September 2015 St. Michael s Newsletter Inside this issue: Page 2 Evensongs 9/27 in Andover & 10/4 at St. Michael s Recital Series September Dates Page 3-4 Table & Water Brigade Training: Godly Play, Acolytes & Safe Church Blessings: Backpacks on 9/20; Animals, 10/4 Church Registration 9/20 & Start 9/27 Page 5 Lobster Lunch Thanks! Help Wanted The Rev. Julius H. Ward author, lecturer & environmentalist Page 6 Wisdom Friendship on Friday, 9/25 Thrift Shop Sundays St. Catherine s Fashion Show & Silent Auction Steward of the Month: Patrick Doyle September Calendar From the Rector: The Arc of the Seasons On one of those hot, humid days in late August, a day when the fabric on the sofa feels damp, magazines, newspapers and the cat hang limp, and the communion wafer bends rather than breaks, I saw a picture of last winter s snow. What a contrast! The heat and humidity suddenly didn t feel quite as oppressive. The photo is part of a terrific slide show Kelley Howells has put together. It highlights the activities of the church school and youth groups over last year. But it is much more than just our children and youth programs: it was wonderful retrospective of the parish events of last year: Captured and displayed are images of the last year s anniversary celebration with the Bishop of London and Father Max from Haiti, caroling on the Summer St. lawn, first communion; planting spring flowers, the Lobster Lunch, and much more. Kelley, the church school and youth, and the parish as a whole did a lot of fabulous ministry last year! Parish and home life now transitions from summer schedules to fall schedules and into a new program year. College students make their way to their institutions and younger children start a new school year. The morning rush-hour traffic on the Lynn Way into Boston will back up again! Here at St. Michael s, we return to 8:00 and 10:00 Sunday worship times on Sept. 6 (Labor Day weekend). Wednesday Bible Study re-gathers on Sept. 9, and a new Wisdom-Friendship-Support group for those in the later decades of life starts later in the month. Adult Choir and Child care return on Sunday, Sept. 13. Kelley will show her slide show presentation at coffee hour on Sept. 20 as she welcomes back the church school and offers registration. The parish will celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (Michaelmas) on Sunday, Sept. 27, service at the 8:00 and 10:00. On that afternoon, the choir, the rector and hopefully many parishioners will travel to Christ Church, Andover, to join forces with their choir, rector and parish for Choral Evensong at 5:00 p.m. That s just September! Choral Evensongs, Blessing of the Animals, Organ Recitals, and a special Fashion Show, and stewardship of our ministries are all on the horizon. Last year s 300th anniversary brought to a close the parish s then five-year strategy plan. Where do we go from here, and what do we do next? Clearly, our core parish ministries continue to evolve, and we continue to engage and support many efforts. While we think about the next five years, the Vestry has agreed that the parish participate in a program that has found great success throughout the diocese and beyond. It is called the Leadership Development Program (LDI). It is grounded in worship, contemplative practice and holy listening. Its components include sharing one s story, building relationships, creating and empowering leadership teams, developing strategy and taking action. More about LDI will be discussed in the coming months. Continued on page 2.
