Worship at the Lighthouse on Sunday

Weather permitting, we will offer a service of worship at the Lighthouse at
8 am on Sunday. Our plan is to gather there on the remaining Sundays in August, unless state and/or local COVID-19 mitigation efforts restrict us from doing so. Meanwhile, our weekly virtual worship services will continue to be produced and posted on our YouTube channel (Old North Church, Marblehead.)

Facial covering and social distancing (6 feet minimum) will be observed throughout the service, and contact information for those attending will be collected to facilitate contact tracing, should that be necessary. (Please let us know if you plan to attend by clicking the link below. Deacons will also be recording attendance on Sunday morning.) The number of worshipers we can accommodate will be limited by the space available at the Lighthouse. Shade may be in short supply, so we encourage you to wear a hat and sunscreen in addition to your Sunday-best face mask. And bring water to drink!

Since we will continue to make our video service available, we strongly advise those at high risk due to age or underlying medical conditions NOT to attend. Our first priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of every friend and member of Old North Church. We look forward to worshiping together on Sunday, whether in person or virtually!
Are you coming to the Lighthouse service this Sunday?
LOCATION
Chandler Hovey Park

DATE AND TIME
08/23/20 8:00am - 08/23/20 9:00am

Facial covering and social distancing (6 feet minimum) will be observed throughout the service, and contact information for those attending
I'll be there!
Maybe
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

Readings: Matthew 16:13-20
and
      a Poetry Reading: Try To Praise the Mutilated World
by Adam Zagajewski
translated by Clare Cavanaugh
The use of this poem in our worship service is permissible under US copyright law
(17 U.S.C. § 110(3))

Rev. Lindsay Popperson's Sermon "Saved From Despair"

This week's worship video will be posted by 8am this Sunday.
Please click here on Sunday morning to view the service.

Please note that the zoom Coffee Hour is suspended for the time being

Please click here for a copy of Sunday's bulletin.
Our Latest News and Activities
Worship Service and Coffee Hour Links

Coffee Hour - Since we are able to worship together at the Lighthouse on Sundays, we will be suspending coffee hour for the time being.


Anti-Racism Accountability Group

A group of Old North Church folks are committing to get together regularly to hold ourselves accountable to doing anti-racism work in our own lives. This will be a time for sharing and accountability about how we are participating in the work Jesus calls us to do in unraveling white supremacy--whether that's confronting racist language in our families and friends, supporting Black organizers in the local area, immersing ourselves in learning from people of color, or many other things. We're still figuring this out, and we'd love for you to be on the journey with us.

We'll be meeting every two weeks: Join us either Monday, August 24 at 7pm or Wednesday, August 26 at 12:30pm via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84605394239 or dial +1 929 205 6099 and enter meeting ID 846 0539 4239) Contact Lindsay (lindsaypopper@gmail.com) if you have questions!

Ways to Connect With Us During the Week

So that we might stay connected, we've set up several times throughout the week to gather on Zoom. You can join from a computer, iphone, or ipad using the links below, or you can call +1 929 205 6099 and enter the meeting ID (listed with each event). 

Lectio Divina (Tuesdays 9am)
https://zoom.us/j/532654567 (Meeting ID: 532-654-567)
A time of contemplative prayer, with scripture and poetry, led by Dennis. 

Breakfast Group (Fridays 8am)
https://zoom.us/j/568995512 (Meeting ID: 568-995-512)
A time to gather with one another, with your breakfast and coffee. 

ONC Reading Group-
Wednesday - September 9th at 8:30 am
Old North Reading and Discussion Group on Preserving our Democracy and Environment - Wednesday, September 9th, from 8:30 to 10:00 am via Zoom. This is the latest of a series of meetings on preservation of our democracy and environment that have been hosted by the ONC Men’s Group. The discussions are supported by background reading assignments. You are invited to participate regardless of the amount of reading you have done. At this meeting we will complete discussion of the book, How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi and will begin discussion of the book, Not Born Yesterday: the Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe, by Hugo Mercier. Undoubtedly, there will be much discussion also of current world and local affairs. The formal Zoom invitation will be published well in advance of the meeting.
News From South Africa

This past week, twenty two members and friends of Old North were supposed to be enjoying fellowship with our friends in South Africa. We are sad we can’t be there right now and I want to share some recent news from them. Fortunately, in all twenty five villages of the Pholela Congregation, they have only had two cases of COVID and both church members are recovered and doing well at home. That is a true blessing! The congregation has not been able to meet and the pastor, Rev. Simon Mbanjwa, has not been able to visit and offer support to the members because of strict isolation measures imposed by the government. Rev. Simon has told me he wishes they had the resources to offer online Sunday services that have been so appreciated at Old North. With high unemployment and the inability to meet and collect donations, the small church branches have not been able to purchase all the safety materials they need to gather as individual church communities. Part of our recent donation from the Outreach Mission Board will enable them to acquire the masks, sanitizers and other items to make that possible.

Esther Ngcobo, church treasurer responded:
Thank you for your support and prayers. We are going to have a meeting in September to make sure that all the branches are ready for reopening.
We miss you so much, but we hope that next year's trip will be successful. 
Wishing you all the best and blessings. 

Rev. Simon wrote: 
I hope this mail will find you and the entire congregation well. I want to pass word of gratitude on behalf of the Pholela congregation for the donation we received from your congregation. This contribution will help us a lot during this time of COVID 19 pandemic. May the good Lord bless you.

Please keep the congregation and their leaders in your thoughts and prayers as they seek to offer hope and solace during these difficult times for their church family.
Thank you to you all for making our donations possible.
Ginny von Rueden
Outreach Mission Board
Church Building Access and Office Hours

We are limiting access to the church and office buildings to critical business needs only. Our office is closed for normal business but some of our staff are in periodically to ensure that critical operations are maintained. Please reach out to us via email at office@onchurch.org if you have any questions. Thank you for staying home and staying safe!
Do You Need Assistance? Here are some Resources.
 
We are sharing a list of resources which Gordon Lothrop thoughtfully shared with us from the Marblehead Masonic Lodge.

List of Resources
  • Swampscott Council on Aging: click here
  • Marblehead Council on Aging: click here
  • Marblehead Community Support Forum:  click here
  • Nahant Council on Aging: click here
  • Anchor Food Pantry Swampscott: click here
  • The Nahant Veteran’s Food Bank operates the first Wednesday of the month for veterans living in Nahant.
  • Marblehead Food Pantry, 80 Atlantic Ave. (781)631-5335: click here
  • Town of Marblehead:  click here
  • Town of Swampscott: click here 
  • Churches
  • Synagogues
  • Schools
Contact Us: 781-631-1244

Church Address: 35 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 01945
Mailing Address: 8 Stacey St. Marblehead, MA 01945