Inside this issue:

Page 2

Nov. 9: Katharine

Ragsdale on the future

Nov. 16: Ryan Patten,

Organ Recital

Nov. 25: Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

at St. Michael’s

November Events

Page 3

What’s Happening with

Children & Youth

Page 4

November Calendar

Page 5

Heart of Christmas: Crafts, Jewelry, Baking, Rich Uncle, Wreaths & New!

Page 6

Tree Lighting, Fair Schedule

St. Catherine’s Guild

Nominating Committee

Page 7

Steward of the Month: Jacqui Williams

From the Rector: A Season Sets, A New Dawns

Here is a brief sailing story: A husband

and wife went out on a clear, crisp Septem-

ber day to enjoy a sail before their boat was

to be hauled out for the winter. The wind

was a bit gusty but within the limits for

their sailing ability. They motored off the

mooring. They first decided to sail with

the jib only and unfurled it once clear of

the boats near them. Sensing the wind not

too strong, they decided to raise the main-

sail as well. With the engine still running

they pointed the boat into the wind. Just as

they pulled the halyard to raise the mainsail

a gust came up and caught the half raised

sail. The boat swung to the starboard. At

the same time the engine quietly stopped

running. Thankfully there were no other

boats near them, nor rocks! They worked

the boat back to into the wind. The engine

would not start. There was plenty of gas,

and the starter was turning over fine. The

engine mysteriously would not run. It was

clear now they would need to get back to

the mooring under sail. This was to be one

of their last sails together for the season.

Now this looked definite. Since they were

already far off the mooring, they headed to

more open water. They didn’t stay out long

and worked their way safely back to the

mooring. The originally planned leisurely

afternoon sail became an unexpected,

exciting and momentarily nerve-racking

experience, complete with an abbreviated

sail and new found wisdom. A few days

later, just before the boat was hauled, the

solemn news came: the engine was kaput!

Future repair or replacement remains un-

certain. More growth and learning are at

St. Michael’s

Newsletter

November 2014

hand. They were thankful this happened

near the end of the sailing season and not at

the beginning.

By the time you read this newsletter,

the docks in front of the Harbor Master in

Marblehead Harbor and at Village St. in

Salem Harbor will have been pulled for t

he winter. The launch services will have

stopped. The clocks will have brought us

back to Eastern Standard Time, and the sun

will set near 5:00 p.m. Sailing, the sum-

mer, will have slipped into a fond memory.

Gardens are being put to bed, while the

autumn leaves fall outside our windows.

We adjust to a different rhythm of life.

The church year makes its adjustment,

too, helping us with ours. In November

are the final weeks of the church year and

the “ordinary time” of the season after Pen-

tecost. Green is the liturgical color for this

season. It is the color of growth, and that

is what we are invited to do: grow in faith,

in wisdom, in love of God and neighbor. I

t is a never-ending process, and a never-

ending invitation as well. As the green

outside fades we come to the end of this

cycle and begin anew. On Nov. 30 is the

first Sunday of Advent and a new liturgical

year. Advent is a season of hope and e

xpectation. With it comes again an invita-

tion to seek the wisdom of the Word made

flesh and dwelling among us, who is with

us in all adventures great and small.

-Fr. Andrew

St. Michael’s Newsletter November 2014 Page Two

From the Music Director

November 2014 Events

Saturday, November 1

2:00 pm Celebration of Bishop Tom Shaw, Trinity,

Boston

Sunday, November 2—All Saint’s Day

Daylight Savings Time Ends. Fall Back One Hour.

5:00 pm Choral Evensong

Tuesday, November 4

11:00 am Memorial Service: Capt. Bill Kelley

Thursday, November 6 1:00 pm Marblehead Ministerial Assn. lunch 6:30 pm St. Catherine’s Guild with

Jenny Oliveira on her China trip

Saturday, November 8

10:00 am Diocesan Convention, Stephen’s Lynn

Sunday, November 9 The Very Rev. Katherine Ragsdale, President & Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at 10 am

service followed with a Forum at 11:30 am.

Sunday, November 16

5:00 pm Organ Recital: Ryan Patten

Tuesday, November 25

7:30 pm Marblehead Interfaith Service of

Thanksgiving at St. Michael’s

Office closed, Nov. 30 Advent I

Guest Preacher & Forum—November 9

Please join us for Evensong on Sunday November 2 at 5

pm - the St. Michael's Choir will be singing music by Stan-

ford - Beati quorum via (Blessed are they who walk in the

way of the Lord) and the Renaissance composer Orlando

Gibbons's setitng of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.

