Stewardship Nuggets

Holding onto the Best

from Stewardship Nuggets by Herb Miller

“Some two hundred years ago, the French educator Alexis de Tocquesville came to America to study our newly independent republic. In Democracy in America he pointed to elements of colonial life that still describe Americans today: ‘I have seen the freest and best educated of men in circumstances the happiest to be found in the world. Yet it seemed to me that a cloud habitually hung on their brow and they seemed serious and almost sad in their pleasures. They never stop thinking of the good things they have not got. They clutch everything and hold nothing fast.’

“We have grown more knowledgeable and secure over the last two hundred years, but…The forces that hammer at us have turned us into a nation of seekers. Part of our search has been prompted by a sense that much of our lives is empty, confusing, monotonous, unrewarding. We search for meaning and inspiration, for a workable formula that can lead us to a joyful, contented, satisfying existence.” [Give to Live, Douglas M. Lawson]

The answer is so obvious that we can fail to see it. Real meaning in life does not come from getting things but from giving something.

Special

Beverly Davis Focuses on Pastoral Care

Beverly Davis, our Director of Membership Involvement has taken a one year leave of absence, effective this month, to pursue training in the clinical pastoral education program at St. Lukes Hospital. She will continue to be involved in a number of Service and Care ministries at Christ the King Church.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship

The new service book and hymnal is expected to be delivered in October.
Order forms are in the narthex or at by clicking here.

Seen a Good Children’s Movie Lately?

The nursery at Christ the King Church is in need of used and/or new children’s movies. The existing movie library has not changed in years (and years). Our children and nursery attendants would greatly appreciate the donation of movies for all age groups from toddler to upper elementary. Movies are shown on Wednesday nights after the children’s programs, and on Sunday afternoons and evenings during congregational and Bach Society events. What a great chance to clean out those CD and DVD shelves!

Donations can be dropped in the nursery or put in the narthex. Gifts toward the purchase of new movies can be left in the Sunday offering basket or mailed to the church.

Did You Know?

.....financial statements, council minutes and committee reports are posted every month on the bulletin board by the elevator on the first floor.

Worship

Prayer Requests

To add a loved one to the prayer list please complete a prayer request card, located in the pew fronts, or on the mobile bulletin board, and give it to an usher, email the church office or call 713-523-2864. ext 21.

Prayer List Available

A complete prayer list of all the people for whom we pray can be found on the literature rack in the narthex or on the permanent bulletin board by the first floor elevators in the ministry building.

Lectio Divina Returns on Wednesday Evenings

Due to the great response last spring, our Wednesday evening prayer group will resume on September 6 with Lectio Divina from 6:45-7:30 p.m. in room 204. This ancient form of prayer is translated “Divine Reading,” and has been part of the spiritual practice in the church since ancient times. All are invited to participate.

Acolyte Training September 23

There will be a training for acolytes September 23 at 10:00 a.m. in the nave. A make-up session will be held September 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Generally, children who are in the fourth grade are invited to become acolytes. They must receive training before they will be allowed to serve. If you have any questions, contact Pr. Liebster or 713-523-2864, ext. 28.

“Call To Commitment” Worship Service to Renew Support for the Homeless on September 21

Please join us for the “Call to Commitment” ecumenical worship service at South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main Street, Thursday, September 21, from 7-8 p.m. hosted by SEARCH and SEARCH’s Council of Congregations of which Christ the King Church is a member..

The Most Rev. Daniel DiNardo, D.D., Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, will be the keynote speaker. The Rev. Bill Lawson will also be in attendance for this special evening of worship, celebration, and renewed commitment to the poor and homeless men, women and children of our area.

Christ the King’s Brass Choir will welcome worshipers from 6:30 to 7:00 in South Main’s main lobby with musical selections.
The “Call to Commitment” service is sponsored by the Council of Congregations of SEARCH, an ecumenical association of 36 area congregations formed in 1989 to address homelessness in the greater Houston metropolitan area.

