Our Latest News and Activities | |
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Sunday, May 5, 2024
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Please join us for worship at 8 or 10 am in our Sanctuary.
The 10am service will be livestreamed on our website, www.onchurch.org
Scripture Lesson: Acts 16: 1-15
Rev. Don Remick's sermon: "GO"
Please click here to view the bulletin.
To make an online offering, please click here.
Wherever You Are On Life's Journey, You Are Welcome Here.
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Sunday School and Nursery Care
Our nursery is open for children three months to 4ish years, starting at 9:50am. Sunday school for kids aged four through 12 begins partway through the church service, following the "Moments with Children" during worship.
In Sunday school this week, James Horgan and Rev. Lindsay will be leading the kids in acting out the scripture we read in worship. We'll think about the places we go and what we can do to show God's love wherever we are. Children will join their families for communion.
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New Member Sunday
This Sunday, we are pleased to welcome two new members into our church during our 8am Worship service! Members of the church affirm their commitment to our faith and our community, and we commit ourselves to including them in our shared life. Make it a point to say hello and get to know them!
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Jazz Sunday
JAZZ SUNDAY will take place on Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day)! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the 10am Service on Sunday, May 12, for our annual celebration of worship through music, also known as Music Sunday!
The Senior Choir and Soloists will perform alongside the acclaimed jazz trio featuring Mark Shilansky, piano; Dave Clark, bass; and Doug Olsen, trumpet. We are thrilled and honored to welcome back our guest artists – by popular demand! Doug Olsen, Dave Clark and Mark Shilansky – all preeminent in their field with accolades too numerous to list – will join us for our eighth annual Jazz Sunday.
Please take a moment to look at their impressive biographical sketches online (links below): they are the real deal! We encourage you to arrive early to enjoy spectacular jazz prelude music! The entire service is devoted to worship through music with beloved gospel hymns and heartfelt melodies led by our amazing soloists and sung by our enthusiastic and gifted Senior Choir, with electrifying accompaniment provided by three incomparable jazz artists!
Mark: https://markshilansky.com/
Doug: http://www.douglasolsen.net/bio-encore/
Dave: https://college.berklee.edu/people/david-clark
The annual collection for the Music Patrons Fund will take place on Sunday, May 12. Many of you will have received the Music Patrons Fund letter in the mail, but if you would like to access our appeal, please click HERE.
If you did not receive a Music Patrons Fund letter in the mail but would like to be added to the mailing list, please let us know by sending an email to the church office at office@onchurch.org. Contributions to the Music Patrons Fund are gratefully accepted throughout the year and can be mailed to the church office at 8 Stacey Street. Checks should be made payable to Old North Church, with the words “Music Patrons Fund” clearly written in the MEMO line. Thank you!
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Virtuoso Double Bassists Concert
Heartfelt thanks to all who attended our Friday, April 26, concert by the internationally acclaimed double bassists Susan Hagen and David Heyes! Our beautiful sanctuary – perfectly suited for music of all genres of music – was filled with enthusiastic listeners as Susan, David, and guest artists delighted the crowd with music for combinations of two basses, piano, and voice.
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A special highlight of the program was hearing and viewing Serge Koussevitzky’s actual double bass – on loan to Susan and David for this very special performance celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Serge Koussevitzky, the famous composer, double bassist, and conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924-1949. Part of the 2023-2024 Concerts at Old North, funds collected at the door directly benefited the artists and Old North Church.
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Congregational Caring
Tom Schaefer’s funeral service will be held at the Old Sloop (First Congregational) Church in Rockport (12 School Street) this Saturday, May 4th at 11 am.
Anyone wishing to sing at the Funeral Service is welcome. Please let Maria van Kalken know you plan to join (vankalken@gmail.com). All interested singers should gather at the Old Sloop at 10am. Please be advised parking can be challenging so allow ample time.
There will be a gathering in the fellowship hall of the church immediately after the service. Tom's obituary may be viewed here.
