Nativity View

A few days ago I had a plan for the View article that needed to be complete before my vacation could start. I had read a short internet article that I thought would be the jumping off point. Easy-peasy. When Kim (our View editor) checked on how it was coming, I promised her I would write while I was waiting for new tires to be installed on my car Friday morning.

But as I sat in the waiting room and reread the article, I realized that although it was a concept interesting to me as a small-church pastor, it didn’t have much substance, and I couldn’t figure out how to frame it in a way that it might be interesting or challenging to you. So….new plan needed. I went back to my text conversation with Kim and looked at the title she had jokingly suggested: Retreading Your Spiritual Life. “Why not?” I thought to myself. “I can work with that.”

Retread, renew, rejuvenate. August can be a wonderful time to be intentional about your spiritual life in some fun ways. Here are a couple of suggestions.

Get outside and connect to God through creation. Soak in the sun or gaze at the stars. Listen for the sounds of summer wherever you might be: waves, birds, breeze in the trees, even insects contribute to the sounds of summer. Watch for wildlife and observe how other creatures fit into the places around you. Spend time in prayer; read scripture or poetry. Let the Spirit fill you as you consider the awesomeness of a God who created all this and also calls you by name. (And don’t forget to attend the Creation Care Team sponsored events on August 3 and 17.)

Another thing you could try is Bible journaling as a means to retreading your spiritual life. Bible journaling is the practice of responding to the Biblical text in a creative way in the pages of your Bible — with art, prayers, or notes. It uses drawings, doodles, or words to connect you to the Word. You can choose to do Bible journaling any number of ways: creating art and lettering in the margins of your Bible, next to the text; making art in the headers of a book of the Bible or on a blank page next to the Biblical text, or in a separate notebook. Or if words are more your thing, Bible journaling can be writing notes, prayers, poems or stories in your Bible in response to the text. Ultimately, Bible journaling is just about responding to the Bible in a personal way, in the pages of that Bible. You can buy journaling bibles, that have extra white space in them, or just look for an inexpensive bible that has substantial margins. For some journaling ideas, just “google” to find examples.

These are just a couple of ideas to get your creative wheels turning (see what I did there?) as you think about ways to renew your spiritual life. I’d love it if you’d share other ideas with each other and with me.

Summer blessings,

Pastor Anderson

We’re clearing leftover tag sale items out of the basement with an “Indoor/Outdoor Yard Sale” on Saturday, August 9th, rain or shine: 9:00 AM -1:00 PM.

It will be a “make-us-an-offer” sale with all proceeds benefitting Homeworthy and Nativity. There are lots of ways to help, like putting up flyers throughout the Midcoast (flyers will be available at church on Sunday, Aug. 3), helping the day of the sale, hauling leftover stuff away after the sale (to Goodwill, Habitat, etc.) and of course inviting others to come to the sale.

In order to be ready for the Saturday sale, we will have a work day on Wednesday, August 6th from 10AM - 12PM. This work session will include final arrangement of items, moving furniture, setting up jewelry display, organizing packing materials, making signs for sandwich boards, etc.

Check out the sign-up sheets in the Narthex to see how you can help or speak with Gretchen H., Annie A., or Carolyn R.

We especially need help on the day of the sale, so if you can work then we would greatly appreciate it!

Stars, stars, stars. They’re filling up our poster. Hooray! August brings us the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the world God has created for us. There are three ways to reward yourself with a star in August.

• Add a star for each week that you share an outdoor activity with a friend, especially a friend who doesn’t usually spend much time outdoors.

• Join us on Sunday, August 3rd after worship for an informal bring-your-own picnic at Merryspring Nature Center in Camden. Bring along a chair or a blanket in case the gazebo area is already occupied.

• Join us on August 17th after worship for a brief indoor program and an outdoor tour by two Maine Master Naturalists who will teach us about what we have in Nativity’s backyard (Serenity Path area). A light lunch will be served before the presentation.

Thank you all for your continued care of creation. Hopefully we can turn many of our newly practiced habits into permanent ways of living.

Do you know what is alive in your backyard?

Do we know what is alive in our church’s backyard?

We are in for a treat this month as we welcome 2 remarkable Maine women to help us take a closer look at what is happening right under our noses, in our own back yard. This event is part of our Creation Care emphasis for August, appreciating and enjoying God’s creation. Our back yard is a small but beautiful part of God’s creation, which has been entrusted to us. As we get to know it better, we are in a better position to care for it, and we can apply our understanding to the bigger picture of creation care as well.