For information, call Karen Chitty-Boe, 713-739-7752, ext. 293, or Christ the King Church member Steven Bryant at 713-868-0994.

Altar Guild Fall Luncheon

The annual fall luncheon of the Altar Guild will be held at the parsonage Saturday, September 16 at 12:30 p.m.

Persons who are interested in serving on the Altar Guild or who would like to know more about the work of the Guild are cordially invited to attend. Please RSVP by September 11 to Ann Chisholm, or Peggy Johnson,

Blessing of the Animals

There will be a Blessing of the Animals service in the courtyard of Christ the King Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 a.m. The service, which was first offered in 1995, lasts about 45 minutes. In the past it has drawn pet owners both from the congregation and from the community at large. A diversity of pets have been presented, including ferrets, crabs, and gold fish, as well as the more typical cats and dogs.

Music

Bach Society Opens Season

The Bach Society announces the opening of its 2006-2007 Season with a special Abendmusik on Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

Visit our website for a preview of the entire 2006-2007 Season!

The opening concert, entitled Wordly Delights, features three gems from among Bach’s lesser-known secular works. In the humorous Coffee Cantata, a father tries (and fails) to persuade his daughter to stop drinking coffee. The allegorical cantata Hercules at the Crossroads was written to celebrate the eleventh birthday of the Crown Prince Friedrich of Saxony in 1733. Listeners will recognize much of the delightful music—with vastly different texts—which Bach later incorporated into his Christmas Oratorio. The program also includes Bach’s third Brandenburg Concerto for strings and continuo.

Music Director Albert LeDoux leads the Bach Choir and Orchestra with soloists Melissa Givens, soprano; Joseph Schlesinger, countertenor (Amsterdam), Randolph Lacy, tenor; and Scott Guinn, bass (New York).

There is no admission charge; a free-will offering will be received to support the series.

Musical Opportunities Resume at Christ the King Church

The Church Choir sings weekly at the 10:50 a.m. Sunday service, offering a variety of music from the classical repertoire, with an emphasis on works from the Lutheran tradition. They rehearse Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the Music Suite (rm. 001). All singers are welcome, and there are no auditions. Albert LeDoux is the director.

The Brass Choir plays festival services, music from the bell tower, and also lighter music for social occasions. All brass players at intermediate level and above are invited to join. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:15 in the nave.

Taizé Ensemble singers and instrumentalists serve as leaders and accompanists of the Taizé service. The ensemble meets at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, an hour before the 6:00 p.m. service. Rehearsals are open to anyone who would like to participate.

The Chorus enjoys all varieties of music, from classical to inter-national, and sings weekly at the 8:30 a.m. Sunday service. Rehearsals on Wednesdays begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9:00. All singers are welcome; there are no auditions.

For more information, contact Music Director Albert LeDoux or 713- 523-2864 x28.

Fellowship

Join Us After Worship

Snacks, coffee, and juice will be provided after the 8:30 and 10:50 service. Please join us in the courtyard. Donations benefit world hunger.

Sunday Café

Sunday Café resumes September 10 providing lunch in the parish hall at 12:15 p.m. An adult’s lunch is $5; a child’s lunch is $3. First time visitors receive a complimentary lunch; undergraduate and graduate student lunches are always complimentary.

Free Lunch for Students after Worship on Sundays

Students: Join us in the parish hall for Sunday Café after the 10:50 a.m. worship service for a FREE and delicious lunch catered by Hungry’s Bistro. Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?!?

Wednesday Night Alive!

Schedules are posted on the bulletin boards and are availabe in the narthex and parish hall. Note time and room changes. Description of classes available in the registration packets. Click here to view online.

Wednesday Night Dinners are for EVERYONE!

If you haven’t had a homemade dinner lovingly prepared by our food service ministry team, you’ve really missed out. Instead of cooking on Wednesday evenings, swing by the parish hall between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. and either eat-in with friends and family, or take-out a delicious and inexpensive meal. Adult dinners are $4 and children’s plates are $3.