St. Michael s Newsletter September 2015 Page Two From the Music Director It is time again to begin another year of wonderful choral singing, congregational singing and organ recitals at St. Michael's Church. I hope you all had a fine summer, enjoying the nicest summer weather I can remember for a long while. The St. Michael's Choir will begin rehearsing on Thursday, September 10th, at 7:30 pm, and singing for the 10 am Eucharist on September 13th. We are always looking for new members, as our numbers are rather small right now (but enthusiasm is large!). If you like to sing and would care to join us, please contact me at (978)578-2140. We could use a few more male voices, and the camaraderie is worth your time! The Youth Choir will begin rehearsing on Thursday, September 10th as well, from 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm, and will sing for selected services throughout the fall, winter and spring. Any boy or girl in the 3rd grade or older is welcome in this group. We concentrate on vocal development, learning to read music, and also having fun with the joy of singing. Please contact me at the above telephone number if you have a child who likes to sing. A special event happens on September 27th: St. Michael's will celebrate our patronal feast day during the 10 am service, and in the afternoon we will travel to Christ Church, Andover and join Barbara Bruns and their choir for a Festival Evensong in celebration of Michaelmas. Some of you may know that Christ Church, several years ago, installed a fine new Fisk organ and renovated the church interior to improve liturgical and acoustical properties to enhance their worship. There will be car pools leaving from St. Michael's that afternoon so as many of you as possible can attend this combined service of beautiful choral, congregational and organ music. Let's make a good showing at our neighbor to the north. (Andover ISN'T half-way to Canada, really.) This season's Organ Recital Series will introduce you to some very fine organists. As usual, I'll begin the series. A brochure to allow you to subscribe to all 5 Arc of the Seasons continued from page 1 I began this article is heat, humidity and snow! I did so mindful of the arc of the seasons and years, and the new hopes, new joys and new possibilities each day brings. No matter the weather, the season, or the day, God in all God s glory Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is ever present, calling and leading us to a hopeful future. But maybe with not as much snow this winter. Fr. Andrew recitals will be mailed in mid-september. Here s the line-up with all on Sundays at 5 pm: Oct. 18 - Doug Major Nov. 15 - Richard Spicer, Organist, Trinity Church, Topsfield Feb., 21 - Jacob Street, Competition winner and Doctoral Student Apr. 17 - Barbara Bruns, Christ Church, Andover May 15 - Dr. John Fenstermaker, Trinity Church-bythe-Cove, Naples Florida, and former Organist of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. Watch your mailboxes for the Organ Recital Series brochure which will be mailed out in mid-september. We always welcome and are thankful for your support of the Music Program at St. Michael's Church.- Doug Major September 2015 Events & Fall Beginnings Sunday, September 6 Wednesday, September 9 10:30 am Bible Study resumes Thursday, September 10 4:45 pm Youth Choir resumes 7:30 pm Adult Choir resumes Sunday, September 13 9:30 am Child Care resumes with returning Adult Choir Sunday, September 20 9:30 am Child Care & Church School, Blessing of the Backpacks Afterwards: Church School Welcome & Registration Friday, September 25 11:00 am Wisdom Friendship Group Sunday, September 27 Michaelmas 9:30 am Child Care & Church School 10:00 am Holy Baptism & Festal Eucharist, Rite II 4:00 pm Choral Evensong at Christ Church, Andover with St. Michael s & Christ Church choirs
St. Michael s Newsletter Children & Youth - from Kelley Howells September 2015 Page Three Summer Highlights! Lobster Luncheon This year our annual Lobster Luncheon to benefit local charities and St Thomas School in Arcahaie, Haiti, was a huge success! With the weather on our side, many people in town for the Halifax race, and the 50th anniversary of the Marblehead Festival of Arts, the crowds were enormous. Look for more details on the results of this event elsewhere in this Newsletter. We would like to take a moment to thank all of the adults and youth, especially our High School Service group, who turned up on July 2nd to help with the set-up of all the tables and chairs. With all of us pulling together, the work was taken care of quickly. Many families also spent the weekend assisting with the luncheon itself. Thank you for all of your help! Watering Brigade Thank you to Kelley Callahan for organizing the watering of our Parish grounds this year! A huge thank you to the Cool, Petty, Amberik, and Callahan families for keeping the beautiful gardens that we planted on Rogation Sunday, watered all summer long. Your efforts are much appreciated! Godly Play Training A diocesan sponsored Godly Play training will be offered on Saturday, Sept. 12th from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at All Plan Ahead! Ongoing Signups for Watering Brigade! September 6 Return to two service schedule at 8 o clock am and 10 o clock am. September 12 Godly Play Training, All Saints, Belmont 8:30 am 3:00 pm September 13 Child Care and Adult Choir return. St. Michael s featured at souperbowl.org September 19 Safe Church Training, St. Andrew s, Marblehead, 8:30 am 3:30 pm Acolyte Training at 11:00 am & pizza lunch September 20 Blessing of the Backpacks, Church School kickoff with slideshow & Registration. September 27 Church School at Davenport House 9:30 am October 4 Blessing of the Animals October 6 Supper Club, 6-8 pm, Parish Hall Saints Church (17 Clark Street) in Belmont. Participants from churches in the diocese attend for $20 ($60 for those from outside the diocese.) Participants will experience a complete Godly Play session and learn best practices and the theological underpinnings of Godly Play. This course is for anyone who volunteers or would like to volunteer in Church School. Children have an innate sense of the presence of God. The Godly Play approach helps them to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience through wonder and play. Based on Montessori principles and developed using a spiral curriculum, the Godly Play method serves children here at St. Michael s in Grades K-2. Come join us at the training! Please register at Kelley@stmichaels1714.org. Nursery Care Begins September 13th Children up through preschool Continued on page 4.
