Nativity View

May 2025

From the Pastor …Clinging to hope, rejoicing in hope

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The sun is shining this morning as I write---such a welcome sign of springtime hope. Hope is why we shout Alleluia on Easter morning, is it not? Our hope is grounded in our celebration of resurrection.

Our English language allows individual words to carry so many meanings, often influenced by perspective and hope is one that changes when you look at it from a Christian perspective. From a worldly perspective I might hope to win a millions of dollars by buying a Power Ball ticket or hope to get a decent score on the golf course when I finally get out to play this Spring.

But Christian hope—resurrection hope—is something different. Christian hope is a confident expectation of God’s goodness, grounded in God's promises and the work of Jesus Christ. It's not simply wishful thinking, but a firm belief that God will fulfill what God has promised. Christian hope is a three-dimensional reality, grounded in the past (Christ's work), sustained in the present (the Holy Spirit), and oriented towards the future (God's ultimate promises).

God doesn’t promise that we will be rich or receive all the things we would like in life (like a good golf score). God doesn’t promise we will be healthy or successful. God does promise to be with us always, to forgive us, to offer us the gift of grace. God promises us eternal life, whatever that might be.

In worship on Thursday night before Easter, I read from the Gospel of John (Chptr 13). Jesus was speaking to his disciples shortly before they would head out to the Garden of Gethsemane: “34: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Sometimes we exemplify that love to others in very intimate and personal ways and sometimes we exemplify it in very public ways. It’s resurrection hope that allows and encourages us to do that.

Sometimes our world today feels like it is spiraling out of control---probably a lot like the disciples’ world must have felt after the crucifixion. The women went to the tomb that first Easter morn to show their love for Jesus and they left the tomb both afraid and full of hope. Their hope has been shared for over 2000 years. It is hope that we must cling to in these times and we must share in these times.

Perhaps you are clinging to hope in your own life or maybe you are rejoicing in hope. No matter which, God is there. Because Christ is risen! Alleluia

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Anderson

Council Updates

At its meeting on April 7, the Congregation Council addressed several pending issues of importance:

Council is no longer pursuing the possibility of hosting a day care center in the church basement. The cost of renovating the space was more than the interested party could afford, and the Council is unwilling to subsidize the project.
In view of the fact that no one has expressed interest in taking a leadership role for the Harvest Festival and Tag Sale, in whatever form, the Council has voted not to hold the Tag Sale anymore. We are investigating the possibility of hosting an autumn or holiday festival in which craftspeople from the area could rent tables from us and present their products for sale.
Treasurer Fred Walker presented the first draft of a budget for 25-26, which showed a projected deficit of about 20k, even with envelope giving maintained at the current level. Projected expenses are level with this year’s spending.
By the time this is published, repairs to the church entryway floor should be completed or near completion. The work is being done by Cayouette Flooring for $5,000, which is coming from the building fund. However, if they find further damage underneath the floor, the project will cost more and may take longer.
The educational series on Christian nationalism was engaging and informative. Council has discussed the possibility of developing a statement on the subject, such as Trinity Lutheran in Vernon, CT has done. A small group of Council members (Carolyn Ramm, Fred Walker, Jane Monhart and Pastor Anderson) will consider the issue and recommend how to proceed.

Ted Long, President

For the Congregation Council

AIO 35th Anniversary Celebration

The AIO Food Pantry will celebrate its 35th anniversary with an open house on

Tuesday, May 6, 4-6 PM at the pantry on Gordon Drive in Rockland.

There will be tours and demonstrations, food and refreshments, birthday cake and a program at 5:00 PM. I hope you will join us to celebrate the important work of AIO in our community.

Ted Long, Vice-Chair

AIO Board of Directors

a note from their website:

While not required, they are asking folks to please RSVP if you plan on attending by either emailing alan@aiofoodpantry.org or calling 207-596-1043.

AIO is grateful for all those who work with them to provide food, diapers and energy assistance without judgement and to all in need. Together we help make Knox County a safer, more stable, and happy place to live.

Creation Care

The environmental impact of food waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food yearly. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 60 million tons. That is estimated to be almost 40% of the entire US food supply, which equates to 325 pounds of wasted food per person.

How to Waste Less Food at Home:

Reducing food waste at home is both environmentally responsible and economically beneficial. Here are some practical strategies to help you minimize waste in your kitchen.

📝 1. Plan Your Meals and Shop Smart

Meal Planning: Outline your meals for the week and make a shopping list based on this plan. This helps you buy only what you need, reducing the likelihood of food spoiling before use.
Inventory Check: Before shopping, check your pantry and refrigerator to avoid purchasing items you already have. Plan for bulk buys, such as items on sale and “buy one get one.” This saves money and time.
Flexible Ingredients: Choose ingredients that can be used in multiple dishes, increasing their chances of being used.

