Special

Annual Meeting

Part II of the Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on February 4, at 12:45 p.m. in the parish hall. On the agenda is the adoption of the budget for 2007, a proposal for which was presented at Part I of the meeting. In addition, the Council will present its statement of missional emphases for the new year and the annual report for the year 2006.

The proposed missional emphases are posted throughout the building.

Worship

Godly Play Lessons Today

Pre-K/K and 1st/2nd grade: The Great Pearl
3rd/4thGrades: The Prophet Amos

Children in Church

Communion class for tots: January 28 This is the second of two meetings to prepare young children to received Holy Communion.

All families with young children are invited to participate. The class will teach the story and meaning of Holy Communion and show how to commune. The class meets at 9:50 a.m. in the children’s library.

Flowers for the Nave

A few spots are still open on the flower chart. The 2007 Altar Guild Flower Chart is on the easel in the narthex. Flower arrangements for weekend services are $40 and should be paid for at the time you sign up by placing a check in the offering and mark it for “Altar Guild.”

Prayer Around the Cross at Taizé Service, February 3

The Prayer Around the Cross will be held at the Taizé Eucharist on February 3 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.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship for your Home

Evangelical Lutheran Worship
for personal purchase

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 church office 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

February 4, 2007 • 5:00 p.m.
Bach Vespers

J.S. Bach: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste BWV 106
J.C. Bach: Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener

The Bach Society at Christ the King Lutheran Church offers three exciting events in the month of February. On February 4, Bach Vespers will feature the Bach Choir and Orchestra under music director Albert LeDoux. The program includes J.S. Bach’s cantata Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, and the motet Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener by Johann Christoph Bach. The Vespers service begins at 5:00 p.m.

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!

This weekly congregational event spans all generations and walks of life: infants, kids, youth, singers, musicians, life-long learners, writers of life stories, those who study, those who pray, those who cook, those who clean and those who serve. All meet together in one place to enjoy a night of fellowship. . 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.

Writing Life Stories Continues on Wednesdays

The Writing Life Stories workshop continues on Wednesdays, from 5 until 6:45 p.m. This session is emphasizing themes in our lives and exploring the directions that we have taken in raising families, in our careers and interests in retirement. We are also exploring some different ways of presenting our interests in personal essays and letters.

New Playgroup for Parents with Babies and Toddlers Meets on Tuesdays

Christ the King Church invites parents with babies and toddlers age 0 - 3-4 years to participate in a new playgroup. on Tuesdays, at 10:00 a.m. in the nursery. This new group offers parents of the littlest ones contact, sharing, support, and activities like going for walks, exploring playgrounds etc. The group will be parent led. In the beginning Pastor Karin Liebster and Daria Nashat will facilitate. All are welcome.

Young Adult Perspectives (YAP)to visit Lakewood Church

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! One of the YAP meetings each month is a social gathering, while the other is more educationally focused.

Our next meeting is February 3 (Saturday). We will attend a service at Lakewood Church. The service starts at 7:00 p.m. Meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. to carpool. Meet at Amy’s Ice Cream after service for discussion.
For more info, contact Wendy Wiker

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.

Foxtrot Lessons

David Karohl will be teaching four, 2-hour lessons at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday nights in February, in the basement classroom downstairs at Christ the King Church. Singles and couples are welcome. Childcare can be arranged, with shared expenses. The cost is $40 per person (covers all four lessons) and all proceeds will go to children’s ministry. Fun people, good music, and plenty of exercise!
Contact David with questions or to sign up

Egg Decorating Class

Monica Hartley will teach a class on how to decorate eggs in the Ukrainian style. The class will be held Thursday evenings, February 1- March 29 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Learn the history and craft, and decorate the eggs. They make great Easter presents or decorations. Cost is $10 per person. All materials will be provided. For more information and to register contact Monica.

Love in the Parish Hall February 10

The Luther League invites all members and friends to a formal Valentine’s dinner on Saturday, February 10. Once again, bask in philos, agape and eros all together by celebrating Valentine’s Day with your special loved one and your loving church family all at once. Enjoy a superb gourmet dinner complemented by a romantic ambience. The Luther League appreciates your RSVP to for this event. Contact Tim Lenz .

Lutheran Marriage Encounter

Would you like new romance in your marriage? How about better communication? Attend the next Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend which will be held at the Holiday Inn near Continental Airport in Houston on February 23-25. For information please contact Arnie and Sue Kaestner at 713-464-6703 or email Laird and Winnie Engle

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).

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

Mom! Dad! Need Some Quality Time Without The Kiddos? Join Parent’s Night Out!
Parents’ Night Out/Movies in the Hall (PNO/MITH) operates as an independent co-op of parents to provide affordable childcare in a safe and nurturing environment at Christ the King Church. The co-op is open to members and non-members. PNO/MITH usually occurs once a month. Two adult representatives from each family commit to work together ONCE in return for at least 10 nights of childcare during our calendar year. Our calendar year runs February through January. The Co-op offers age-appropriate care and activities for ages 5 and under in the nursery and age-appropriate activities and movies for ages 6 and up. The co-op accepts members throughout the year and offers prospective members one trial evening with no obligation to join.

