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STAFF OFFICE HOURS
Welcome back everyone! In addition to Rev. Jenny's office our Congregational Administrator, Catherine Bertrand, has returned from sabbatical and will be available in office Tuesday through Friday 8:30a-2pm and Sundays before the service and after until 12:15pm. Please feel to reach out via email or phone at 978-744-1551.
Our RE Coordinator Theo Burbank will also be posting office hours in the coming weeks so please stay tuned! Theo can also be reached through email.
As always Music Director Michael Kraft can be reached via email.
SIGN-UPS
Most sign-ups for the church year are available above. Simply click the link and volunteers for hosting Fellowship or providing Flowers. Lifebridge details are coming soon. Details can be found in the link!
THANK YOU!
There are many thanks to be given to all those who stepped up to make sure things ran smoothly while Catherine was off this summer. Let's acknowledge the extra efforts of Anna Brandenburg, Brenda Marean, and Claire Donaldson for coordinating the many moving parts of First Church. Thank you!
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Welcome Rev. Jenny Rankin
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 Hello First Church in Salem!
It is wonderful to have “arrived!” I began last Monday August 22 and have enjoyed these first few days of meeting some of you and getting situated.
I’ve had a tour of your incredibly beautiful sanctuary, building and church grounds. I’ve begun to meet with staff, Standing Committee members and deacons. I’ve started moving in boxes and books to the minister’s office. And I’ve gotten a glimpse of the vibrant and historic community that is Salem!
One of the things I love about being an interim minister is that I get to travel to a new “country” each time I begin working with a new congregation. I’m looking forward to meeting you and hearing from you what it is you appreciate about the church, as well as Salem itself (and the environs). Each congregation has its own “language,” customs, and distinctive culture and I’ll be turning to you all to be my “local guides” to get to know this new territory.
Thank you for welcoming me, and I look forward to meeting you in person. My first Sunday in the pulpit will be Homecoming Sunday, September 11th, and I will have office hours during the week (see specifics below). If you would like to visit in person, or on Zoom, please email me at minister@firstchurchinsalem.org
It’s good to be here.
Jenny
Office Hours for September
(please email Jenny directly to get a specific time or you are welcome to drop in, just know you may need to wait till she finishes meeting with someone else).
These office hours are in person at the church. I’m happy to add office hours on Zoom and evening hours, if you let me know you’d like that.
Thurs. Sept 1, 1-4 pm
Wed. Sept 7, 10-12 noon
Thurs. Sept 15, 1-4 pm
Wed. Sept 21, 4-6:30 pm
Thurs. Sept 22, 1-4 pm
Thurs. Sept 29, 1-4 pm
Learn more about Jenny's Interim Ministry here.
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As we approach Homecoming Sunday and the heart of the new church year, I would like to ask you to join me in honoring the work of the Reentry Committee, who have worked diligently for over two years to keep us safe while facilitating our revered worship practices with hope, faith, and a commitment to inclusion. I encourage you all to read the report of the committee in the 2022 Annual report (page 45) to get a sense of the very thoughtful and deliberate process this team built on our behalf.
We are at something of a turning point now, as we have “re-entered” to worship in the Meeting House. And yet, the pandemic cannot be said to be over, and the key indicators of public health may swing negatively at any time. The need to balance the interests and vulnerabilities of all remains. At the same time, Reentry Committee members deserve a breather from the very committed work they have been doing for this extended period.
Recognizing that this diligent review must continue, even as circumstances change, the Standing Committee is discussing a plan to refresh the process and the committee. It is our intent to recruit a team of members to pick up this ministry, using the tools, references and guides available and to make sound recommendations for meeting and gathering practices, and communicating those clearly to the congregation.
We hope to have this group, tentatively called the Pandemic Task Force, in place and introduced within September, though we recognize the significant commitment such ministry represents. All input on the make-up, number of members, meeting frequency, and other considerations is welcome. Please touch base with any member of the Standing Committee if you have suggestions, comments, or questions, or if you see a role for yourself in this work.
In the meantime, as this team is being formed, we ask the congregation to patiently stay the course with current practices for worship in the Meeting House. That is, for the next three Sundays, we will continue to ask attendees to wear masks and respect social distancing.
We look forward to hearing your comments and reporting updates to you.
In community,
Steve
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Sunday services are held in the Meetinghouse, and begin at 10:30 am.
- Sept 4th (Labor Day weekend): No service
- September 11: Homecoming Sunday, led by Rev. Jenny Rankin (in-person, and on Zoom)
** Special Fellowship following the service: Meet and Greet Rev. Jenny **
We are so thankful to everyone who helped make worship services possible this summer. Special thanks to Rev. Claire Donaldson for coordinating and leading services. We also especially thank Diane Smith, Jim Ognibene and Tiffany Magnolia for their contributions and wise words from the pulpit.
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 The Standing Committee and Rev. Jenny are so pleased to announce that Theo Burbank will be staying on in her role as Religious Education Coordinator!
A note from Theo:
Hello children, youth, and caregivers!
I am so excited to be joining you again this year. We have an exciting year of learning, growing, and exploring as a community ahead of us, which you will hear more about soon.
Best,
Theo Burbank
Upcoming RE services and events:
Sept 11: Homecoming Sunday, Intergenerational Service
Sept 18: First Day of Sunday School
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Thank you for the Flowers!
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 Many thanks to all who have signed up to contribute flowers for our Communion table.
August 21: Penny Bigmore
August 28: Mimi Ballou
September 11: Deacons
We are always grateful for your help in making our Sunday services more festive. |
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 Lynn underwent major surgery August 10. She will have a long recovery, but so far Russell has been sharing good news! We are supporting Lynn and Russell with meals, restaurant gift cards and notes of encouragement.
Please look for details on the meal train site: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/q551w8.
If a meal is not possible please feel free to send a card to Lynn Taggart, 15 Canterbury Road, Marblehead, MA 01945. Let's keep Lynn in our thoughts and prayers.
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