(Yes, there is a big Patriots game, but that is what the

"record" button is for!)

On Sunday November 16th at 5

pm we will host the young, talented

organist from Grace Church, Salem,

Ryan Patten. His program will include

works by Bach, Samuel Scheidt,

Dubois, Franck and Arvo Part. Come

out and support our neighbor organist!

A reception follows both events.

—Douglas Major

Marblehead Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 25

at 7:00 pm at

St. Michael’s Church

A time to give thanks for all our blessings this 300th year,

and with all our friends across the town.

Do you have a 6’ artificial tree you are not using?

Donate it to St. Michael’s for our Mitten Tree!

On Sunday, November 9, our

guest preacher will be The Very

Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale,

President and Dean of the Episcopal

Divinity School in Cambridge,

Mass. After the service there will be

a forum discussion.

Dean Ragsdale’s visit is part of

our Tercentenary lecture series as

we shift from the past to the present and future of the Epis-

copal Church, and St. Michael’s in Marblehead. Her dis-

cussion will focus on education for lay and ordained min-

istry, an extension of her article “Disrupting the Institu-

tional Imagination: A Seminary for the Twenty-first Cen-

tury” in the book What We Shall Become: The Future and

Structure of the Episcopal Church. The book also in-

cludes articles by The Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas who will

speaking at St. Michael’s in January, as well as the Presid-

ing Bishop The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Prior to become Dean at EDS Ragsdale was vicar of St.

David’s in Pepperell, Massachusetts and President of Po-

litical Research Associates in Somerville, MA She holds a

DMin from Episcopal Divinity School, a MDiv from Vir-

ginia Theological Seminary, and an AB from The College

of William and Mary.

St. Michael’s Newsletter November 2014 Page Three

October just flew by with all of the activities going on

here at St. Michael’s! We began the month with Chil-

dren’s Chapel that focused on St. Francis of Assisi and his

loving care of

animals. Later

that day, we held

the annual bless-

ing of the animals

with many dogs

and one Guinea

Pig in atten-

dance.

Bishop Gates’ Visit: On October 12th we welcomed

the Rt. Rev. Bishop Alan Gates to our church. He had not

been to St. Michael’s since 1988 and was pleased with all

of the progress that our parish has made since then. He

presided over our service, blessed all of our capital cam-

paign projects, and joined us for fellowship. He was even

gracious enough to tell those in attendance about himself,

and answer any questions that our congregation had.

Intergenerational Service: Our children and youth

did a terrific job participating in the Intergenerational ser-

vice on October 19th. We had many of our Church School

students sing in the youth choir, and had Church School,

Supper Club, and Youth Service Group Members, volun-

teer to take on a variety roles. We had nearly 30 young

people participate in some way! Thank you to each of

them, and to their families for their support!

Nursery Care: As of this writing we are still in search

of an adult who would like to work in a paid position in

the Nursery for two hours each Sunday until June. Please

let us know if you are interested! We have a great group of

children to spend a Sunday morning with.

Supper Club: We have a very

dedicated group of Middle School

students who have been enjoying supper

club this year. Back by popular demand

is having a cooking activity. Most

recently we had a cupcake competition

when the youth made and decorated

Halloween themed treats. We will meet

this month on November 4th and

17th from 6-8 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

We are still looking for volunteers to

act as chefs. Please sign up on the Sign

Up Genius or contact Kelley at

Kelley@stmichaels1714.org.

High School Service Group: Our High School Youth

Service group, coordinated by Karin McCarthy and Kelley

Howells worked together in their first service project as a

group at Lifebridge in Salem, on October 29th. Our group

purchased, cooked and served a meal to the Lifebridge

guests.

Many young people need to fulfill community service

requirements for their school, National Honor Society, col-

lege applications, for their religious affiliation, or for other

reasons. It is our goal to provide experiences that will en-

able students to learn about themselves, while giving much

needed aid to others. If you know of any high school stu-

dent who would be interested in joining us, please contact

Kelley at Kelley@stmichaels1714.org.

Upcoming in November

Church School students have a lot to look forward to in

November! We will begin the month with Children’s

Chapel. We look forward to celebrating with two

of our Church School and Nursery Care members

as they are baptized. Later in the month we will

create a craft to sell at the Heart of Christmas

Fair, and will have sign-ups to participate in the

Pageant on Christmas Eve. During the month,

Godly Play children will be working on a Unit of

Parables, while the Weaving God’s Promises

group will learn about figures from the Old Tes-

tament including Gideon, Daniel, and Jonah.