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

January 28: Professor Vitor Westhelle of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will speak on his book The Scandalous God: The Use and Abuse of the Cross.

Dr. Vitor Westhelle to Teach and Preach Today

Professor Vitor Westhelle, Professor of Systematic Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will preach at 8:30 and 10:50 a.m. on Sunday, January 28. He will also give a presentation of his book, The Scandalous God: The Use and Abuse of the Cross at the Sunday Forum at 9:45 a.m. in the basement classroom.

Drawing on Biblical studies, linguistics, historical context, an evolving understanding of the cross, and Luther’s theology of the cross Vitor Westhelle, in his book, shows how scandalous the cross and Jesus’ crucifixion is. Through poetry and literature, Westhelle concludes the book by leading the reader to new “stations of the cross” and where we get stuck as we move among the stations, to the practice of resurrection.

The Gospel of John Set in the 21st Century
No Greater News for Post-Modern Youth

Session 4 of the Youth Outreach class will meet in the parish hall Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m. We’ll do a dramatic reading of a gospel folk rock musical performed at Wartburg Seminary in 2006. The text is set in a high school where the Hispanic janitor, Juan Batista, the weekend pastor of a river congregation, invites some students to hear the guest preacher, the son of immigrant parents from Mexico, named Jesus (Hey – zus). The story proceeds from there.

ELCA Alliance for Faith, Science, & Technology

Do faith and science truly contradict each other?
Mass media creates the imagery of an ongoing warfare between science and religion, but there is another way, as suggested by the current issue of Covalence, online magazine of the ELCA Alliance for Faith, Science & Technology . Through the alliance the ELCA encourages conversation about issues facing our society and church related to science and technology from a faith perspective. Ask questions of scientists and join the discussion!

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.

New Member Classes

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, February 2, 7 until 9 p.m., and Saturday, February 3, 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 is made available when requested the Monday prior to the class.

Pieces of your Financial Peace Seminar on February 3

Would you like to save, share, and spend more and worry less about your finances? Thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and our partnership with the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Stewardship Team, the next Personal Stewardship Seminar is Saturday, February 3 at House of Prayer, 14045 Space Center Blvd., Houston TX 77062

Cost: $20/person or $35 for family of 2 or more for the one-day events.

Each one day event consists of a keynote speaker on different stages of financial management we grow through and workshops designed to meet you where you are in your own personal financial journey.

You will find a registration form for all these events at the Melanchthon website.

Reclaiming our Vocations-Spiritual Renewal for Healthcare Professionals

presented by Brain Powers, MD and Tim Van Duivendyk

Sunday, January, 28, 1:30-5:00 p.m. at the Cenacle Retreat House, 420 N. Kirkwood, Houston Cost: $15.00 To register contact 281-497-3131 or go to www.CenacleRetreatHouse.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.

Service & Care

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets on Monday, February 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the kitchen at Christ the King Church.

Join us on the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings of each month at Christ the King Lutheran Church to make sandwiches and prepare meals, and then deliver them to downtown homeless individuals. Our schedule is as follows:

5:45 p.m. - Meet in the Kitchen and Parish Hall to set up and prepare the meals
7:00 p.m. - Leave CTK for downtown to deliver the meals

All are invited to help out with meal preparation, downtown delivery, or both! Our next gathering in February will be on Monday, February 12. All are welcome.Contact Wendy Wiker for more information.

Changing the World Two by Two

Mission Offerings collected in January will continue to help change the World Two by Two! The Luther League began collecting donations in December for a Heifer Project Gift Ark. This is the second Gift Ark project we have worked on at Christ the King, and we are half way to the goal of $5000 to purchase it. To further support this project, the January Mission Offering has been designated to support Heifer Project International. Your donations will send animals on a voyage to families worldwide to change their situation of poverty and hunger. Each family who receives livestock will pass on one or more of the animal’s offspring to other families in need in their community. This way, your gift will multiply for years to come! What a beautiful way to bring joy and hope to the world. Be an “Ark Angel” and drop your donations into the Mission Offering basket each Sunday in January!

Souper Bowl Sunday, February 4

On February 4 thousands of young people around the country will be collecting donations for charities through the Souper Bowl of Caring program. At Christ the King Church, the Luther League will collect donations after both services (as the Mission Offering) and report the collected amount to Souper Bowl of Caring so it can be added to all the other collection amounts across the country that day so a national total can be reported to the media! The Luther League will donate all of our congregation’s collection to SEARCH the designated beneficiary of February’s Mission Offering.

CPR/First Aid Class

CINTAS will present CPR and First Aid on February 24, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the council room. The cost is $65/person. Please register through Linda Schoene

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”.

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.