St. Michael s Newsletter September 2015 Page Four Church School Continued age are invited to attend our Nursery program in our space in the lower hall. Nursery care will resume on September 13th and runs from 9:30 a.m. until the service has ended. It will be available every Sunday through June, even when church school is not in session. Exciting News! St. Michael s is Souperbowl of Caring s Featured Group - September 13th On September 13th beginning at noon, the Souperbowl of Caring website: souperbowl.org will feature St. Michael s Church in an ongoing report about their participants. This article will be on display for the rest of that week. On Monday, September 14th they will send the article they have written about us to their followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. St. Michael s children and youth have participated in collecting food and funds for the Marblehead Food Pantry on Super bowl Sunday, in conjunction with the Souperbowl of Caring, since 2005. Over the years, our group has raised over $2,400 and 490 food items! Acolyte Opportunity - September 19th Father Andrew has asked all young people entering the 6th grade and up, to consider serving this coming year as acolytes. There will be training given on Saturday, September 19th at 11am. The class will last about an hour and will be followed by time for pizza and fellowship. Please give it some consideration, it is a great way to give back to St. Michael s Parish. All current acolytes are asked to join us as well. We hope that this will be a good refresher, and a time to meet the newest members of our acolyte team. If you plan to come, please let us know at Kelley@stmichaels1714.org. Safe-Church Training - September 19th We are very lucky this year that there will be a safe church training right here in Marblehead at St. Andrew s Church! Safe Church is a course that is designed to increase awareness regarding sexual misconduct and abuse of power, to outline steps toward preventing abuse, to offer ways to intervene when misconduct occurs and to equip anyone in a position of parish leadership with ways of healing and rebuilding the body of Christ. The training is required of all clergy, diocesan employees and congregational employees. It is also highly recommended for wardens, vestry members, lay Eucharistic visitors, pastoral visitors, youth leaders, Confirmation sponsors, acolyte leaders, choir directors, church school teachers, and any volunteers working in a congregation on a regular basis. Safe Church Training will be at St. Andrew s on Saturday, September 19, from 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. St. Andrew s will provide a light lunch for the participants as well as coffee/tea and light breakfast snacks. Participants will need to pay a fee to attend of $40. Training is also available on other days at different sites: Sept. 26th in Chelsea (in Spanish & English) and Oct. 17 in Taunton. See details and registration for all workshops and for refresher courses at www.diomass.org/inside/learning/safe_church Blessing of the Backpacks - September 20th This annual tradition continues this year on September 20th. Children are invited to bring their school backpacks to the 10 o clock service where they will be blessed by Father Andrew in anticipation of a wonderful school year. Important Meeting September 20th On September 20th following the 10 o clock service, there will be a brief meeting in the parish hall for all, to update the whole congregation on church school activities. We will have a quick slideshow of last year s programs and activities, a look ahead to our goals for the coming year, and an opportunity to register children if you have not already done so. Please bring your calendars, we hope to schedule as many volunteers as possible for church school at our assembly. Church School Begins September 27th St. Michael s Church offers religious education to children through Church School which is held at the Davenport House. Church school is divided by age into two classrooms. Two curriculums are used: Godly Play is used with students in grades K-2, and Weaving God s Promises is used for students in grades 3-5. Children are invited to wonder and consider their