Stewardship Nuggets

Preach the Gospel

from Stewardship Nuggets by Herb Miller
St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” We can use behavior too. We can also use dollars.
Our money can go places and do things that a pastor’s words can never accomplish. It can put missionaries in Zaire. It can feed hungry refugees half way around the world. With our dollars, we can preach the gospel at all times, in countless place

Special

We Made It to Our Goal of 600 ELWs

We reached our goal of 600 hymnals. Thank you to the congregation for your support. We can still accept dedications.
Christ the King Church will have the Pew Edition of the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) available to purchase for your home. This would make a great Christmas gift. Check out the book cart in the narthex in early December

Ordination of Jody Winston

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Congregation of Christ the King Lutheran Church invite you to a service of worship in which Joseph Blake Winston III will be ordained to the holy ministry of Word and Sacrament on the 24th Sunday after Pentecost November 19, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Bishop Paul Blom, presiding The Rev. Edwin Peterman, preaching.

Jody has accepted a call to serve Trinity Lutheran Church in Liberty, Texas

Worship

Godly Play Lessons Today

Pre-K/Kindergarten: The Ark and the Tabernacle
1st/2nd Grades: Hearing Moses
3rd/4th Grades: Baptized Saints

Candles on All Saints Day Weekend

On the weekend of All Saints Day (November 4 and 5) the church remembers in her prayers those who joined the church through the sacrament of Holy Baptism and those who completed their earthly life and entered the Church in heaven.
The congregation will have the opportunity in all services to light candles in memory of loved ones in our lives who have gone before us.

German-Language Ministry

Gottesdienste in deutscher Sprache
5. November
Allerheiligen, 5:00 pm

Taizé Prayer Around the Cross, November 4

The first Prayer Around the Cross at Christ the King Church will be held at the Taizé Eucharist. November 4 at 6:00 p.m. A wooden cross on the floor of the altar sanctuary confronts worshipers with the suffering of Christ on behalf of humanity. In its presence the suffering of the world and our own burdens come to light. Christ gave salvation to all on the tree of the cross. It is the tree where life might be restored. Worshipers may choose to meditate on the cross from the pew or may enter the altar sanctuary and kneel at the cross.

Thanksgiving Day Worship

On Thursday, November 23, at 10 a.m., a Service of the Word will be held in the nave. The service will include traditional Thanksgiving hymns, a sermon, and a Litany of Thanksgiving. All are welcome. Casual attire is encouraged.

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

Musical Opportunities 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.

Piano Recital

Pianist Zoya Shuhatovich will present a recital on Saturday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall. The program features works by Schubert, Chopin, and Shostakovich. There is no admission charge; a free-will offering will be accepted.

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.

Breakfast Taco Fundraiser

Sunday, November 5 the Luther League will be serving delicious breakfast tacos once again between services in the courtyard starting at 9:30 a.m. Tacos are limited so get there early! Any donations will be greatly appreciated. All proceeds go to help support the Luther League!

Luther League Tonight!

The Luther League will meet again this Sunday, November 5 from 6:30 till 8:00 pm for food, games, fellowship, and discussion in the basement youth room. Brannon Lloyd will also teach the next lesson from the Money Savvy Curriculum, so please bring your Cash Cache planner!

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 Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast
with Mushroom Sauce
Rice Pilaf
Green Beans Almandine
Green Salad
Rolls
Browniesq

Prepared by Gunther & Joyce Klein and Jo Hentschel

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.

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.

Thanksgiving Dinner for the Hospitality Apartment Residents

Christ the King Church will be the host facility for this annual event on November 23, in our parish hall. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex on Sundays and on the Bulletin Board during the week for volunteers to help serve and/or bring dishes of all the traditional foods that go with Thanksgiving turkeys. Money donations will also be welcomed. For more information, contact Marie Berg

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: 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.