There will not be Church School on November

30, which is Thanksgiving weekend.

—Kelley Howells, Church School Director

Church School—from Kelley Howells

Nov. 2: Nursery Care and

Children’s Chapel/Church School 9:30 am

Nov. 3: Supper Club 6-8p.m.

Nov. 9: Nursery Cares & Church School 9:30 am

Nov. 16: Nursery Cares & Church School 9:30 am

Nov. 17: Supper Club 6-8p.m.

Nov. 23: Nursery Care & Church School 9:30 am

Registration for Christmas Pageant

Nov. 30: Nursery Care 9:30 am

No Church School (Thanksgiving Weekend)

Dec. 4 Annual Tree Lighting + carols & chili bags

Dec. 5 Heart of Christmas Fair Preview Party

Dec. 6 Heart of Christmas Fair

St. Michael’s Newsletter November 2014 Page Five

St. Michael’s Heart of Christmas Fair—Donate—Bake—Volunteer!

Plans are underway to make this year’s Heart of Christ-

mas Fair. This is our primary fundraiser to benefit the pro-

grams of St. Michael’s—worship, music, Church School

and more. Come join the fun! Donate antiques and col-

lectibles, jewelry, crafts, baked goods, and your time at

events! —Karen McMahon & Frances Nilsson, Co-Chairs

Crafts, Wreaths & Baskets

We welcome handmade items: pins and hair clips, doll

clothing, hats with flowers, Christmas decorations, unusual

scarves, jewelry, and the imagination & creativity of all

ages. Contact Karen McMahon with questions and ideas.

Wreaths and Greens: We will have more simple live

wreaths with bows plus garlands

Baskets: Buy a basket from the Thrift Shop and fill it

with goodies. Mark with a suggested price up to $40!

New Hestia Townscape: Just 30 of St. Michael’s—

with a steeple—will for sale at the Fair! Come to the pre-

view party on Friday to get yours! Plus more St. Michael’s

mugs, CDS and treasure boxes.

Clean Out Your Jewelry Box

Is your jewelry box overflowing with you don’t wear?

We can use bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings for pierced

and non-pierced ears and pins. Please shine up any silver

pieces to show their worth! If you know the value of a

piece if you know it so we can price it appropriately.

The Jewelry Table is one of the most popular tables in

the Christmas Fair so let’s keep up that tradition!!

Please leave jewelry in the Parish Office.

—Linda Smidt, Connie Denault & Octavia Monez

Rich Uncle Antiques and Collectibles

Hidden away in plain sight, or tucked into the back of

your closets, cupboards or under the bed are wonderful

items that you loved but no longer use or need. Recycle

those treasures to delighted new owners.

Paintings or prints of local interest, distinctive pottery,

small antique anything, fine china or crystal (please no

cracks or chips), shiny silver or gold delights, garden statu-

ary and bird baths, and unique items of charm and distinc-

tion provide our best selling inventory. If your contribution

is beautiful, unique or functional in perfect working order,

we would be delighted to recycle your donation to a good

home and directly benefit the programs of St. Michaels.

Thank you for your generosity.

Please leave “Rich Uncle” items in the Parish Library.

—Peggy Bittermann, Carole Davidson, Aileen Day,

Jenny Olivera and Pat Spaberg.

Gourmet Food!

Apple pies and chutney for Thanksgiving and Christ-

mas! The pies are ready, join the Chutney Choppers on

Saturday, November 15 between 8:30 am and 1 pm. Bring

your favorite chopping knife for great fun. Look for the

cart at coffee hour to buy before we run out!

Home Baking for the Fair — breads of all sizes and

kinds, biscotti, cookies in packages of 6 or 12, , preserves,

home canned goods, casseroles, cupcakes instead of cakes,

jams & preserves, and more!

Bake Ahead—breads, casseroles, desserts, snack foods!

If you are making something for your family, double or

triple the recipe and freeze a few batches for the Fair. This

can be a loaf of bread (all sizes) a casserole, or dessert that

freezes well.

Label what you are bringing including key ingredients or

flavors, and particularly indicate “nuts” or “no nuts.”

Package your baked goods in a festive way with a bow

or a sprig of green to make the ordinary special. Label

what you are bringing including key ingredients or flavors,

and particularly indicate “nuts” or “no nuts.”