Volunteer on Wednesday Nights

Share your experience, wisdom, and skills with our children

Volunteer
on Wednesdays
one hour, two hours, three hours a month?

Story tellers
Greeters
Teachers
Homework Helpers
World Explorers
Kids Club Sponsors

Wednesday Night Alive! is looking for you. See the WNA packet for volunteer opportunities. Available in the narthex.

Baby Dance on Wednesdays

A music class is offered for infants from 6 weeks up on Wednesday nights as part of the Wednesday Night Alive! program. All parents of infants and toddlers are invited to enjoy music and fellowship. Debbie Whitmire is a certified Musikgarten teacher and speaks enthusiastically of the stimulation for the physical growth and mental development that “Baby Dance” offers to our youngest family members. Two classes are offered for the very young: For infants to 24 months (5:45-6:15 p.m.) and 24 – 36 months (6:15-6:45 p.m.). To make life easier on class nights, dinner is served in the parish hall from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Registration is on Wednesday before class on the first floor. Classes are held in the basement. For more information please contact Debbie Whitmire at 713-728-9154.

Young Adult Perspectives

Young Adult Perspectives (“YAP” for short) is a student and young adult discussion group that meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of each month at 8:00 p.m. in the church basement. No preparation is necessary... just bring an open and inquiring mind. Join us on Friday, September 15. For information, contact Daria Nashat

Luther Leaguers to Learn Lucrative Lessons

The Luther League will begin meeting on Sundays at 6:30 p.m., directly following the Youth Choir. Starting Sunday, September 10, Brannon Lloyd will teach an intermediate finance course designed to specifically teach good financial habits to Middle and High School students. The five lesson course, called Money Savvy U™ will cover Goal Setting, Smart Spending, Investing, and Credit Card use. In addition, each student will receive a Cash Cache™ binder/checkbook to help keep goals and financial records organized. Good money management skills can positively influence the rest of your life, and this is a fun way to start your financial education.

In addition to the Money Savvy U™ curriculum, the meetings will include food, games, a discussion, and fun fellowship outings. The Luther League is open to youth 6th grade through high school. Some plans already include a ropes course, bowling, a fall fundraiser, Christian concerts, LYO Youth Gatherings, and weekly meetings. Come join us to meet new friends and hang out with old ones. Contact Tim Lenz or 713-523-2864 ext. 1001 for more information.

“Gracias por los recuerdos en San Antonio”

Thanks for the memories in San Antonio! On Sunday, September 24, at 12:30 p.m. the attendees of the National Youth Gathering invite you to share their experiences. The attendees also want to show their appreciation to all who made this trip possible. Come see what they were able to experience and take back home. Enjoy the taste of Mexican sweet breads during the presentation. All members, youth and their families are invited to join us in the parish hall and find out more about the last and next triennial gathering! For more information contact Tim Lenz.

Fair Trade Coffee Sales Continue

Fair Trade coffee from Equal Exchange is on sale after services and through the church office.

Equal Exchange, founded in 1986, is the oldest and largest for-profit Fair Trade company in the US. They offer organic, gourmet coffee, tea, sugar, cocoa, and chocolate bars produced by democratically run farmer co-ops in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Houston Farmers Market at Christ the King Church

West University and Rice Village area residents may now enjoy the Houston Farmers Market on Tuesday evenings. The market is held on the parking lot of Christ the King Lutheran Church from 4 to 7:00 p.m. The market offers fresh organic produce.

Yoga on Saturdays

Yoga classes meets on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m.

Katherine Krause and Scott Brady have been teaching yoga for many years. They teach a gentle Hatha Yoga class that is for all ages and all levels. Yoga is good for releasing stress, toning the muscles, increasing flexibility and just feeling good!!! You will be practicing yoga on a hard floor so you should bring a mat or foam for comfort. The cost is $7 per person.

