Missional Offering

Mission Offering for July
Lutheran Social Services, Inc

Together we can get Pr. Moore to throw the first pitch at the Houston Astros game on Lutheran Day, July 28! Here is how it works:
Every year the Houston Astros host a fundraising effort for Lutheran Social Services, Inc. (LSS) on Lutheran Day at Minute Maid Park. The tickets sold through LSS are half price plus $2. The extra $2 go to the children’s ministries of Lutheran Social Services. Last year LSS sold 1000 tickets, which raised $2000 for the children. This year LSS wants to double this amount through a challenge to Lutheran churches around the city. LSS is asking Houston-area churches to raise substantially more funds in addition to the amounts raised from ticket sales.

As an incentive the pastor of the congregation which raises the most funds for LSS beyond the ticket sales will get to throw out the first pitch...this could be Pr. Moore’s big break! Game day is Saturday, July 28 at 2:55 p.m. The Astros play the Padres.
Lutheran Social Services, Inc. is the social service arm of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The organization annually serves nearly 35,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. The LSS ministry includes domestic and international adoption, children’s residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, health care and retirement services for seniors, adult day care, services for the poor, disaster response and emergency assistance. Lutheran Social Services has been and continues to be a prominent partner in the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disaster relief efforts.

All of July’s mission offering will support LSS’s ministry of service. Click here for more information on the Houston Astros game on Lutheran Day, July 28.

Special

The Ugandan Orphans Choir will sing at both liturgies today. The choir consists of a small group of upper elementary age children from Uganda who lost their parents to AIDS. They are traveling the world with their voices and dance performances to tell their story, share their faith, and raise funds for educational programs in Uganda. While they are on tour they are schooled by chaperones from Uganda and the United States. The choir and chaperones are hosted by church families. The children will share their repetoire between the services. The mission offering today is designated to the Ugandan Ministry to support their work. If you would like to sponsor a child, please consult the sponsor table in the narthex following the services.

Ethnos String Quartet Concert Today

The Ethnos String Quartet will present a concert at Christ the King Lutheran Church today at 3:00 p.m. in the parish hall. On the program is Beethoven’s venerable String Quartet, Op. 59 no. 3 and Webern’s Langsamer Satz. The Ethnos String Quartet is a dynamic young ensemble based in Houston which shares a passion for the standard repertoire as well as exploring creative ventures in new music. Admission is free. Click here for more information on the Ethnos Quartet.

Congregational Meeting To Call New Campus Pastor July 22

A special meeting of the congregation will be convened on Sunday, July 22, at 12:15 p.m. in the parish hall to vote on a recommendation to call Bradley Fuerst to be Houston’s Lutheran campus pastor.

The Houston Lutheran Campus Ministry Council, a partnership of Christ the King Lutheran Church and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, voted on July 2 to initiate the call to Brad. Church Council voted unanimously on July 10 to recommend Brad to the congregation.
Christ the King Church and the Synod created the partnership to share responsibility for financing a full-time campus pastor to serve students and staff at Rice University, the University of Houston and the institutions of the Texas Medical Center.

Brad, who hails from Hildreth, NE, is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC.

Luther League Car Wash

Do all your village shopping on Saturday, July 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and get your car washed! The Luther League is hosting a car wash in the church parking lot facing Rice Boulevard to raise funds for their New Braunfels trip in August. A clean car is a happy car!

Automated External Defibrillator On Site

We are prepared! Our AED (automated external defibrillator) has arrived! It is located to the left of the kitchen serving window. In addition, the kitchen is equipped with a well-stocked safety kit. Only individuals who have AED training should attempt to use the AED in an emergency. If you have a current CPR card and would like to know more about how to use the AED, please contact Linda Schoene, Congregational Nurse, We need 10 participants to hold a class at a cost of $20 per participant.

Worship

Morning Prayer

Each weekday morning at 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer is said in the narthex. All are welcome to participate.

Prayer Around the Cross at Taizé Service

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.

Calling for Name Tag Sunday Volunteers

Twice a month we ask all members and visitors to wear name tags on Sunday mornings as a means of learning names and getting to know each other better. A new schedule will soon be compiled of those interested in assisting with this ministry. If you would like to arrive a few minutes early for service occasionally, and greet friends, members, visitors to church with a smile, a handshake, a word of welcome, please contact Donna Graham

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.

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.

The Library - a Secret Hideaway in our Church

There’s a secret hideaway in our church, a quiet place for studying and searching, for relaxing and reflecting, or for just bringing your cup of coffee and curling up with a good book or magazine. The church library, tucked away next to the kitchen, is awaiting your discovery.
Open all Sunday morning, with helpful staff to assist you, we offer much more than just dusty, musty theology books! There are videos, magazines, and collections of children’s literature, all for you and your family to enjoy. We can also help you research and find just the right resource for your personal or group study. And of course, we always welcome your suggestions for new materials that would benefit our growing church.

See you at the library, David West

Playgroup on Tuesdays 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Christ the King Church invites parents with babies and toddlers to participate in a playgroup on Tuesdays from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. in the nursery. Each week parents meet with children of various ages for fellowship and exchange. Playgroup will continue meeting throughout the summer on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 in the nursery. Please contact Diane Schoppe if you have any questions. All are welcome.

Parents’ Online Group

Log in to an online parent support group for quick answers to quick questions. Join the group of Christ the King Church members who take advantage of the accumulated wisdom and knowledge shared by parents of the youngest members.

To join the group, send an email to Penny Linsenmayer. Include your name and email address in the body of the message.

