Last Sunday we sang, and this Sunday we will tell stories! As long as there have been people, there have been stories. From the stories told in paintings on the ancient caves, to stories from the Bible, to our favorite bedtime stories that we hear over and over again. These stories make up our history and guide our future, helping us to plant the seeds of curiosity, adventure, friendship, family and the knowing of God’s Love for us. This Sunday we will be listening and creating stories together. Lindsay Popperson, our Associate Minister will join us and help us to hear and better understand the parable of the “Mustard Seed”. We will also read of “Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady”, seeing what beauty can come from sharing and caring in faith. Oh of, course nothing helps us to see how goodness happens through care, kindness and patience like planting bulbs as we grow in faith in our own back garden.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday! Karen

Senior Choir:

Please consider joining the Senior Choir this year! Singers of all ages (high school and up) and varied levels of experience are welcome and encouraged. Singing is gratifying, fun and in fact, good for your health! Regular rehearsals for the Senior Choir take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:30pm -9:00pm, and Sunday mornings at 9am.

Youth Choirs:

Please help spread the word that we are looking for young singers to join our wonderful choir programs! After an extensive search last year, Sarah Del Dotto was hired to direct the Old North Youth Choirs, the Old North Festival Youth Chorus and was enthusiastically received by all. Please encourage your child (children) to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to work with Sarah. All are welcome – no auditions necessary - and it is not required to be a member of Old North Church to participate. Please click here to download a registration form.

Festival Chorus:

Registration and rehearsals for the 39 ^th annual Festival Chorus concerts will begin on Wednesday, September 25 ^th in the Parish Hall at 7:30pm. All singers are welcome! High school students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to join with our adult singers of all ages. Each section is lead and encouraged by the wonderful professional soloist/section leaders from the regular Old North Church music program. This year’s program will feature , Cantata 191 , Gloria, In Excelsis Deo, by J.S. Bach, Vom Himmel Hoch by Felix Mendelssohn , Christmas Day, by Gustav Holst and several colorful arrangements of seasonal music for chorus and orchestra, by Randol Bass, Dan Forrest and Mark Hayes. For more details, please email Maria vanKalken at vankalken@gmail.com . Please note that the Festival Youth Chorus Registration/First Rehearsal will be Wednesday, October 2nd at 5pm.

Handbell Choir:

Would you like more music in your life? Our Old North Church Handbell Choir is looking for some new ringers to increase our ranks. Most handbell ringers start by joining their church choir with no previous ringing experience. If you can read music at all, or have ever played an instrument, we can teach you the fundamentals of ringing. We are always looking for enthusiastic, new ringers - and we’d love to have you! We rehearse from 7:30 to 9:00 on Tuesday evenings, and ring once a month in church and for Festival Chorus. We'll be available at Coffee Hour after ringing in church on September 29th. Or email Liz Smith at  smith.liz@gmail.com .

For those of you who are interested in participating in a life-changing experience in South Africa, we are planning an Old North trip there for two weeks in August 2020. We will spend one week with the Pholela congregation and a second week enjoying the scenic beauty of South Africa on safari, in the coastal city of Durban and on an excursion to the Kingdom of Lesotho in the Drakensburg Mountains. Our long and close friendship with the Pholela congregation of 24 villages will continue as we celebrate church gatherings, visit schools and engage in the community activities of the widespread congregation. In the past, Old North travelers and their friends from the age of 10 to late 70’s have been inspired by this unique adventure.

Please contact Ginny von Rueden at 781-631-7898 or rvonrueden@comcast.net for questions and commitments. Airline and hotel reservations will have to be made later this fall and the group size will be limited to about 25 so we hope to hear from you soon.

Join Lindsay each Wednesday afternoon (12-3) for a cup of coffee. Come for conversation, pastoral care, or to share your ideas for the church. Text/call/email her if you want her to set aside time for you (423-863-8251 or lindsaypopper@gmail.com ); otherwise just show up! Location rotates.

Wednesday, September 25, 12-3 at Mookies

Wednesday, October 2, 12-3 at Java Sun