Nativity View

…the deep, resilient kind

November is a month that turns our hearts toward gratitude—and because we are people of faith, it is not surface-level gratitude, but the deep, resilient kind that holds both joy and sorrow. In a world marked by upheaval, injustice, and division, gratitude becomes not just a feeling but a spiritual practice. It is a way of remembering who we are and whose we are.

We are a people formed by grace. We follow a Savior who fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, and broke bread in community. And that is exactly the kind of church you continue to be—one that doesn’t retreat from the pain of the world, but leans in with compassion, generosity, and hope.

I give thanks for you, and for the countless ways this congregation lives out God’s abundance:

Through our partnership with AIO (Area Interfaith Outreach), providing food, energy assistance, and dignity to our neighbors in need and also through our outreach to other feeding programs like Come Spring Food Pantry in Union.
Through the Loaves and Fishes Community Meal, where we offer not just nourishment, but belonging around the table, now every month when we serve on each fourth Sunday.
Through our continuing relationship with Homeworthy, as they support housing access and walk alongside those seeking stability.
Through the efforts of our Creation Care Team, working this year on educating us and others about stewarding God’s abundance better by wasting less.
And through our church building—a sacred space that week after week hosts support groups, recovery meetings, and community organizations, reminding us that hospitality is a holy calling.

Each of these ministries is possible because of your generosity. Your gifts—of time, presence, prayer, financial support, and things we need—make this church a living, breathing sign of hope in Midcoast Maine. You show up. You care. You give. And through it all, God's abundance is made real.

Scripture tells us, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). This isn’t about prosperity—it’s about trust. It’s about believing that even in uncertain times, there is enough to share. And when we live out that belief, something sacred happens: the Body of Christ comes alive.

So in this season of Thanksgiving, I invite you to take time for reflection. Notice the blessings that sustain you. Give thanks not because the world is easy, but because grace still shows up. And consider how you might continue to practice generosity—in whatever form that takes for you.

As we look ahead to Advent and the coming year, I am filled with hope—not because all is well, but because God is with us. And because you continue to be the church our world needs: brave, compassionate, and rooted in love.

In gratitude,

Pastor Anderson

November is a busy month!

Please read the full newsletter! You will know you have gotten to the end of the newsletter, once you see the picture that is posted here. So....keep reading. AND, you may have to tell your computer to open the full version.

Nativity will be collaborating with come Spring Food Pantry in Union to provide Thanksgiving “baskets” to 12 families in western Knox County. The list of needed items is on the sign up table in the narthex at Nativity.

Each “basket”(actually a reusable shopping bag) will contain:

12-14 pound turkey

1 disposable turkey roasting pan

2 boxes stuffing

2 jars/cans gravy

1 jar/can cranberry sauce

4 cans veggies (green beans, corn, peas)

5 lbs of potatoes

1 lb butter

6 eggs

1 muffin or cornbread mix

Dessert - brownie mix, pie crust/canned filling, cake mix/canned frosting

Because we are not all worshipping in person, please speak to Ann Walker in person or by phone, text to sign up for contributions. She will let you know what is still needed. (If you do not have Ann's contact info - phone, text, or email - please call the church office).

Purchased items may be dropped off at Nativity any time up to Sunday November 23rd. The collection box will be in the Narthex by the west door. Perishable items (turkeys, pie crusts, butter, eggs) may be placed in one of the freezers/refrigerators in the kitchen. Turkeys dropped off on or after Friday November 21 should be placed in the refrigerator to begin defrosting. Need help with delivery? Call Ann Walker for pick up!

Want to participate but can’t shop/deliver? Send/drop off a check (made out to Nativity with Thanksgiving Baskets in the memo line) to:

Nativity Lutheran Church

179 Old County Rd

Rockport, ME 04856

This money will be used to purchase final items for the baskets on November 23 and any surplus will go to the Come Spring Food Pantry to support their work. To learn more about Come Spring Food Pantry visit comespringfp.org.

Thank you for helping make Thanksgiving special for others!

On Saturday, November 29th Nativity will be buzzing with creativity. On that day, we will be hosting our first Arts & Crafts Festival. Last year was the final Harvest Festival Tag Sale, run by Phil and Karin Pratt, for many years. We thank them for their many years of service and dedication. The Council decided to try something new....so the Arts and Crafts Festival is underway! It will be held on the same weekend as Rockland's Festival of Lights. Hopefully the many crowds visiting Rockland will find their way to Nativity on Saturday.

