22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Jesus spoke and the winds and the water calmed. And although that scared the disciples a bit, they were no longer terrified. They, too, were calmed by his words and what his voice could do.
When I was a kid and was picked on by other kids, my mother would often encourage me to remember the rhyme “Sticks and stone will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” It made me feel braver as a child, but as an adult I realize that names and words can hurt. But I also know that when we use Jesus as our guide, words can calm a storm and words can heal a division.
As I reflect on current events in our country, as I think about the use of hurtful rhetoric, name calling, and “othering” that has become normalized in our society in the last several years, when I look at how some of our political leaders speak and act and decisions that are being made, I sometimes feel like we are going to drown. But if I stop and listen, I can hear Jesus speaking. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” he whispers. And if I focus, his voice becomes louder and louder. “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
As followers of Jesus, we are called to use our voices to calm the storm. In conversation with those around us, on social media and in emails, and as we communicate with elected officials, we are called to be Jesus’ voice in our world. It is not an easy task. Sometimes we might feel alone in the storm. But we are not alone. We are the Body of Christ. It is not an easy task. Sometimes we will get it wrong, and our voices may add to the storm. But we are children of God, renewed each day through the waters of baptism, forgiven and given grace to try again.
“Where is your faith?” Jesus asks. May it be in your voice in our world.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Anderson
In the early part of our Sunday liturgy—the Word portion—the assembly mostly listens to the proclamation of the word of God in scripture and preaching. There are places for praying and responding but overall, this portion of the liturgy is verbal. When we enter the Meal or Eucharistic portion of the liturgy it becomes both words and action.
The Eucharistic portion of our liturgy begins with the sharing of the peace. This part of the worship is not simply a time to be hospitable and welcome guests or greet your friends. It’s not meant as a time to stretch your legs as you might in the intermission of a live show or play.
The sharing of the peace within worship is meant to acknowledge that the peace which enables people to live in unity and in the spirit of mutual forgiveness comes only from Christ whose word has been proclaimed. As followers of Jesus, we should be doing our best to do just that: live in unity and forgive our siblings in faith. As we prepare to receive Christ in bread and wine, our sharing the peace with those we know and don’t know, those we care deeply for and those who may irritate us a bit shows our willingness to live in unity and work to forgive. As we participate in this part of the worship service we open ourselves to the healing and reconciling power of God’s love and we offer ourselves to be representatives of that love in the world. Holy Communion is a means of God’s grace. All are welcome to receive that gift.
What’s the right way to offer the Peace? The words should be simple “Peace be with you,” “God’s Peace,” “The Peace of Christ be with you,” are all appropriate but your words need not be scripted as long as the significance is clear. It is not a time meant for general greetings of “Good Morning” or “Glad you are here.” What gesture should you use? A handshake, holding hands, or a hug can be used if the recipient is willing. Physical touch should not be expected from or imposed upon those who are uncomfortable with it. A two finger “peace sign” or a small hand wave can be made. Or just the verbal greeting can be given.
We celebrate Holy Communion because Jesus commanded “do this in remembrance of me.” As we Share the Peace we begin that remembrance.
Creation Care News
Paul and I breathe a huge sigh of relief when crossing the border into Maine. There are many reasons, but I’m prayerfully thankful for the following:
Coastal Mountain Land Trust, Georges River Land Trust, and other stewards of the environment
Rockport Public Library staff and offerings
Beech Hill blueberry picking
Rockport Harbor Landing
Rockport Transfer Station, including Scrapdogs Composting
Merryspring Nature Center Gardens and events
Beauchamp Point and Vesper Hill Children’s Chapel
God of the universe, thank you for creating us to be part of your harmonious symphony. Thank you for the organizations, volunteers, and individuals who fund and preserve God’s special niches. Amen
Gretchen Hanna
Saturday August 3rd
Water Privatization: A Dilemma for Maine Communities
10:30am at the Camden Public Library
Our presenter, Nickie Sekera, is the co-founder of Community Water Justice, a decentralized network of people working for strong water protections at the community level across Wabanakiyik (Maine). She is a founding board member of the Saco Headwaters Alliance, Fryeburg Water District Trustee, and in 2022 was appointed by the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives to the Commission To Study The Role of Water As A Resource In Maine. She is also a journalist with Sunlight Media Collective, a collective of Indigenous and non-indigenous journalists, media makers and advocates, centering the stories and experiences of Wabanaki people. In the years leading up to these roles, Nickie worked as an administrator of a wilderness medicine school for 18 years after working alongside Indigenous-led remote medical clinics and education projects within the conflict zones of Eastern Burma (Myanmar). Her work in that region led to serving on the Board of Directors of the US Campaign for Burma in Washington DC doing human rights and environmental justice advocacy. Most invaluably, Nickie is a mother of a son who joins her in this work. (Note - Nickie's son Luke is planning to be with her for this presentation.)
