Nativity View
April 2026
…Finding good news in the in-between
April is always a strange kind of month here in Maine. We’re not quite in winter anymore, but we’re not fully in spring either. The snow melts, the ground softens, the days stretch a little longer—and everything feels a bit muddy, a bit in-between: not quite what was, not quite what will be. I find myself thinking that it’s actually a pretty fitting backdrop for Easter. And maybe I’m noticing it more than usual this year, because I’ve been a bit more cooped up than I would like thanks to this broken foot. When you can’t move around as easily, you start to pay attention differently—to the light changing through the window, to the small signs of the season shifting, to the rhythms of each day. It’s slower, sometimes frustrating. But it also has a way of making you notice things you might otherwise miss.
The first Easter didn’t happen in a world that had everything figured out. It came in the middle of confusion, loss, and uncertainty. The disciples weren’t celebrating—they were hiding. They weren’t hopeful—they were grieving. And that’s exactly where resurrection began.
Throughout this Lenten season, our theme has been, “Tell me something good.” I’ve really appreciated it because it invites us to ground ourselves in the good news—not as a way of ignoring what’s hard, but as a way of remembering what is still true—just what we need as we approach and celebrate Easter.
There is plenty in our world—and in our own lives—that feels unsettled. World and national news can feel heavy. Many of us are carrying worries about health, family, or what the future might hold. It can feel like we are living in an in-between season of our own. But Easter comes anyway—it doesn’t wait for everything to be resolved. What I’m holding onto in this season is the reminder that the good news of the resurrection is not that life suddenly becomes easy. It’s that God is still at work bringing life out of places that feel uncertain or unfinished. Resurrection doesn’t erase reality—it meets us right in the middle of it.
And more often than not, it shows up in small ways, just the way spring in Maine does: slowly—a little more daylight, the sound of birds returning, the first hints of green pushing through the mud. You have to pay attention or you might miss it. I think the same is true in our lives. Resurrection can look like a neighbor checking in, a phone call at just the right time, a moment of peace, or a relationship beginning to heal. These aren’t dramatic, headline-making moments—but they are real. They are signs of life. They are the kind of good news we’ve been talking about all along.
That doesn’t mean we ignore what’s hard. The tomb was real. The grief was real. And still, God brought new life. So maybe part of our calling in this season is simply to pay attention; to notice where hope is quietly taking root. To trust that even in the muddy, in-between places of our lives, something new is beginning. And maybe it’s also to be part of that good news for one another—in small acts of care, kindness, and presence.
As we move toward Easter, we do so not because everything is perfect, but because God meets us right where we are. Christ is risen—right here, in the midst of real life. And that is very good news.
Faithfully,
Pastor Anderson
Thursday, April 2
Maundy Thursday Agape Meal and Stripping the Altar at 5:30 PM, in person only
Friday, April 3
Good Friday Worship at 6:30 PM, in person and via zoom,
with the Passion story, candles, songs, and prayers
Saturday, April 4
Easter Vigil at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Camden at 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 5 - Easter Sunday
Sunrise Service at Clam Cove Park, 6:00 AM in person only
Easter Breakfast at Nativity 8:30-10 AM
Easter Festival Worship, in person and via zoom, 10:30 AM
Have you heard of George Perkins Marsh? What about Henry David Thoreau? John Muir? George Bird Grinnell? Rachel Carson? Aldo Leopold? Robert “Bob” Marshall? Theodore Roosevelt? These “Legends of Conservation” are a watershed of perspectives collectively creating a movement of utmost importance for our survival. These icons, plus others, have strived valiantly against formidable obstacles to protect and preserve our natural heritage. They are the foundation for the present and the future of conservation.
This month let’s honor Senator Gaylord Nelson, the Founder of Earth Day. On the first Earth Day 56 years ago, on April 22, 1970 at the University of Wisconsin he said in a speech, “Our goal is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all living creatures. The battle to restore a proper relationship between man and his environment, between man and other living creatures will require a long sustained, political, moral, ethical, and financial commitment far beyond any effort made before.” Believe it or not, on that day 56 years ago, the U.S. Congress recessed for the day so that House and Senate members could speak about the environment and attend community events!