relationship with God while participating in songs, storytelling, craft activities, and fellowship. Church School will begin on September 27th! Please meet us at Davenport House by 9:30 to begin another great year. Blessing of the Animals Sunday, October 4th Another favorite annual tradition, the blessing of the animals will take place on Sunday, October 4th. This is an opportunity to bring your pet, or photo of your pet, for a blessing. Look for more information to follow soon. Supper Club Begins Tuesday, October 6th Supper Club is a group of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who meet twice a month over the course of the school year for food, fellowship and fun with a bible story, biblical figure, or spiritual question, theme; here at St. Michael s Church. Youth are encouraged to build their own personal relationship with God and ask questions! We will have our first meeting on Tuesday, October 6th. All meetings are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. here in the Parish Hall. - Kelley Howells
St. Michael s Newsletter September 2015 Page Five Lobster Lunch Thank You All! Deep thanks and appreciation are extended to all who volunteered over the July 4th weekend at the Lobster Lunch. We had a record year! Gross and net proceeds, lobster rolls and salads made, and hot dogs and drinks served all reached record numbers! Its success was a perfect coming together of many factions: the timing of the July 4 holiday; the fiftieth anniversary of the Marblehead Festival of the Arts, beautiful summer weather, the Marblehead to Halifax sailing race, wonderful publicity, and most important the generous efforts of many volunteers. Special thanks are extended to this year s co-chairs, Linda Smidt and Kristin Carlson, and the planning committee. Linda, Kristin and their colleagues, particularly Bill and Barbara Miller, David Winder, Ellie Doyle, Steve Clay, Octavia Moniz and Sarah Bates, worked tirelessly to plan and coordinate the Lunch. Thanks also to all who donated time, talent and treasure to make this year s Lobster Lunch a tremendous success. The net proceeds constitutes St. Michael s outreach budget. All the net proceeds are donated: half is given to St. Thomas Church & School, Arcahaie, Haiti, with the other half divided between seven local charities helping those in need. Because we had a record year, we are able to make additional donations to the Farrar and Rombach families, and to SPUR, a local community assistance agency inspiring youth & adults good deeds. HELP WANTED! Let us know if you can support our October 17th fashion show. We are looking for: Models (male and female) Cooks and workers Stage Manager Donations of Services for silent auction For example: rides to the airport, personal shopping, a home cooked meal (either at your home or delivered), leaf raking, snow shoveling, use of vacation home, etc.) Table top candelabra and tiered cake stands. Contact Sarah Bates or Jenny Oliveira to join the fun. Julius Hammond Ward, Rector 1875-1878 Samuel Roads describes the Rev. Julius H. Ward as probably, the most scholarly of any of the later Rectors. An able writer and a good preacher, he labored faithfully for three years (Roads Historical Address 1888) And indeed, the works of Julius Hammond Ward (1837-1897) continue to be cited today. Julius Hammond Ward was born in Charlton, Massachusetts and raised in the Congregational church. he attended Munson Academy and then Yale University, graduating in 1860. It was at Yale that he joined the Episcopal Church going next to Berkeley Divinity School. Ward was ordained a deacon in 1862, and priest in 1863, serving in several Connecticut towns while completing a book on the poet J. G. Percival. In 1867 Ward was called to Maine to develop congregations in Thomaston and Rockland, and as later to serve as Chaplain at the Maine State Prison. But by 1875 his health was suffering, and he accepted the call of St. Michael s Vestry. The primary issue before the Vestry 1875-1877 was heating the Church and adjoining chapel. After investigating various options, in April 1877 the Vestry resolved to thank our beloved Rector the Rev. Julius H. Ward for his ever willing efforts to secure our comfort and happiness as