Nativity View
February 2026
…God is love
This morning as I sat down to write, I noticed my good friend, Dan, had shared two quotes on social media.
“Shoutout to everyone who is still trying to be an openhearted and kind person even when having to process lots of heavy things.”
and
“Here’s to all the unseen acts of love that will make the world go round today.”
I so appreciated these as reminders that how we react and respond to events around us impacts not only others but our own emotional and physical well-being. There is so much heaviness in our world, our country, our communities. How we react and respond is up to us.
I’ve just been reading Ephesians 4:25-32. Verse 32 tells us to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving…” and we could just leave it at that. But that would be “proof texting” (taking a small piece of scripture out of context). If we back up in that chapter, verse 25 tells us to “speak truth” and verse 26 to “be angry.” (I hope you’ll open your Bible and read the whole section.) I think combining those things, holding them in tension and balance is what should guide our thoughts and actions in these crazy times. It’s okay to be angry if you channel that anger into positive actions. We need to be speaking truth: the truth of the things Jesus asks of us. And we need to find ways to be kind in the midst of all that is happening around us.
If you feel overwhelmed trying to figure out how to do any of those (channel your anger to positive action, speak truth, or be kind) my suggestion is to break the problem or issue into a smaller piece, or find a more easily accessible event or action, or focus on a relationship that is closer to you. When we’re trying to move in a positive direction and make change, small steps-- even baby steps, are better than no motion at all. Maybe no one even notices your little step. But all the unseen acts of love will get us through this. And you, dear Nativity folks, are good at those acts love—both unseen and seen, small and large. For that I am so very, very grateful.
Let me close this month, since it’s February (Valentine’s Day), with another piece of scripture: 1 John 4:16-21
16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Spread that love,
Pastor Anderson
Shrove Tuesday is the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. Its date varies, depending on the date of Easter. In 2026 Shrove Tuesday is on February 17.
Shrove, derived from shrive, refers to the confession of sins as a preparation for Lent, a usual practice in Europe in the Middle Ages. Although the day is sometimes still used for self-examination and introspection, Shrove Tuesday eventually acquired the character of a carnival or festival in many places and is often celebrated with parades. As the final day before the restriction of the Lenten fast, Shrove Tuesday also has many customs pertaining to food. Pancakes are traditional in a number of European countries because eggs, sugar, and fat, commonly forbidden during the Lenten fast, are used up so they will not go to waste; the day is known as Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday in Ireland and in many Commonwealth countries. Similarly rich pre-Lenten treats are popular in other ethnic traditions. Sweet pa̡czki are traditional in Poland, and king cake is an iconic part of Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”) in New Orleans. (From the Encyclopedia Brittanica)
We’ll have our own Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at Nativity on February 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.. Hans and his crew will be in the kitchen cooking up pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon and good coffee. Hope to see you there.
This Lent we will again be using worship and devotional materials prepared by “A Sanctified Art,” a small group of clergy, artists, and musicians who believe that to worship more fully and faithfully, we must embrace the promise that our scriptures are God’s living Word. To bring our whole selves to God in worship, we must allow the scriptures to come to life through color, movement, poetry, song, and image. The theme this Lent is “Tell me something good: grounding ourselves in the Good News.” The series creators say this:
Lent was originally a season for new converts to learn and prepare for their baptism on Easter. During that time, they would study what was central to Christianity. As we crafted this series, we studied what was central to Jesus’ life and ministry: radical welcome, love for neighbor, care for the vulnerable, nourishment for the hungry, nonviolence in the face of injustice. At the heart of Jesus’ teachings, we find liberation, love, mercy, and grace—all of which are meant to be very good news for us all.
Jesus’ ministry can be described as “radical” which comes from the Latin word “radicalis,” meaning “root” or “ground.” Therefore, the good news should bring us back to our roots. Emulating Jesus and embodying his teachings should ground us in who God created us to be. Can we be “good news” people in a world too often burdened by bad news?
This Lent, let us remember that the good news really is good news. It is joyful—like fine wine saved for celebration. It grows like a mustard seed and smells like perfume poured from an alabaster jar. It tastes like bread passed endlessly through a hungry crowd. It sounds like laughter and feels like mercy. The good news is alive in the world.
We hope this series will provide fertile ground for conversation and worship, rooting our hearts and lives in the expansive goodness of God. This Lent, let the teachings of Jesus lead us forward. May the good news inspire us to take action in a world desperate to hear, see, and taste what is good.
Together in worship and through devotional materials, here at Nativity, we will look at examples of “goodness” through the stories of Jesus and think together about how we can bring that goodness into the world. We will use each week’s scripture lessons and theme both in Sunday worship and Wednesday evening zoom worship. Ash Wednesday, February 18, our worship will be at 12:00 noon in-person and via Zoom. Beginning Wednesday February 25 and including the four Wednesdays in March we will worship via Zoom at 6:30 PM. Watch your email or call the church office for the Zoom link closer to the 25th.
Out of the Office in February
You are welcome to join Pastor Anderson on Tuesdays, 9:30 - 11:00 AM, for casual and spontaneous conversation. Come and go at whatever time works for you.
Feb 3 - Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
Feb 10 - Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
Feb 17 - Owls Nest Coffee and Cafe, 2 Park Dr, Rockland
Feb 24 - FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
As hard as Homeworthy and other local agencies work to find safe shelter for our unhoused neighbors, the reality is that there are folks living in campers, cars, and even tents in our communities. Each Wednesday, Homeworthy puts out a “wish list.” Recently (and almost year-round) cold weather sleeping bags and 10’x12’ tarps have been listed as urgent needs. Can we help with that need? Carol Burris has received a Thrivent Action Team grant of $250 to seed a collection of sleeping bags and tarps.
