I like to think things through.

Thoughts are important: important for casting a vision, important for solving problems, important for deciding direction, important for building relationship.

I also believe in the power of prayer.

Prayer is one of the tenets of my faith. I believe that God hears our prayers and answers our prayers, although sometimes the answers remain hidden or are not the answer we had hoped for.

Sometimes I overthink things and the thoughts paralyze me so I can't act. Sometimes the mystery of prayer and God's answers also paralyzes me so I don't act. I need to change that. My thoughts and prayers are not enough. My thoughts and prayers must be followed by action. And not only mine…OUR thoughts and prayers must be followed by action. God works through us using our voices, using our hands, using our minds and abilities.

By the time you read this several days will have passed since the horrific and tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Maybe it will seem like old news. Or maybe there will have been another shooting since. But as I write, it was just yesterday. The death count at this time is 19 children, 2 teachers, and the shooter. This shooting comes just days after a racially motivated mass shooting in a Buffalo NY grocery store and another in a church in California.

Our thoughts and prayers without action are no longer enough. We have got to do something to end gun violence in our country. I'm not sure exactly what to do, but I know it begins with being like Jesus. First, we must love like Jesus did. He loved children, he loved sinners, he loved those who were sick or dying or hungry or homeless or in prison. He even loved the one who would betray him. And he showed his love publicly…even when that would cause controversy; even when that went against culture and the status quo; even when that meant challenging those in power.

Jesus did not love passively, although that might be the picture of him we are most comfortable with: little children on his lap, or his hand gently placed on one who needed healing. Maybe we are a little bit scared by the other ways Jesus showed love. Maybe we are a little bit scared of the love manifested in the ways he challenged power and government and wrongdoing and evil. He spoke truth, he drew lines in the sand, he spoke out, he turned things upside down (like the tables in the temple). The mainstay of Jesus's ministry was to challenge the unhealthy, destructive paradigms that had infiltrated government and religion. And now the Holy Spirit challenges us to see beyond our cultural context and work to end gun violence.

Like almost any other problem, this one is multi-faceted. Gun safety is at the center but there are other factors like mental health services, family services, and public and private education policies and facilities. Even as I write I begin to feel paralyzed again. But I can't let that feeling win out. And so I pray for God's help and guidance and push to action.

I believe gun safety is where to start. I know some that are reading this are gun owners and have shooting sport and hunting hobbies. Some of you are gun collectors. I respect your right to those things. I am not suggesting that some governmental entity should come and take your guns away. But I believe to end the senseless gun violence in our country we need greater regulation, age limits, background checks, licensure, and instruction for gun ownership. The first thing I need to do is understand what our current regulations are and then I need to communicate with my elected officials and I need to make sure my votes count in the right ways. Then I need to find ways to speak out and act in love working toward a solution.

Gun violence in our country is a symptom of other things in our culture. Mass shootings, drive-bys, criminal shootings, domestic violence shootings, suicides are symptoms of racism, homophobia, bullying, lack of adequate family support systems, and more. As I create that list, I begin to feel paralyzed again.

When we are sick, the path to healing is two-fold. We treat the symptoms: aspirin for a fever, decongestant for a stuffy nose, throat lozenges for a sore throat. AND we treat the disease: antibiotics for infection, medications and lifestyle changes for heart disease, etc. How can we as a society treat the symptom? How do we create a world where all of God's children (10 year-olds in school classrooms AND octogenarians shopping for groceries) can be safe? That begins with gun safety and regulation. How can we treat the disease? We should think and we should pray but there is more we must do. Love like Jesus. Speak out like Jesus. Act like Jesus. Invite others to love like Jesus. Care like Jesus. Did I mention LOVE?

I feel a little less paralyzed when I know we are working together.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor

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.

Please note - we have now begun our summer schedule for Worship services.

Saturday, June 4

1:00 p.m.

Celebration of Life Worship remembering Louisa Akselsen

Sunday, June 5 - Day of Pentecost

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Ann Walker

Sunday, June 12

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Marty Tayloir

Sunday, June 19

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Kim Murphy

Happy Father's Day. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/when-fathers-day

Federal Holiday: Juneteenth

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth#

Sunday, June 26

9:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Fred Walker

Congregational Meeting - immediately following Worship

Weekly

Tuesdays 9:30 - 11:00 AM - "Out of Office" hours (see article below)

Thursdays 8:00 AM - Morning Prayer via Zoom

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 Zoom link.

Pastor Anderson misses the good conversation and fellowship of her weekly "Out of Office Hours." (And the coffee, too.) Covid "lock down" put a stop to the informal gatherings at local coffee shops more than two years ago. Covid concerns continue to make the logistics difficult as many of the venues have changed their spaces around and most are still asking patrons not to move chairs and tables in order to keep distances safe. Add the summer tourist crowds to the equation and now does not feel like the time to be trying to gather in that way again.

