Stewardship Nuggets

Giving Builds Soul

from Stewardship Nuggets by Herb Miller
“Philanthropic leaders of the past took issue with emphasizing the distribution of assets after death rather than during one’s lifetime. Josiah Strong warned his hearers that it was easy to accumulate wealth with the intention of later sharing it. ‘That is the pit in which many have perished. If a man is growing large in wealth, nothing but constant and generous giving can save him from growing small in soul.’” [Behind the Stained GlassWindows, John and Sylvia Ronsvalle]

That is one of the principle benefits of offering a portion of our money to God. Building strong stewardship habits also builds strong souls.

Special

On Sunday, October 15, the world will... STAND UP!

On October 15, thousands of people around the world will take a moment to STAND UP against poverty to set an official Guinness World Record. This moment is part of the ELCA’s ONE Lutheran Campaign for the Millennium Development Goals

Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Only 122 more needed.

The new service book and hymnal is expected to be delivered this month.
The cost is $25. Order forms are in the narthex or online. Order forms are in the narthex or at by clicking here.

Worship

Godly Play Lessons Today

Pre-K/Kindergarten: The Great Family
1st/2nd Grades: Sarah
3rd/4th Grades: David, the King

Parents are Rocking!

Every parent knows the feeling of being put on the spot when a child becomes fussy in public spaces, especially in church or at meetings which require quiet. To help out in this situation two rockers are now inviting parents to leave the nave during worship as soon as a child does not seem to settle down. The sound system allows parents to follow the service in the narthex. When ready to return, it is recommended to do so during a hymn. The nursery attendants will gladly care for each child (up to age 4) even in the middle of the service. Parents are encouraged to get their children for communion to commune or to receive a blessing. Please refer to the inside cover of the bulletin.

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

6:45 - 7:30 p.m. in room 204
“Divine Reading” is an ancient form of prayer and has been part of the spiritual practice in the church since ancient times. All are invited.

Music

Chamber Music

October 8, 2006 • 5:00 p.m.
Chamber Music: Gotthold Schwarz, bass,
and Stefan Altner, piano (Leipzig)
Works for voice and piano by Telemann,
Mozart, Wolf, and others

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

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

Bach Vespers

October 15, 2006 • 5:00 p.m.
Bach: Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149
Bach: Motet Der Gerechte kommt um, BWV deest
Mendelssohn: Herr, wir trauen auf deine Güte
Bach Choir & Orchestra • Gotthold Schwarz, guest conductor (Leipzig)

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 provids 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. Description of classes available in the registration packets. Click here to view online.

Wednesday Night Dinners

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall
Instead of cooking on Wednesday evenings, swing by the parish hall 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.

On the Menu is:

Baked Chicken Breasts with wine sauce
Rice
Carrots
Salad
Rolls
Brownies

Prepared by Marie Monroe

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

On Friday, October 20 Young Adult Perspectives (YAP for short) is our Young Adults group that meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of each month at 8:00 p.m. All students and young adults are welcome! One of the YAP meetings each month is a social gathering, while the other is more educationally focused.

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. For information, contact Daria Nashat

Luther League Meets with Friends on Sunday Nights

Luther League meetings 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.

Second Friday Film Group Plans for October Theater Event

The Second Friday Film Group invites those interested in attending a local theatrical matinee performance on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 22, 2006, to contact Anna Fay Williams. This will take the place of a film event for the month of October. Further notices on the play selection, location and time will be made by email or phone.

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: 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.

Children’s Fair in Three Weeks!

Mark Reformation Sunday, October 29, in RED on your calendar because you won’t want to miss this year’s Children’s Fair after late service. The fun starts at 12:30 p.m. We have planned so many activities that we can’t name them all! Bring Grandma, but leave the reindeer at home! We’ll have a jolly good time! Did you know 90% of fair volunteers only work 30 minutes? Volunteer today! .Contact Barbara Scott to schedule a time and activity Contact Sandy Troff to help with food service.

Education

Sunday Forum

On the Beginnings of Christianity

October 8: Jews and Judaism at the Time of Jesus
presented by Matthias Henze
Christ the King Church member Matthias Henze will speak about the diverse Jewish groups in first century Israel. Who are these different groups, and what do we know about them? Which ancient sources inform us about them and the theological disputes they had? We will also ask how this knowledge contributes to our understanding of Jesus and the beginnings of Christianity.

October 15: Were the Jews looking for the Messiah, and did the early Christians think he had come?
presented by George W.E. Nickelsburg, Professor Emeritus of the University of Iowa.
For forty years Prof. Nickelsburg has been one of the leading scholars on Ancient Judaism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, early apocalyptic literature, and nascent Christianity. This is a unique opportunity to hear a premier and internationally known scholar speak about a central issue in early Christian studies.

Special October Tours of Holocaust Museum Houston

Tours of the Holocaust Museum Houston focusing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his life and work in the context of the Holocaust will be offered free of charge at the museum every Sunday in October from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. To book a tour call 713-942-8000, ext. 102 or visit the website hmh.org and click on Visitor Services. Holocaust Museum Houston is at 5401 Caroline Street in the Houston Museum District.

