Please don't forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday night!

Stewardship Reflection

“True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possession you can share."

~Suze Orman

There is an aspect to generosity that comes from our loyalty to the groups on whom we rely. 

There is an aspect of generosity that comes from our longing to leave a lasting impact on the world. 

There is an aspect to generosity that comes from our relationship and gratitude to God.

All three are integral parts of giving freely and out of pure love. 

Your gift changes you.   Your gift changes the world. 

We are receiving peoples promises of support and pledges for the coming year so that our ministry and ministry can continue to impact lives. 

We will be receiving and dedicating pledges in church next Sunday, on November 13^th.   You can find pledge cards in our recent mailing from the church or in the pews.  Or you can make your promise / pledge online anytime at www.onchurch.org/pledge

Congregational Gathering - November 13 

As part of our interim time everyone is encouraged to attend an after church gathering on November 13th. We'll start around 11:30 with an Appreciative Inquiry session to help us share stories of the impact of our church. A more substantial coffee hour will be offered to nourish our bodies as our stories nourish our souls.  Please plan on attending!

Monthly Bell Ringing to Call Awareness to Climate Change

ONC and several other churches that are part of the Marblehead Ministerial Association continue with the ringing of their bells at 11am on the 11^th of the month for 11 minutes to call attention to the need to take 11^th hour action about the climate crisis. In doing so, we are joining this important initiative which was started earlier this year by churches in Cambridge and Cape Ann to ring their bells on the 11^th of each month.

The United Nations Climate Report issued in February found that climate change is happening even faster than anticipated and drastic action is needed now. Coastal communities such as ours are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

How you can make a difference:

·      Contact your elected officials and urge them to support environmental initiatives.

·      Research environmental positions of candidates this Fall. Vote accordingly!

·      Walk, Bike, Carpool & use Public Transportation whenever possible.

·      Turn off your computer and appliances when not in use.

·      Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

·      Visit http://www.sustainablemarblehead.org/in-your-home for more ideas for reducing your carbon footprint.

Anyone wishing to volunteer as a monthly bell ringer for climate action should contact Mimi Hollister (mimi.hollister@aol.com or 781-910-2376).

Festival Chorus

The Festival Chorus Committee is seeking your support for our upcoming Festival Chorus Holiday Concerts! Please help us sustain this extraordinary holiday tradition at Old North – now in its 42^nd season – by purchasing an advertisement in our Program Book, or by becoming a Friend of the Festival Chorus with a contribution. After our gradual return to singing and presenting concerts, we need your support more than ever this year! Our Program Books are read by 1,000 enthusiastic fans, and advertisers are consistently amazed by the business generated from an ad in the Festival Chorus Program Book. For advertising rates and deadlines, or to learn more about becoming a Friend, please download our Advertising Rate Sheet & Contribution Form HERE.

This season, our two popular Holiday Concerts – directed by Maria van Kalken – take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, 2022; a magnificent selection of choral works with full orchestra are sure to delight you and the entire family. For more information about the December 2022 Festival Chorus Concerts, please visit the Old North Festival Chorus website at: www.oldnorthfestivalchorus.org

Marblehead Food Pantry

November is the month when traditionally Old North help stock the shelves at the Marblehead Food Pantry. Although COVID is not affecting our lives as much as it was, we will once again have a team do the weekly shop using your kind $ donation. Back in April our appeal for monetary donations was very successful. Thank you!

That gift kept the Food Pantry well stocked for quite a while and made a huge difference to so many people. Currently there are about 55 households using the Pantry and that number tends to go up over the Holidays.

Please, once again, consider writing a check to Old North Church, 8 Stacey Street, Marblehead MA 01945 and putting Marblehead Food Pantry in the memo line. Alternatively you may make an on line donation, with the same specification.   Our Old North shopping team will use your kind donation to purchase the very specific needs of the Food Pantry each week. These include non-perishable goods, toiletries and personal items.

Thank you for your consideration,

Lynda Hare on behalf of the Outreach Ministry Board.