On August 17, immediately following the worship service, Kate Morse and Alice Noyes, Maine Master Naturalists, will lead a brief discussion on the natural history of the area behind the church, then lead a walk where we will observe ferns, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, birds, and other features of the area. Nativity’s Creation Care Team will provide a light lunch as part of our usual coffee hour.

Kate and Alice come to us from the towns of Penobscot and Franklin, Maine, and have gone through extensive training to earn their titles as Maine Master Naturalists. I had the pleasure of meeting them this spring when they came to take a look at our backyard land. I’m so grateful for their generosity in taking time to travel here more than once, and to share their knowledge with us. Please mark your calendars and help me welcome them to our church on the 17th!

Note: This invitation is flexible. If you are unable to participate in the outdoor time, please feel welcome for the lunch and indoor time!

Here are links to two apps that are recommended by our presenters:

Seek by iNaturalist: it uses the iNaturalist database to help you identify plants, amphibians, fungi, fish, reptiles, insects, mollusks, and mammals.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/seek-by-inaturalist/id1353224144

Merlin Bird ID app, powered by eBird, from the Cornell Lab.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673

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.

Aug 5 - Laite Memorial Beach, Off Bay View St, Camden

Aug 12 - Walker Park, Sea St, Rockport (Pascal Ave. to Elm St. to Sea St.)

Aug 19 - Owls Head Lighthouse State Park, 186 Lighthouse Road, Owls Head

Aug 26 - Breezemere Park, Corner of Norton Pond Rd and Main St (Rt 52), Lincolnville

We are currently "Out of the Office and into Creation." Our weekly coffee gathering moves to local parks to avoid the seasonal rush at local establishments. But more importantly we get the opportunity to enjoy God’s good creation. Most of the parks 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. (Stop on the way and pick up coffee and treats or bring them from home.) If it rains we’ll gather inside at Main Street Markets, 435 Main Street, Rockland.

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.

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, August 3

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Following worship: Join members of the Creation Care Team for an informal bring-your-own picnic at Merryspring Nature Center in Camden. Bring along a chair or a blanket.

Monday, August 4

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

Tuesday, August 5

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

Laite Memorial Beach, Off Bay View St, Camden

Wednesday, August 6

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Yard Sale Work Session for final arrangement of items, moving furniture, setting up jewelry display, organizing packing materials, making signs for sandwich boards, and more!

7:00 PM - Prayer Gathering hosted by the MidCoast Interfaith Alliance

Snow Marine Park, Rockland

Thursday, August 7

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

Saturday, August 9

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Indoor/Outdoor Yard Sale at Nativity

Sunday, August 10

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, August 11

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

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

Tuesday, August 12

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

Walker Park, Sea St, Rockport (Pascal Ave. to Elm St. to Sea St.)

Thursday, August 14

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

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

Sunday, August 17

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Following worship: Join members of the Creation Care Team for a brief indoor program and an outdoor tour by two Maine Master Naturalists who will teach us about what we have in Nativity’s backyard. A light lunch will be served before the program.

Monday, August 18

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

Tuesday, August 19

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

Owls Head Lighthouse State Park, 186 Lighthouse Road, Owls Head

Wednesday, August 20

7:00 PM - Prayer Gathering hosted by the MidCoast Interfaith Alliance

Snow Marine Park, Rockland

Thursday, August 21

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

Sunday, August 24

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

12:00 noon - Loaves and Fishes at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Rockland (even team) (see Ollie Jones if you can help out)

Monday, August 25

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

Tuesday, August 26

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

Breezemere Park, Corner of Norton Pond Rd and Main St (Rt 52), Lincolnville

Thursday, August 28

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

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

Sunday, August 31

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Note For Midweek prayer via zoom - there is a separate Zoom link.

Email Pastor of office@nativityrockport.org if you would like the zoom link. Please also email Pastor if you do not have the weekly Sunday link.

Month of August

Flowers: Annie Appleton (wks 1,2), Gretchen Hanna (wks 3,4,5)

Altar: Jennie Dynesius

Acolyte: Ann Walker

August 3

Assistant Minister: Kim Murphy

Reader: Fred Walker

Usher: Carol Brazier

August 10

Assistant Minister: Hans (Kristian) Akselsen, II

Reader: Sherry Cobb

Usher: Bruce Cobb

August 17

Assistant Minister: Marty Taylor

Reader: Betty Long

Usher: Tina Huntley

August 24

Assistant Minister: Carolyn Ramm

Reader: Sue Ann Moore

Usher: Jane Monhart

August 31

Assistant Minister: Fred Walker

Reader: David Paul

Usher: Mimi Moore

• 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.
  

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

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: Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Park Photo by Riley Revell on Unsplash, Food Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash, Yard Sale Photo by Louie Scott on Unsplash, Internet resources

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