I have a friend who moves her furniture around and rearranges her living space at least six times a year. In the five years I have been in my home in Thomaston, the only times I have rearranged furniture were to accommodate a Christmas tree and to create a space to “zoom” Sunday morning worship. I have another friend who changes the style of her haircut or the color of her hair every couple of months. I’ve had pretty much the same hair style for as long as I can remember, although I did let my color change. I would classify myself as quite resistant to change in many areas of my life. Have you heard the joke about how many Lutherans it takes to change a light bulb? “Change? Why would we want to change?”

I suppose we resist change because of the comfort we find in the sameness and the unknown we anticipate in the change. We hold onto the sameness because we know it and avoid that which we don’t know. Maybe we resist change in the things we feel we can, because there is so much change we have no control over.

It’s interesting that we are so resistant to change when God linked change so closely to the most common parts of our life. There are the changes we see each day—sun rising and then setting, the moon appearing and then disappearing. There’s a comfort in the routine and the sameness of the pattern and yet, still a change with each rotation.

We see it in the changing of the seasons, especially the summer to fall and fall to winter. I’ve been watching the changes around here—beautiful changes in the colors of the trees and the wildflowers and grasses along the road. As beautiful as the changes are I feel some disappointment when I look at the maple in my front yard, almost bare of leaves now—it’s a change that reminds me of the dreariness of winter.

Our plans and dreams can change in the blink of an eye or the turn of a corner. Sometimes change just happens whether we like it or not. Sometimes it happens in ways we don’t even notice or that we take for granted. Sometimes it happens because of the choices we make, and the choices of one can change the lives of many.

Consider how the world was changed by Abram and Sarai’s willingness to go: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1b-3). Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah and three great world religions resulted from Abraham’s descendents.

And what about the conversion of Paul, whose story we find in the book of Acts. Saul was a violent persecutor of the followers of Jesus until one day as he traveled he saw Jesus and he was struck blind. But God had chosen Saul to be an instrument and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a changed man and as the man we know as Paul he changed the world by preaching and writing to Gentiles and Jews and early Christians.

Often, changes are God’s way of challenging us to grow, to learn, and to serve. Is God calling you to change? How might those around you be changed by your choices and God’s call? Are there changes that God is calling us as members of the body of Christ to make together? How can we bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others in ways that will change them?

Interesting questions and possibilities, I think. As I consider them there is one thing I am certain will not change. The words of the Psalmist make it clear:

Praise the LORD, all you nations!

Extol him, all you peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD!

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,

"His steadfast love endures forever."

Let the house of Aaron say,

"His steadfast love endures forever."

Let those who fear the LORD say,

"His steadfast love endures forever."

Psalm 117:1-118:4 (NRSV)

Thanks be to God!

Pastor Anderson

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, Nov. 6 - All Saints Sunday

(remember to set clocks back 1 hour)

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Ann Walker

Sunday Study and Soup - following Worship

(see description below)

Sunday, Nov. 13

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Betty Long

Monday, Nov. 14

5:30 PM - Church Council Meeting

Sunday, Nov. 20

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Kim Murphy

Sunday, Nov. 27

9:00 AM - Choir rehearsal

10:30 AM - Worship in-person and online

Assistant: Ann Walker

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.

We will celebrate "All Saints Sunday" during worship on November 6.

Our Remembrance of Saints will include those members of Nativity that have passed into God’s eternal care since November 1, 2021 and during a special prayer we will read the names of saints no longer with us who are important to you (those who have passed recently or a time ago).

Please email or call the church (office@nativityrockport.org or 594-4665) with those names or add them to the list in the Narthex.

Pastor Anderson will host one more Jesus and Nature “Sunday Study and Soup” Bible study session on Sunday November 6, after coffee fellowship.

“Creatures,” offers us an opportunity to observe and learn about God from birds, foxes, sheep, dogs and other animals, while considering habitat protection, food justice and the model of trust. Jesus often used nature as a teaching tool.

This study, adapted from one written by Pastor’s seminary classmate, The. Rev. Sara Olson-Smith, draws on familiar passages and challenges us to view them through a different lens. Each session stands on its own so if you have not attended the others you are still welcome. Please sign up for this session on the sheet in the Narthex so we will know how much food we need. If you can help by bringing soup and bread, please speak with Pastor.

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

Nov 1: Zoot Coffee 5 Elm St, Camden

Nov 8: No Out of Office Hours - Election Day (Remember to Vote!)

Nov 15: Flipside Coffee 189 Main St., Thomaston

Nov 22: No Out of Office Hours

Nov 29: Atlantic Baking Company, 351 Main St. Rockland

Nativity will once again be collaborating with the Salvation Army to share a Thanksgiving meal with our neighbors in Knox County. We will be collecting food items for 12 Thanksgiving baskets to feed families of 4-6 people each.

Each basket will contain:

12-14 pound turkey

1 disposable turkey roasting pan

2 boxes stuffing

2 jars/cans gravy

1 jar cranberry sauce

4 cans veggies (green beans, corn, peas)

5 lbs of potatoes

1 lb butter

1 muffin or cornbread mix

Dessert - brownie mix, pie crust/canned filling, cake mix/canned frosting

Because we are not all worshipping in person, please speak to Ann Walker in person or by

phone (860-917-7678) to sign up for contributions. She will let you know what is still needed.

Purchased items may be dropped off at Nativity any time up to Sunday November 20th. The

collection box will be in the Narthex by the west door. Perishable items (turkeys, pie crusts,

butter) may be placed in one of the freezers/refrigerators in the kitchen. Turkeys dropped off on

or after Friday November 18 should be placed in the refrigerator to begin defrosting.