❄️ 2. Utilize Your Freezer Effectively

Freeze Perishables: Items like bread, fish, and meats, can be frozen to extend their shelf life. Buy in bulk when items are on sale.
Portion Control: Divide food into meal-sized portions before freezing to make thawing and cooking more convenient and less wasteful.
Proper Storage: Use airtight containers or freezer bags, label them with contents and dates, and lay them flat to save space and facilitate quicker defrosting.

🧊 3. Opt for Frozen Produce

Frozen fruits and vegetables are harvested at peak ripeness and flash-frozen, preserving their nutritional value. They have a longer shelf life than fresh produce and can significantly reduce waste.

🧊 4. Store Food Properly

Refrigerator Organization: Store raw meats on the bottom shelf, dairy products in the middle, and ready-to-eat items on the top. Use drawers for fruits and vegetables, keeping them separate to prevent ethylene-sensitive produce from spoiling quickly.
Using see through contains, such as glass, helps you see leftovers easily. Ensuring that food will be used and not left to spoil.

🍽️ 5. Maximize Freshness

Storing Foods in the Refrigerator: Store milk on the shelf rather than in the door. The door of the fridge does not stay cold enough to protect milk.
Store veggies in a crisper drawer set to high humidity and fruit in a drawer set to low humidity.
Bread goes stale faster in the fridge. Store bread in a closed plastic bag in your freezer or pantry.
To keep greens crisp, add a damp paper towel to the container or produce bag, then loosely seal.

🍽️ 6. Embrace Leftovers

Creative Reuse: Transform leftovers into new meals, such as soups, stir-fries, or casseroles.
Just use it: Bruised fruit makes great smoothies. Wilted greens and herbs become pesto or stir them into soup and sauces, add to a quiche or casserole. Stale bread makes breadcrumbs, stuffing and croutons.
Schedule Leftover Nights: Designate a night each week to consume leftovers.
Practice first in, first out: Place newer foods behind older items. This ensures that older food will always be used first.

🌱 7. Compost Food Scrap

Remember the six “R’s” Refuse, Reduce, Repurpose, Repair, Reuse and Recycle. Even our food fits into many of these categories. Refuse to buy what you don’t need, Reduce waste by planning meals, Repurpose food with creative leftovers, Reuse even food that seems inedible, such as herb stems, carrot tops, kale ribs, broccoli stalks and celery hearts in soups, stews and broths. Last is Recycle. Composting organic waste like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds turns potential waste into nutrient-rich soil, reducing landfill contributions and greenhouse gases, which are contributing to climate warming. Implementing these strategies, at home, can significantly reduce food waste, leading to cost savings and positive environmental impacts.

Denise Stadler, Creation Care Team

Newcomers’ Classes

Pastor Anderson will be holding a two-session class for people who are “new” to Nativity. Perhaps you’ve been worshipping with us for many months or maybe just a few weeks. Come learn more about what we’re about. The “classes” (really, more like informal discussions) will be held after worship on May 18th and June 1st. The first session will focus mostly on history and doctrine and the second session will be about ministries in both the larger Lutheran church and at Nativity. The sessions are designed to prepare you if you’d like to become an official member of Nativity or if you’re not interested in membership, just to give you more info on why and how we do what we do. Each of these sessions will last no more than an hour and if questions and discussions warrant, we’ll schedule another. Please sign up in the narthex at church or email office@nativityrockport.org if you plan to participate. If you’re interested but these dates don’t work for you, please let Pastor Anderson know and we’ll try to work something out on an individual basis.

20th Anniversary Celebration for Pastor Anderson

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 8, when we will celebrate Pastor Anderson’s 20th anniversary of ordination to the ministry of word and sacrament. We will enjoy a festive meal together after worship and fete her for her faithful ministry of the past two decades. These are special milestones in the pastoral ministry, and I hope you will make every effort to join us to recognize Pastor Anderson’s contribution to the life of the church.

Ted Long, President

For the Congregation Council

Out of the Office Hours

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 6 - Dot’s, Rt 1, Lincolnville
May 13 - Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
May 20 - Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
May 27 - FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston

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.

Let Freedom Ring!

Friday, April 18 was the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride. On that night 250 years ago, Boston’s Old North Church hung two lanterns from its steeple to warn patriots that the British were coming and set Paul Revere off on his famous ride for freedom. The next morning, other area churches rang their bells in alarm as the troops approached. This April 18th, the Old North Church - along with houses of worship and people everywhere — rang their bells to commemorate the day the American people rose up against tyranny and began the long struggle for freedom, liberty, and justice for all that continues today.

Although Nativity doesn’t have a “steeple bell,” members found another way to stand for liberty and justice. 16 folks rang handbells and other types of bells on our church lawn. (not everyone made it into the picture). You can learn more about the “Let Freedom Ring” event at the Old North Church at https://www.letfreedomring.live/ and you can see a video of Nativity’s bell ringing as well as many other videos and photos from around the country by clicking on the “SEE COMMUNITY VIDEOS HERE” button. Once you get there, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “load more.” It might take three or more pages of scrolling down to the bottom of the page and loading more but you should eventually see Nativity’s sign on the left side of the page. Click on the arrow to play the video—be sure to have your sound on!

