Inside this issue:

Page 2

• Music Director

• Important Dates

Page 3

• Church School :

Aileen Ryder—Dates—

Attention, Youth

Page 4

• St. Michael Window

Page 5

• Strategic Planning

2008—2014

Page 6

• Ministry Opportunities

• Lobster Luncheon

• Florence Bessom Higgs

Cover/back page

• Bible Study

• Worship Schedule

September Calendar

is after page 5.

Photograph by R. Williams

Happy September

Birthday to

Lavinia M.H. Oliveira

Sarah E. Comeau

Paige Thibert

Sarah Bragg

Joshua B. Robertson

Madison A. Howie

Emma Clark

From the Rector:

St. Michael’s

Newsletter

September 2008September 2008September 2008September 2008

As the summer months progressed our backyard patio became a delightful exam-ple of growth and transformation. The seedlings Sue started in the spring and subsequently transplanted into pots have flourished. By late August, our patio be-came a haven of lush vegetation with hardly space to move. The various herbs, flowers and vegetables attracted in turn: bees and butterflies, birds and spiders. Our cats reveled in this contained (and

tame) jungle atmosphere.

One day Sue discovered a large green caterpillar on one of the tomato plants. It blended incredibly with the plant. Sue identified it as a tomato hornworm. We learned that through meta-morphosis it would change into a night moth. A night moth is a precious being itself though not the butterfly we had hoped. We also quickly saw how much it ate. Such change takes great nourishment, though preferably not on Sue’s tomato plants. We removed it to an equally lush

place on public land.

Over the summer the Strategic Planning Committee has been meeting. Frances

Nilsson speaks more about the work the committee later in this newsletter. One of the questions we’ve asked is “what is the purpose of St. Michael’s?” Our purpose or our mission, we suggest, is to transform and change lives. This means our own lives, as well as those seeking renewal, healing, guidance, strength, or forgiveness through the grace and presence of God. This is as much an inner change as it is an outward change. We seek to be trans-

formed through a Christian lens. This change needs its own nourishment. Our wor-ship, offerings of formation and education, and our times of fellowship are three such

cores in which we are fed.

Recently I was reminded that the presence of God is experienced in our relationships. God’s presence is ex-perienced in numerous places, of course, but it is deeply manifested in our relation-ships. Moving into the September we gather again to renew and reform ourselves in our shared parish life. To this I say wel-come back! As always, this is an exciting and opportune time to encounter God and seek God’s grace and presence.

- Fr. Andrew

New Church School Director—Aileen Ryder

We welcome our new Church School and Youth Director, Aileen Ryder.

Aileen joined the staff at St. Michael’s in late August. You can read more

from her on page 3!

St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Two

From the Music Director - Douglas Major

Summer of 2008 - the summer when it rained every day! For those of you who have traveled to Ireland, it must have brought back memories. The lush green earth and the most magnificent flowers that I can remember remind us all of the beauty of God’s creation. I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy it, relax, and spend time with your friends and family. __________________________________________________________________

September

11 Thursday 4:45 pm – 1st Children’s Choir rehearsal

7:30 pm – 1st Adult Choir rehearsal

14 Sunday First Adult Choir Sunday

October

5 Sunday 5 pm – First Choral Evensong

19 Sunday 5 pm – Organ Recital Series –

Douglas Major

November

2 Sunday 10 am – Children’s Choir joins Adult Choir For All Saints Sunday

Service

2 Sunday 5 pm – Choral Evensong

16 Sunday 5 pm – Organ Recital Series – Heinrich Christensen, Organist,

King’s Chapel, Boston

December

7 Sunday 5 pm – Choral Evensong

So many of you have offered, in the past, to help with our Fellowship Receptions which are held after the Even-song and Recital afternoons – thank you very much. Another program year is ahead of us. If you would be willing to host(ess) one of these evenings, it would be most appreciated. There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall. – Again, thank

you for your support.

