Special

Note on Parking

We are pleased to announce a change in regular parking arrangements for members and friends of Christ the King Church. Beginning immediately, Rice University has generously agreed to allow parking on the west stadium lot ─ directly across from the church ─ at the following times:

Sunday mornings (8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
Sunday evenings (4:00-8:00 p.m.)
Saturday mornings (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
Saturday evenings (6:00-10:00 p.m.)
Wednesday evenings (6:00-9:00 p.m.)

This change takes effect immediately. Please take advantage of the crosswalk at the corner of Greenbriar Drive and Rice Boulevard to cross safely from the west stadium lot to the church grounds.

The lot to our south (the former Baylor Family Practice Building) is now closed to the public and will be used by Rice as a construction staging area.
We ask you to reserve our main lot on the west side of the building for visitors, families with infants, and persons with disabilities.

The congregation is deeply grateful to the administration of Rice University for working with us in the neighborhood to provide parking solutions as we work together for the good of all in the community.

Do you Forget to Bring your Offering Envelopes to Sunday Service?

How often do you arrive to church on Sunday with your check book but forget your offering envelope?

Here are 2 ways you can simplify your life:

forget the envelopes, just bring the check book.
subscribe to Simply Giving, the automatic withdrawal program.

Both ways eliminate the expense of mail-order envelopes and help the church to spend your contributions more effectively.
To unsubscribe to the mail-order offering envelopes, contact the church office or 713-523-2864

Save Time and Money by Switching from Paper to Online

Would you rather receive the Banner electronically and eliminate mailing? Contact the chuch office or 713-523-2864.

Start Spring Cleaning for May 17 Tag Sale

Start Spring Cleaning for May 17 Tag Sale
To help fund some of our children’s programs, we are having a tag sale on Saturday, May 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the parish hall. We are asking you to consider what you may have around your home. Clothes are only accepted when in pristine condition. Babies’ and children’s clothes need to be in near perfect condition. Many hands will be needed for setup and hauling. For questions, and to sign up as a volunteer, contact Donna Olson-Salas

Mission Offering

The mission offering is collected at the church doors at the end of worship.

Mission Offering for March - Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

Everyday Meals on Wheels (coordinated through Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston) visits over 3300 members of this community’s greatest resource, its seniors.
Meals on Wheels not only brings a hot, nutritious meal to these homebound seniors, but gives them what they want the most; the opportunity to have physical contact with someone daily and continue to live independently and with dignity.

Interfaith Ministries (IM) brings people of diverse faith traditions together for dialogue, collaboration and service.

Every dollar we donate in April for Meal on Wheels will be matched by the Feinstein Challenge, a Rhode Island foundation that is donating to organizations like Interfaith Ministries that work with hunger related issues. Our dollars dropped into the Mission Offering during April will go twice as far. Our goal is to raise $1200, the cost of daily meals for one home-bound senior for a whole year. And with the Feinstein Challenge, that means we would actually be supporting two seniors.

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
It envisions a community of faith working and acting together in response to the Divine call to create a more just, compassionate, and caring society.

IM’s Core Beliefs are:

Interfaith Ministries promotes a community where faith is vital for our life together.
People of faith are accountable for building a just and compassionate community.
There is value in working together in the community.

IM works with 10 communities of faith, including Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Unitarian Universalist and Zoroastrian. Together they provide the foundation upon which IM builds collaborative partnerships to serve seniors and refugees. Their programs advocate for the needs and rights of at-risk and special needs children, enhance the independence and dignity of low-income seniors, and improve the quality of life for refugees.

For more information, visit www.imgh.org.

Mission Offering Envelopes

Thank you to all our members who have been contributing generously to our monthly mission offerings. If you would like your mission offering to appear on your contribution statement, please pick up a mission offering envelope from the pew and put it in the usher’s offering baskets as you leave worship services. You may also write a check and earmark ‘mission offering’.

Worship

Godly Play Lessons Today

Pre K - 2nd Grade: Samuel
3rd Grade: Synagogue and the Upper Room

Lay Chaplains and Lay Eucharistic Ministers will be Recognized on April 20

On Sunday, April 20, we will recognize our Community of Hope Lay Chaplains and Lay Eucharistic Ministers. These individuals are affirming their commitment to the ministry of providing pastoral care to members within our congregation and also as an extension to the community. If you are interested in becoming a part of our congregational care team, please contact Beverly Davis

Ascension Day Eucharist

Thursday, May 1, 8:15 a.m.
Narthex Chapel
The services lasts about 45 minutes

Prayer Around the Cross on the First Saturday of Each Month

The congregation and friends of Christ the King Church are invited to the Taizé service on the first Saturday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the nave with Prayer around the Cross.
The Taizé service provides a unique worship experience focusing on silence and reflection. The music is simple yet uplifting. Worshipers come from all over the Houston area.

Morning Prayer

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

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.

A Foyers Group?

It's all about hospitality. Check out the table in the narthex after services today.

Hospitality Handout to Greet Visitors

All are invited to pick up a copy of The Rabbi’s Gift after ther services today. This story is about community building and suggests ways to offer hospitality to visitors.

Wednesday Night Alive!

Children and adults alike will fill every room and corner of the ministry building: eating, learning, singing, playing instruments, studying, praying, writing life stories, and so much more. The Wednesday Night Alive! program has grown from an exclusively children orientated ministry in its early years to a weekly congregational event spanning all generations from infant to those reflecting on their life stories. All members and friends are invited to come and see the building up of strong bones for the body of Christ.