BUT…

…maybe we could try something new. Let's call it "Out of the Office and Into Creation."

Bring your own coffee (and a treat if you want) and meet Pastor in a local park on Tuesday mornings. She has picked out some parks for June and is anxious for your suggestions if there are better ones we could try later in the summer. There are picnic tables and in some cases benches in these spots, but you might want to bring your own chair to be more comfortable. Pastor will plan to be there 9:30 to 11:00 AM. She tried to pick spots that might have shade so it should be pleasant if it's not raining. If it's raining, she won't be there.

Here are the places:

Tuesday, June 7, Glen Cove Park, Rt 1, Rockport

Tuesday, June 14, Walker Park, Sea St, Rockport (Pascal Ave. to Elm St. to Sea St.)

Tuesday, June 21, Laite Memorial Beach, Off Bay View St between Cedar and Chestnut Hill, Camden

Tuesday, June 28, Shirttail Point, Rt 105, Camden

The annual congregational meeting will be held immediately following worship on Sunday, June 26. As usual, we will review reports on the past year’s activities, and adopt a budget for the coming year. In addition, we will want to reaffirm the constitutional amendments we approved in April, consider our new ministry initiative on Deepening Our Understanding of the Bible, and discuss possible enhancements to our combination of in-person and online worship. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Ted Long, President

For the Congregation Council

One of the Congregation Council’s annual responsibilities is to help the pastor “evaluate the fulfillment of her calling” in her ministry here at Nativity. In our process, led by a 3-person committee (Ted Long, Kim Murphy and Tina Huntley this year), both the pastor and congregation provide observations regarding how the pastor’s ministry has gone in the past year. The committee will then offer feedback to help her strengthen her performance as pastor and set goals for the year ahead.

I am writing to invite you to provide any observations you wish about Pastor Anderson’s ministry to the committee. In particular, we seek observations regarding the following:

• Meaningful accomplishments of the past year or so,

• Significant strengths of Pastor Anderson’s ministry,

• Areas where she could strengthen her performance, and

• Pastoral goals you think would be important for the coming year.

Please submit your thoughts in writing to Ted Long no later than Wednesday, June 15. Your observations will be treated confidentially, and we will not identify anyone with specific comments or observations. Ted’s Contact information is listed below.

To be clear, this purpose of this process is developmental and formative, to assist Pastor Anderson in making her ministry among us as impactful and fulfilling as possible. It is not to evaluate her call or employment status or to determine her salary increase for the coming year. We carry out this process in a spirit of appreciation for her ministry and with a view toward supporting her in extending and enhancing her effectiveness.

We very much look forward to hearing from you by June 15.

Ted Long

23 Acadia Drive

Rockland, ME 04841

longte1507@gmail.com

Even though the Earth Day Celebration is over, our challenge continues. It is not enough to plant trees, flowers, etc. on the 22nd of April each year. We need to remember that it is a daily challenge to protect our earth.

As I think back on what we learned during our Earth Day/May Day Affair, I remember the information on the Rs of Sustainability:

• Refuse/Rethink
• Reduce
• Reuse/Repair
• Repurpose
• Rot/Compost
• Recycle and Advocacy

While preparing for the display for Recycling, I learned that each Transfer Station in the MidCoast Area did basically the same thing. However they differ in the kinds of items that they accept and the way in which they are disposed.

If you would like more information about what your transfer station does, you can contact them directly.

• Camden/Rockport/Lincolnville/Hope 207-236-2467
• Rockland 207-594-5414
• Thomaston/OwlsHead/So. Thomaston 207-594-7434

or call

EcoMaine at 207-773-1736 or research online: https://www.ecomaine.org/101

At our Earth Day Fair, we also learned about the Advocacy part of Caring for the Earth and how we can change the direction our State Representatives are going. For more information about Advocacy, contact Lynne Taylor.

We also need to remember all of the ideas and information that Denise has discussed with us over the past few months. It appears, from the suggestions that she has received, that action has already taken place. This is good, but we need to continue to look around and create ideas to help this beautiful area in which we live. We thank God each and every day, that we are so lucky to live in such a bountiful place, and we continue to pray for guidance and ideas on caring for our community and our world.

I would also like to take time to thank everyone who helped to prepare for the Earth Day/May Day Fair and to those who participated in the event.

Mary Ann Hawkins

Care of Creation Team

Connect with ELCA greater church

Read Bishop Eaton’s monthly article:

https://www.livinglutheran.org/

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

2 - Eric Waters

6 - Karin Pratt

10 - Katrina Christy, Denise Stadler

14 - Susan Laatz

16 - Eunice Stadler

25 - Jessica Isakson, Pat Miller, Jane Monhart

• 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.

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 - Lynne Taylor, Mary Ann Hawkins, Fred Walker

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
Facebook: facebook.com/nativitylutheranchurch.rockport.maine