From the Pastor: “From where will my help come?”
Psalm 121 has long been my favorite, maybe because I love mountains, or maybe because Aroostook County, where I grew up, is a beautiful combination of forest and field covering rolling hills.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
(Psalm 121, NRSVUE)
Until three weeks ago, whenever I read or prayed this psalm, I envisioned beautiful snow-capped and majestic mountains or green rolling pastoral hills maybe scattered with sheep and lambs.
Then I stood with others from our tour group at the base of the hills that make up Ein Gedi Nature Preserve in Israel, near the Dead Sea. And the psalm took on a whole new meaning for me as I thought to myself “THESE are the kind of hills the psalmist looked to. THESE are the kind of hills that generated the question “from where will my help come?”
The hills I was staring at there in Israel (pictured below) have their own kind of beauty, but it is not a beauty based in abundance and lushness. Their beauty comes from their starkness and ruggedness. Nowhere to hide from the sun and wind or from predators or enemies. No clear path to ascend or descend to a safer place. And as I stood there and soaked that in, I was struck by the deep, deep faith shown in that question, asked and answered by the psalmist. I realized that in the midst of the barrenness of those hills, the writer was completely dependent on God.
I thought about times we might ask the same question: times of illness, loneliness, hardship, and barrenness in our own lives. “From where will my help come?” I thought about members and friends of Nativity we are lifting in prayer, those facing wilderness and starkness and barrenness in so many different ways. The witness of the psalmist and the meaning of the words became so much stronger for me and I was overwhelmed with the realization of God’s never failing presence and love—even when we feel alone in the wilderness.
As we journey through Lent toward the cross with the hope and promise of resurrection-life in our sites, whether you are in a time of abundance or a time of barrenness, I pray that you feel the Lord keeping you, each day and forevermore.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Anderson
Lenten Jazz Vespers on Wednesdays
"Ask” is our theme for Wednesday evening Lenten worship beginning March 1, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. We will once again be blessed by the talents of Charlie Brown and Kim Murphy in Charlie’s original Jazz Vespers service. This year we will also feature guest jazz musicians from our community: Ezra Rugg, upright bass; Phil Clement, guitar; Glen Sargent, saxophone and flute.
The service will include Jazz Standards featuring several guest musicians, the Evening Prayer liturgy, a Scripture reading, and a brief reflection involving questions from scripture and life, and how the combination can strengthen our personal spiritual lives and our faith in action.
Zoom info will be emailed. If you’re not on our email list contact the church office.
Back to Basics Bible Study on Thursdays
Join Pastor Anderson for a four session “Back to Basics Bible Study” via Zoom 10—11 AM Thursdays, March 9, 16, 23, and 30.
We’ll look at the last week of Jesus’ life as it is presented in all four gospels. We’ll begin with some information on each of the three Synoptic Gospels, their authors and audiences, look at how they present the stories, and then look at the Gospel of John and how it differs. Our discussions will be guided by our own questions and observations. All you’ll need is a Bible.
Because our local weather-people are predicting a very active weather pattern for March, the study will be via Zoom only so we don’t have to worry about driving in wintery weather.
The Zoom link will be emailed to our weekly list after March 5. If you are not on that list but would like the link please email the office:office@nativityrockport.org.
Contact Pastor Anderson if you have any questions.
Creation Care for March
GOD’S WORK, OUR VOICES
We Lutheran Christians come by our advocacy “genes” naturally! We were preceded by well known advocates, resisters and protesters, such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther, and going further back, we have Jesus’s own example of speaking truth to power. Still, you may be questioning what’s so important about advocacy today? Maybe you feel there are too many conflicts in our society, or you’ve grown distrustful of government and wonder why you should venture out of your comfort zone to interact with those in power?
Over the last year and a half of our Creation Care initiative, we members of Nativity have been sharing our appreciation for God’s Creation, increasing our awareness of issues and sharing ways to lessen our negative impact on the environment. These actions continue to be important and are within our grasp, yet we know there is still much work to be done to protect our common earthly home and to care for all of Creation. I hear so many news stories that concern me, and at times I begin to feel powerless to do much to really help. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. But as I’ve learned more about Christian advocacy work, I’ve gained a different kind of perspective and hope, realizing that helping good laws to pass brings far-reaching benefits and is one of the most powerful ways I can make a difference.