Luther League

Luther League meetings regularly for food, fellowship, games, and discussion. All 6th grade through 12th grade youth are invited.Contact Tim Lenz or 713-523-2864 ext. 1001 for more information. Click here to view the Luther League website.

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.

Yoga on Saturdays - 10:00 a.m.

Yoga classes meet on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. in the basement classroom.
This gentle Hatha Yoga class 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. Bring a mat or foam for comfort. The cost is $7 per person.

“All Around the Globe” - Christ the King Summer Family Camp
now thru August 8

Come and join the family camp on Wednesday nights at the church from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Families and individuals meet for dinner, music, devotions, games, and crafts. The theme for the summer is “All around the Globe.” Children will create their own world maps, learn songs in different languages, and will get to make crafts symbolizing different countries. Music explorers director Debbie Whitmire leads two music classes and the Luther League leads the games. The Ugandan Orphans Choir will perform on July 11. The last night on August 8 will be a pool party. There will be no meeting on July 4.

Music Classes with Debbie Whitmire at Summer Family Camp

The Christ the King Family Camp this summer is the perfect time to continue the music and dances we enjoyed so much on Wednesday nights during the school year.

The music class for children ages 0-7 will meet 6:30-7:00 p.m. for singing, bouncing and playing instruments. Parents, grandparents and other adults caring for the children are invited to join during this time of making music together. Folk songs from around the world and sign language vocabulary for the Lord’s Prayer fit in with the theme “All Around the Globe.”

The Orff class from 7:00 through 7:45 is for elementary children who already have some musical experience and are ready to receive instruction on our beautiful new Orff instruments. All older students and adults are eagerly welcomed as well.

Lutheran Day at The Astros’ Game

Support the Lutheran Social Services children’s ministries in the Houston area and catch a great game at Lutheran Day at Minute Maid Park Saturday, July 28, at 2:55 p.m. Many bullpen seats have been reserved for Christ the King Lutheran Church at a price of $14 each. For more information or to reserve tickets please contact Tim Lenz. Deadline for reservations is Sunday, July 15.

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

Book Reviews

Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in the basement classroom

The book review summer series enjoys great popularity as an interesting and delightful opportunity for cool fellowship on hot summer Sundays.

July 15: Naomi Nelson reviews Simone Weil, by Francine du Plessix Gray
July 22: Alicia Goodrow reviews Religious Freedom and the Constitution written by the new Dean of UT Law, Lawrence Sager. Published by Harvard University Press. A chapter from the book may be downloaded for free online at www.utexas.edu/law/faculty/lsager/religiousfreedom_excerpt.pdf. The book can be purchased from Amazon.
July 29: Michael Pullara reviews Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq, by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor.

Summer Sunday School

Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:45 a.m. toddlers are invited to join together to listen, sing and dance to their special collection of songs in room 204 on the second floor. The older children will meet in room 109 on first floor for movies from our large collection of children’s Bible lessons, telling the great Old Testament stories beginning with the story of David. Summer Sunday School will be informal to take into account travel plans and vacations. Children are welcome to attend one, two or all of the sessions and to bring their friends. Adults who can spend an hour enjoying music with the little ones are invited to sign up on the list on the nursery door or contact Marie Monroe

“Invisible Children” Screening

“Invisible Children,” the documentary based on the experiences of three college students in Northern Uganda, will be shown today at 6:00 p.m. in the youth room. Pizza and beverages will be served. The film focuses on the war’s effects on children, particularly child soldiers. The screening is open to anyone in 8th grade and older. Contact Tim Lenz for more information.

Ready to Forgive: An African Story of Grace

The June issue of Mosaic, ELCA’s video magazine, offers an African story of God’s amazing grace. Northern Uganda is at war. Those most affected, the Acholi people, endure rape, torture and child abduction. Thousands have died, others are missing, 2 million displaced. Despite all this, the Acholi people are ready to forgive. This video is a wonderful way to explore the concept of reconciliation in Africa, but also at home.

Contact the church office if you would like to check out this video and view it in your home.

The Bonhoeffer Conference on DVD

The Bonhoeffer Conference hosted by The Melanchthon Institute in Houston last October is now available as a DVD Series and CD-Rom Study Guide for $60 for a 7 hour course. There are a total of six lectures, two each by Larry Rasmussen, Clifford Green, and Barbara Green. The course also includes a selection by local Houston Holocaust Survivor Walter Kase. The materials are available through the ELCA’s Select Multimedia resources. For further information go to www.selectlearning.org or call toll free 877-675-6275.

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

Houston Food Bank

Christ the King Church sends volunteers 6 times a year to the Houston Food Bank. We go on the second Saturday of each even-numbered month. Please join us on our next opportunity to go to the Houston Food Bank on July 21. We will meet in the Christ the King Church parking lot at 8:00 a.m. and depart to the food bank at 8:05 a.m., returning around noon. For more information, contact Anna Stock

Back-to-School Program

Thousands of children in Greater Houston will begin the 2007-2008 school year without the basic supplies needed to succeed. Fortunately, you can help by providing the necessary tools for one child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well-prepared and ready to learn! A $45.00 donation to the Christian Community Service Center’s (CCSC) Back to School Program will provide one student with a new school uniform/shoes and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. CCSC hopes to provide 5,500 students with these essential supplies for success, but needs your help. Please sponsor one or more students by submitting a check made out to “CCSC Back to School Project” in the offering on Sundays now through August or donating online at CCSC’s secure website.

Additionally, CCSC is in need of volunteers for sorting supplies (August 4) and for distribution (August 10-11). Please contact Susie Crafton for more information about this important program.

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets on Monday, July 23 at 5:45 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! All are welcome.Contact Wendy Wiker for more information.

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.