One small way we can advocate for our loving earth, the earth of future generations is education. I would love for you to take the challenge to educate yourself on environmental issues. The 2026 Earth Day Theme is Our Power, Our Planet. The Earth Day Quizzes will be an enriching, yet fun way to spend time with a friend. Together is better! The link follows: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-quizzes/ I was enlightened by my lack of knowledge on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Fashion. How can you be enlightened? When can you pat yourself on the back?
Happy Earth Day 2026
Gretchen Hanna, Creation Care Team
On Sunday, March 1st, the Creation Care Team presented a film: “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Movie." The engaging film was a 75-minute documentary about food waste and food rescue.
If you missed the film, you can watch it by clicking here.
“Let’s Bag the Cold” was a project, developed by Carol Burris, to collect sleeping bags and tarps for Homeworthy to distribute to our unhoused neighbors.
"Thanks to the generosity of the people of Nativity, we have provided 22 sleeping bags, 9 tarps, and 3 sleeping mats to Homeworthy for people in our community who are without homes. Thank you for making my Thrivent Action Team even more successful than I had anticipated."
Carol Burris
There is a lot of good news happening at AIO!
Please click on the following link to read their Spring Newsletter.
You will read about the success of Pies on Parade, the upcoming 5th Annual Artfeeds, Pecha Kucha night and more!
Out of the Office in April
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.
Apr 7 - Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
Apr 14 - Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
Apr 21 - Owls Nest Coffee and Cafe, 2 Park Dr, Rockland
Apr 28 - FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
3 - Bruce McCullough
7 - Bruce Meyer
10 - Judy Pelletier
14 - Martha Meyer
16 - Kyle Waters, Shelly Cramp
27 - Tina Huntley
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.
Wednesday, April 1
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, April 2 - Maundy Thursday
5:30 PM - Maundy Thursday Agape Meal and Stripping the Altar, in person only
Friday, April 3 - Good Friday
6:30 PM - Worship, in person and via zoom
Saturday, April 4 - Easter Vigil
7:30 PM - Easter Vigil at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Camden
Sunday, April 5 - Easter Sunday
6:00 AM - Sunrise Service at Clam Cove Park, in person only
8:30 - 10:00 AM - Easter Breakfast at Nativity
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Easter Festival Worship, in person and via zoom
Monday, April 6
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, April 7
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
Wednesday, April 8
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, April 9
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents
Sunday, April 12
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, April 13
10:00 AM - Glory Girls & Guys, Meeting Rm.
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, April 14
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
Wednesday, April 15
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, April 16
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, April 19
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, April 20
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, April 21
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Owls Nest Coffee and Cafe, 2 Park Dr, Rockland
Wednesday, April 22 - Earth Day
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, April 23
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents
Sunday, April 26
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 and Fishes Meal at St. Peter's Church in Rockland. See Ollie Jones if you would like to help out.
Monday, April 27
10:00 AM - Glory Girls & Guys, Meeting Rm.
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, April 28
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
Wednesday, April 29
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
Thursday, April 30
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
- 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 April
Altar Care and Flowers - Donna Perry
Acolyte - Jennie Dynesius
April 2 - Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday Agape Meal and Stripping the Altar
April 3 - Good Friday
Assistant - Kim Murphy
April 5 - Easter Sunday
Assistant - Ted Long
Usher - Carol Brazier
Reader - Betty Long
April 12
Assistant - Betty Long
Usher - Denise Stadler
Reader - Barbara Alberda
April 19
Assistant - Hans Akselsen II
Usher - Denise Stadler
Reader - Ann Kossuth
April 26
Assistant - Kim Murphy
Usher - Ollie Jones
Reader - Carolyn Ramm
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: Elaine Isakson, Kim Murphy, Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Food Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash, Coffee Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash, Candle Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash, Cross on Hillside Photo by Thanti Riess on Unsplash, Tree Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash.com, Internet resources
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