It will be a great pleasure to see all of you again. Doug

Important Dates

If you could sell your experience

For what it cost you,

You would never need Social Security.

Michaelmas Parish Luncheon

Sunday, September 28

11:30 a.m.

Parishioners of All Ages!

Come dedicate the kitchen with its new floors, appliances, countertops and more!

Celebrate with lunch and a discuss a future for St. Michael’s.

Activities for the youngest will be provided.

Reminder

The first meeting of Parish Aid

for the 2008-2009 season

will be held in the Parish Hall

at Noon on Tuesday, September 16

St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Three

Dear St. Michael’s Parishioners,

Greetings. I have just begun work here in your par-ish as Director of Church School and Coordinator of Youth. It’s a joy to be with you. It is exciting to be working in a community with such a deep history. Clearly, you have a strong children’s ministry, thanks to the dedication of Candace, Forrest and many vol-unteers. I hope to be a support to all of you in the work of forming our children and youth. Thank you for all that you have done, and the com-mitments you have made for this upcoming year. Together I am confident we can keep the quality of

the program and continue to grow.

I am a native of Massachusetts (from Shrews-bury), yet new to the North Shore. By way of intro-duction, I would like to share a bit of my spiritual journey. Through the grace of God, I have been aware of God’s presence since early childhood. Old friends recall my interest and excitement in all things religious. In fact, they now claim they saw evidence of call to pastoral service even then; but it sure took me longer to feel it! During a college retreat, I fi-nally understood a call to accompany people along their journey to God, but it was still years until I un-derstood this to be an involvement in Christian for-mation. Following a year of service, involvement in the Catholic Worker (a movement based on hospital-ity, community, and action for the disenfranchised) and theology studies, I taught Scripture, world relig-ions, and women’s religious experiences in an all-girls prep school. It was in those years that I discov-ered a passion for education. Since then I have be-come more aware not only of my talent for children and youth work, but also my care and concern for our next generation. It feels that I have thus tumbled into the work of Christian education within parishes finding joy, fulfillment and God. I have served as a children’s minister at Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton and directed a free summer camp at St. Stephen’s in Lynn, and am excited to be here in your

beautiful seaside community.

I’m looking forward to meeting each of you. I will be working Sunday through Wednesday morn-ings, with additional afternoon hours. Please feel to stop by the Davenport House or make an appoint-ment to say hello. I’m here to support the Christian

formation of all families.

Yours in Christ,

Aileen E. Ryder, M.Div.

Church School - Aileen Ryder

Sailing into the New School Year

As fall approaches we are preparing for a new School year. Here are some

dates and events to look forward to:

Sept. 4-6 Godly Play training and accreditation in Cohasset. Contact Aileen for more information.

Accreditation is not required to teach in the

Church School.

Sept. 6 Diocesan Youth concert: Sevenglory performs in Chatham. For more information go to

News and Events at the Diocesan website:

www.diomass.org/news_events

Sept. 14 Opening Day and Registration for the Church School 9:00 am Rite 13

9:30 am Godly Play

Sept. 20 Safe Church Training at St. Paul’s Church, Newburyport.

Contact Aileen for more information.

Sept. 27 Congregational Resource Day for the Diocese. Check the bulletin board or contact Aileen for

more information.

Oct. 25 Safe Church Training at Christ Church, Ando-

ver. Contact Aileen for more information.

The Church School is looking for volunteer teachers, door

persons, and children’s hospitality (Sunday snacks).

Please consult the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

Attention Youth

I am here for you as well! I want to hear from you ways that you want to serve St. Michael’s and what your church can offer you. Good

luck starting the new school year!

The middle school youth will continue meeting for Rite 13 at 9am on Sundays. Fr. Andrew and I are currently looking into a new program for high school youth. We will announce information about this as it becomes available. Please watch the bulletin. High school youth are also invited to stop by Davenport House to introduce themselves. The more I know of your lives, hopes, and needs, the more the new curriculum can be tailored to

you!