There will be many beautiful gifts to buy: fused glass ornaments, stone jewelry, hand painted tiles and coasters, children's sweaters and mittens, beauty products, health foods, homemade hand cut cards, healing ointments, holiday decor items, household items, maple syrup, wooden crafts, sea glass ornaments, coffee and cards from Guatemala, and many more specially made items. There will be a live demonstration of traditional rug hooking. And of course, Donna Perry's famous chicken pies will be on sale!

In the Narthex there will be tables set out to enjoy homemade food (thank you to Hans for heading up the kitchen), while listening to music in the Sanctuary: jazz standards by Charlie Brown, original works by Berklee College student Grace Yanz, an Ambassador Choir from Midcoast Community Chorus, and a Mermaid appearance. In addition to live music, you can buy an MCC raffle ticket to win a chance to hear a concert anywhere in the world!

We will be looking for some helpers to help with the Nativity table, the chicken pie table, making soups or stews, and a clean up crew. Look for sign up sheets in the Narthex. Or speak to Kim Murphy if you can help.

Mark your calendars:

Saturday, Nov. 29th, 9AM - 2PM

Arts & Crafts Festival at Nativity!

Please join Pastor Anderson for a discussion series based on The Book of Ruth (in the Bible), the 2025 Hobart Lecture: A Conversation on Sanctuary, Courage, and Belonging, featuring Bishop Mariann Budde and Poet-Theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama, AND the book “Borders & Belonging” by Pádraig Ó Tuama and Glenn Jordan. The in-person sessions will be held Thursdays November 6, 13, and 20, 1:00—2:30 PM. At the first session we will watch the lecture together and have a short time of discussion. In session two we’ll discuss pages 1-57 of the book and in session three pages 58-95. Participants should read/re-read the Book of Ruth before the first session.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 1, p. 2-3 of “Borders & Belonging”:

“…the contrast between this bibilcal narrative of kindness and compassion couldn’t be starker when compared to the bear pit of politics and civic discourse in recent years…But maybe that is exactly why Ruth is important for us today when kindness and compassion seem to be in such short supply. This apparently simple book situates itself at the very places where the tectonic plates of conflicted communities threaten to crack and split apart whole nations and societies. Perhaps it offers us a way towards the healing of our fractures and the building of new and healthy relationships in the aftermath of trauma. This narrative enters into the conversations, or the silence, between us, not to exacerbate our divisions but as a spotlight and a balm, pointing to a better way of handling our differences.”

Please sign up by Tuesday November 4 on the sheet in the Narthex or by emailing office@nativityrockport.org so that Pastor can plan the best space to use. There is a possibility of making sessions 2 and 3 accessible via zoom. Please speak with Pastor Anderson if you must attend via zoom. The book is available through several online booksellers and possibly could be ordered by local bookstores. If you have questions, speak to Pastor.

Hello everyone, Carolyn here. I thought I would write a brief note for The View each month, in which I give you my perspective on happenings around church and related topics. So here goes!

One thing I wanted to let you know about is that the New England Synod office has started a monthly meeting for presidents of ELCA congregations in the synod. To my knowledge this is the first time that anything like this has been attempted, at least for quite some time. I think it is an important initiative that will give congregational leaders the chance to exchange news and views with their peers, and to learn from each other, through a channel that has not been available before. The meetings take place on Zoom, hosted by the synod staff, and to date (there have been two meetings so far) representatives of 50 to 60 congregations have been attending. This is not perfect attendance, given that there are roughly 125 churches in the synod, but it is certainly a good start. In the first two meetings the synod staff have shared information about stewardship resources available to congregations through the synod, and about the mandatory model church constitution amendments approved by the ELCA churchwide assembly this summer. (You will be hearing more about this in later communications from me). Conversations between congregational leaders have covered topics such as how to attract more people to worship and how to improve physical safety at our premises.

If you have any concerns you would like me to explore with the leaders of other congregations, please let me know.

On the home front, our Octoberfest potluck on Oct. 19 seems to have been very successful (the food was unbelievable), we received five new members that day, our Loaves & Fishes teams continue to do their good work to feed the hungry, and we have upcoming Creation Care events as well as our first annual Arts & Crafts Festival on Nov. 29. It has been a very busy fall at Nativity!

Wasted Food: Challenges and Community Solutions

Wasted Food: Challenges and Community Solutions has been the topic for Creation Care’s 2025 educational events.

What happens to the food we don’t eat? That has been the on going question during these last several months.

During September and October the Creation Care team has been hosting free educational events to our midcoast neighbors. We have heard from educators, community leaders, CHRHS students, restaurants, and supermarkets.

