I wrote these words years ago after a Thanksgiving weekend excursion to Wisconsin with good friends. I still haven’t found that Nativity set even after having traveled to Palestine. (The sets we saw there were all beautifully carved natural olivewood.) I’m still searching, still clinging to Advent hope that Christ will come fully and the world as we know it will be changed. May you find hope, joy, peace and love this Advent season. Pastor

The shop in Spooner Wisconsin was jam packed full of gifts, candles, knick-knacks, decorations and “collectibles”—figurines, plates, and things like that. There were lots of Christmas things and a large section featuring Nativity sets. Anytime I see a display of Nativities, I stop and look. I’m searching for just the right one. I never seem to find it. I want one that includes Joseph and Mary and Jesus figures that look Palestinian instead of German or Swedish or Italian. I want the figures to have dark hair and olive complexions and I want Mary to be dressed in colors that are natural or earth tones instead of blue. They did not have one like that in the shop in Spooner Wisconsin.

I want a Nativity that depicts the characters of the story in a more realistic manner. The Nativity I have from my childhood has a handsome young Joseph, a beautiful blond Mary dressed in blue, and Baby Jesus, too is blond and blue-eyed. And I love that family for what it is—a beautiful depiction of a family who could have lived down the street from me as I was growing up. A family who looks like the people I was comfortable with, and used to; a family who was neat and clean and deserving of the son of God.

But I would like to be able to look at that family some days and see God, and look at a different kind of family other days and know that that different family is God, too. Life isn’t always neat and clean, and all God’s children do not look like they are direct descendants of my Scandinavian ancestors.

I want to see this other family, the one that seems more “realistic” in my mind because God incarnate—God here on earth as a human who walked and talked and laughed and cried—is foundational to my faith. A God who came and experienced life the way it really is—all of it: insecurity and illness and fear, as well as laughter and love and compassion. Our God entered our world here in a barn—there must have been some insecurity and fear going on there but at the same time can’t you just imagine the smiles and the laughter as his parents welcomed him.

Once again we celebrate the coming of that baby. We work our way to the birth through the season of Advent—the season of hope. What are your hopes this Advent time? May your trust and faith in God bring you closer to realizing those hopes this season. May you find whatever it is that makes or keeps God real for you each and every day.

Pastor Anderson

Please join us via Zoom (only) at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays November 30, December 7, 14, and 21 for Advent Vespers. We’ll once again be using Holden Evening Prayer" by Marty Haugen (composer of the "Now the Feast" liturgy we use on Sundays in the summer).

This Advent, our services will incorporate the weekly themes from our Advent devotional booklet From Generation to Generation. Our musical leaders are Kim Murphy, Betty and Ted Long, and Ann and Fred Walker. Pastor Anderson will lead spoken sections of the service and Pastor Anderson and Hans Akselsen did the video and sound mixing.

Copies of the service booklet were distributed to each Nativity household previously. If you did not receive one, or did not save yours (or saved it in a very safe place now unknown to you) check your email for how to get a copy.

To join us from your computer use this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85947069026?pwd=T1plMmVIUVlEbHAyeXZnNTJkc2NmZz09

Meeting ID: 859 4706 9026

Passcode: 122022

To join via phone use 1 646 558 8656 US (New York) with the same ID and passcode.

Holden Evening Prayer Text and music by Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Copyright © 1990 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc. 7404 So. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638 International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted and streamed under license from ONE LICENSE, License #A-727691

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, December 4

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Marty Taylor

Church Decoration, following Worship

Tuesday, December 6

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

Rock City Coffee, 316 Main St, Rockland

Wednesday, December 7

7:00 PM - Advent Worship via Zoom

Holden Evening Prayer/Generation to Generation

Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10

Toys for Tots distribution

Sunday, December 11

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Kim Murphy

3:00 - 6:00 PM Open House at the Pratt's

Tuesday, December 13

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

Zoot Coffee, 5 Elm St, Camden

Wednesday, December 14

7:00 PM - Advent Worship via Zoom

Holden Evening Prayer/Generation to Generation

Saturday, December 17

Barroom Messiah at Ada's Kitchen

2:00 rehearsal/4:00 performance

Sunday, December 18 - Advent Lessons and Carols

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Fred Walker

Tuesday, December 20

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

Flipside Coffee, 189 Main St, Thomaston

Wednesday, December 21

7:00 PM - Advent Worship via Zoom

Holden Evening Prayer/Generation to Generation

Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Service

5:00 PM Special Holiday Music

5:30 PM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Betty Long

Sunday, December 25 - Merry Christmas!

10:30 AM - Worship via Zoom only

Assistant: Ted Long

Weekly

Monday - 7:00 PM Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting

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

Thursday - 8:00 AM - Morning Prayer via Zoom

Saturday - 10:00 AM Al-Anon Family Group Meeting

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.

Advent Lessons and Carols December 18

Sunday morning December 18 our worship will be “The Holy Family: A service of Lessons and Carols.” The carols, readings and reflections will be presented in three parts and help bring us closer to Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child. Three will be special solos and choir music in addition to congregational hymns. The service will be in-person and via Zoom (regular Sunday morning zoom connection).

Christmas Eve In-person or via Zoom

Saturday, December 24, we will gather both at Nativity and via Zoom for the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Service. There will be special holiday music at 5:00 (in-person and on Zoom). The service will feature Christmas hymns, the story of Jesus' birth, a brief message, prayers and candle lighting. Please join us. Zoom info is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85625131746?pwd=WTdDVW1WQy9saUx2S3o1KzhLaXZyZz09 Meeting ID: 856 2513 1746; passcode: 122422. By phone use 1 646 558 8656 and the same ID and passcode.