Melanchthon Institute Evening Class in October

New Challenges to Religion and Politics
Barbara Green, Theologian in Residence will teach on Mondays, October 16, 23, and 30 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the basement classroom. A free will offering will be received

Bible and Lutheran Theology

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in room 201
This class is for those who want to deepen their understanding of the basic tenets of faith and gain insight into biblical interpretation. The Bible and Martin Luther’s Small Catechism serve as a text. The class is open to all.

Free in the Morning?
Join Friday Morning Bible Study

This class is a great and easy way for mothers and fathers of the very young to have some adult time. The group led by Pr. Moore has started a study of the book Genesis for which it is not too late to join. New participants are always welcome; entry into the group is easy. The nursery opens at 10:00 am. Snacks are served at 10:00 in the council room; the class ends at 11:30.

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 .

Apocalypticism and Crisis in Ancient Judaism

The public is invited to two lectures presented by Rice University and The Humanities Research Center

October 12, 7:00 p.m.
Enoch and the Beginnings of Apocalypticism, by George W.E. Nickelsburg, Emeritus Professor of Religion, University of Iowa.
October 13, 7:00 p.m.

Baruch and the Decline of Apocalypticism, by Matthias Henze, Watt J. and Lilly G. Jackson Chair in Biblical Studies, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Rice University,

The lectures are free of charge and will take place at Rice University, Keck Hall, Room 100. For more information, visit www.rice.edu/apocalypticism.

New Member Class

If you are interested in becoming a member of Christ the King Church, you are invited to attend the Adult Catechesis class.
We will offer a 2-day class on Friday, October 27, 7 until 9 p.m., and Saturday, October 28, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
These classes, based on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, are open to inquirers, those seeking membership, and members wishing to refresh their memory on the basic tenets of our faith.

You may sign up on the bulletin board or contact the church office, or 713-523-2864, ext. 21. Childcare for the two-day class is available when requested the Monday prior to the class.

Seminar for Personal Finances
Is There a Piece Missing from your Financial Peace?

On Saturday, November 4 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Hosanna Lutheran Church (16526 Ella Blvd), the Melanchthon Institute and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Stewardship Team are co-hosting a one day workshop designed to help you complete your personal financial peace picture. The event is made possible by a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. No products will be sold or promoted at this event

This workshop is for people who want to be out of debt, leave a legacy, know more about how to manage their personal finances, and how to teach financial values to their families.

Thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, this pilot project is offered at no cost to participants. Registration is limited to 75 people so register as soon as possible.

John E. C. Helmke, author of The Ten Questions: Easy Answers to Ten Touch Financial Questions is the keynote speaker. Helmke loves to teach people about money. He is a certified Financial Planner and a trainer of other financial planners.
Other topics will be presented by The Rev. John Hunsicker, William Hayes, Kurt Goedecke and Christ the King Church member Brannon Lloyd.

To register, contact 713-523-2864 ext. 1030 or download a registration form at www.melanchthon-institute.org.

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.

Register now for the Bonhoeffer Conference October 19-21

Registrations for the Melanchthon Institute’s conference “Bonhoeffer Today: Peace, Ecology, and Christian Ethics” are due now.
Do not miss this opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed experts on Bonhoeffer’s works: Barbara Green, Larry Rasmussen, and Clifford Green. Conference events include guided tours of the Holocaust Museum, concert performances of the opera Bonhoeffer by Anne Gebuhr, personal memories by Holocaust survivor Walter Kase, and a showing of the movie Bonhoeffer by Martin Doblmeier. Host sites for the conference are the Holocaust Museum Houston, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, and Christ the King Lutheran Church. 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

Marriage is a Journey

A Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend can enrich your marriage by adding pizzazz. Whether you have been married one year or fifty, a marriage encounter weekend may be just the thing that you need to put a breath of fresh air into your relationship. The next Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend is Houston on October 20-22. For more information visit www.GodLovesMarriage.org or email Laird and Winnie Engle or call 979-578-0292.

Service & Care

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets this Monday, October 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the kitchen at Christ the King Church. All are welcome.Contact Wendy Wiker for more information.

Grocery Bags Overflow?

Donate plastic grocery bags to the Feed the Homeless ministry! Bring them on any Feed the Homeless night, Wednesday Night Alive! or Sunday. Drop them in the Feed the Homeless box near the first floor elevator.

Groundbreaking for The Village at Gleannloch Farms Set

Thanks to significant support and interest from the Lutheran community including Christ the King Church through a percentage of its own building campaign 2003, Lutheran Social Services has reached an important milestone in the development of the first Lutheran-sponsored senior living community in Houston. Groundbreaking for The Village at Gleannloch Farms is October 25, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. You are invited to a catered lunch and the groundbreaking program. For more information about the event or about this faith-based retirement community coming to Houston, please contact Ken Halbert or 281-569-2999.

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 the last Sunday of each month

Flu Vaccine Availablility Delayed

The shipment of vaccine has been delayed. The rescheduled date is Sunday, November 5, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Christ the King Church.

Kelsey-Seybold Clinic will be offering the flu vaccine. 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.