The days are shortening, the temperatures dropping, the colors of fall fading and disappearing. Plants and trees go dormant, many animals and insects hibernate. The created world around us slows. But somehow, in our humanity, we fail to take the cues the natural world gives. We plan holidays and traveling and decorating, concerts and ballets and plays, family gatherings, friend gatherings, gift buying and giving. We worry about politics and economics, about health and well-being, about relationships and the future.
In our secular society it is already Christmas according to retail and radio and television and lawn decorations. But in the church, we will celebrate Advent before we get to Christmas. Advent is a noun, defined as “a coming into place, view, or being; arrival.” Its synonyms are start, commencement, beginning, and onset. For Christians who observe liturgical seasons it signals the beginning of a new liturgical year. It comes four Sundays before Christmas marking the days leading up to our commemoration of the birth of Christ. Advent in the church also calls us to consider the coming again or “second coming” of Christ.
I invite you this Advent, as we await what is to come in our country and our world, to take some cues from creation. Slow yourself down, looking for opportunities to pray and to praise. Find extra time to rest your body and your soul. Slow down the pace of life and allow yourself moments of what brings you joy—perhaps singing or playing music, spending time with the people you love, reading a good book or a good poem, drawing or painting or cooking or crafting. Allow yourself time to laugh or to cry. Reach out to others who may need comfort or companionship and be present to them—resist the urge to “do” and instead, just be present to yourself and to others, like the creatures in the stable so long ago, whose slow breathing and warm company brought comfort and calming the night the Christ child arrived.
Wishing you the blessings of this season as we celebrate once again the coming of Emmanuel, God with us,
Blessings,
Pastor Anderson
Tuesday, 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 5:15 (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 will be emailed closer to Christmas. You are welcome (and encouraged) to share the Zoom info with family and friends via email, snail mail, or in person. For security reasons please do not share on social media. If you are not on our weekly email list and would like the zoom info for this service, please email office@nativityrockport.org
Sunday, December 29 our morning worship at 10:30 will be Christmas Lessons and Carols. It will feature Old Testament and New Testament readings and lots of our favorite Christmas hymns.
This year at Nativity in our season of Advent (beginning this year on December 1) we will be guided by the theme “How Does a Weary World Rejoice” using materials from A Sanctified Art. The theme will provide a basis for a Sunday sermon series, as well as reflections during our Wednesday night zoom vespers (see elsewhere in the View for more details about vespers). Also, a weekly devotion via email will be available.
Joy is often a companion to many other emotions. We can feel joy in addition to feeling many other things at once: grief, anticipation, anxiety, excitement, disappointment, exhaustion. Perhaps many of us live with the myth that joy is not something we deserve—or that it is wholly out of reach. Perhaps some of us find current events in our country and our world casting a deep shadow on our ability to feel joy. But our joy is rooted in the truth that we belong to God. Can you tether yourself to that deep truth? You deserve to feel joy—fully. The world needs your joy, even if you are weary. Our joy is better when it is shared.
The theme alludes to a line in the familiar Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night,” which has an interesting history. The song was originally written by a French poet who was atheist, and the music was supplied by a Jewish composer. The hymn was later translated into English by an American Unitarian minister. In the 1800s, it became a popular hymn for Christian abolitionists due to its justice-focused language in verse three. Like Mary’s song (Luke 1:45-66), the hymn reminds us that justice and joy belong together. Sometimes our joy is an act of resistance.
And so, this Advent, we will hold space for our weariness and our joy. We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome joy—even and especially if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways to rejoice.
In addition to the worship themes, a weekly emailed devotional will be available. Each week the devotional offers art, reflections, poetry, and hymns, beginning with the start of Advent and concluding with Baptism of the Lord Sunday. If you would like to receive the weekly devotional emails, please send an email to our office email address: office@nativityrockport.org. The devotional features biblical commentary by Rev. Cecelia D. Armstrong, poetry prayer by Rev. Sarah Are Speed, hymns by Rev. Anna Strickland, and art and reflections by Rev. Nicolette Peñaranda, Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman, Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, and Hannah Garrity.
We will be continuing our practice of adorning our sanctuary with poinsettias on Christmas Eve to offer a special memory of someone. Please sign up by Dec. 1st on the sheet in the Narthex with your dedication so that we can get our order to Longfellow’s Nursery in time.
Poinsettia size and prices are as follows:
6.5 inch pot with 1 poinsettia at $13
7 inch pot with 2 poinsettias at $20
8 inch pot with 3 poinsettias at $26
You will be able to take your poinsettias home with you following our Christmas Eve Worship Service. You may also sign up by emailing or calling the church office. (office@nativityrockport.org or (207) 594-4665)
The mitten tree is in it's 24th year of collecting mittens, scarves, hats - and then distributing them to families and schools in need. This year, the items will be given to Appleton, Warren, and Lincolnville schools. Please bring in your donations by Sunday, December 8th.