St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Four

Stained Glass Windows: St. Michael

The St. Michael Window, also called the Parish Win-dow, depicts our patron saint St. Michael, protector of the people of Israel, and memorializes Thomas Evans, who

bequeathed to St. Michael’s Church its first endowed fund.

Michael (Hebrew for “who is like God?”), is robed in white1 and shown with drawn sword casting Satan out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-9, 12). Satan, who is described as a red dragon in Revelation 12:3, is depicted as an an-gel clothed in red, with no breastplate, but still armed with a sword for his

continuing havoc among mortals.

Michael is first mentioned in the book of Daniel and there described as the protector of the people of Israel: “Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your peo-ple, will arise” (Daniel 12:1). Eastern churches were dedicated to him as early as the 4th century, and in the West, he was venerated as the head of heaven’s armies and the patron of sol-diers. In Normandy at Mont-Saint-Michel, he became the patron of mari-ners. Perhaps when Sir Francis Nicholson named this church in Mar-blehead in 1722, he saw a similarity with Mont-Saint-Michel and its Eng-

lish counterpart Mount St. Michael.

Michael as the protector of the people of Israel may be one reason for the six-pointed star or hexagram in the top part of the window. Over time the intertwined triangles became associ-ated with the seal of Solomon and shield of David (Magen David) which were thought to have protective pow-ers. Among 17th century alchemists it became known as the “shield of the sons of David” and therefore the Messiah. The first use of the hexagram as an official symbol of a Jewish community was in Prague in 1354. This use increased in the 19th cen-tury with the desire to have a symbol for Judaism as the cross symbolizes Christianity. But the strong association with the Israel state did not come until the Zionist move-

ment began using the symbol in 1897.2

Alva Steffler indicates that in some Jewish interpretations the interlocking triangles

“symbolize the heavenly penetrating the earthly.”3 The six-pointed star is also known as the Star of Creation with the six points standing for the six days of creation. Frie-drich Rest suggests that the triangles emphasize the role of

the Trinity in creation.4

In this depiction we see vines growing from three sources near the points of the upward triangle. These

vines could refer to Isaiah 27:1-6:

In that day the LORD will ... kill the dragon who lives in the sea. In that day, ‘A vineyard of wine, sing of it! I am the Lord, its keeper.’ … Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, And

they will fill the whole world with fruit.

In the bottom window panel we see four petals within a circle form-ing a compass rose radiating out as if to the four corners of the earth. The four rings of the Evangelists hold a banner with the words: “Erected by St. Michael’s Parish in Grateful Memory of Thomas Evans, Senior Warden, who died Aug. 9th, 1861.” The window was paid for by the Par-

ish Aid Society and others.5

Thomas Evans was first elected to the Vestry in 1834, becoming a warden in 1842, and serving until his death. He was a warden when the Vestry voted in 1844 to allow the “Ladies of the Parish” to build a new Vestry and lecture room, our first Parish Hall. The bequest establishing our first endowed fund came to St. Michael’s in 1872 at the death of Evan’s wife. His

will stipulated:

After the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the income of two thousand dollars to the St. Michael’s Episcopal church, so called, in Marblehead aforesaid so long as the doctrines now taught shall continue to be taught there, and shall remain in union with the diocese of Massachusetts; the said income to be appropriated to the Rectors Salary; the principal to be securely invested and held under the management of two or more compe-

tent and responsible Trustees.6

- Footnotes can be found on

the next page Sixth article in a series on our stained glass windows.

- Frances Stith Nilsson, Historic Church Committee

St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Five

Strategic Planning 2008—2014

What? Why? Who?

St. Michael’s Strategic Planning Committee began meeting last February to develop a framework to guide us in making decisions over the next 5 years. We have been through many changes over the last 10 years and need to re-evaluate our mission, make major capitol

decisions, and plan our 300th anniversary.

On the committee are Rob Howie, Barbara Miller, Frances Nilsson, Paul Pruett, Deirdre Rob-bins, Linda Smidt, Carri Wild, and Father Stoessel. We need your help and will be bringing you into the

conversation.