Parents’ Night Out/Movies in the Hall

PNO/MITH CO-OP accepts new members year round, but our annual open enrollment period is now. All families of children ages infant through teen are encouraged to join. Expecting parents are encouraged to join and may work before their due date. The co-op not only provides the opportunity for adult interaction within families, but ministers to the children of the congregation as they play together and build lasting friendships within their spiritual community. Member families must sign the compact and pay an annual registration fee prior to using the co-op. The upcoming dates for 2006 are: September 16, October 21, November18, December 16, January 20, 2007.

Contact Barbara Scott to sign up.

Parents’ Night Out/Movies in the Hall (PNO/MITH) is an independent co-op of parents that use the church facilities at least once a month from 5:30 to 10:30 for affordable childcare. Two adult representatives from each family commit to work together ONE NIGHT during our calendar year which runs February through January. PNO offers age-appropriate care and activities for ages 5 and under in the nursery with the average cost being $10/child. MITH offers age-appropriate activities and movies for ages 6 and up in the parish hall supervised by 2 working parents. The normal cost of MITH is $1/child. The co-op uses an RSVP system to assure appropriate adult/child ratios and may limit the number of participants for an evening.

Education

Sunday Forum

Jesus - Women - Scripture
Christ the King Church member Barbara Rozek teaches a class at Sunday Forum on Jesus - Women - Scripture. This class will look at Jesus’ interaction with women and what we can learn from those New Testament stories. Please bring your Bible and a willingness to share in a discussion. The class meets September 10, 17, 24, and October 1.

Bible and Lutheran Theology at Wednesday Night Alive!

A new class “ The Bible and Lutheran Theology” will be offered on Wednesday nights by Pr. Moore. This class is intended to deepen the Lutheran understanding of some basic tenets of our faith and give insight into biblical interpretation from the grounds of Reformation theology. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism will serve as a text. The class is open to all and meets on Wednesday evenings beginning September 6 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in room 201.

Friday Morning Bible Study

Friday Morning Bible Study will resume on September 8. The class is taught by Pastor Moore. New participants are always welcome and will find that entry into the group is easy. Snacks will be served at 10:00 a.m.; class begins at 10:30.

Writing Life Stories II

The second series in Writing Life Stories is offered in conjunction with the Wednesday Night Alive! program.

Last spring many members got a good start writing their family stories. We will continue with our favorite family characters and our perceptions about them. For those who want to begin writing their life stories, there will be plenty of ways to help you get started in your adventure.

Writing Life Stories II meets on Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the council room.We usually have some dinner during the workshop.

Writing Life Stories II workshops will be held on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and we usually have some dinner during the workshop. If you are interested, contact Anna Fay Williams .

Introducing Jesus of Nazareth CD Available

Join gifted pastor, theologian and Grace Matters radio host Peter Marty on a journey across the Holy Land. From Nazareth and Bethlehem where it all began, to Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Valley, the Mount of Transfiguration and finally Jerusalem. “Introducing Jesus of Nazareth” is a straightforward, concise re-telling of the Gospel story. Helping Peter Marty tell the story, are a diverse group of pastors from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

CDs are available at no charge in the narthex and the church office.

Bonhoeffer Conference in Houston

The Melanchthon Institute is presenting a conference celebrating the life and works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran minister who was executed by the Nazis for leading the protestant resistance against Hitler. Bonhoeffer left remarkable writings about his faith and ethical beliefs. The conference “Bonhoeffer Today: Peace, Ecology, and Christian Ethics” will be held in the Museum District of Houston October 19-21. The conference will host a panel of internationally acclaimed experts on Bonhoeffer’s works: Barbara Green, Larry Rasmussen, and Clifford Green. Plus there will be guided tours of the Holocaust Museum, concert performances of the opera Bonhoeffer written by Lutheran composer Ann Gebuhr, and personal memories of the Holocaust given by survivor Walter Kase. The movie Bonhoeffer by Martin Doblmeier will be shown. The conference will be held at the Holocaust Museum Houston, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, and Christ the King Lutheran Church, all located close to each other.