Deliver frozen items any time and fresh goods on Thurs-

day or Friday the week of the fair. —Pam Oppelt

Fair Preparation Events

Craft Days November 4 at 1:30 pm

November 10 at 7:00 pm

Fair Planning—Final Details

Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00 pm

Chutney Choppers

Saturday, November 15 at 8:30 am

More Crafts, Canning, Baking, Donating

Anytime on your time!

Fair Set-Up

Wednesday, December 3, 5:30 pm

Vendor Set-Up Friday, December 5, 4:00 pm $40 a table-we’re almost full!

Contact Karen McMahon

Sign Up in the Parish Lobby for shifts & activities.

See next page for events & hours

St. Michael’s Newsletter November 2014 Page Six

The Heart of Christmas Fair—Save the Dates & Volunteer!

Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 pm

St. Catherine’s Guild

St. Catherine’s November meeting will feature Jenny

Oliveira who will show pictures and talk about their recent

trip to China. Our November dinner will be baked ham,

homemade macaroni and cheese, corn bread, tossed salad

and assorted homemade cookies for dessert. A $4.00 dona-

tion is requested for anyone attending the dinner and don't

forget $4 for to help support an orphan in Haiti. Karen

McMahon is the chairman for this November dinner.

Please contact Karen if you would like to attend. Any-

one in the Parish is welcome to attend. We look forward to

seeing everyone there for an evening of fun and fellow-

ship!

Nominating Committee Seeks Suggestions

The Nominating Committee is considering candi-

dates for leadership positions in the church. Each

year at the Annual Meeting of the parish, Saint

Michael’s elects two wardens, clerk, treasurer,

assistant treasurer, 3 Vestry members and 2 delegates

to the Diocesan convention.

If you know of a good candidate, or if you are

interested yourself, please contact any member of the

Nominating Committee: Frances Nilsson, Steve Clay,

Sarah Bates, Melissa Amberik, Karin McCarthy, and

the Rev. Andrew Stoessel.

The Annual Meeting is scheduled for

Sunday, January 25, 2014.

Tree Lighting on the Lawn during the Christmas Walk Preview

Thursday, December 4 6 pm—8 pm Chili-in-a-bag & Hot Cider

7:00 pm Tree Lighting & Carols

St. Michael’s

Heart of Christmas Fair

Friday, December 5

6:00 pm—8:30 pm

Wassail! Hors d’Oeurves & Preview Sale

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Children ages 2-12 are $5.

Saturday, December 6 9:00 am—3:00 pm

Hot beverage & more beginning 9am

Lunch 11am—2pm

Chili-in-a-bag (outside), chowder, hot dogs, grilled cheese &

limited number of Heavenly Lobster Rolls

Silent Auction ends at 1:30 pm

Sign Up in the Parish Lobby

for shifts & activities.

Sunday, December 7

5:00 pm Lessons & Carols

All Saints Day is a time to remember those saints among us who have passed on.

Those of St. Michael’s who have died in the last year include:

Braedon Matthew Sandler, infant

Sarah Catherine Pelletier, died February 10, 2014, age 28

Barbara A. Wolfgram Cash, died March 15, 2014, age 63

Gerald Alan Clay, died March 18, 2014, age 77

Jean (Vargis) Nyberg, died April 8, 2014, age 93

Jessie M. Hahn, died April 21, 2014

Donald C. Seamans, died January 22, 2014, age 87

Robert Edward Robinson, died May 2, 2014, age 89

Paul Howard Burr, died May 18, 2014, age 83

Martha R. Bessom Gorman, died July 16, 2014, age 98

Doris Tuxbury Bartlett, died September 29, 2014, age 101

Captain William H. Kelley, died October 27, 2014, age 79

In Remembrance of All Saints

Other November Events

How long has Jacqui Williams attended St. Michael’s?

“Ever since I was born,” she says with a smile. She was

baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Michael’s and her

late husband Donald was also a member as a youngster

and he sang in the choir.

“Growing up, the church was our life. So

much was going on. The Sunday school

teachers, like Helen Reed, had us to their

houses on Wednesday afternoons. And, Mrs.

Hodges who lived on Front Street in a house

with a pier used to invite us over to swim and

have lunch,” she remembers. Then there was

the Fleur de Lis organization for the girls and

the Sir Galahad organization for the boys.

