Stewardship Nuggets

The Spiritual Nature of Money

from Stewardship Nuggets by Herb Miller
In his remarks prior to the offering at a men’s retreat, a Colorado pastor said, “We never take collections at these events. We do, however, receive an offering.”
He was stating an important truth about Christian stewardship. Receiving an offering is quite different from fund raising. Offerings are a spiritual matter in which we give ourselves to God’s causes. Fund raising, on the other hand, is a financial matter in which we give our money to pay the bills for a good cause.
That is an important distinction. In our worship service each Sunday, we are not just taking a collection to pay the bills; that would be fund raising. No, we are receiving an offering. When we give an offering, we give more than money.
That is the major reason that churches ask people to give money as part of the worship service each Sunday—because our giving of money helps us to give a far more important gift: ourselves.

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 will be presiding at the ordination. The Rev. Edwin Peterman will be preaching.

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

Worship

Godly Play Lessons Today

Pre-K/Kindergarten: Exile and Return
1st/2nd Grades: Ten Best Ways
3rd/4th Grades: A Message from Eliajah

New Hymnals to be Dedicated on Festival Weekend - November 19

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) will be dedicated on Festival Sunday, November 19, at both morning services. Members and friends who have dedicated hymnals in honor or memory of others, may find those hymnals in the narthex and take them into the nave to use during the service and the rite of dedication. The hymnals would then be left in the pews.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (the “red book”) offers ten musical settings for the liturgy, three of which are the familiar settings of the Lutheran Book of Worship, the “green book.” Members and friends have underwritten over 600 hymnals. Two hundred hymnals will go to First Evangelical Lutheran Church to support the congregation in their efforts to revitalize as neartown Lutheran congregation.

Members and friends may still underwrite hymnals and associated worship materials at $25 per pew edition. Each hymnal may be dedicated in honor or in memory of one person, couple, or family. Click here to place an order,call Cheryl Gaspard in the church office at 713-523-2864, extension 1022.

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

Chamber Music on November 19

On November 19 at 5:00 p.m., the Bach Society will present La Follia Austin Baroque - Creative Genius: Chamber Music of Georg Philipp Telemann. Telemann was regarded by many during his lifetime as the greatest German composer, surpassing both Handel and Bach. While history has judged otherwise, his fame was not without merit; his music offers an appealing mix of accessibility, imagination, and energy that has as much appeal now as it had then. Join La Follia Austin Baroque as they perform selections from the best of Telemann’s chamber works and understand why he was the “people’s choice”.

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.

Luther League Tonight!

The Luther League will meet this Sunday, November 12 from 6:30 pm till 8:00 pm for food, fellowship, and a special presentation from Christ the King Church member Jon and Amanda Fielder on their medical missionary in Kijabe, Kenya. Dr. Jon Fielder is currently directing the Kijabe HIV project which is dedicated to AIDS/HIV care and prevention. All 6th grade through 12th grade youth are invited.

Jr. High Gathering

This weekend eight of our middle school youth along with Tim Lenz and Adrienne Winston are attending the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) gathering to hear Jessica Noonan, keynote speaker, engage in worship and small groups, serve, and enjoy fellowship with over 300 of their peers. Thanks to Adrienne Winston for chaperoning!

Thanksgiving is Time to Talk Turkey

When you and your family gather for Thanksgiving, share your family medical history along with your stories and memories. Talking turkey means

· discussing health, wellness and healing
· sharing information about hereditary risk factors that may affect family members’ future well-being
· addressing end-of-life questions so family members know each other’s wishes and can carry them out when faced with difficult decisions

To help guide you through your conversation about family health history, visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services web site at www.hhs.gov/familyhistory for a copy of My Health Portrait. This tool helps you organize information you may want to discuss with your doctor. Copies of My Family Health Portrait and My Life Story are available in the narthex.

A valuable resource for guiding end-of-life discussions is the living will Five Wishes ®. It asks questions about your personal, emotional and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes.Click here to request a copy.. Click here for other helpful ELCA planning resources.

“Five Wishes is a great guide to help families articulate, share and document their beliefs, values and wishes,” explains ELCA wellness coordinator Tammy Devine. “It helps provide peace of mind for yourself and your family.”

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.

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

November 12: Consecration Sunday Bruch

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.

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.