Nativity View
March 2026
…the Waters of March
I’ve been laid low this past week with a mysterious viral infection on top of the broken foot. I’ve had little energy and have pushed off things needing my attention, like a View article for Kim. But it’s either write it today or not at all. I’m looking out my living room windows at two and a half feet of snow, with six or seven foot banks where my neighbor’s plow guy piled it up. And I’m wishing for spring!
As I wondered when it might all melt, I remembered the song that Charlie Brown introduced to me in 2021 as we were working on our Jazz Vespers in the midst of Covid restrictions, The Waters of March by Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim.
Jobim wrote both Portuguese and English lyrics in 1972 in the latter part of his career. In both the Portuguese and English versions of the lyrics, he repeats the contraction it’s or the phrase it is. "It" is a stick, a stone, a sliver of glass, a scratch, a cliff, a knot in the wood, a fish, a pin, the end of the road, and many other things. Some things in the Portuguese are specific to Brazilian culture where March is typically marked by sudden storms with heavy rains and strong winds that cause flooding in many places around the city of Rio de Janeiro and water rushes through the gutters. The English version treats March from the perspective of an observer in the northern hemisphere. In this context, the waters are the "waters of defrost" found in rivers and streams in the spring. Both sets of lyrics speak of "the promise of life," and the English contains the additional phrases "the joy in your heart" and the "promise of spring."
I had originally intended on sharing the lyrics with you. But there are 23 stanzas of 4 short lines each and there’s no practical way of sharing that format in the View. If you’re interested, you can use your favorite search engine and search “Waters of March English Lyrics.” Or even better you can click here to watch Charlie perform it. (and here is another version on Youtube where the singer sings in Portuguese and English)
I’ll share just three verses with you.
Afloat, adrift
A flight, a wing
A hawk, a quail
The promise of spring
And the riverbank talks
Of the waters of March
It's the promise of life
It's the joy in your heart
And the riverbank talks
Of the waters of March
It's the promise of life
In your heart, in your heart
I hope you know the promise of spring, the promise of life, joy in your heart this March as we journey through Lent toward the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter.
Blessings,
Pastor Anderson
Holy Week this year begins in the last days of March and moves into the first days of April. Here’s a brief schedule of our services so you can get them on your calendars. More information will be forth coming via weekly announcements and in the April edition of The Nativity View.
Palm Sunday Worship, in person and via zoom, 10:30 AM
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
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
Last year, the Creation Care Team’s educational series explored wasted food. “Food carries a huge and hidden environmental footprint”. Global food waste is 1.3 billion tons annually and generates 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is accelerating global warming and climate change. Wasted food also means wasted resources such as water, land, and accelerated biodiversity loss.
When the team met in February, we decided to follow up on wasted food and provide opportunities for the congregation to become more sustainable by composting the food scraps we generate when we have gatherings that include food. The Creation Care Team would provide buckets that food scraps could be scraped into and then taken to the local Transfer Station and added to the bins provided by Scrap Dogs.
Our first event was the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, that was held February 17th. Food scraping was a success. The bucket was picked up the next day and delivered to the Camden Transfer Station. Everyone will have the opportunity to practice their best wasted food scraping techniques at upcoming events including lunch on March 1 when we view the movie Just Eat It and for Easter Breakfast on April 5th.
Acceptable items that can go into the buckets: fruits, veggies, bread, dairy products, meat, bones, pits and skins. Uncoated paper such as paper towels, paper napkins, paper coffee filters, and tea bags.
Unacceptable items: compostable or biodegradable plastics, such as bags, liners, cups, cutlery, containers or other plastics. Also: no coated paper such as paper coffee cups, take-out containers, paper clamshells, or fruit stickers. No dirty Kleenex or other litter, no liquids. Please pour your coffee, tea, water soda or other fluids down the drain.
We hope this will become a Spiritual discipline that we can all be proud of. Thank you for your assistance in this new tradition that we are starting together.
Out of the Office in March
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.
March 3 - Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
March 10 - Owls Nest Coffee and Cafe, 2 Park Dr, Rockland
March 17 - Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
March 24 - Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
March 31 - FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
2 - Julie Moser
3 - Fred Walker
8 - Dick Pelletier
13 - Caroline Zuber
20 - Carol Brazier
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.
Sunday, March 1
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, March 2
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, March 3
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
Wednesday, March 4
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
6:30 PM - Lenten Worship
Thursday, March 5
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, March 8
Daylights' Savings! Turn your clocks ahead ONE 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, March 9
10:00 AM - Glory Girls & Guys, Meeting Rm.
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, March 10
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Owls Nest Coffee and Cafe, 2 Park Dr, Rockland
Wednesday, March 11
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
6:30 PM - Lenten Worship
Thursday, March 12
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents
Sunday, March 15
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, March 16
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, March 17
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Main Street Markets, 435 Main St., Rockland
Wednesday, March 18
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
6:30 PM - Lenten Worship
Thursday, March 19
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, March 22
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 at St. Peter's - see Donna Perry if you can help out
Monday, March 23
10:00 AM - Glory Girls & Guys, Meeting Rm.
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, March 24
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Atlantic Baking Company, Main St. Rockland
Wednesday, March 25
12:15 PM - Stronger Together Al-Anon, in the Meeting Room
6:30 PM - Lenten Worship
Thursday, March 26
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents
Sunday, March 29
9:00 AM - Choir practice in the Sanctuary; Adult Bible Study in the Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, March 30
7:00 PM - Men's Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, March 31
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
- 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 March
Flowers: Betty Long
Altar: Tina Huntley
Acolyte: Ann Walker
March 1
Assistant: Hans Akselsen, II
Usher: Carol Brazier
Reader: Carolyn Ramm
March 8
Assistant: Marty Taylor
Usher: Bruce Cobb
Reader: Ollie Jones
March 15
Assistant: Ted Long
Usher: Jennie Dynesius
Reader: Fred Walker
March 22
Assistant: Betty Long
Usher: Denise Stadler
Reader: Sue Ann Moore
March 29 - Palm Sunday
Assistant: Marty Taylor
Usher: Carolyn Ramm
Reader: TBD
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, Food Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash, Coffee Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash, Candle Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash, Palm Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Tulip Photo by Kwang Mathurosemontri on Unsplash, 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