is manifested in his success in obtaining for us two Magee furnaces for warming the church as well as those who funded it. During these years, Ward also joined the founding board of the New England Industrial School for Deaf-Mutes along with fellow St. Michael s vestrymen and the Rev. Thomas Gallaudet of Connecticut. Then on June 25th, 1877 a devastating fire swept through Marblehead s shoe factory area. St. Michael s was almost lost when its roof caught fire. A young man, Thomas Gorman, leapt on the roof from an adjoining building and, with Ward in the tower holding him with a rope, was able to put out the fire. St. Michael s was saved and the event recalled in Whittier s 1879 poem The Landmarks. But Marblehead s economy took a dive. Ward s salary was reduced; he resigned, January 1878. Julius Ward s interests were broad and he soon took on positions as writer and editor for the Boston Herald which he held for the rest of his life. Ward also wrote articles for the Atlantic, the Nation, North American Review, and more, including a Harvard Register article on Marblehead-born Benjamin Tyler Reed. Ward lectured in Boston and New York and wrote books on Phillips Brooks, Bishop White, The Church in Modern Society, and a compilation of Boston Herald articles The White Mountains: A Guide to Their Interpretation, expanded into a 3rd edition. Ward s most cited work is The White Mountain Forests in Peril (Atlantic, Feb. 1893) advocating for forest conservation and changing lumber policies, and most recently cited in Forests of the People (2013). Ward fell ill in Feb. 1896 and died May 1897. - Frances Stith Nilsson, Historic Church Committee.
St. Michael s Newsletter September 2015 Page Six Thrift Shop Sunday & Fashion Show! Friday Friendship Several members of the Parish have shown interest in starting a faith based support group for those elders living alone, caring for others, or who just want to deepen spiritual friendship. The meetings will focus on what it means to have the love of God in our lives as our needs change. There will be opportunities for sharing both our wisdom and our challenges. The starting date will be at St. Michael's on Friday September 25th at 11:00am. For more information or transportation, call Anne Davis, Annette Nicolas, our facilitator, or Father Andrew. SAVE THE DATE Saturday, October 17 At 6:00 pm St. Catherine s Guild Fall Fashion Gala Get your British On for this Downton Abby themed evening of fashion, food and frivolity. Steward of the Month: Patrick Doyle Thrift Shop Day Every 4th Sunday The Thrift Shop has announced Thrift Shop Sundays to encourage donations. Mark the fourth Sunday of each month as a day to bring in clothing and household goods for the Thrift Shop. We are looking now for autumn/fall clothing and household goods, so bring them in, and particularly on Sunday, September 27. The Thrift Shop is a major contributor to St. Michael s budget. Besides a monthly rent of space in the Davenport House, the gives an annual donation. In July, Thrift Shop volunteers voted to contribute $10,000. Please contact Liz Grader with any questions. And yes, goods can brought in at other times too, and placed in the green bin in the Parish Hall or brought to the Thrift Shop during open hours. Patrick Doyle has known many churches. When he came to Boston for college, he attended Old South Church which is Congregational. The music was phenomenal he says. Then, when he came to Marblehead, he attended several churches Old North, Star of the Sea, St. Andrews before he came to St. Michael s about four years ago. It s homey, more traditional, and I just liked it, he says. It worked 300 years ago and it works today, so why change? he adds. He is a member of the Bell Bunch and the Altar Guild. I am the only man presently on the Guild. I enjoy arranging flowers and I can give back a little to the church with my time, he says. He laughs about working up close to the altar and realizing that the Ten Commandments were on the reredos which he hadn t been able to read without his glasses during the services. He also polishes the 18th century chandelier with Carl Hyam and Steven Clay, usually just before Easter and sometimes before Christmas as well. Patrick has a