Calendar Items

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.

Nativity Lutheran Church

calendar.google.com

Thursday, May 1

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

Sunday, May 4

9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult Education in Meeting Rm.

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, May 5

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

Tuesday, May 6

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

Dot’s, Rt 1, Lincolnville

3:00 - 4:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Bereavement Group, Meeting Rm.

Wednesday, May 7

2:00 - 3:00 PM - Maine Health Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, May 8

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Rm.

Sunday, May 11

Happy Mother's Day!

9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult Education in Meeting Rm.

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, May 12

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

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

Tuesday, May 13

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

Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland

3:00 - 4:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Bereavement Group, Meeting Rm.

Wednesday, May 14

2:00 - 3:00 PM - Maine Health Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, May 15

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

Sunday, May 18

9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult Education in Meeting Rm.

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Monday, May 19

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

Tuesday, May 20

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

Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland

3:00 - 4:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Bereavement Group, Meeting Rm.

Thursday, May 22

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Rm.

Sunday, May 25

9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult Education in Meeting Rm.

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

12:00 PM - Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, St Peters Episcopal Church, Rockland - see Donna Perry if you would like to help

Monday, May 26 - Memorial Day

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

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

Tuesday, May 27

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

FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston

3:00 - 4:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Bereavement Group, Meeting Rm.

Thursday, May 29

8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom

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.

Assistant Schedule - May

Month of May

Flowers - Annie Appleton

Altar - Carolyn Ramm

Acolyte - Ann Walker

May 4

Assistant Minister: Fred Walker

Reader: Jane Monhart

Usher: Carol Brazier

May 11

Assistant Minister: Marty Taylor

Reader: Sandy Abate (remote reader)

Usher: Tina Huntley

May 18

Assistant Minister: Ted Long

Reader: Sherry Cobb

Usher: Bruce Cobb

May 25

Assistant Minister: Carolyn Ramm

Reader: Betty Long

Usher: Ollie Jones

Easter Sunday Photos

We celebrated a joyous Easter Sunday in many ways on April 20. Eleven early risers worshipped at Glen Cove as the sun was beginning to peak out from behind the clouds on the horizon. It was our warmest and windiest Sunrise service since we began them in 2021. Thanks to Kim Murphy for her help with this service.

Hans and helpers fed many worshippers at his annual Easter Breakfast. Hans and crew (David, Michele, and Rebecca) cooked eggs, sausage, bacon and pancakes, and others brought many delicious contributions. Thanks to Mary Ann and her helpers (Phil, Karin and Denise) for decorating the tables.

Our 10:30 worship was well attended (61 in-person and others on zoom). Our front entrance was beautified by fresh pansies in the pots and the circle garden bed had been cleaned out--thanks Mimi. The beautifully decorated cross in the narthex greeted folks and they arrived for worship--thanks Jennie--and our worship space was adorned with more than 40 flowering plants as well as beautiful altar arrangements. Thanks Sue Ann for coordinating the plants, Sue Ann and Annie for arranging them, and Donna for the altar arrangements.

And of course we have to thank Charlie, our guest singers, Saphrona Stetson and her mom Bridget Qualey, and our choir for the beautiful music in worship.

Thanks too to all who came back and sang Handel's Hallelujah Chorus with the choir. And of course all the little behind the scenes things (some we don't even realize are happening) and regular volunteer participation that makes our worship so meaningful. Thank you for what you have done.

Community News

Willy Wonka comes to Camden Hills

Camden Hills Regional HS is celebrating 25 years of productions on the stage of the Strom Auditorium. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, a musical featuring students in grades 5 - 12, will kick off the celebrations, with productions on May 8,9 and 10.

The show is directed by Kim Murphy, Kailey Smith, and Tom Heath with musical accompaniment by joani mitchell, Doug Kennedy, and Hailey Levangie. The costumes are designed by Heidi Kopishke, choreography by Gretchen Henderson and Camden Contakos, and produced by Jane Self. Student director AJ Collins will be joined by many technical assistants: Wylie Hixson, Maggie O’Brien, Quin Smith, Natalie Clark, and Isabel Pease-Fontaine as they work together to put on a stellar show. Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 8 and Friday May 9 at 6:30 PM with a special family show on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by visiting http://stromtix.com. For more information, call 207.230.1660 or email tickets@fivetowns.net.

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.

Nativity Congregational Council

President - Ted Long

Vice President - Carolyn Ramm

Treasurer - Fred Walker

Secretary - Kim Murphy

Pastor Wendy Anderson

Susan Dawson, Mary Ann Hawkins, Jane Monhart, Marty Taylor, Judy Pelletier

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: Michele Paul, Kim Murphy, Pastor Anderson, Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Aluminum can tabs Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash, Coffee Shop Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash, Earth Photo by Fateme Alaei 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 May beginning....

When?

Sunday, May 4, 2025, 10:30 AM

Where?

Nativity Lutheran Church, 179 Old County Road, Rockport

Nativity View

May 2025