There was a summer fair with booths set up

in the church driveway, fashion shows, and plays. “There

were just lots of things to do,” says Jacqui .

When the time came for her confirmation, Jacqui was

sick at home with scarlet fever and missed the ceremony.

When she recovered, though, Bishop Babcock came spe-

cially to confirm her and of that day she remembers the

sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows in

the Old Parish Hall, the very windows that were stored

away for many years but now are about to be put on dis-

play again by St. Catherine’s Guild.

“I remember the change to the high church ritual when

Father Murray was here. I was young so I don’t know if

there was controversy, but I felt there was more to the ser-

vice,” she says.

Jacqui taught Sunday school after high school until she

got married. She has been president of St. Catherine’s

Guild, served on the Vestry, and chaired two Christmas

Fairs.

She and Barbara Skinner created the ceramic tile of St.

Michael’s. They got Sam Chamberlain to take the photo-

graph of the church and then had Shreve, Crump, and Low

make the tiles. She also served on the selection committee

for Fr. Westerberg.

When funds were being raised for the new

Parish Hall, Jacqui ’s two older sons were

singing with the Breton Woods Boys Choir

for the summer so she got the choir to come

to St. Michael’s as a fundraiser.

Widowed at 45 with four sons to put

through college, Jacqui says, “I did anything

I could to earn money.” Eventually she

worked for FEMA where she was the public

information and congressional liaison. “I met

so many people!” she recalls. Later she became the direc-

tor of outreach for the Department of Public Health, Bu-

reau of Family and Community Health. Her job was to

travel the state giving groups and conferences the newest

information on topics like state health insurance for chil-

dren. “At first I had seven people, but then the funding

dried up and it was just me. I worked with legislators, hos-

pitals, and clinics, disseminating new information,” she

says. A noted oncologist called her “the grandmother of

the children’s Medical Security Plan.”

Jacqui’s four sons are Donald Jr., an English professor,

Eric a surveyor, Kent a media services specialist at North

Shore Community College, and David an opinion research

consultant who travels world-wide. And she has three

grandsons, Michael, Nathaniel, and Dylan.

In addition to her family and professional responsibili-

ties, Jacqui has been very active politically. For 18 years

she was the state committee woman from the district for

the Republican Party, she was on Ronald Reagan’s paid

staff for the area as head of volunteers when he ran for

President, and she was secretary to the Electoral College

in 1980.

One St. Michael’s activity dear to Jacqui’s heart is the

Thrift Shop. Her mother, Hazel Graves, was one of the

original founders. Nowadays, she reminds us, the Thrift

Shop provides the biggest income to the church, with its

$500 a month rent and its donation of $10,000 last year.

“We need more volunteers! We would love to have the

Thrift Shop open all day on Saturdays. And, we could use

more donated items, like clothing and household goods,

from church members because, in fact, most of the do-

nated things come from outsiders,” she says in closing. .

- A series of parishioner profiles by Marilyn Day.

St. Michael’s Newsletter November 2014 Page Seven

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church

Marblehead, Massachusetts

Our Mission is to seek transformation in God’s grace by worshipping God in prayer, song, and study; loving and serving our neighbor in and outside our parish Community; and being good stewards of

God’s creation.

Our Vision is to be a Mission-driven Episcopal congre-gation that by 2014 will be widely recognized as a vibrant, open, and inviting community, known for liturgically-centered worship and music, for lifelong learning, for pastoral presence and service to communities near and far, for good stewardship of our resources, and for celebration of our legacy

as an historic church.

Steward of the Month—Jacqui Williams

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

St. Michael’s Church

Officers: Frances Nilsson, Sr. Warden; Stephen Clay, Jr. Warden; Sue Cool, Clerk; James Dearborn, Treasurer;

Karl Renney, Asst. Treasurer.

Vestry: Melissa Amberik, Sarah Bates, Brian Carlson, Zavier Chickering, Ellie Doyle, Rory Gaunt, Robert L. Howie, Jr., Karin McCarthy, Jennifer Oliveira.

Delegates for Convention: Jan Barnett, Denise Shea. Deanery Delegates: Jan Barnett, 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.

Marblehead Interfaith

Service of Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 25

5:00 p.m.

At St. Michael’s Church

A time for the Marblehad community

to come together to give thanks for

the many blessings of this past year.

St. Michael’s

Organ Recital

Sunday, November 16, 5 pm

Ryan Patten

Director of Music,

Grace Episcopal Church, Salem

Reception to follow.