Registration for all events is $75 per person, plus $7 for Saturday lunch, and $25 for Saturday dinner. Registration forms can be printed from the Melanchthon Institute website at www.melanchthon-institute.org For more information, call The Melanchthon Institute at 713-523-2864 ext 1030 or send an email to MelanchthonDirector@ctkelc.org

Service & Care

Feed the Homeless

Campus and Young Adult Ministry sponsors a Homeless Ministry program at Christ the King Church, and we would love for you to join us. On the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings of each month we meet at Christ the King Church to make sandwiches and prepare meals, and deliver them to downtown homeless individuals. We meet in the kitchen and parish hall at 5:45 p.m. to set up and prepare the meals, and leave for downtown at about 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. to deliver them. All are invited to help out with meal preparation, downtown delivery, or both! Our next gathering is on Monday, September 11. Contact Wendy Wiker

Check your Blood Pressure?

Monthly blood pressure screenings are held on the last Sunday of each month. They will be held after each Sunday morning service on September 24.

Flu Vaccine Available at Christ the King Church

Mark your calendars! Kelsey-Seybold Clinic will be offering the flu vaccine again this year. They will be at Christ the King Church on Sunday, October 22, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Vaccines will be available at $25 per injection. Contact Linda Schoene, Congregational Nurse for more information.

Christian Community Service Center

Christian Community Service Center serves as the outreach arm of 37 local churches – including Christ the King Church. This vibrant, volunteer-driven organization has six programs that alleviate the effects of poverty: Emergency Services, JobNet, Martha’s Way, Back To School, Jingle Bell Express, and the Louise J. Moran Vision Care Program. The agency also operates Sunshine Resale Shop – a treasure-filled store in Bellaire.

We encourage you to get connected to CCSC. There are dozens of volunteer and giving opportunities. Become part of an award-winning effort that positively impacts over 27,000 lives each year — call 713-961-3993 or visit www.ccschouston.com

ELCA Provides Funds to Support the Humanitarian Response in Darfur

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $200,000 May 31 to support the humanitarian response in the Darfur region of western Sudan. A three-year conflict in Darfur has resulted in the deaths of some 200,000 to 400,000 people, and more than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes.

There also have been “many reports of rapes, looting, burning of homes, and other untold atrocities committed against primarily ethnic Africans living in Darfur,” said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, in a May 19 statement to members of the church.
“Similar to the genocide in Rwanda, the world has waited too long to respond in outrage and has allowed a poorly funded humanitarian response to take the place of political will and action,” said Hanson.

“There is cautious, hopeful news” about Darfur, said Hanson. “The Sudanese government and the largest rebel faction in Darfur — the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement — signed a peace agreement, and that has started a tenuous peace process that could end a tragic situation that President Bush and others have described as ‘genocide,’” he said.

For more information, see the ELCA webpage: www.elca.org/news/index.asp.

For more resources and ELCA policy on the genocide in Darfur, visit www.elca.org/advocacy/issues/peace or see the mobile bulletin board.

Snack Providers Needed

Looking for an occasional, yet extremely important ministry?! We are now recruiting snack providers for after Sunday services. The light refreshments that are set out with the coffee each Sunday provide a great opportunity for fellowship for members and visitors alike. Not only that, the donations they generate go to the World Hunger Appeal. Join this wonderful ministry of hospitality that also benefits hunger relief. You can provide snacks only once or twice a year or as often as you’d like. For more information or to sign up, contact Beverly Davis or 713-523-2864 ext. 27.

ONE Lutheran Campaign

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been actively engaged in advocacy on hunger and justice issues for many years. Now, at a key point in history, the ELCA is joining Bread for the World, the Alliance to End Hunger, and others in a coordinated effort against the injustice of extreme poverty. ONE Lutheran is the ELCA-specific effort to promote the ONE Campaign. ONE Lutherans acting together can bring real power to this social justice movement. Check out the mobile bulletin board or visit www.elca.org/advocacy for more information.