From the Pastor
The Spirit Blows
The Day of Pentecost—always a Sunday, this year May 19—is when Christians around the world celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.
On Christmas, Christians celebrate the Incarnation – the idea that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. On Easter, Christians celebrate the Resurrection – the belief that Jesus rose from the dead, a sign of the promise of resurrection given to all God’s people. And on Pentecost, we celebrate the Holy Spirit – the gift of God’s comfort, power, and strength given to God’s people.
Pentecost marks the end of the 50 days of Easter and the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The Christian Pentecost has its origins in a ancient Jewish tradition. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the first Christian Pentecost occurred when early followers of Jesus gathered to celebrate the Jewish festival of Shavuot. Shavuot, also known as the “Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Pesach). Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the passover seder. Hence, following the Greek word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has long been identified with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
Our Christian Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter. As those first followers of Jesus gathered long ago, they experienced a strong and sudden gush of wind. What seemed like flames hovered over the heads of those gathered and they instantly began to hear the message of Christ spoken in their own languages. Those gathered received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who moved the people to be Christ’s church. And then they began to tell the world.
In the modern church on Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the beginning of the church. We celebrate by wearing the color red, and with images of fire and wind. We also often refer to the day as the Church’s “birthday.”
But Pentecost is more than just remembering a historical event or having a party. On Pentecost, we invite the same Spirit that filled the disciples that day to transform our lives. Even more important than looking backward and remembering what God did two thousand years ago, we look forward and invite the Spirit to pull us into the future.
The Holy Spirit has a way of turning things upside down. The story of Acts is all about how the lives of the disciples got turned upside down – and by extension, how the world turned upside down by this new, Spirit-filled faith. On Pentecost we invite this disruptive presence of God into our own lives so that we can then go into the world bringing God’s transforming love.
May the Spirit blow you to disrupt your world with love,
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Anderson
Info gathered from “What is Pentecost” by The Rev. David Hanson and “Shavuot 101” by My Jewish Learning
Thursday, May 2
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Saturday, May 4
BTS Team Retreat, Hancock NH
Sunday, May 5
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Ann Walker
Reader: Jane Monhart
Usher: Elaine Isakson
Monday, May 6
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, May 7
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of Office Hours
Main Street Markets, 435 Main St, Rockland
Thursday, May 9
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, May 12
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Marty Taylor
Reader: Paul Hanna (remote)
Usher: Mary Ann Hawkins
Monday, May 13
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, May 14
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of Office Hours
Dot’s, Lincolnville
Thursday, May 16
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Sunday, May 19
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Ted Long
Reader: Mimi Moore
Usher: Carol Brazier
Monday, May 20
4:00 - 5:30 PM Council Meeting
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, May 21
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of Office Hours
School House Bakery, Tenants Harbor
Thursday, May 23
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, May 26
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Assistant: Betty Long
Reader: Ollie Jones
Usher: Sherry Cobb
Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, May 28
9:30 - 11:00 AM - No Out of Office Hours today
Thursday, May 30
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Month of May
Altar Care: Carolyn Ramm
Flower Arranger: Annie Appleton
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.
Worship Matters: That “big” candle
In the last several weeks, have you noticed that the "big" candle has been burning during our worship service? The official name of that candle is the Paschal Candle. It is lit for each worship service during the great fifty days of Easter (Easter is not over until Pentecost, the fiftieth day) and for baptisms and funerals.
Fire has long been a sign of God’s presence. The Old Testament is full of examples: the burning bush on Mount Sinai, the pillar of fire in the desert, the tabernacle lamps, and the sacrificial fires on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem. Early Christians rather naturally viewed the kindling of new fire as a symbol of the presence of their resurrected Lord, the new pillar of fire. In Jerusalem, the earliest Christians blessed and lit candles every Saturday night. By at least the fifth or sixth century, the custom had become associated with celebrations of the Resurrection, and paschal candles had found their way into the liturgy of the Western church. In the medieval church, allegorical meaning was ascribed to every aspect of the paschal candle. Unlighted, it represented Christ’s death and burial; lighted, it represented the splendor and glory of Christ’s resurrection. The wick represented Christ’s humanity, and the halo of flame represented his divinity. Other candles lit from the paschal candle symbolized Christ giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples. For us, the symbolism of Christ’s triumph over the darkness of sin and death is preeminent.
At other times of the year, the candle remains on its stand near the baptismal font as a visual reminder that in our baptism, we are crucified and resurrected with Christ. It is lit at each celebration of Baptism, at which time small baptismal candles are lighted from it for presentation to the baptized or sponsor as a visual reminder of the integral connection between Baptism and Easter.