On Saturday, November 8th, 10am to noon Creation Care will host the last event of this year’s series, at Nativity. It is titled:Reducing Food Waste at Home and Composting In-Town Year Round.

We are excited to welcome Nancy Wood, retired SNAP nutrition educator and former owner of Amalfi Restaurant, in Rockland as well as Cindy Wright from the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation district. They will discuss how to plan meals, cook and store food, compost, and avoid food waste at home.

If you have not had an opportunity to come to one of our Wasted Food sessions this will be a great opportunity to learn about reducing wasted food, composting and food sustainability in the MidCoast.

We hope you will come, bring a friend and support Nativity’s community education program. The session is free.

Denise Stadler

For Creation Care

We recently held two opportunities at Nativity for congregation conversation about Christian Nationalism. We discussed the problem—our belief that it is neither Christian nor patriotic— and what a congregational response and individual responses could be. We talked about public witness and about risk, even violence, that public discourse might invite. And we heard personal stories of how some of us are concerned for or struggle with family and friends who have different views. Some asked questions about how to learn more. Some wondered about other local congregations or faith leaders we might partner with. We talked about history and what it might teach us. We wondered about creating a statement: is that the end of our work or the beginning? We talked about letting the world know where we stand by clearly stating what we believe rather than what we are against. It was good discussion and a fruitful time. Thank you to everyone who showed up. Thank you to everyone who engaged. This is difficult stuff. We did not leave with all the answers.

Following these conversations the Congregation Council followed up with discussion at their meeting. It was decided that we are not ready to create a “congregational statement” at this time (there were too many voices/opinions that were not represented in our conversations). But the Council does think it important to continue to lift this issue up and to provide resources for Nativity folks to learn and advocate and speak out. To this end we would like to expand the small task force working on this beyond just Council members. If you are interested or concerned, and willing to work on this team (currently Pastor, Carolyn, Jane, Fred, and Judy) please speak with Pastor Anderson or Carolyn. Our next planned meeting is via Zoom, Monday November 3 at 10 AM

The MidCoast Interfaith Alliance is holding a “Community Gathering of Gratitude” on Sunday, November 23, 4:00 PM at the Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock Street, Rockland. The service will include sharing from several faith traditions including Jewish, Christian, Vedic/Hindu, and Buddhist, along with music, prayers, and readings. The service is planned to last about an hour with a time of fellowship to follow. A monetary offering will be taken to be divided between AIO and World Kitchen Café. An offering of non-perishable food will be given to AIO. All are invited.

Out of the Office in November

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.

Nov 4 - Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland

Nov 11 - Hole in the Wall Bagels, 754 Main St, Rockland

Nov 18 - FlipSide Coffee, 189 Main St, Thomaston

Nov 25 - No Out of the Office Hours this day

AIO has been celebrating 35 years of service to Knox County this year. We celebrate those faithful people who founded the organization as an interfaith project to address hunger in our area. Since that humble start, AIO has grown to serve about 1375 people every week. Now, Executive Director Alan Kearl has indicated that federal government cutbacks in food programs will increase food insecurity in Knox County this fall and more people will need our help.

Read how AIO serves so many already and how you can help meet the increasing need

in the Fall Newsletter at https://www.aiofoodpantry.org/newsletter

Ted Long, Chair

AIO Board of Directors

3 - Bonnie Hoffman, Dex Pavelich, Sherry Cobb

4 - Marty Taylor, Sharon McCullough

8 - Lynne Taylor

16 - Mimi Moore, Heidi Anderson

21 - Barbara Alberda

23 - Arleigh Huntley

26 - Bob Dawson

28 - Gail Kimmel

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.

Click on the Nativity Lutheran Church Calendar Link below if you would like an "easy-to-read" full size view of the month.

It will open a new window featuring the calendar.

Sunday, November 2 - All Saints Sunday

...and clocks fall back 1 hour!

9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, November 3

10:00 AM - Zoom meeting for Christian Nationalist small task force

7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, November 4

9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours

Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland

3:00 PM Coastal Family Hospice Women’s Bereavement Group

Thursday, November 6

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

1:00 - 2:30 PM - Book of Ruth book study

Saturday, November 8

10:00 AM - Noon - Creation Care presents Reducing Food Waste at Home; Composting In-Town Year Round

Sunday, November 9

9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, November 10

10:00 AM - Glory Girls and Guys, Fellowship Hall

7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, November 11

9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours

Hole in the Wall Bagels, 754 Main St, Rockland

Thursday, November 13

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

1:00 - 2:30 PM - Book of Ruth book study

3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents

Sunday, November 16

9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, November 17

7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, November 18

9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours

FlipSide Coffee, 189 Main St, Thomaston

3:00 PM Coastal Family Hospice Women’s Bereavement Group

Thursday, November 20

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

1:00 - 2:30 PM - Book of Ruth book study

3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents

Friday, November 21

Donating a turkey to the Thanksgiving Baskets? You can drop off today!

