Children in Church

Children are an integral part of our faith community–with all their wonderings, wiggles, and ways of learning how to participate in worship. People of all ages show us who God is. 

Child Care for infants to 4 years olds is provided in "The First Meeting House” room on the second floor, and is available during our 10:00 service, from 9:50 and anytime during the service. Children’s Church is for children 5 years old and up and gathers in the upstairs classroom. Karen Kilty, our Director of Children's Ministries or other assigned adults are in the narthex to help welcome and direct families to child care, as well as share the plan for the morning in Children’s Church.

Children are welcome to stay in the Sanctuary with their families, feel free to move about as needed. There are activities, such as worksheets, markers, finger puppets, and other items to engage in the Narthex. If at any time your child would like to join the children in Children’s Church you will find the classrooms on the second floor, turn right as you leave the sanctuary, go through the doors past the restrooms and elevator and go up the stairs. If your kids need a break from worship, you will also find space in our Parish Hall (where we offer coffee hour); again, go to the right as you leave the Sanctuary, go through the doors past the restrooms and elevator and go down the stairs.



We are glad that you are here! Thank you for bringing your children to church! 

Children's Faith Formation

We will continue to explore God’s wonderful creation. Through scripture, planting, understanding, recycling, water conservation and care, we will come to see how precious our planet is and how we are called help to care for it. 

This Sunday May 7th will be our final Sunday of Eco Kids, Earth Day. We will learn about water, how to conserve, and how to respect our ponds and oceans, and all that live in them.



May 14 - Jazz Sunday, Family Workshop, No Children's Church.

May 21 - Celebration Sunday.



There will be Child Care at the 10:00 service upstairs in the First Meeting House room beginning at 9:50 and anytime during the service.

Keep It Ringing Capital Campaign

We are thrilled that the Old North Church Keep It Ringing Capital Campaign is off to a terrific start. To date, we have raised $525,000 with $475,000 to go. We want to sincerely thank everyone who has returned their pledge card so far.

Our goal is to raise $1 million to restore the bell tower and make other much needed property repairs including fixing our leaky roof. We want to restore the splendor of our beautiful meeting house in time for its 200th birthday in 2025. Also, 10% of the amount we raise will go towards Youth and Mission programs. Pledges of any amount will help us to reach our goal and are greatly appreciated.

By now, you should have received a mailing with the details about the Capital Campaign and a second mailing with your pledge card. Please contact the church office at office@onchurch.org or 781-631-1244 if you did not receive your mailed package. Pledge forms are available in the narthex or you can access the campaign materials and make an online pledge from our website by clicking here.

Pledge cards will be collected during our May 7th and May 14th services. Please remember to bring your completed pledge card or pick up an extra at one of these services. The pledges will be blessed at our Celebration Sunday on May 21st when we'll be having a special reception after the 10am service. Plan to join us!

Mary Magdalen: Her Role in Life, In Art,

And What She Means to Us Today

Sunday, May 7 Please RSVP



Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 7 at 4:00 pm in the Parish Hall when Ginny von Rueden will present a talk and slide show on “Mary Magdalen: Her Role in Life, in Art and What She Means to Us Today.” The topic has fascinated Ginny for many years regarding one of the most important but misunderstood women in history. Two hundred images of gorgeous artwork depicting almost two thousand years of Christian history tell the story of Mary’s many identities throughout the ages up to the present day. The Community Life Committee will offer an afternoon tea reception with refreshments at 4:00, followed by the one-hour presentation and time for questions and comments.

Please RSVP to Ginny or RSVP below so we may have a headcount for the refreshments: rvonrueden@comcast.net, 781-631-7898.

Old North Reading and Discussion Group

Wednesday, May 10

The next meeting of the Old North Reading and Discussion Group on Preserving our Democracy and Environment will be on Wednesday, May 10, 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. You are invited to participate regardless of the amount of your preparation or whether you have attended a previous meeting. We have finished our discussion of Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James Loewen. We will begin discussing The Tyranny of Merit, by Michael Sandel. 

The meeting will be hosted on Zoom, and will be open 15 minutes early for logon and general discussion. To log in, just click on:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82158631117?pwd=dFFoWmdNaTdNYVJYOXJ6OUFFdCtSUT09 . 

If you would like to use your telephone for audio, dial 1 929 205 6099 and follow the operator’s instructions with Meeting ID: 821

5863 1117 and Passcode: 067867. 

Jazz Sunday - May 14



JAZZ SUNDAY will take place on Sunday, May 14. (Mother's Day) Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the 10am service for our annual celebration of worship through music. The senior choir and soloists will perform with jazz pianist Mark Shilansky, Dave Clark, bass, and Doug Olsen, trumpet. Please join us in person to experience this joyful "Music Sunday" together!  



We welcome our guest artists Doug Olsen, Dave Clark and Mark Shilansky back to our sanctuary with great enthusiasm. Each one is preeminent in his field with accolades too numerous to even begin to list. Please take a moment to look up biographical information online - they are the real deal. We are delighted and honored that these extraordinary musicians are available to join us for our seventh annual Jazz Sunday, and hope you will arrive early to enjoy some spectacular prelude music! The entire service is devoted to worship through music, so plan to come and sing many of your favorite gospel hymns lead by our amazing soloists, enthusiastic and gifted choir - and accompanied by these three incomparable artists. 

