The Holidays at Old North Church
With the much-anticipated spike in coronavirus infections underway in Massachusetts, Old North Church is entering a holiday season like no other we’ve witnessed. Despite our shared COVID fatigue, we remain committed to doing all we can to adjust our expectations and offerings during this challenging time. We enjoyed an extended season of worship at the Lighthouse, which concluded last Sunday, and we remain committed to providing and improving our weekly virtual worship service on YouTube. Our COVID Advisory Team will be meeting again to plan when and how we can safely regather in-person. Meanwhile, we are hard at work planning Advent and Christmas worship opportunities during this most unusual and challenging holiday season. During Advent we will continue to post our weekly worship services on our YouTube channel (Old North Church Marblehead) at 8 am each Sunday. This year’s Christmas Pageant will be part of our virtual worship service on Sunday, December 20th, and our annual Longest Night service will be posted on December 21st. Then, on Christmas Eve we will be offering a virtual Service of Lessons and Carols. Watch this space for developing details.
Stewardship Season is Underway
By now you have received our annual stewardship appeal. Despite all the changes in church life due to the pandemic, the challenge of financing our mission and ministry remains. We hope you are able to continue your support of Old North Church as you have in the past, and we encourage you to return your pledge card to the church office, or pledge online at your earliest convenience.
Kindle Ministry
We continue offering our worship service for people who don't have access to the internet on Kindle Fire tablets. They're easy to use (just press one button!) and delivered weekly to the doors of those who need them! If you know of someone who might benefit, let Karen Kilty know at kwkilty@gmail.com or 978-335-6244.
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Twenty Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
Readings:
Psalm 123
and
Matthew 25:14-30
Rev. Lindsay Popperson's sermon :
"Entrusted"
This week's worship video will be posted by 8am this Sunday.
Please click here on Sunday morning to view the service.
Please click here for a copy of Sunday's bulletin.
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Our Latest News and Activities |
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Coffee Hour Zoom is Back!
Coffee Hour is BACK! Join members of the ONC community for conversation and fellowship on Zoom at 11am every Sunday.
Or call this number:
+1 312 626 6799 (Meeting ID: 566 308 766)
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Grace and Peace to you.
The trees stand leafless
in the falling cold.
They do not fret.
They know.
The geese fly over, stopping,
some, to float the pond,
then leave again.
They know.
The little brook flows down,
now strong, now slow,
but flowing down
and down.
You do not need to know
how wisdom works,
or how they understand,
but only what
you, too,
in all your rising darkness,
and in your doubt,
your long unknowing,
know,
a gravity, a drawing in,
a voice inviting,
“Come.”
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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Welcome The Stranger
What a difference a week makes!
Thanks to the generosity of the combined congregations of Old North, Temple Emanu- El and St Andrews, we supplied this week all the trimmings (bed linens, kitchen and dining ware, small pieces of furniture, bathroom essentials and home decorations) for a young mother and her two year old child who gratefully moved out of the Lynn Homeless Shelter and into their own home.
Also, last week we appealed for items for those unfortunate folk who are living in encampments in Lynn. All three congregations again opened their hearts and the following items were picked up by Lynn Homeless shelter staff from the Stacey Street parking lot on Tuesday.
- 20 Sleeping Bags
- 35 Shirts
- 100 Towels
- 5 Wash Cloths
- 75 Pairs of Socks
- 10 Long Johns
- 8 Scarves
- 60 Hats
- 50 Tissue Packages
- 1 Pr. Boots
- 4 Sweaters
- 40 Chap Stick
- 1 Blanket
- 40 Gloves
- 220 Protein Bars
On behalf of the Welcome the Stranger Steering Committee, thank you, thank you to all those who made this possible.
Richard Thibedeau and Lynda Hare
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Marblehead Food Pantry
November is the month when traditionally Old North helps stock the shelves at the Marblehead Food Pantry but, due to COVID 19, the process, as in April when we last helped, is a little different than normal. Back in April, our appeal for monetary donations was overwhelmingly successful, with so many of you chipping in to make a donation that reached in excess of $11,000. That gift has kept the Food Pantry well stocked ever since.
The status of the Food Pantry today is that clients are no longer able to browse the shelves but they can submit a wish list of produce which is then prepacked for their pickup. The list is compiled by the organizers of the Food Pantry and this is where we can make a big difference. Your monetary donation will be received by Old North, who will then provide a team of shoppers who will purchase very specific needs of the Food Pantry each week. These include non-perishable goods, toiletries and personal items.
Please consider writing a check to Old North Church, 8 Stacey Street, Marblehead MA 01945 and putting Marblehead Food Pantry in the memo line. Your gift will make a huge difference to so many people.
Thank you for your consideration, Lynda Hare on behalf of the Outreach Ministry Board.
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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.
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ONC Reading/Discussion Group - Weds. Dec. 9th
The next meeting of the Old North Reading and Discussion Group on Preserving our Democracy and Environment will be on Wednesday, December 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 discuss Madeleine Albright’s 2018 book, Fascism, A Warning. There will be much discussion of current dangers our democracy is facing and the results of the national elections. Information on joining the Zoom meeting will be available in a future announcement.
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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)
A time of contemplative prayer, with scripture and poetry, led by Dennis.
Breakfast Group (Fridays 8am)
A time to gather with one another, with your breakfast and coffee.
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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!
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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
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Swampscott Council on Aging: click here
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Marblehead Council on Aging: click here
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Marblehead Community Support Forum: click here
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Nahant Council on Aging: click here
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Anchor Food Pantry Swampscott: click here
- The Nahant Veteran’s Food Bank operates the first Wednesday of the month for veterans living in Nahant.
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Marblehead Food Pantry, 80 Atlantic Ave. (781)631-5335: click here
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Town of Marblehead: click here
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Town of Swampscott: click here
- Churches
- Synagogues
- Schools
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Contact Us: 781-631-1244
Church Address: 35 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 01945
Mailing Address: 8 Stacey St. Marblehead, MA 01945
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