Sunday, November 23

Last day to drop off Thanksgiving Basket items.

9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

12:00 PM - Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen at St. Peter's Church in Rockland. If you can help, please see Donna Perry

4:00 PM - Community Gathering of Gratitude, Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock Street, Rockland

Monday, November 24

10:00 AM - Glory Girls and Guys, Fellowship Hall

7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, November 25

No Out of the Office Hours today

Thursday, November 27 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 28

2:00 - 6:00 PM - set up for Saturday's Festival

Saturday, November 29

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Arts and Crafts Festival

Sunday, November 30

9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

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 November

Flowers: Donna Perry

Altar: Carolyn Ramm

Acolyte: Ann Walker

November 2

Assistant: Ted Long

Reader: Ollie Jones

Usher: Carol Brazier

November 9

Assistant: Marty Taylor

Reader: Jane Monhart

Usher: Jane Monhart

November 16

Assistant: Fred Walker

Reader: Betty Long

Usher: Denise Stadler

November 23

Assistant: Ann Walker

Reader: Carolyn Ramm

Usher: Denise Stadler

November 30

Assistant: Ted Long

Reader: Sherry Cobb

Usher: Bruce Cobb

Pictured here: Photos from the September 30th Camden Public Library “Wasted Food in Maine: An Overview” event and the October 14th “Community Food Rescue and Waste Reduction” event.

Tessa Rosenberry

Karen Martin

Raya Luehman

Pictured here: Fred Walker, David Paul and Gretchen Hanna making a dent in the bittersweet at the edge of the meadow.

President - Carolyn Ramm

Vice President - Marty Taylor

Treasurer - Fred Walker

Secretary - Kim Murphy

Pastor Wendy Anderson

Jane Monhart, Judy Pelletier, Fran Kresge, Sue Ann Moore

Nativity Lutheran Church Website www.nativityrockport.org

ELCA

Connect with ELCA greater church

Read Bishop Eaton’s monthly article:

https://www.livinglutheran.org/

https://www.elca.org/Resources/Presiding-Bishop-Messages

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: Eileen Isaakson, Denise Stadler, Fred Walker, Kim Murphy, Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Food Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash, Coffee Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash, Thanksigiving Photo by Jed Owen on Unsplash, Thanksgiving Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Unsplash, Handcrafts Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash, Composting Photo by Craig Thomas on Unsplash, Internet resources

Nativity Lutheran Church

Rev. Wendy J. Anderson

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

Event Information

Worship each week in November beginning....

When?

Sunday, Nov 2, 2025, 10:30 AM

Where?

Nativity Lutheran Church, 179 Old County Road, Rockport

Nativity View

November 2025

…the deep, resilient kind

November is a busy month!

Wasted Food: Challenges and Community Solutions

Out of the Office in November

Nativity Lutheran Church

Tessa Rosenberry

Karen Martin

Raya Luehman

Nativity Lutheran Church Website www.nativityrockport.org

ELCA

Nativity Lutheran Church

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From the Pastor … From the Pastor …

…the deep, resilient kind

November is a busy month!

Sunday, Nov. 2 - Don't forget..... Sunday, Nov. 2 - Don't forget.....

Thanksgiving Baskets Thanksgiving Baskets

Nativity's First Arts & Crafts Festival Nativity's First Arts & Crafts Festival

The Book of Ruth: A Story for Our Time The Book of Ruth: A Story for Our Time

From the Council President From the Council President

Creation Care Creation Care

Wasted Food: Challenges and Community Solutions

Talking about Christian Nationalism Talking about Christian Nationalism

Community Gathering of Gratitude Community Gathering of Gratitude

Out of the Office Hours Out of the Office Hours

Out of the Office in November

AIO News AIO News

Happy Birthday in November Happy Birthday in November

Calendar Items Calendar Items

Announcements & Timely Reminders Announcements & Timely Reminders

Assistant Schedule - November Assistant Schedule - November

Photos from Creation Care Events Photos from Creation Care Events

Tessa Rosenberry

Karen Martin

Raya Luehman

Working the Land Working the Land

Nativity Congregational Council Nativity Congregational Council

Nativity Lutheran Church Website www.nativityrockport.org

ELCA

Nativity Lutheran Church

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