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Call for Garden Volunteers
To honor Earth Day, our amazing Green Team was celebrated and awarded a special SNEUCC certificate designating Old North as a Green church. To complete their projects they will be planting and maintaining a Pollinator Garden in the parking lot to attract bees and butterflies. A couple other garden volunteers worked to transplant plants and improve the rest of the parking lot beds.
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Our Garden Angel, Wren Sooy, has been digging out the pesky onion grass which is a difficult task to be sure. Thanks to her very generous donation, a landscape contractor will finish spring cleanup on all the church properties and apply mulch. Soon, when the Memorial Garden fountain is turned on and the shrubs flower, it will once again become a beautiful and serene place to visit. We do need volunteers for regular maintenance to weed and tidy the gardens all summer and into the fall. An hour or two of work produces results for us all to enjoy.
Please let me know if you can help. Thank you.
Ginny von Rueden
Gardens and Landscape Coordinator
rvonrueden@comcast.net
781-631-7898
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Sustainable Marblehead Hosts Second Annual Green Homes Tour
On May 4, 2024 from 10am to 2pm, Sustainable Marblehead will host its second annual Green Homes Tour. Tour guests will be able to learn from other Marblehead homeowners who have upgraded their houses to reduce their utility bills and lower their carbon emissions by making their homes more energy efficient. The tour will feature a variety of technologies from improved insulation, heat pumps, induction stoves, electric hot water heaters and rooftop solar. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from Marblehead homeowners how they were able to save energy, reduce their utility bills and lower their carbon emissions.
Tour registration is $10 per person and can be done on the events section of our website at www.sustainablemarblehead.org.
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Prayer Shawl 2024
To all knitters! – Prayer shawl will meet May 8 and June 12 at Stacey Street 10:30-12. Please come join the table to work on your prayer shawl or bring a project of your own and join our community.
If you are working on a shawl but cannot be there, please email or text Alexandra so she can get a count of works-in-progress! Thank you.
Alexandra Garfield: 781.929.0540 or Alexandradane@me.com.
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Learn All About Recycling with Republic
On Tuesday, May 14th from 7 to 8:30pm, Our Lady Star of the Sea church will host an open meeting with the Sustainability Department for Republic Services, which is the company that handles Marblehead's recycling. Learn about the process and all of the latest information on what can -- and can't -- be recycled. Wondering about wrapping paper, milk cartons, and strawberry containers? We will cover it all! Do these items actually get recycled? We will cover that too! Don't miss this great talk.
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Scrabble Group
The Scrabble group continues to meet weekly in the Great Room in the Stacey Street office on Wednesdays from 2-4pm. It’s great fun and can be quite competitive. Join us!
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Death and Dying/Life and Living Course Continues
Our next meeting is scheduled for May 19, at 11:30 AM in the Great Room of Stacey Street Office, or you have the option to join on-line by clicking the link below.
We are continuing our discussion of Euthanasia. During our April session, it became clear that we were grappling with possible ‘end of life’ options, but also with the inevitability of aging and death –our common lot. In a recent article in The New Yorker, ‘No Time To Die’, with the subtitle: When does the quest for a healthy life become unhealthy? A question was raised: why are Americans increasingly obsessed with longevity. Also, it stated that we find ourselves faced with a dilemma, in that medicine keeps us alive longer and perhaps living longer includes lengthening our more difficult final years.
If you would like to join the discussion and not on the mailing list, email: elsewiersma@comcast.net or contact the church office (781-531-1124), or mail office@onchurch.org
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89664581912?pwd=S2pxa2RUZDRVM1FKeng1NnVvUWdzZz09
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Spotlight on New Members
Our newsletter will now frequently include a "Spotlight on New Members" section as a way to introduce new members and provide them a chance to share some information abut themselves so the congregation can get to know them better. Our first spotlight will be on Ginny Nutt:
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Spotlight on New Members:
Virginia (Ginny) Nutt
Ginny Nutt is back! Ginny first joined Old North Church in the 1970s. She was an active member, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School. Her two boys, David and Jonathan were baptized by Dr. Hooten and were raised in the church. Ginny moved from Marblehead in 2002, returning recently to town to be near her son and his family. David and his wife Genevieve (who were married in the church) live in town with their two boys, Jackson and Colin who attend Tower School. Her other son, Jonathan, and his wife, Bo, and their two boys, Joseph and Carter, live in Phuket, Thailand. Ginny travels to Thailand often to see her family. Ginny is a member of the Community Life Ministry Board and volunteers for the Marblehead Museum.