This past spring we read copi-ous materials on social trends affecting religion in the United States, trends in the Episcopal Church, and past St. Michael’s reports. The Parish reports included the 1996 Long Range Plan, 1998 Parish Profile, and the 2004 Appre-ciative Inquiry. We have also com-pared our demographics with Mar-blehead’s and, with the Historic Church Committee, captured your stories on the Time Line. A notebook with planning documents and reports

is in the Parish Library and will be updated as needed.

Tools and Techniques

After thoughtful analysis the committee has drafted two broad documents for Vestry and parish discussion:

a Strategic Change Agenda and a SWOT analysis.

The SWOT analysis distills our readings outlining broad Strengths and Weaknesses of St. Michael’s

Church, and the external Opportuni-ties and Threats that may affect our future. It suggests why it is impor-tant that we examine where we’d like to go and the need to set priori-ties to ensure St. Michael’s future as

a place of God.

The Strategic Change Agenda outlines where we are in 2008 and where we’d like to be in 2014 in

eleven broad areas:

mission, worship, education, membership, involvement, growth, clergy/lay leadership, outreach, stewardship, administration and facilities. It doesn’t say how we’re going to

get there – we will work on that soon – just where we’d

like to go in very broad terms.

—Frances Stith Nilsson, Strategic Planning Committee

Join into the conversation!

Sunday, Sept. 28

On Michaelmas the committee would like to share our thinking and engage

parishioners of all ages in a discussion of

some of the topics that have emerged.

Watch for more information!

Continued from previous page

St. Michael Window

Footnotes

1 Why is Michael shown with a gold anklet? Let us know

your thoughts.

2Scholem, Gershom. “Magen David.” Encyclopaedia Ju-daica, Second Edition, Volume 13. Farmington Hills, MI:

Thomson Gale, 2007. Pages 336-339.

3 Steffler, Alva William. Symbols of the Christian Faith.

Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Co., 2002. Page 83

4 Rest, Friedrich. Our Christian Symbols. Philadelphia: The

Christian Education Press, 1954, page 60.

6Parish Register 1852, “An account of the great improve-ments made in and about St. Michael’s Church, Marblehead,

Mass. from January 23rd, 1888 to May 1st, 1890…” Page 107.

6Vestry Record of St. Michael’s Parish in Marblehead

1833—1894. Recorded in the minutes of September 30, 1872.

St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Five

Florence Bessom Higgs, 1905-2008

On Michaelmas 1984 the bronze statue of St. Michael was dedi-cated in the James E. Gorman Memorial Garden. The statue was sculpted and donated by Florence Bessom Higgs who died July 30, 2008 at age 102 and was interred in Virginia. Mrs. Higgs was bap-

tized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Church.

Mrs. Higgs studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and in New York City. Her sculptures have been exhibited in museums, including the Corcoran and the Smithsonian, and are on permanent display in churches and public libraries in Virginia and Massachu-setts. In Marblehead, besides our St. Michael, a farmer and his wife (in memory of her father Frank Bessom) can be found on the lower level of the Abbot Public Library; and a statue of St. Andrew at the

Church of St. Andrew.

Mrs. Higgs is survived by her sister Martha Gorman, and prede-ceased by her brother and sisters, the Rev. Joseph Bessom, OHC,

Margaret Fogg of Marblehead and Helga Chapman of Texas.

Opportunities for Ministries

There are many ways to participate in the ministry of St. Michael’s. To name just a few, the following help

with our weekly worship on Sundays.

• The Altar Guild helps prepare the church for worship.

• Sextons help open, close and “see to the church” on

Sundays.

• Ushers help seat and direct people (and collect the

offering).

• Hostess and Oblation bearers help bring the wine and

bread to the altar, and assist with coffee hour.

• Lectors help share the “word of God” through the

readings.

• Lay Eucharist Ministers help share the cup and the

also “the word” through the readings.