A few years ago, the ELCA adopted a social message (available on the ELCA website) entitled, “A Social Message on Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Disciples in a Democracy”. This message is a prelude to a social statement that is expected in 2025. The current message explains the Lutheran understanding that both laws and government are gifts from God, and within them are both the potential for disorder and injustice, as well as the hope that through government, good will be done for our neighbors. The message further expresses our Lutheran understanding that God calls us to responsible citizenship, to an “energetic civic engagement stemming from our baptismal vocation”. It states that advocacy involves seeking information about issues and needs. It means speaking out both when government is not serving our neighbors and when a proposed law can make a positive difference for our neighbors.
Who are the neighbors we are speaking up for? From the view of Creation Care, everything in God’s creation is our neighbor, human and ‘more-than-human’ alike.
Christian advocacy work stands on its own. Because it grows out of concern for our neighbors, not out of self interest, it is not bogged down in the complicated national dialogue around the separation of church and state. It is not part of the debates over religious freedoms. Nor is it partisan. It is not even about agreement. Our social message asserts that as Christians, we may disagree with each other about how to achieve God’s will on earth, but not about our responsibility to seek it.
These understandings of our relationships and responsibilities led the ELCA to create public policy offices and a national Office of Advocacy, through which information and resources for advocacy are shared. This work is informed by the social statements that the ELCA has adopted. Here at home, we also have resources. The Maine Council of Churches offers training for Christian legislative advocacy and tracks current legislation. Other Maine organizations also provide education and tracking for important legislation. And within our own congregation, Creation Care Team member, Lynne Taylor, has created a manual for us containing resources for how to get started with Creation Care legislative advocacy.
Most of us have little to no experience with this work, but just as we have different individual strengths, so there are many ways to approach it, and none of them require us to be experts. Creation Care team members have faith that this is something we are capable of doing and see it as a powerful way to bring about good. When one of us speaks, out of concern not for ourselves but for our neighbors, lawmakers listen.
LUNCH and LEARNING TOGETHER Sunday, MARCH 12:
The Creation Care Team has planned a legislative advocacy orientation and action session after church on March 12. Our goal is to familiarize people with the legislative process, explain choices around how to advocate and give guidance around where to find information and resources.
Bring your laptop, tablet or phone to navigate some helpful websites. If you don’t have a device, just bring yourself! We’ll share what we’ve learned so far and what we know about current legislation related to the environment. How we use our advocacy knowledge and what concerns call out to us will vary with each individual, but we’ll make a start together.
Our country calls us to be citizens, but God calls us to be neighbors. Let’s do God’s work with our voices!
Elaine Isakson, Creation Care Team
Pictured above: Members of Nativity's Care for Creation Team meeting with state representative, Vicki Doudera, to hear about opportunities for advocacy.
Planning ahead to adorn our sanctuary for Easter
Once again we plan to order our Easter flowers from Longfellow’s Greenhouse. Please sign up in the narthex by March 26 with your choice of flowers from the following list and your dedication. If you can not get to the church building, but would still like to order flowers, contact Sue Ann Moore (samoore@tidewater.net) or the church office with your order.
Martha Washington Geraniums in 6 ½” pot - $20
Azaleas in 8” pot - $37
Hydrangeas in 8” pot - $45
Pancake Wrap Up
Donations were accepted and $164.00 is on its way to the Knox County Homeless Coalition.
There were no costume prizes....but if there were....Mimi Moore would have taken home the trophy. Her festive outfit was the best!
We are thankful that we were able to host this event this year and look forward to many more Shrove Tuesdays in the future.
*Some call it Fat Tuesday, some Pancake Tuesday, and for hundreds of years many Christians have called it Shrove Tuesday---the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday.
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 austerity 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).
Thank you...
Mark and Denise Stadler and family
Lincolnville Central School presents Frozen Jr.
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 15th of each month.
Email kmusicorama@gmail.com
Photos this month: Mimi Moore, Jane Monhart (opening photo of a wintry Norton Pond Rd), Ted Long, Elaine Isakson, Kim Murphy, Hans Akselsen, Pastor Anderson, office photo by ian dooley on Unsplash, thank you photo byTowfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash, Internet resources
The monthly View is YOUR chance to share news. If you have a community event, send the info to the editor! If you would like to restart our Congregational Member Interviews (Getting to Know You) - please take the initiative to do so, and send your article and picture to the editor! If you have something you are grateful for...send your thoughts to the editor! The 15th day of each month is a "guideline." Feel free to still send items on the 16th day, or the 17th day, or....!!!
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
Facebook: facebook.com/nativitylutheranchurch.rockport.maine