background in financial services. He was an institutional bond sales trader, a position he enjoyed because it had him exploring many different industries and working to build relationships. Now he is working for a marketing firm in the Cummings Center. He is part of a large family: he has three sisters and three brothers and now his nieces and nephews are starting to get married. Everyone is in good health, including my mother while my dad is in a good home for those with dementia his well-being figures a lot in my prayers. In his spare time, Patrick likes to read though he says it is hard to find quiet time. Nevertheless he knows the library staff by name so he can find out what is being read. He also likes a game of bocce or a hand of gin rummy now and then. In the winter, he swims laps. In his 30 s, he worked on a yacht in the Mediterranean. I was not married and debt free, so it was a good time to try it, he says. He had only half a day off a week so he would head for the center of town, look interested in what folks were doing, and people always invited him to join their games, usually bocce. It didn t matter that I didn t speak Greek or Italian. It was very social and there were lots of laughs, he remembers. He also remembers the beauty of ocean crossings. You see what the sky really looks like when switching watches in the middle of the night, he says. Once he saw the international space station go over at night. It looked like endless blocks of lights, massive in scope, passing over, he recalls. In closing, he says, I like the spiritual way of decompressing at St. Michael s. At the end of my prayers, I often say, Thank you for showing me St. Michael s. - Marilyn Day
ST. MICHAEL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 26 Pleasant Street Marblehead, MA 01945-3432 Phone: 781/631-0657 Fax. 781/639-2866 E-mail: office@stmichaels1714.org Web: www.stmichaels1714.org Photo: Ulrike Welsh Sunday Worship Schedule Beginning September 6 9:30 am Child Care begins Sept. 13 Adult Choir returns Sept. 13 Church School Registration Sept. 20 Michaelmas Sunday, September 27 10:00 am Holy Baptism & Festal Eucharist, Rite II 4:00 pm Choral Evensong at Christ Church, Andover with St. Michael s & Christ Church Choirs St. Michael s Church Officers: Stephen Clayon, Sr. Warden; Karin McCarthy, Jr. Warden; Sue Cool, Clerk; James Dearborn, Treasurer; Diane Christian, Asst. Treasurer. Vestry: Sarah Bates, Kelley Callahan, Brian Carlson, Zavier Chickering, Ellie Doyle, Rory Gaunt, Justin Hintlian, Robert L. Howie, Jr., Jennifer Oliveira. Delegates for Convention: Brian Fizer, Denise Shea. Deanery Delegates: Brian Fizer, Frances Nilsson, Denise Shea Staff: The Rev. Andrew J. Stoessel, Rector; Dr. Douglas Major, Music Director; Kelley Howells, Christian Education Director; Jane Maihos, Parish Administrator; Jennifer Hill, Sexton.
September 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Office Hours Mon. Fri. 8:30 am 12:30 pm 1 2 3 4 5 5:00 pm 10:30 am Church Staff St. Michael s Team at My Brother s 8:00 pm AA Table, Lynn 15 TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 The Rev. Jess Petty, Guest Celebrant Labor Day Office Closed 10:30 am Bible Study 11:45 am Church Staff 8:00 pm AA 4:45 pm Youth Choir 7:30 pm Adult Choir 10:30 am - 1:30 pm St. Michael s Team at Lifebridge Co-Captains Valerie Wyckoff & Pam Oppelt 16 TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9:00 am Historic Church 9:30 am Child Care 10:30 am Bible Study 11:45 am Church Staff Newsletter Deadline with returning choir 7:00 pm Vestry 8:00 pm AA 4:45 pm Youth Choir 7:30 pm Adult Choir 17 TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 9:30 am Child Care 11:15 am Church School Registration & Video 10:30 am Bible Study 11:45 am Church Staff 8:00 pm AA 11:00 am Wisdom Friendship Group 11:00 am Acolyte Training and pizza lunch MICHAELMAS 27 28 29 30 October 1 9:00 am Thrift Shop Sunday 9:30 am Child Care 10:00 am Holy Baptism and Festal Eucharist, Rite II 4:00 pm Evensong at Christ Church, Andover with St. Michael s Choir 10:30 am Bible Study 11:45 am Church Staff 8:00 pm AA 4:45 pm Youth Choir 6:30 pm St. Catherine s Guild 7:30 pm Adult Choir Thrift Shop Hours Tuesday Saturday 1:00 pm 4:00 pm