Christmas Morning via Zoom Only

Sunday morning December 25 we will worship together via zoom only. Come as you are from where you are. If you’re still in your pajamas in front of your Christmas tree, if you’re in your jeans just back from a Christmas morning hike, if you’re in the kitchen donned in an apron, zoom in for a short worship service including the Christmas story, members sharing Christmas traditions or memories and a few Christmas hymns. Use the regular Sunday zoom link.

Sunday January 1, Christmas Lessons and Carols

Sunday morning January 1 will be another service of lessons and carols, this time from the Christmas perspective. Join Charlie and the choir for wonderful music of the season. This service is in-person and via Zoom using the regular Sunday Zoom info.

Join Pastor out and about town - 9:30 - 11:00 AM

Dec 6: Rock City Coffee, 316 Main St, Rockland

Dec 13: Zoot Coffee, 5 Elm St, Camden

Dec 20: Flipside Coffee, 189 Main St, Thomaston

Dec 27: No Out of Office Hours

Please help us decorate our worship space for Christmas Eve by donating a poinsettia. The florist-quality plants will be from Longfellow’s Greenhouses and will adorn our space for our December 24 worship service. You may take them with you that night if you attend in person, or you may leave them through January 1 if you would like.

All plants will be red and there are two size choices this year. Six inch pots are $12.99 and eight inch pots are $29.99 payable to Nativity. They may be given in memory or in honor of someone.

There will be a signup sheet on the table in the narthex for your name and the names of those you are honoring as well as a basket for your payment. Please be sure to specify if it is in memory or in honor of the names you enter. You also may email the information to the church office (office@nativityrockport.org) and mail or drop off your check.

Deadline to order is Sunday December 11. Contact Sue Ann Moore if you have any questions.

The United States Marine Corps. created the Toys for Tots program to support the idea that “no child should have a Christmas without a toy”.

As in previous years Toys for Tots will be handling the distribution of toys in Knox County from Nativity Lutheran Church. The actual distribution is on 12/9 and 12/10. Preparation for the distribution has already started, but there is always need for more help and THIS YEAR is NO EXCEPTION. Please see Phil Pratt to volunteer to help, or get answers to your questions.

We want to give a VERY STRONG Thank You to Jody Dinsmore, and all the volunteers who “make this event happen”!!!

Phil Pratt

207-832-4335

At our annual meeting in June, Treasurer Fred Walker reported that offerings would need to increase by 7% to meet our budget for 2022-23. In response, many of you have increased your pledges and offerings, for which the Council is deeply grateful. At the same time, our expenses have exceeded our budget by about 10% through the first 4 months of our fiscal year, so our expenses are still exceeding our offerings for this year. With high inflation and increased costs affecting all of us, the Council is working hard to discipline expenditures. We know that all of you will do what you can to sustain Nativity’s vibrant ministry in the months ahead.

Ted Long, President

For the Congregation Council

Thank you to all who contributed food and money for our community Thanksgiving baskets this year. Your efforts demonstrate your love for the neighbor you don’t even know! Special thanks to the Coomer-Pavelich family for once again assembling the 12 food bags and transporting them and the turkeys to the Salvation Army where they were distributed on Monday, November 21st. After accounting for the food purchased to complete the baskets a check will be sent to the Salvation Army to help them continue the fight against food insecurity in our community.

Enjoy the pictures of one of our youngest members working hard! I am so grateful to be part of such a giving and caring community!

Ann Walker

EVERYONE AT NATIVITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IS INVITED TO THE PRATTS’ OPEN HOUSE

DECEMBER 11TH FROM 3PM TO 6 PM.

Stay all 3 hours, or come and go as you wish.

Enjoy casual conversation, and possibly meeting people you don’t know or haven’t seen in a while. Bring yourself and anyone who needs a ride!!!

Please note that the two parking places in front of the 2 garage doors are reserved for those with mobility challenges.

If you are not sure you would have a good time, just ask anyone who has attended it in previous years (didn’t have the open house in 2020 or 2021 - Covid).

We are available for questions, directions, or requests:

Phil & Karin

207-832-4335

As you write your Christmas cards this season, make note of Clara's new address!

Mason, Clara

69 Juniper Road

Bristol, CT 06010

Home: 860-261-5210

Jennie says:

“I would like to thank everyone who was available to sign or add their kind wishes and memories to the bedsheet I gave to Clara before she moved. Whether recounting a memory, a musical note , a Calumet cabin, a rainbow,,,,,I’m sure Clara will feel our love when she uses it. She and her talents will definitely be missed. Needless to say, she was very surprised when I gave it to her!
Thank you again for YOUR help. It was a wonderful addition to my gift. Missing her already."

3 - Stacey Shields

5 - Charlie Brown

6 - Jennie Dynesius

9 - Beccy Chamberlain

18 - Clair Waters

31 - Charlie Rowling

• We’ll be putting up and decorating the Christmas Tree after worship next Sunday, December 4, following our worship service. Many hands make light work. Can you help? Please be in touch with Jennie Dynesius if you can help.
  
• Charlie’s Barroom Messiah is back! The Rockland performance is Saturday, December 17 at Ada’s Kitchen, 2:00 rehearsal, 4:00 performance.
  
• 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.
  

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 15th of each month.

Email kmusicorama@gmail.com

Photos this month: Ann Walker, Jennie Dynesius, Kim Murphy, Internet resources, Erol Ahmed on Unsplash, Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

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