ONC Reading / Discussion Group

Wednesday, November 9th  

The next meeting of the Old North Reading and Discussion Group on Preserving Our Democracy and Environment will be on Wednesday, November 9^th from 8:30 to 10:00 AM. This is the latest of a series of meetings on this subject that have been hosted for all by the ONC Men’s Group. The discussions are supported by background reading. You are invited to participate regardless of the amount of your preparation or whether you have attended a previous meeting. For the November meeting we will discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

The meeting will be held on Zoom. To join the meeting, click on 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88235171748?pwd=WFV1a1VNa3EwMjYwZUV0M3ozdVp0QT09 .

To use your telephone for audio, dial 929-205-6099 and follow the prompts, with Meeting ID 882 3517 1748 and Passcode 757446 . 

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday, November 22nd at 7pm at Old North Church

Each year we celebrate a delightful tradition where all the faith communities in our town gather together to offer thanks to God. The service moves from sanctuary to sanctuary and this year it is coming home to our church. Music and prayers and a unique gathering in fellowship will help us fully experience this national holiday and holy day. Please join us at 7pm at our church.

And, if you would like to participate in a joint choir come at 6pm.  Let Maria know your interested so we have music for you. Please email her at vankalken@gmail.com  

Facebook Reflections

We are going to start offering some video reflections on our Facebook pages [Old North Church Marblehead and Friends of Old North Church Marblehead]  These will be short reflections on insights from our faith and spiritual practice. Keep an eye on our Facebook pages as we will be adding new ones throughout each month.  

Rev. Lindsay Away Oct 17-Nov 13

Lindsay will be off duty at Old North for four weeks. The church leadership offered her this as compensatory time, in recognition of and gratitude for her work--above and beyond her contracted hours and job description--as Acting Senior Minister in the months between Dennis' retirement and Don's arrival. From Lindsay: "Church, thank you so much for this! It was a delight to helm the ship over the late spring and summer, and I'm grateful for a chance to rest. Thanks, also, for your prayers and concern for me and Ashley as we said goodbye to our foster child. I look forward to seeing you again in mid-November!" 

South Africa 2023

Next summer will be the 20^th anniversary of our first Old North trip to South Africa and the start of our partnership with the Pholela Congregation in KwaZulu Natal province. Although a trip was planned with a large group in 2020, we were unable to go due to Covid. To honor our enduring and thriving relationship with our South African friends, we are proposing a two week trip for next August 2023.

In 2020, we were planning to go Aug. 6-20 so that’s approximately the timeframe for 2023 so children will be home in time to get ready for school. The actual dates will be similar.  We will spend a week with visits and projects among the Pholela Congregation spread out over 25 villages and we’ll probably go to several of them. We are always received with joy and hospitality by the villagers and church members. There’s lots of interaction with school kids which is always fun, from little ones through high school. Other past projects have included planting gardens for the elderly and helping with light construction if houses have been wrecked by storms. The mountainous area is wonderful for hiking so we’ll do some of that to see ancient cave paintings in the cliffs. The main church service is very memorable and festive because everyone sings and dances the whole time. ONC Deacons (and former, like me) serve communion with their elders.

During the second week we will enjoy the scenic beauty of the country.  We’ll spend a night at a nice hotel on the beach in Durban where we love to shop the amazing African markets along the shore front. Then we’ll have an excursion driving through the Drakensburg Mountains’ Sani Pass (UNESCO World Heritage Scenic Site) to the Kingdom of Lesotho. We’ll visit a village nestled in the mountains and have lunch in the highest pub in Africa. After that we’ll go on safari in the oldest game reserve in Africa (home to the Big Five animals ) and stay in luxury bush villa accommodations. In addition to game drives, we’ll have an excursion to lake St. Lucia in a Wetland Park to see hippos, crocodiles and birds. Then we’ll be transferred to the airport in Durban to fly home.

The costs for the last trip were under $4000 per person and that includes airfare. The cost for next summer should be similar, even allowing for price increases. I will start making reservations in the fall so I can confirm accommodations and excursions and pricing. Anyone interested in going with us should let me know in the next few weeks, if possible. rvonrueden@comcast.net Many Old North members, family and friends have benefitted from this experience of a lifetime. Rick and I would love to have you share this adventure with us.    Ginny von Rueden