Thank you for your generosity,
Mary Ann Hawkins
Toys for Tots is up and running! The storage container is in Nativity's parking lot. Jody is able to unload the leftover toys and is getting organized. As new donations come in, she has space in the container for duplicates.
If you’d like to help with Toys for Tots speak with Pastor or Phil Pratt and we will give you Jody’s contact information so you can be in touch with her to find out what help she might need.
For more information about Toys for Tots, click here
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.
Dec 3 - Atlantic Baking Company, Main St, Rockland
Dec 10 - FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
Dec 17 - Dot’s, Rt 1, Lincolnville
Dec 24 - No Out of Office Hours
Dec 31 - No Out of Office Hours
3 - Stacey Shields
5 - Charlie Brown
6 - Jennie Dynesius
9 - Beccy Chamberlain
18 - Clair Waters
31 - Charlie Rowling
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, December 1
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
1:30 PM - Carol singing at Breakwater Commons. See Kim Murphy if you would like to join in with the singing. We will depart from Nativity at 1:15PM.
Monday, December 2
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, December 3
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Atlantic Baking Company, Main St, Rockland
Wednesday, December 4
6:30 PM - Advent Vespers via Zoom
Thursday, December 5
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Sunday, December 8
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, December 9
3:00 PM - Congregation Council Meeting via Zoom
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, December 10
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
FlipSide Coffee, Main St, Thomaston
Wednesday, December 11
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Homeworthy in Fellowship Hall
6:30 PM - Advent Vespers via Zoom
Thursday, December 12
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Sunday, December 15
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, December 16
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, December 17
9:30 - 11:00 AM - Out of the Office Hours
Dot’s, Rt 1, Lincolnville
Wednesday, December 18
6:30 PM - Advent Vespers via Zoom
Thursday, December 19
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
3:00 PM - Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers Grief Group for Parents, Meeting Room
Sunday, December 22
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, December 23
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
No "Out of the Office Hours" today
5:15 PM - Special Christmas Eve Music
5:30 PM - Christmas Eve Worship Service, in person and via zoom
Wednesday, December 25 - Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 26
8:00 AM - Morning Prayer, via Zoom
Sunday, December 29 - Christmas Lessons and Carols
9:00 AM - Choir practice in Sanctuary/Adult education in Meeting Room
10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online
Monday, December 30
7:00 PM - Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, December 31 - Happy New Year!
No "Out of the Office Hours" today
Note 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 link.
Month of December
Flowers: Betty Long
Altar Guild: Jennie Dynesius
Acolyte: Jennie Dynesius
December 1
Assistant Minister: Betty Long
Reader: Charlie Rowling, Usher: Carol Brazier
December 8
Assistant Minister: Kim Murphy
Reader: David Paul, Usher: Mary Ann Hawkins
December 15
Assistant Minister: Ted Long
Reader: Mimi Moore, Usher: Denise Stadler
December 22
Assistant Minister: Fred Walker
Reader: Fran Kresge, Usher: Ollie Jones
December 24
Assistant Minister: Carolyn Ramm
Reader: Ollie Jones, Usher: Bruce Cobb
December 29
Assistant Minister: Kim Murphy
Readers: TBD, Usher: Carol Brazier
Would you like to usher or read scripture during a service? We are looking for more assistants! Email Kim Murphy at kmusicorama@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the schedule.
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.The bags and turkeys were transported to the Come Spring Food Pantry in Union where they were distributed before Thanksgiving day. After accounting for the food purchased to complete the baskets a check for $202.38 was delivered to Come Spring Food Pantry to help them continue the fight against food insecurity in western Knox County.
I am so grateful to be part of such a giving and caring community!
Ann Walker
Thank you to all the mowers who helped with keeping the lawn neat and trimmed this past year. Everyone pitched in to keep things running smoothly. When someone needed to switch or couldn't mow, they always found a back up or replacement. A big thank you to Marty Taylor for his handling of all the maintenance of the mowers and providing instruction on their use. The last time Phil Pratt checked it would cost $5,000 to mow the lawn so we are having a significant impact on keeping expenses to a minimum.
Again, thanks to everyone who helped. If you are interested in joining the mowing team, please let me know and I will put you on the schedule. It usually involves mowing about 4 times a summer. But any help would be appreciated!
Fred Walker
- 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.
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: Pastor Anderson, Ann Walker, Kim Murphy, Balloon Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash, Aluminum can tabs Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash, Coffee Shop Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash, Poinsettia Photo by Don Starkey on Unsplash, Background Photo by Toni Cuenca 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