Christ the King Festival Auction

Start thinking about what you can offer for the live or silent auction held during the festival dinner on Friday, November 17. Plan a fun sociable event; offer your special talent, skills, or professional expertise to the highest bidder; or provide quality, hand-made crafts, new merchandise, gift certificates, or basket of related items. Contact Gaelyn Lesher with ideas or your offer to help with the auction

Christ the King Foundation Accepting Grant Requests

The Board of Directors of the Christ the King Foundation is now accepting grant requests for projects meeting Foundation Criteria. Individuals or groups may request grants to further special projects and needs of the congregation or its mission to the community. The Foundation makes grants based on the income from its investments. Past grants have been awarded for seminary scholarships, programs at the Melanchthon Institute and other special educational programs, and outreach projects.

Application forms will be in the Church Office October 16 for your grant request. Deadline for requests is noon, December 4, 2006.

Education

Sunday Forum

Church, State, Religion, and Public Discourse

November 5: The Religion of Thomas Jefferson
presented by Dr. John Boles
Widely recognized as the most thoughtful and cosmopolitan of the founding fathers, Jefferson wrote more than any other founder on religious topics and on the concept of freedom. Moreover, he was very interested in the related topics of science, race, nature, and antiquity. He was the author of the Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom. The second class will examine this so-called Renaissance man with particular attention to his views on religion.

Orthodoxy versus Heresy

November 19: Which Christian Faith? A field guide to the common heresies.
presented by Paul Monroe
Christ The King Church member Paul Monroe teaches a class on the distinction between orthodoxy and heresy in the ancient church and its significance for Christians today. Using the work of the Episcopal Bishop C. Fitzsimons Allison, Paul discusses which teachings were rejected as heresies by the ancient church. The second class, “Whose Christian Faith? Street riots, the Holy Spirit, and other sources of historic faith,” will be on December 3.

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 .

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, December 1, 7 until 9 p.m., and Saturday, December 2, 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.

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.

Service & Care

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets this Monday, November 13 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.

Blood Drive on November 5

Christ the King Church will host a blood drive on Sunday, November 5. The M.D. Anderson Blood Mobile will be here from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Flu Shots on November 5

Flu shots will be available 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 person.

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.

Houston Food Bank

Houston Food Bank on November 11
Thanksgiving season is a busy time at the Houston Food Bank. A nice way to help the hungry of Houston and to say thanks for the abundance that we have would be to join us on our next opportunity to go to the Houston Food Bank on November 11. We will meet in the Christ the King Church parking lot and depart to the food bank at 8:00 a.m., returning around noon. Christ the King Church sends volunteers 6 times a year to the Houston Food Bank. We go on the second Saturday of each odd-numbered month. The minimum age to volunteer is 8 years old. High school students will be provided service hours.If you are interested, Contact Anna Stock by November 8

Embracing Houston's Homeless Population

Embracing Houston’s
Homeless Population
Preparing Your Congregation to Address Expanding Mental Health Needs
A Practical Skills-Building Workshop for:
Clergy and Lay Ministers

Thursday, November 9
Way Station 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Workshop 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church
6221 Main St., Houston

Presented By:
Partners in Healing of the Mental Health
Association Of Greater Houston
Complete Workshop - $15
(includes breakfast and lunch)

Register at mhahouston.org or call 713-523-8963.

We Believe in Sharing Christmas

For 26 years, Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) has helped low-income families through an innovative Christmas program called Jingle Bell Express. This year 3,000 children will be blessed with new toys, new books, and Christmas food packages for their families. There are two ways that you can support Jingle Bell Express – purchase toys and books and/or volunteer to organize and distribute the gifts.

Donate New Toys and Books

Please donate new, unwrapped toys and books (avoiding items violent in nature) for children ages 0 – 15. You may place donations in the box in the narthex or in the church office during the month of November.

When shopping for toys, remember the toy each child receives through Jingle Bell Express may be his/her only Christmas present. Consider purchasing one or two “primary gifts” rather than several small “stocking stuffers.”

See the mobile bulletin board for gift suggestions and volunteer 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.