. You may also pledge online at www.onchurch.org/donate
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This Week in Children's Church
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 The season of Advent begins. This Sunday is Communion Sunday. The Children will go directly to the Children's Church classroom and will join their families for communion after the sermon. On this First Sunday of Advent we will begin by telling The Story...and learn about this precious time of waiting and preparing.
Advent and Christmas Schedule
2nd - Advent Begins, Telling The Story.
9th - Animal Christmas Carol preparations
* Advent Workshop following Children's Church - Reserve your family's space
16th -**Animal Christmas Carol Advent Message during the 10:00 service
23rd - 4th Sunday of Advent
30th - No Children's Church Family Worship
*Advent Workshop - Sunday December 9th 11:30 -1:00 (or so)
Following Worship and Children's Church
We will be creating Gingerbread Nativity scenes for your home. Each family will create their own nativity scene with pre-baked gingerbread in the shape of the Holy family, wise men, sheep, camels, shepherd and the creche.Plan to bring small sized candy for decorating and for sharing.
Please signup by December 4th.
**The Animals Christmas Carol - Christmas Pageant
Sunday December 16th during 10:00 worship
The Animal Christmas Carol is a sweet story that shares the animals point of view as they gather at the manager. It will be shared by the children as the mornings' Advent Message, it is woven with story, scripture and song. We will be working on masks and large puppets for the children to act out their favorite animals from the story. If you can let me know if your child will be planning on being a part of the pageant, it would be very helpful. Although I have designed it so that all children who can be present on the 16th will have a part, it will be good to know in advance.We will using our time on December 9th to work out the details
We are in need of volunteers for Sunday mornings, please contact me or use our signupgenius to sign up,
kwkilty@gmail.com.
Please click here for a registration form
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Festival Chorus Tickets Are Available!
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Tickets for the 38th annual Festival Chorus Concerts are available for purchase at Crosby's Marketplace, Arnould Gallery and Spirit of '76 Bookstore, as well as online at: www.oldnorthfestivalchorus.org.
Tickets will also be available following the Sunday 10am worship service on December 2nd and at the door the night of the concerts, although advance purchase is highly recommended.
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November is Our Month to Stock the Food Pantry Shelves |
The response to the plea for food for the Marblehead Food Pantry has been wonderful. Thank you so much to all who have donated bags. But Old North's commitment for this year is not over yet. We still have a few more days before we hand over the reigns so please, if you have not already done so, please donate a bag of non-perishable items. They can be left in the narthex this Sunday, December 2. The final delivery to the Food Pantry will be Tuesday morning, December 4th.
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High School Youth Group Serving Dinner at Lifebridge this Sunday, December 2nd |
The High School Youth group will be preparing and serving dinner at Life Bridge this Sunday. If your child is planning on going on the service trip in April, they are required to serve at least three times. Please keep that in mind and look ahead to the Sundays that will work for them. We are also asking that a parent of any child planning on attending the April service trip also volunteer at least one Sunday. We serve the first Sunday of each month.
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Leadership Board Meeting - December 4 |
| The Leadership Board will meet on Tuesday, December 4 at 7 pm in the Great Room. |
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Angel Tags Are Available |
 Angel Tags are available on the Christmas tree in the narthex. Please return your unwrapped gifts to the narthex or to the church office no later than next Sunday, December 9. Gifts may also be delivered to National Grand Bank by Monday, December 10. After that date, please bring them directly to the Salvation Army on North Street in Salem. Thank you!
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Raymond Gonzalez Concert Sunday, December 9 at 7 pm. |
| Back by popular demand! Composer-Guitarist-Songwriter-Singer, Raymond Gonzalez, will present a concert of Christmas music on Sunday, December 9th at 7pm. A free will offering will be gratefully accepted to benefit both the artist and Old North Church. Raymond can also be heard later this month at the Longest Night Service on Wednesday, December 21, at 7pm. Please visit Raymond's website if you are interested in his Christmas CD or to learn more about him. http://www.raymondgonzalez.net/
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Poinsettia Sunday - Dec. 16 |
Envelopes for poinsettia plants for our church display on December 16th will be in the pews this morning. Plants are $21 this year; checks may be made payable to Old North Church.Plants may be designated in memory or in honor of someone if you would like to do so. December 9th is the deadline for placing your order.
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Brighten Up Christmas for the Guests at Lifebridge Homeless Shelter in Salem |
 Old North Church is collecting personal care items for the guests of the Salem Mission Shelter as follows: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, tissues, washcloths, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, scarves, gloves, hats, lip gloss, socks, razors, shaving cream, dental floss, deodorant, combs, brushes, Christmas cards, candy, and other small and useful items. Please kindly drop such items off at the church office at 8 Stacey St. on or before Sunday, December 16. Stockings sown by High School Home Economics students over the years will be lovingly stuffed by the junior youth group with these items on the 16th after the 10am service. Please contact Christie Parker at 978-744-5804 or email me at christiemp@comcast.net with any questions. |
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Pie Sale Thank You !
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Thank you to everyone who baked pies for our recent Pie Bake Sale.We made $413! Also of value was learning yes, you can absolutely freeze a pumpkin pie (wrapped well with plastic wrap) several days before Thanksgiving, and it will be delicious on Thanksgiving.
Coming soon - the Cookie Swap. Sunday, December 16th, following the 10 am service. Can you bake some cookies to donate?