Thursday, August 22
Water Quality and Quantity: the Farmers’ Friends
10:00am at the Begin Again Farm
Bill Pluecker has been a hard-corganic farmer for almost twenty years providing the community with beautiful organic food and mentoring dozens of farmers to launch their own farms. Chloe Maxmin grew up on her family’s farm in Nobleboro and started farming with Bill a few years ago. They also share this farm with Bill’s children, Ci and Eli, as well as Chloe’s dog, Elsie, and their beloved cows and chickens.
Now that we’re into August, we’re enjoying the fruits of our gardening labors. If you planted scallions, yellow onions, garlic, lettuce, Swiss chard or greens of any sort, you’ll be able to use them in this month’s recipes.
First up is Greens ‘n Beans, a favorite in the Taylor household. It’s a versatile recipe that can be adapted to what you have on hand. We like it for its comfort factor. Adding malt vinegar at the end makes all the difference.
The second recipe is a delicious tofu-based salad that can stand alone or be used as a sandwich filling. It’s called Better than Egg Salad.
We have only two months left in our year of vegetarian recipes, so be sure to send me your favorites to include in the September and October editions of the View. More vegetables and less meat mean a lower carbon footprint and a happier Earth.
-- Lynne Taylor for the Care for Creation Team
All Vegetarian recipes can be found in THIS folder
We are in the middle of tourist season! Our usual coffee shop venues for “Pastor’s Out of Office Hours” have been getting crowded so we’ll be moving out into creation and gathering at our local parks. Bring a cup of coffee (or your morning beverage of choice) and a treat if you like, and join Pastor Anderson for conversation. Most of the places have some kind of seating but you may want to bring your own folding chair to be more comfortable and for the flexibility to move into the shade. If it rains, we will meet at Main Street Markets in Rockland.
9:30 - 11:00 AM
Aug 6 - Laite Mem. Beach, Off Bay View St, Camden
Aug 13 - Owls Head Lighthouse State Park, 186 Lighthouse Road, Owls Head
Aug 20 - Walker Park, Sea St, Rockport (Pascal Ave. to Elm St. to Sea St.)
Aug 27 - G.W. Hodson Park, Molyneaux Rd, Camden
Treasurer Fred Walker has reported that we finished in the black for Fiscal Year 2024, which ended June 30.
Total income was $174,249, 117% of budget. As a major part of that, offerings were 108% of budget.
Total expenses were $162,788, just 95% of the budgeted amount.
Overall margin (revenue minus expenses) was $11,470, vs the projected deficit of $21,859.
Compared to our original budget, then, we ended up with a favorable variance of $33,329 (projected deficit + end of year positive margin).
Our cash position continues to be strong, with a total balance of $192,702. The total in dedicated accounts is $25,907, of which $15,790 is in the building fund.
Many thanks to members who contributed so robustly and to those managing our expenses for keeping them under control.
Ted Long, President
For the Congregation Council
Church Picnic
On Sunday, July 14th, Nativity Lutheran Church celebrated their 60 years with a picnic and ceremonial burning of the building's mortgage. Thank you to grillers: Marty Taylor, Bob Dawson and Fred Walker. Thank you to MaryAnn Hawkins and Lynne Taylor for planning and set up. Thank you to Ted Bean for photographing the burning of the mortgage ceremony (opening photo of this View and more photos located online). You can view the pictures by clicking this link.
Slide Show Link
At our 60th Anniversary Picnic, we had a slide show of many pictures of Nativity throughout the years. If you didn't have a chance to see the slide show - or were not able to attend - you can see it by clicking on this link.
Once the page opens up, you can click on "slide show" to see it in that format; or you can choose to scroll through the pictures.
Please note: Since these slides are being shared online, specific names of people were removed.
Enjoy!
The Nativity email spam filter caught an interesting email recently. At first glance the email appeared to be from Charlie Brown. It was a simple request for a copy of our member directory. But it was written in a style quite unlike Charlie usually writes his email. When I looked at the sending address it was, of course, not Charlie’s. These types of scams are not difficult for the scammers to do. They have software that scans the internet for churches and names of people connected to them. The office email address is on our website, as is Charlie’s name as our music director. Put the two together, make a simple request and if the person receiving the email is in a hurry and doesn’t see the warning signs, the scammers quickly receive the information needed for greater scams.
If you receive an email or text that seems just a little odd or out of character (asks for money, gift cards, personal contact information, or “help” that seems strange) from Nativity, Charlie or me, or any member connected to Nativity, double check the sending address or phone number. Better yet, pick up the phone and call the person the email claims to be and make sure it is from them. Scammers will scam. But if we’re careful we can keep from being sucked in.
Pastor Anderson
5 - Peter Surek
7 - Piper Pavelich
10 - Paul Hanna
13 - Richard Vargas
20 - Gretchen Hanna
Editor's note: Did we miss your birthday? Please email your birthday date to kmusicorama@gmail.com so that we can add you to our monthly salutation.
Reminder: Worship service begins at 9:30 AM each week.