It is also lit for funerals to remind us that Jesus has conquered death and the grave, and that it’s in the resurrected Lord that we find our hope. In a sensory way, the paschal candle visually proclaims the message of Romans 6:3-5 (used at the beginning of the burial liturgy): "In our Baptism we have already died and been raised with Christ." the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Creation Care News
No Mow May was started in England by a group called Plantlife, to support early emerging pollinators with more flowers for foraging. In this country it is promoted by Bee City USA. Not mowing lawns in May allows flowers such as dandelions to bloom in the lawn, and these flowers are crucial forage for spring-emerging bees. Maine has seventeen species of bumblebees, which carry out key pollination services, and several of these species are in decline.
“If you don’t feel you can go the whole month without mowing, leaving sections unmowed or mowing less often can make a difference.” copied from Pen Bay Pilot
The 3R’s are no longer adequate! The 5R’s have been replaced! The 7R’s+ are growing!
REFUSE: Refuse to use/purchase items that create waste in the first place. For example:single use coffee cups, disposable utensils, straws, sauce packets, to go containers, promotional freebies, etc.
REDUCE: Reduce consumption or the generation of waste from items that are consumed. For example: Go digital-email receipts rather than print, online payments rather than snail mail, financial statements, also, etc.
REUSE: Reuse items to the extent practical, then…. For example: research groups that upcycle or resale such as BuyNothing, Freecycle, Craigslist, church sales, thrift stores, local art rooms, etc.
REPURPOSE: Find new ways to use items so they do not wind up as waste. For example: shop thrift this month and create your own “fast fashion”. Temu and SHEIN “fast fashion” companies in recent industry produce 92 million tons of waste per year and growing.
RECYCLE: Recycle materials so they can be used again in a similar or different form. For example: check local landfills for items accepted.
RETHINK: Do I really need it or love it? Will I be using it in six months? Am I going to properly dispose of this after it reaches its shelf life? Where is my waste going and where will it end up? What else can I use this product for before I discard it?
ROT: Check out Scrapdogs for your food waste recycling. They have options to fit your food waste lifestyle. Or start composting your own scraps!
REPAIR: Find and watch a YouTube on how to make items new again. Or donate items to someone who can.
REMEMBER: ‘THINK GREEN’ when you enter a store whether virtually or physically. Exercise a conscience state before purchasing new! Be mindful!
Remember: We have not inherited the earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children! Native American Saying
Have a Blessed May!
Gretchen Hanna
As we continue to care for Earth by lowering our carbon footprint, we might be helped by a few more vegetarian recipes. This month we are focusing on tofu, a soy based protein. Tofu, also known as bean curd, is formed by pressing together soy milk curds. It’s the same process we use for making cheese. Although some people love to cut a slice from the tofu block and eat it plain, most people prefer it in a sauce with vegetables, especially since it doesn’t have much flavor on its own.
Thank you, Denise Stadler, for this Brussels Sprouts & Tofu Fried Rice recipe. Denise writes, “If you love Brussels sprouts, you will love this stir fry. It is actually very easy and it has become one of my comfort foods. If you have a sous chef who lives with you, this is a fun time in the kitchen together”.
Thank you, Elaine Isakson, for this Tofu Tacos recipe. Elaine shares that it is a family favorite and adds that, “Tofu is an economical source of protein, and its blandness makes it adaptable”.
Options, options, options.
We’ve got them. Let’s put them to use in helping to care for our dear planet Earth.
Lynne Taylor
Links for recipes
Brussel Sprouts & Tofu Fried Rice
Wondering where to find all of the vegetarian recipe suggestions from past newsletters?
Here is a link to the folder
Out of the Office in May
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.
May 7 - Main Street Markets, 435 Main St, Rockland
May 14 - Dot’s, Lincolnville
May 21 - School House Bakery, Tenants Harbor
May 28 - No Out of Office Hours
Spring has arrived at Nativity
Recently, Ann and Fred Walker took time to remove brown tail caterpillar nests from the fruit trees. Also - the blue bird boxes are up! Thank you to the many congregational members who have been helping to clean gardens, remove pine cones and branches, and getting the mowers ready for the season. Spring is here!
Happy Birthday in May
2 - Sue Ann Moore
16 - Ilga Harrington
21 - Elaine Isakson
22 - Kim Murphy
27 - Pastor Wendy Anderson, Renee LiaBraaten
29 - Rebecca Akselsen
31 - Bill Coiley
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.
Announcements & Timely Reminders
- 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.
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: Pastor Wendy Anderson, Fred Walker, Kim Murphy, Coffeeshop Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash, Bible Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash, Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Field Photo by Paul Felberbauer on Unsplash, Iris Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash, Tofu Photo by Sherman Kwan on Unsplash, Memorial Day Photo by Tanner Ross on Unsplash, Opening Photo by Davide Cantelli 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