Mark: https://markshilansky.com/

Doug: http://www.douglasolsen.net/bio-encore/

Dave: https://college.berklee.edu/people/david-clark 

Monthly Bell Ringing to Call Awareness About Climate Change



At 11am on May 11th and on the 11th of each month thereafter, Old North Church will once again, as it does every month, be joining other churches in Marblehead in ringing their bells for 11 minutes to call attention to the need to take 11th hour action about the climate crisis. This important initiative was started last year by churches in Cambridge and later joined by churches on the North Shore to ring their bells on the 11th of each month. If you would like to be a part of this bell ringing, just come to the church at 11 am. Someone will be there to welcome you.

The United Nations Climate Report issued in February said that climate change is happening even faster than anticipated and drastic action is needed. Coastal communities such as ours are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. For suggestion on immediate actions our community can take for reducing our carbon footprint, watch for announcements by our own Old North Green Committee and also visit www.sustainablemarblehead.org/in-your-home.

Dining Club Saturday, May 20 at 6pm



We have three host homes for the meeting of the Dining Club, and would like to open up the opportunity to members and friends of the congregation who didn't sign up on the registration sheets. The plan is for people who are interested in attending to be mixed with others at one of the host homes. The host will plan the meal and will ask attendees to bring part of that meal. Our Dining Club is an opportunity to dine and socialize with familiar faces and make new connections while enjoying a lovely meal in a member’s home. Because the date is rapidly approaching, anyone interested should contact Judy Conner, jbc2274@yahoo.com or 978-594-5205, by Monday, May 9 so that plans can be made and the hosts have time to contact the attendees in order to arrange the meal contributions.

Attention, walkers and runners!

First come, first served!



The 31st Annual Walk for HAWC takes place Sunday, June 4, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on the Salem Common, rain or shine! (Healing Abuse, Working for Change—the organization addresses domestic violence and helps shelter and protect its victims.) Through your Outreach Ministry Board, Old North has supported HAWC over the years. We have *five* free registration spots: when you fill out your registration form on June 4, simply write “Sponsor23” in the box in the upper right-hand corner and your registration is free.

This is a fun event that includes a pet parade and family fun festival! Be there! Rain or shine. For more information, email Becky Burckmyer at bburck@comcast.net or call 781-632-6505.

ONC Annual Meeting Wednesday June 7



SAVE THE DATE: The Old North Church Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday June 7 in the church sanctuary. There will be an Ice Cream Social, with Don Morgan's homemade ice cream, in the Parish Hall at 6:30 pm followed by the meeting in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm. All ministry/committee reports are due to the office by May 10. All ministry/committee roster changes for 2023-2024 are due to Janet Doyle (jdoyle@doylesails.com) by May 10.

Marblehead Food Pantry

Thank You!



Thanks to your amazing generosity, our final shopping spree for the month will fulfill EVERY wish at the Marblehead Food Pantry. Old North has never let the Pantry down and this month has been no exception. Your rapid response to what seemed like a lost battle has meant that going forward, upwards of seventy households will not have to worry about their food and personal hygiene supplies for the near future. Thank you, thank you!

ONC Scrabble Group



The newly-formed Scrabble Group has now begun to meet weekly on Wednesdays from 1-3pm in the Great Room at Stacey St. All are welcome!

Prayer Shawl Ministry



A wonderful turnout for the first Prayer Shawl meeting in three years. Thank you to all who came to get supplies, patterns, bring finished shawls and knit together as a community. The next gathering will be Wednesday, June 7, 10:30-12. Refreshments will be available. Please join us!

Any questions? Contact Alexandra Garfield at 781-929-0540 or Alexandradane@me.com.

Saving Trees, Reducing Waste



Did you know that 58 billion paper coffee cups are thrown away in the U.S. every year? Or that 20 million trees are cut down to make those cups? Coffee cups are coated with plastic and can’t be recycled. However, there is a solution. Bring a reusable travel cup wherever you get your coffee. That would include Coffee Hour after church service. Make every day Earth Day!

Little Plants of Cheer

The bleak mid-winter is now in our rear view mirror and the joy of spring, new birth and warmer days is knocking at our door inviting us to explore and enjoy life. But not everyone is able to appreciate such joy at this time. If you know of anyone, either here at Old North or in the Marblehead community, who might appreciate a little cheer, the Community Life Ministry Board would like to reach out with a little plant and a friendly note.

Please contact Lynda Hare at hares8carrots@hotmail.com if you know of someone.

Clothing Drive for South Africa

Our church group going to South Africa next August will be taking gifts of clothing for the Pholela Congregation to share among their 25 villages. We are looking for donations of good used items that include:



• Good condition used reading glasses.
• Shirts (T’s and button down for boys and men, pants for boys and men ONLY)
• Sweaters, sweatshirts, blouses and dresses for girls and women (NO pants for women)
• Warm baby clothing, especially knitted caps and sweaters, shoes for small children only.
• Anything fleece like vests, jackets, warm hats, gloves, lightweight jackets and coats
• NO heavy items please
• I will be purchasing fleece blankets for the elderly so donations of those will be appreciated. 

Bags of donated clothing may be left at the church upstairs in the small classroom next to the Music Room. Contact Ginny von Rueden, rvonrueden@comcast.net or 781-631-7898 for more information. Siyabonga!! (Thank you in Zulu)

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.