Here are ways you can help:
Check your closets/basement/attic for CLEAN, heavy sleeping bags in good condition that you no longer need and bring them to church.
Purchase a cold weather sleeping bag(s) (rated for 20 degrees or lower) locally or online and bring it to church.
Purchase a 10’ x 12’ tarp(s) and bring it to church.
Donate using cash or check and Carol’s team will shop for you. Please make check’s payable to Nativity and be sure to indicate “BAGS” in the memo.
Talk to Carol if you would like to help with purchasing and delivering
Because this is an “urgent need,” we’ll bring items collected over as soon as possible after they arrive, collecting through Ash Wednesday, February 18. Then We’ll use funds we’ve collected to purchase more and deliver as soon as we can. If you have questions please speak with Carol or Pastor.
5 - Bruce Cobb
15 - Betty Long
16 - Sonja Surek
24 - Carson Pavelich
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.
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Nativity Lutheran Church hosted a viewing of a livestream from United Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (ULS), co-sponsored by ULS and Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (Lampa), of a program entitled “Prophets, Saints and Kings – Resisting Christian Nationalism and Building the Beloved Community with King and Bonhoeffer.” 21 persons attended, including 14 from Nativity and six from other congregations.
Dr. Theresa Smallwood, dean of ULS, and Tracy DiPasquale, head of Lampa, introduced the program. The first speaker was Dr. Reggie Williams, professor of theology at St. Louis University. His presentation was entitled “Prophetic Witness – Talking about Jesus with Bonhoeffer and King.” It covered the origins of white Christian nationalism and aspects of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s opposition to it. Dr. Williams was followed by Dr. Stephen Haynes, professor of religious studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, who discussed Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s background, philosophy, and interaction with the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. Both talks were very interesting and contained many thought-provoking facts and observations, although they were rather academic and did not give the kind of practical advice that some attending at Nativity had been hoping for.
After Dr. Haynes’ remarks, the gathering in Gettysburg was dismissed for lunch. An afternoon panel session was offered as part of the event, but Nativity had not planned to stream that. However, a few people expressed interest in seeing it, so we did make it available and several people stayed on or returned after lunch. Overall most attendees thought it was a worthwhile event.
Please note: If you were unable to attend the event - you can view the sessions here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2BxYdwpdmQjyPAyyNOKncOD57Ni9enJA
Dear Community,
I can't begin to express the gratitude we feel to you, who have given so much, to help so many at Monday's Fill The Strand event. This year, our sixth, we collected more than 7,400 pounds of food and more than $40,000. Everything we collected during this event is at work as I write. AIO distributes more than 20,000 lbs of food each week and the food and funds you donated will help AIO feed the community for the next 5 weeks and get through the hardest part of the winter.
Fill the Strand is a true community event, made possible by a team of individuals and businesses who help in the planning and execution of the day itself. This year we had:
— 24 business financial sponsors
— 33 businesses who hosted food collection boxes
— 4 food retailers who let us set up AIO’s van with volunteers in their parking lot
— More than 57 volunteers who collected food, weighed it, organized it, moved it and put it away
— 587 "virtual seats" purchased by community members
— 564 seats worth of bagged food donated by individuals, families and businesses
WOW!
Your help in between snow storms and bitter cold weather is nothing short of amazing.
Thank you everyone!
I invite anyone who is interested to come for a visit at AIO- I’d love to give you a tour and show you how your support is at work. Feel free to stop in weekdays, between 9-5, or call the office or my cell ahead of time- numbers below. I look forward to showing you what we have been able to accomplish together.
With gratitude,
Alan Kearl (he/him/his)
Executive Director, AIO Food & Energy Assistance
Sunday, February 1
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, February 2
3:00 PM - Congregational Council Meeting, via zoom
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, February 3
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
Wednesday, February 4
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Alanon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, February 5
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, February 8
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, February 9
10:00 AM - Glory Girls and Guys, Meeting Room
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, February 10
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
Wednesday, February 11
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Alanon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, February 12
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents
Sunday, February 15
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, February 16
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, February 17
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Owls Nest Coffee and Cafe, 2 Park Dr, Rockland
5:00 - 7:00 PM - Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Wednesday, February 18 - Ash Wednesday
12:00 noon - Worship, in person and on line, Imposition of ashes and Holy Communion
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Alanon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, February 19
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, February 22
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
12 noon - Loaves and Fishes at St. Peter's in Rockland. (even month team. See Ollie Jones if you would like to help)
Monday, February 23
10:00 AM - Glory Girls and Guys, Meeting Room
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, February 24
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
Wednesday, February 25
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Alanon, in the Meeting Room
6:30 PM - Lenten Worship via zoom
Thursday, February 26
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents
Email Pastor at office@nativityrockport.org if you would like the zoom link for Thursday morning prayer. Please also email Pastor if you do not have the weekly Sunday link.
- Food Donations: We once again have a drop off box for food donations to AIO Food Pantry in the Narthex at Nativity. Look for the plastic tote and place your items there and Mimi will deliver them to AIO on a regular basis.
- 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.
Month of February:
Flowers: Donna Perry
Altar: Donna Perry
Acolyte: Jennie Dynesius
February 1
Assistant: Kim Murphy
Usher: Carol Brazier
Reader: Marty Taylor
February 8
Assistant: Fred Walker
Usher: Bruce Cobb
Reader: Sherry Cobb
February 15
Assistant: Betty Long
Usher: MaryAnn Hawkins
Reader: Jane Monhart
Ash Wednesday
February 18
Assistant: Carolyn Ramm
Usher: Ollie Jones
Reader: Ted Long
February 22
Assistant: Ted Long
Usher: Kim Murphy
Reader: Betty Long
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: Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Food Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash, Coffee Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash, Pancake Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash, Seeking Human Kindness Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash, Internet resources
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