Worship

Christmas Pageant

The Christ the King Christmas Pageant will be presented at 9:45 a.m. on December 17. Rehearsals are at 9:45 a.m., children will gather in the parish hall for a full rehearsal There will be no regular Sunday School classes that day. All children are invited to participate in the annual pageant on December 17. Please contact marie@rice.edu if you have questions or would like to volunteer to help with costumes

Christmas Flowers

Members may contribute toward decorating the nave for Christmas by donating $10 for greenery and poinsettias. You may place contributions in the offering with the insert from the bulletin or give it to the church office.

Flowers for the Nave

The 2007 Altar Guild Flower Chart will be on the mobile bulletin board in December. Flower arrangements for weekend services are $40. Please pay for the flowers as you sign up.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship for your Home

Evangelical Lutheran Worship
for personal purchase available December 15

Cost: $20

Bookplate can be included with advanced request.

Contact: Cheryl Gaspard or 713-523-2864 ext. 1022

Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) Available

Copies of the now old Lutheran Book of Worship (the green book) are available in the narthex for the congregation to take home. They are organized by the names to whom they were dedicated.

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.

Music

Lessons and Carols

The annual Service of Lessons and Carols will be held on December 17, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. This beautiful candlelight service features Bible readings telling the story of the birth of Jesus as the culmination of the fallen world’s salvation, interspersed with seasonal music provided by all of Christ the King Church’s musical ensembles: Brass Choir, Choristers, Chorus, and Church Choir. The congregation also joins in the singing of Christmas carols. Plan to join us in this one-hour service.

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.

Tamales.Tamales.Tamales - December 17

After services on Sunday, December 17 the members of El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church will be selling their delicious tamales again. Remember, don’t wait too long - they always go fast. Thank you to our friends at El Buen Pastor church.

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?!?

Young Adult Perspectives (YAP)

Young Adult Perspectives (“YAP” for short) is our Young Adults group that meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of each month. All students and young adults are welcome! The next meeting will be on December 15.
For more info, contact Wendy Wiker

Programs on Wednesday, December 13

Wednesday Night Alive! has ended for the year 2006. No dinner will be served on December 13.
These music ensembles will meet:

6:15 Brass
6:30 Junior Choristers and Choristers
7:00 Youth Choir
7:30 Chorus
7:30 Choir

Wednesday Night Alive! programming including dinner returns on January 10, 2007.

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.

Luther League

Here is what’s coming up this month:

December Events
15 Deadline for Germany Trip Deposit
21 Bicycle Assembly Service Project
6:30 Meet at the church
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Reliant Park
22 Tree Decorating and Christmas Party 6:00 p.m.

Great Gifts for the Holidays

Books and CDs for Sale
Books and CDs on the book cart are available for purchase by check. Please make checks out to Christ the King Lutheran Church and mark “book cart” with the book title in the memo line. Place the check in the money slot in the bottom right doors of the ushers’ cabinet (or give to an usher).

Heifer Project International - Alternative Gift Sale

Changing the World Two by Two – It’s that time again! The Luther League will begin taking donations on Sunday mornings through December 17 after each worship service for animals or trees through Heifer Project International. Our goal is to raise another $5000 to buy a Gift Ark. Come by right away and be an “Ark Angel.

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: 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

December 10: Discovering the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book (ELW).
presented by Pr. Robert Moore
Pr. Moore will offer this class to help in the discovery of our new worship book. The ELW is a rich resource for use in church and home.esies by the ancient church.

December 17: Favorite Christmas Readings and Poetry
facilitaded by Naomi Nelson
Bring you own favorite Christmas literature, including readings, Christmas hymns, and Christmas poems

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.

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, December 11at 6:00 p.m. in the kitchen at Christ the King Church. All are welcome.Contact Wendy Wiker for more information.

Fill a Shoebox and Gift a Seafarer

In keeping with our motto, the village church with a global mission, Christ the King Lutheran Church children will be filling and wrapping shoeboxes to give to seafarers who visit the Port of Houston during the holiday season. The gifts will be distributed by the Seafarers’ Ministry, which comprises Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran chaplains.
We encourage families to fill a shoebox with items such as:

combs, soap, shaving cream, disposable razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pads, pens, pencils, puzzles, envelopes, needles and thread, deodorant, socks, shoe laces, calendars, bottle openers, nail clippers, aspirin, band-aids, key chains, small photo albums, Texas souvenirs, disposable or one-use cameras, playing cards, or something fun. (These are items we take for granted but they are appreciated tremendously by the seafarers).

Please bring your filled shoebox to church (narthex) by December 17. The Luther League will be wrapping the gifts for the Christmas holiday.
For more information, contact Tim Lenz

Christmas Service Project on Thursday, December 21

Do you remember getting your first bicycle? On Saturday, December 16, the Luther League and everyone age 9 and up will have the chance to help a child receive their first bike by volunteering to help assemble bikes with the Elves and More program.

Please note that the service project (originally scheduled for December 16) has changed to Thursday, December 21 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. All volunteers are required to fill out a short registration online by going to www.elvesandmore.org and then clicking on volunteer. Parents are encouraged to join us, as adults are needed for this project since all youth under 18 have to be accompanied by an adult. We can split into a few teams with 4-5 youth per adult. Please plan on arriving at the church at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 21 to carpool to Reliant Park.

Let us not be Hungry over the Holidays

The Christian Community Service Center’s Food Pantry is busy this season. The Food Pantry provides a five-day supply of food for people in need of assistance. Clients are given food items necessary for well-balanced meal preparation. Donations of canned goods and non-perishable foods can be brought to the narthex.

Your Gift Giving this Year Can Change Someone’s World!

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Browse through 12 areas of giving, including the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and the Division for Global Mission. You may also send an E-card and print out a Tribute Notification for the honoree.

Lutheran World Relief
LWR is rated at the TOP of relief organizations! This is the webpage for the LWR Community Quilt. Click on the 12 items listed under “Gift Squares” to learn about different areas and levels of giving

Church World Service
An especially fun site for involving children in alternative giving! Click on different areas of the village map for an audio guide to various ways to give. You may also send an E-card to the gift honoree.

Heifer International
Founded in 1944. They work exclusively in the areas of livestock and agriculture to develop programs that alleviate hunger and poverty. Although the site is not specifically geared toward children, there are great visuals of animals and trees to give.

Americares
Founded in 1975 with a commitment to help Vietnamese orphans. Browse their international and domestic relief programs. For alternative giving, click on “Sitemap” at the bottom of the page, then click on “How To Help: Honor & Memorial Donations”.

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.

The Weather Outside is Frightful...
Help Someone Stay Warm this Winter

With cooler weather upon us, Christian Community Service Center’s Emergency Services clients could benefit from your gently used clothing donations. Please search your closets for these particular items:

- Sweaters and jackets for infants, children, and adult men
- Large sizes for men are helpful for some of our clients
- Men’s slacks in all sizes

Emergency Services gladly receives donations Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Please bring donations to the facility located at 3434 Branard (near Greenway Plaza). For additional details, call 713-961-3993 or visit www.ccschouston.com
Thank you for your giving spirit! The CCSC clients benefit every day from the donations they receive all year long!

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.