Please contact:
Dara VanRemoortel, dara@musicwithdara.com, 781-910-6157
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MESSIAH SING - WEDNESDAY Dec 19 at 7:30 pm |
| Old North Church will host a MESSIAH SING on Wednesday, December 19th at 7:30pm, proceeds to benefit the residents and town of Paradise, CA, entirely destroyed in California's Camp Fire. We will be singing the Christmas Portion (Part One) only with the addition of the Hallelujah Chorus. Accompaniment will be provided by members of the Old North Festival Chorus Orchestra and solos will be sung by our extraordinary Old North soloists. All professional fees have been greatly reduced or donated and many of the costs associated with the project will be sponsored by the Music Patrons Fund so that almost 100% of the proceeds can go to the victims. There will be no rehearsal - just a sing through! Please bring your own score; a limited number will be available to borrow at 7pm prior to the performance. Please help spread the word - ALL singers and listeners are welcome. Last year, we raised in excess of $4,000 for Puerto Rico! We hope to be even more successful this year. |
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Welcome the Stranger Update
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Welcome the Stranger, a partnership of Old North Church, Temple Emanu-el and the Church of St Andrews under the auspices of the Refugee Immigration Ministry (RIM), has been supporting Danie Juste and her family as they seek political asylum in the United States.
Recently, Danie Juste was a guest of Jeff Goldman at a reception of the Open Avenues Foundation. Jeff is Danie's family immigration attorney and is one of the Foundation's founders. This organization addresses the immediate needs of immigrant families in crisis. The reception was held at the InterContinental Hotel Boston, sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston and Boston Medical Center. At the reception, Open Avenues Foundation presented 2018 Open Avenues Humanitarian Awards to four tireless advocates for immigrants' rights; one of which was Dr. Ruth Bersin, Executive Director, Refugee Immigration Ministry (RIM).
Left to right in the photo is Dr. Ruth Bersin, Attorney Jeff Goldman, Danie Juste
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Outreach Ministry Board |
The Outreach Ministry Board met on November 20. We were joined by representatives of similar committees from St Andrews and the Temple Emanu-El. We discussed continuing collaboration opportunities in our community and there was agreement that there was much scope for doing more together. Our Food Bank month has been very productive. At least 98 bags were delivered - so an excellent outcome. Thank you all very much. We have talked with the pastor at the Craig Memorial Congregational Church in Paradise CA. We will be sending a donation to a community where their church, and many church members' houses, including the pastor's have been destroyed by wildfires. During Advent coffee hour members of the committee will be displaying African crafts, Heifer international items and Lifebridge cards. We will be raising money for the Pholela community in South Africa and the other organizations named. Please note that for our December distribution of funds we are always interested in learning of new organizations and causes where our assistance can make a difference. Please contact either Tom Day or Paul Hare or email to hares8carrots@hotmail.com
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BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS FOR CHILDREN IN TEXAS SHELTERS |
Two Marblehead grandmothers, Ginny O'Brien and Linda Duvel, are launching an awareness and gift-giving campaign: Brighten the Holidays for Children in Texas Shelters. The goal is to remind people about the plight of the immigrant children housed in the Texas shelters and to provide some tangible items for the kids to make their days more enjoyable. They are targeting two shelters:
Bokencamp Children's Shelter
Katia Bernal/Lucy Gonzalez, Recreation Department
5517 South Alameda Street
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
New Hope Children's Shelter
Judith Leon, Recreation Coordinator
1000 North McColl Road
McAllen, Texas 78501
These shelters operate under the umbrella of Upbring, a nonprofit organization that operates four Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs in Texas for children who have migrated to the US. Bokencamp holds 110 kids and New Hope holds 60. Both house boys and girls aged 12 to 17. The recreation coordinators say these teens and preteens need activities to keep them occupied and to help them focus on other things beyond their situation.
They welcome the following personal and group activity items, but please note that all items must be NEW:
BOARD GAMES and PUZZLES
ART SUPPLIES (paints, markers, brushes, paper, etc.)
DVDs (rated PG13 that do not contain violence or killing)
VOLLEY and SOCCER BALLS that can be sent deflated
BODY SPRAYS
SWEAT SHIRTS AND PANTS
Since the shelters do not accept financial donations, if you'd like to send a check, go to
www.upbring.org. If you have any questions, please email either:
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Help Wanted! |
We are looking for a caring adult leader for our infant-toddler room (nursery) on Sunday mornings from 9:45-11:15. Candidates must have some experience with childcare, be willing to work with a team, provide references, be 18 years or older, and be able to pass a CORI background check. Pay is $30/Sunday. If you are interested, please contact Karen Kilty, our Director of Children's Ministries at kwkilty@gmail.com.
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Coffee with Karla!
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Coffee with Karla continues on Fridays, from 9:30-11 at the Mugford Eatery. Drop by and enjoy coffee and conversation!
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Greeters are Needed! |
The Community Life Ministry Board is looking for Greeters to host the Greeter/Welcome Table in the Narthex before the 10:00 am church services. Hosts greet people, offer nametags to those who need them, and help direct new members/visitors who may need assistance. We ask those hosting the Greeter/Welcome Table to please arrive at 9:30 am for set up. Individuals, friends, families, everyone is welcome to host the Greeter Table. It's fun! Get to know your church family while providing a valuable service! If you have questions, please contact Linda Davis at pldavis.pd@gmail.com, 781-639-0405. Thank you so much!
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Update Profile/Email Address link at the very bottom of this newsletter. Select 'Special Emails Only' to receive only periodic updates.
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