Special

Annual Meeting Today

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.

Missional Offering

Mission Offering in February is SEARCH

In February the mission offering collected at the end of the worship services is designated to go to SEARCH Homeless Project.

SEARCH was founded in 1989 as a faith-based nonprofit organization by the Council of Congregations - an ecumenical collaborative who believed that homeless individuals and families need more than a meal and a place to sleep. They need a future. Today, the Council of Congregations has grown to include 36 congregations across Houston and Harris County – all of which have signed a covenant to support SEARCH and its mission to change lives and end homelessness. Christ the King Church is one of them. SEARCH serves more than 10,000 homeless people annually, providing them with the tools to work and achieve self sufficiency. SEARCH’s core focus is employment, education and job training. Their programs include: Mobile outreach, a resource center, healthcare services, an employment education center, housing, The House of Tiny Treasures (a children’s place), The Company Kitchen (a catering service). Please give generously to support our long-standing mission partner SEARCH.

Together we Built an Ark!

With the support from the congregation the Luther League was able to reach their goal of $5000 to pay for an Ark through Heifer Project International. The generous alternative gift giving started in December. The January mission offering of $1573.82 brought us up to just over $5000.00. The livestock purchased with the Heifer Gift Ark will be given to families around the globe where it is most needed. Each family who receives livestock from the Gift Ark will pass on one or more of the animal’s offspring to other families in need in their community, so our gift will multiply for years to come! The Luther League thanks all who contributed in December and January.

Worship

Godly Play Lessons Today

Pre-K/K and 1st/2nd grade: The Sower
3rd/4thGrades: Isaih of Jerusalem

Prayer Around the Cross at Taizé Service, on the First Saturday of the Month

The Prayer Around the Cross will be held at the Taizé Eucharist on the first Saturday of each month 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 meets on Wednesdays, from 5 until 6:45 p.m. This session emphasizes themes in our lives and explores the directions that we have taken in raising families, 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. For questions or ideas contact Daria Nashat at or Pastor Karin Liebster. All are welcome.

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 Going On

David Karohl is 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 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 contact Monica.

Isle of Love Valentine Dinner

The Luther League invites all members and friends to a formal tropical Valentine dinner on Saturday, February 10 in the parish hall at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Come enjoy a superb gourmet dinner complemented by a romantic and tropical ambience at our third annual Valentine Dinner. You are welcome to bring and serve yourself your favorite bottle of wine or other alcoholic beverage. Seating is available for couples, individuals, and small or large groups. Professional childcare will be available upon request for $10 per child.

Space is limited so make your reservation early!. 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

Searching for the Feminine at Church
(a two part series) presented by Barbara Rozek

February 4: Is God Male?
The word God appears sometimes too small a word for the being that created, redeemed, and sustains us. How do we see God? Is God male? If not, is God female? Neither? Both? Come and explore through scripture, hymnody, and liturgy our perceptions of God.

February 11: Where are the Women?
Our scriptures and our language usage in liturgy are both overwhelmingly masculine and patriarchal. What can we find in the Old and New Testament as we search for female participation in the story of God’s love for God’s people? Bring your Bible and let us do some walking through the scriptures.

The facilitator is Barbara Rozek, wife, mother of three, grandmother and high school history teacher with a Ph.D. from Rice in U.S. History. She has declared that she is searching for the feminine at church and struggling.

The Church as Club? Team? & Band? No Greater News for Post-Modern Youth, Final Session

Melanchthon called the Church the assembly of believers, so why not “a club, gathered to worship, share good news, and be sent to witness.” Luther called the Church sheep who listen to their Shepherd’s voice, so why not “a team who listen to their quarterback’s call.” Melanchthon, like Paul, called the Church saints, so why not “a band, rehearsing, singing the Word, and marching out to spread the song” far and wide. Paul Minear found more than a hundred biblical “images of the Church.” Avery Dulles added a number of historical modes of the Church. Maybe these will catch the imagination of some of today’s youth. Join us Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the 2nd floor council room.

The Rev. Dr. Bradley Hanson and wife Marion Hanson offer Classes and Meditation
February 16 – March 30

Dr. Hanson is Professor Emeritus of Religion, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. He is also Director of Grace Institute. Marion, also a leader at Grace Institute, is a spiritual director. Dr. Hanson will be the theologian-in-residence for The Melanchthon Institute.
Dr. Hanson’s teaching theme this year is: Spirituality and Gender: How Gender Influences our Relationship with God, the Church, and Other People.

A course on this theme will be offered Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the council room from February 22 – March 29. Cost: $25/person plus purchase of two books: Woman at the Well by Kathleen Fischer and The Intimate Connection by James B. Nelson. You may order the books through The Melanchthon Institute for $30/set or purchase them yourselves through other sources. Childcare is available upon request.

Marion Hanson will lead a series on Ignatian Contemplation during Wednesday Night Alive! from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in room 204. Her sessions will run from February 28 through March 28.

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.

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 Today

Today, 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 is collecting donations after both services (as the Mission Offering) and will report the collected amount to Souper Bowl of Caring so it can be added to all the other collection amounts across the country 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.