Need help with delivery? Call Ann Walker for pick up!

Want to participate but can’t shop/deliver?

Send/drop off a check (made out to Nativity with Thanksgiving Baskets in the memo line) to:

Nativity Lutheran Church

179 Old County Rd

Rockport, ME 04856

This money will be used to purchase final items for the baskets on November 20 and any

surplus will go to the Salvation Army to support their work.

Thank you for helping make Thanksgiving special for others!

Individuals Vs. Industry?

When it comes to saving the earth for future generations, I many times feel defeated with how as an individual household we can do our part. We recycle, repurpose, repair, reduce, and reuse, but we could improve in food waste or composting (the R that stands for Rot). Last week I attended a virtual conference called Creation Care 101: Theology of Food hosted by Russ and Becky Casenhiser. My reaction to the title was one of doubt, how can my food choices help save the earth. How can agricultural practices help neutralize the excess carbons? How can composting my food rot help save the earth? How can Paul and I as one household, help the world reach the goal of carbon neutral by the year 2030 or sooner?

Starting with Matthew 22: 37-40 (NIV) Jesus Replied “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is: “Love you neighbor as yourself.’” Rooted in this passage, love of food should be relational. Good for us- tasty, healthy and nourishing to our bodies. Good for our neighbor- our providers are paid fairly, provided safe working conditions, and treated respectfully. Good for God/Creation-are the farmers we support farming sustainably, are their farming methods good for the soil, are their decisions good for today, tomorrow and for generations to come? Regenerative agriculture uses practices that nourish the soil helping to reduce excess carbon from the atmosphere. Conventional agriculture takes nutrients from the soil, then adds fertilizers/carbons into the atmosphere. Conventional agriculture produces 94% of our food. We can help break the cycle by buying local. Talk to your local farmers about their agricultural practices. We should buy from our neighbors, providing they respect the soil!

I learned that eating a Midwestern Diet (meat and potatoes) compared to a Mediterranean Diet contributes more carbon emissions by 4/5th’s. So simply by choosing to eat meat once a month, not 3 times a week, certainly not daily. This small change in habit can help lessen the earth’s carbon impact. Attending the virtual conference, educated me in a way that gave me a plan to be a part of the solution. Education is the key to a healthier earth. Individual choices can compete with industry.

Please join me by signing up for future conference participation at the following link https://creationcarecollective.org/event/creation-justice-101-fall-program/ .

I would love to meet you in one of the breakout sessions.

Gretchen Hanna, Creation Care Team Member

1. The Synod Council has now given full approval to our revised Constitution and Bylaws. Thanks to everyone for your patience and support through this process.
2. Council has approved the project to upgrade our technology for hybrid worship, and we have finalized an agreement to purchase and install the equipment. Total cost for equipment and installation is $12,443.55, of which $10,000 has been committed by an anonymous donor. We will have some small additional costs for an electrician and materials. Installation will begin as soon as the equipment is received.
3. The new work group on Nativity’s future sustainability has been constituted with the following membership: Marty Taylor (Chair), Paul Hanna, Elaine Isakson, Ann Walker, Ted Long, and Pastor Anderson. They will be developing scenarios for future congregational flourishing to present to the congregation for discussion at a later date.

Ted Long, President

For the Congregation Council

A tremendous “THANK YOU” to all who helped with the event this year!!!!!!!!!!!! We

moved, and organized more “table goods” than we have ever had before in the

Tag Sale. The Cafe was a huge success!!!! The improved menu, with the payment

for food being handled at the Fellowship Hall went like clockwork!!!!

The event started with lots, and lots, and lots of STUFF accumulated from

donations from 2020, 2021, and 2022. We had a significant reduction in the

amount of furniture which gave us more room for tables that we needed badly. The

average price point per item was greatly reduced with an increased focus on

selling more.

The unaudited numbers are $4222. The pack up commenced in the 3rd week in

October to prepare space for Toys for Tots.

Great job everyone!!!!!

Karin & Phil

(editor's note: A huge thank you to Karin and Phil for all of their hard work in pulling together the Harvest Festival/Tag Sale after a two year hiatus! Thank you!!!)

3 - Dex Pavelich, Bonnie Hoffman, Sherry Cobb

4 - Marty Taylor

8 - Lynne Taylor

11 - Stephen Stadler

16 - Mimi Moore

23 - Arleigh Huntley

26 - Bob Dawson

28 - Gail Kimmel

29 - Jim Graf

As we have grieved for our son Edward in recent weeks, we have also been blessed and

comforted by your prayers and support. Thank you for all the expressions of sympathy you

have showered upon us in emails, cards, calls and hugs. It means so much to us, and we are

deeply grateful for the close fellowship of the people of Nativity.

Ted and Betty Long

• Poinsettias from Longfellows' Nursery for Christmas Eve are in our plan. Sign-ups will begin Dec. 4. Watch the bulletin and December View for more information
  
• 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.
  

....otherwise, you might end up singing with the choir!

(actually...that's not such a bad idea! come join us - 9AM every Sunday!)

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: Unsplash.com Photos: Newsletter background photo by Eric Tompkins, Thanksgiving Photo by Didi Miam, "Give Thanks" Photo by Priscilla Du Preez, Poinsettia Photo by Robert Woeger, Clock Photo by Sonja Langford, Fox Photo by Ray Hennessy, and Internet resources

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