• Acolytes help in assisting the ministers and congre-

gants throughout the service.

Please see Fr. Andrew, or speak to

any respective participant, if you are interested.

You are invited to participate in any of these ministries.

________________________________________________________________________

Thank You All For Our Most Successful Lobster Lunch to Date!

Great weather with a 3-day weekend and hard work netted proceeds of over $15,000 for outreach ministries. Did you see the thank you letter in the Marblehead Reporter? A copy is on the Parish bulletin board. A full report with recommendations for next year was

presented to the Vestry by Barbara Miller. It’s never too soon for planning.

Lifelong spiritual guidance

through

service and celebration.

St. Michael’s Church

Officers: Sarah Bates, Sr. Warden; Barbara Miller, Jr. Warden; Laurence Pierce, Treasurer; Paul Roberts, Asst. Treasurer;

Walter Haug, Clerk

Vestry: Jack Attridge, Jeff Barnett, Vivian Bennett, David Bittermann, Louise Hunt, Anna Onishi, Paul Pruett, Christopher Riegle, Linda Smidt

Staff: The Rev. Andrew J. Stoessel, Rector; Dr. Douglas Major, Music Director; Aileen Ryder, Church School Director, Jane Maihos, Parish Administrator; Ron St. Pierre, Sexton; Donna Hingston, St. Michael’s Nursery School

Address Correction Requested

ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH

26 Pleasant Street

Marblehead, MA 01945-3432

Phone: 781/631-0657

Fax. 781/639-2866

E-mail: office@stmichaels1714.org

www.stmichaels1714.org

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

Paid

Marblehead, MA

Bible Study

Wednesdays

10:30 a.m.

(following the mid-week Eucharist)

Parish Hall

Beginning September 17

The lessons for the following Sunday are read and discussed. All are welcome, no pre-requisites!

Worship Schedule

St. Michael’s Church

Sundays:

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Wednesdays:

9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

1st Sunday of Each Month (beginning Oct. 7):

5:00 p.m., Choral Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Saint Michael’s Church September 2008

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1)

LABOR DAY

Office Closed

2)

New Office Hours

Monday – Friday

8:30 am – 12:30 pm

3)

9:30 am Holy Eucharist

11:45 am Staff Meeting

8:00 pm AA Meeting

4)

5)

6)

7) SEASON AFTER PENTECOST

Proper 17

8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II

8)

3-Day Nursery

School Begins

9)

2-Day Nursery School

Begins

10)

9:30 am Holy Eucharist

11:45 am Staff Meeting

8:00 pm AA Meeting

11)

4:45 pm Children’s Choir

7:30 pm Adult Choir

12)

13)

14) SEASON AFTER PENTECOST

PROPER 18

8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:30 am Church School

10:00 am Holy Baptism &

Eucharist, Rite II

15)

16)

7:30 pm Vestry Meeting

17)

Newsletter Deadline

9:30 am Holy Eucharist

10:30 am Bible Study

11:45 am Staff Meeting

8:00 pm AA Meeting

18)

4:45 pm Children’s Choir

7:30 pm Adult Choir

19)

5:00 pm Wedding

Rehearsal

20)

4:00 Wedding

Page Connelly &

Thadeus Mitchel

21) SEASON AFTER PENTECOST

PROPER 19

8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:30 am Church School

10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II;

22)

23)

24)

9:30 am Holy Eucharist

10:30 am Bible Study

11:30 am Staff Meeting

2:30 pm Lafayette

Visitation

8:00 pm AA Meeting

25)

4:45 pm Children’s Choir

7:30 pm Adult Choir

26)

27)

28) MICHAELMAS CELEBRATION

SEASON AFTER PENTECOST

PROPER 20

8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:30 am Church School

10:00 am Holy Baptism &

Eucharist, Rite II

11:30 am All-Parish Luncheon &

Blessing of the Kitchen

29) St. Michael &

All Angels

Celebrated Sunday,

September 28th

30)