Thursday, August 1
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Saturday, August 3
10:30am at the Camden Public Library
Water Privatization: A Dilemma for Maine Communities
Nickie Sekera of Community Water Justice and the Maine State Water Commission will lead a conversation about local water rights in Maine.
Sunday, August 4
9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Carolyn Ramm
Reader: Paul Hanna
Usher: Mimi Moore
Monday, August 5
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, August 6
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours and into Creation
Laite Memorial Beach, Off Bay View St, Camden
Thursday, August 8
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
1:00 - 3:30 PM Grand Day at Nativity!
Saturday, August 10
11:00 AM - Memorial Service for William Zuber
Sunday, August 11
9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Kim Murphy
Reader: Charlie Rowling
Usher: Elaine Isakson
Monday, August 12
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, August 13
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours and into Creation
Owls Head Lighthouse State Park, 186 Lighthouse Road, Owls Head
Thursday, August 15
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Sunday, August 18
9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Ted Long
Reader: Sandy Abate (remote reader)
Usher: Denise Stadler
Monday, August 19
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, August 20
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours and into Creation
Walker Park, Sea St, Rockport (Pascal Ave. to Elm St. to Sea St.)
Thursday, August 22
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
10:00am - Water Quality and Quantity: the Farmers’ Friends
Begin Again Farm, 1133 Finntown Road, Warren
Farmers Bill Pluecker and Chloe Maxmin will show us how the quality and quantity of water affects their hard-corganic farm. Parking is limited at the farm so please carpool. Bring a chair.
If it rains we’ll meet at Nativity Lutheran Church instead.
Sunday, August 25
9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Betty Long
Reader: Fred Walker
Usher: Carolyn Ramm
Monday, August 26
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, August 27
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours and into Creation
G.W. Hodson Park, Molyneaux Rd, Camden
Thursday, August 29
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Month of August
Altar Care: Jennie Dynesius
Flower Arranger: Gretchen Hanna
Acolyte: Jennie Dynesius
Note For midweek prayer via zoom - there is a separate Zoom link.
Email Pastor at office@nativityrockport.org if you would like the zoom link. Please also email Pastor if you do not have the Sunday link.
- The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund: Please remember that an extra $5 or $10 each month may make a huge difference to a family in need! Please indicate any additional donations as "Pastor's Discretionary" when you mail in your monthly offering.
- Don't forget: One simple way to help care for creation is to download the weekly bulletin onto your smart phone or tablet and then bring that device to worship or use it when you zoom at home saving paper and resources. Need help figuring that out? Call Pastor for Android help or Denise Stadler for Apple help.
- Your aluminum pop tabs can help keep families with sick children close to each other and the care and resources they need. Look for the paper bag on the Social Ministry bulletin board in the Narthex. Place your tabs in the bag and take your container home and fill it again! The tabs are donated to the Ronald McDonald House.
Sign up for the quarterly AIO newsletter. There are many great things happening at AIO. Stay up to date on their news.
You can sign up for the AIO newsletter here
or
Go to the AIO website to see what's happening and how you can help!
Read the Executive Director's Summer Newsletter welcome below:
Hi AIO Supporters and Friends,
I hope that your summer is going well, wherever you are. Many of you may have heard that the City of Rockland announced they are eliminating funding support for AIO and other non-profits from this fiscal year's budget. There has been an outpouring of support to fill the void. This is both gratifying and humbling. One of the most amazing responses has been from a former AIO member who received services at AIO in the past. With our help and the help of Homeworthy, she made it through a rough period in her life. Now she has stable housing and sufficient means so that when she read the news, she knew she wanted to give back and presented us with a generous check. AIO makes a difference! You make a difference! Thank you.
It’s been my privilege to meet many of you as members, volunteers, partners and donors during my short tenure and the best part is learning about the connection each of you has with AIO. Your passion and commitment to the AIO mission and vision is amazing. Thank you. In this newsletter, you’ll read about the fruits of many good ideas, input, and efforts. I hope you’ll read on and be as inspired as I am with how AIO touches lives in ways that fill the needs of so many in the community.
Best Wishes to you and your families,
Alan Kearl
Executive Director, AIO Food & Energy Assistance
alan@aiofoodpantry.org
A Note from your editor, Kim Murphy
Reminder - send articles and photos by the 20th of each month.
Email kmusicorama@gmail.com
Photos this month: Ted Bean, Gretchen Hanna, MaryAnn Hawkins, Kim Murphy, Cake Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Unsplash, Outdoor Gathering Photo by Krisztina Papp on Unsplash, Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Aluminum can tabs Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash, Water Photo by mrjn Photography on Unsplash, Handshake Photo by Ave Calvar on Unsplash, Accounting Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash, Code display Photo by Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash
Nativity Lutheran Church
Sunday Worship (Sept -May) 10:30 AM
Summer Sunday Worship (June - August) 9:30 AM
Email: office@nativityrockport.org
Website: www.nativityrockport.org
Location: 179 Old County Rd, Rockport, ME, United States
Phone: 207-594-4665