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Discipleship Minutes
For those who were unable to attend the 10am Worship service last Sunday, April 28, the minutes from Roy Martin's "Discipleship Moment" can be read here.
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Annual Report Drafts Due May 7
It’s that time of year again! The Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 5 at 7pm, preceded by an ice cream social at 6:30pm. Please send your updated rosters as well as your annual reports to the ONC office by Tuesday, May 7, in order to meet the deadline for having printed reports available by May 26 per our bylaws. Committee reports are program year, so June 2023-May 2024. Financial reports are fiscal year, Jan-Dec 2023.
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Prudential Ministry Board Seeks New Members
The Prudential Ministry Board (aka ONC Trustees) would like to add 3 or 4 additional members to our Board to replace those who are stepping down after years of service. What are the Pru Board responsibilities, you ask? The Board is responsible for oversight of all church property, finances, the church office, and the annual Stewardship Campaign to fund the operating budget. You need not be a financial wizard nor skilled in the use of power tools! Old North Church has experts for that. The Prudential Board works collaboratively with the Leadership Board, our very competent church Treasurer, the volunteer Investment Committee, the amazing office staff, as well as a number of dedicated contractors and volunteers to keep our church finances, buildings and grounds in good shape.
The Pru Board meets the second Tuesday evening of each month. Hybrid and Zoom options are meeting options for those who wish to serve on the Board but may not be able to meet in person. Decisions on unexpected expenses or other Pru Board business that may occur between meeting dates, are often made via emails, conference calls or texts.
If you are interested in serving on the Board or would like more information, please call or text Board Chair Sally Sands 508-843-7401. Other current Board members are also good sources of information: Mark Adams, Scott Fillenworth, John Tatum and David Bennet. Joining the Prudential Board is a great way to experience another important facet of your church. And yes, we DO have power tools, if you would like to add some 'sweat equity' to your Pru Board experience!
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HAWK Walk & 5K Run June 9th
Register today for this cherished community event by May 15th which guarantees you a T-shirt and enters you into a raffle for 4 Red Sox tickets! NEW this year...Women's t-shirt sizes so register soon to be guaranteed a shirt! Gather your friends and form a team or walk individually with HAWC friends, business partners and community leaders. We need you to raise awareness and funds for HAWC's lifesaving work.
Event details:
Sunday, June 9th at 10:00 am at the Salem Common, Salem, MA
Lunch included & provided by Kelly's Roast Beef and coffee by Atomic Coffee
There are many ways to step up for survivors:
5K Road Race - Officially time-chipped with medals to top finishers
5K Walk - Stroll the historic streets of Salem
Virtual Option - Can’t join us in person? No problem! You will be able to run or walk virtually from anywhere in the world!
Afterwards enjoy our Family Fun Festival featuring:
An adorable Pet Parade led by the Hound & Country Pet Care
5K Road race award ceremony
Kids races and games
Register for the event here.
Can't make the walk but want still want to donate, click here.
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Gifts of Cheer
If you know of anyone, either here at Old North or in the wider Marblehead community who is going through a difficult time, the Community Life Board would like to reach out with a little plant and a friendly note. Please contact Lynda Hare at hares8carrots@hotmail.com or 781-639-0107 if you know someone who would appreciate a little extra cheer.
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Lectio Divina
A monastic practice of scripture, reflection and prayer dating back to the 4th 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.
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Office Hours
The church office is open Tuesday-Thursday mornings from 9:30am-1:30pm. If you have an emergency outside of office hours, please send an email to office@onchurch.org.
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Contact Us: 781-631-1244
Email: office@onchurch.org
Church Address: 35 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 01945
Mailing Address: 8 Stacey St. Marblehead, MA 01945
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