The offerings are very similar to previous years. The schedule, detailed class descriptions, and registration packet are available in the narthex.

We need volunteers and leaders willing to commit to two or three Wednesdays a semester in the following areas:

Kitchen Help – cooking, cleaning, serving. Here is your opportunity to Praise God with a Spoon and Pot! We are especially looking for chefs and assistant cooks.
Welcome Table – we need smiling faces to greet, help with registration, and sell dinner tickets.
Godly Play – both those certified as teachers and those who can quietly assist as Door Persons are needed for the Godly Play class. No experience is required for Door Persons. We especially need volunteers who are not parents of young children for this role.
Kids Club and World Explorers – these special groups are led by Tim Lenz and Irmi Willcockson respectively. They need creative and patient volunteers who are called to work with elementary age children in games, crafts, science studies, and similar areas.

If you would like to serve as a volunteer in a position this year, please let Pastor Liebster and/or Alicia Goodrow know.

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 $5 and children’s plates are $3.

This week's menu is:
Texas Navy Chili
Cornbread
Cole Slaw
Dessert

The meal will be prepared by Paul Monroe

Wednesday Night Alive! Ends on May 7

Wednesday Night Alive! ends this school year’s activities with a final program on May 7 in the parish hall. Children and teachers are excited to join with parents and church friends of all ages for a fun evening. On this final day dinner will be a combination of pizza as usual and potluck/side dishes provided by the participants. Please donate salads, bread, and traditional potluck dishes. Desserts are most welcome and will be collected out of sight in the kitchen until after the program! Dinner will be buffet style at 5:45 p.m. in the parish hall. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by dessert and fellowship. Thanks for a great year of Wednesday Night Alive! and hope to see you on May 7!

Scandinavian Folk Dance

The Scandinavian Folk Dancers of Houston invite you to check them out and consider joining the group. It’s convenient (they practice in the church basement) and it is a lot of fun. They do folk dances from all five Scandinavian countries, and perform publicly five to ten times a year. Practice is on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact the church office.

Nursery Guild Meeting - April 20

All parents of children ages newborn through four are invited to attend the Nursery Guild meeting on Sunday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m. in the Kindergarten class room. On the agenda will be the election of officers and planning for the tag sale on May 17.

Sunday Snack Providers!

Are you looking for a way to help out that will make a big impact without a big time commitment?
Please consider becoming a snack provider!

Most of our volunteers are asked to provide snacks for either service (your choice) twice per year. The snacks can be as simple or as complicated as you wish - no culinary degree required!
Becoming a snack provider is a great way to help make our Sunday mornings more hospitable for guests and more fun for our members. All the money raised goes directly to World Hunger Appeal.
Join us today! Contact Anita Bryant

Playgroup Invitation

We are looking forward to a wonderful year in 2008, and hope you will join us for fellowship in Christ the King's playgroup.  This is a great way to visit with other parents who have babies and young children.  It also provides an opportunity for young children to play and interact with each other, developing their social skills in a small group setting.  The playgroup is open to all parents and their small children.  We meet in the church nursery one morning each week.
 
We meet on Mondays from 10:00 to 11:30 each week.
Stop by and visit!  Bring a friend!

If you have any questions about the playgroup or the field trip, please contact Diane Schoppe at or Franziska Fischer

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

The Luther League is for all 6th grade through 12th grade youth Meetings are generally held in the youth room. Food, games, discussions, and new friends can be found during the 90 minute meetings. The meetings are led by youth director Tim Lenz along with other young adults and parents. Please contact Tim Lenz for more information. Click here to view the Luther League website.

Cookout and Bowling for Youth

The Luther League will have a fellowship event on April 20 starting with a cook off at the Willcockson’ s house located at 4304 Dumbarton St. We will eat and then walk over to Palace Lanes located at 4191 Bellaire Blvd to bowl from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. We will provide food and drinks, but bring $10 if you would like to show off those bowling skills! Friends are welcome! If you are attending or would like to chaperone, contact Tim Lenz.

Confirmation Class Registration

Registration for the new confirmation class starting in September is now open for students entering 7th grade. Confirmation class at Christ the King Church is taught in a two year curriculum. In the 2008-2009 school year we will work on the Bible. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings 6:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. and taught by Pr. Liebster and Director of Youth and Family Ministries, Tim Lenz. A few spots are still available for a week of confirmation camp June 22-27 in LaGrange at Lutherhill Camp. All interested and who have not contacted please email Pr. Liebster or Tim Lenz

Sunday Café

Sunday Café provides 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.

Hey College Students! FREE MEALS! Woohoo…Oh Yeah!

Every Sunday after the late service, Sunday Café happens in the church fellowship area. Hungry's caters, and college students eat for free. Life simply doesn't get better than this! Come join members of Christ the King and fellow college students for great fellowship and a great meal.

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 - 1:00 p.m.

The yoga class will meet on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. in the basement classroom. Bring a mat or foam for comfort. The cost is $7 per person.

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.

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

Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in the parish hall

Sunday Forum on April 20 and 27

On April 20 and 27, Sunday Forum will offer an opportunity to examine the person, beliefs and commitments of Osama bin Laden as revealed in his own words and actions. The classes will be based on the book, Through Our Enemies’ Eyes: Osama Bin Laden, Radical Islam & the Future of America by Michael Scheuer. The author is a former CIA employee. He served as Chief of the Bin Laden Issue Station from 1996 to 1999. The book, written before 9/11, was in the publisher at the time of the attacks by al Qaeda. The sessions will be taught by Michael Pullara, a member of Christ the King Church. He is an attorney and travels extensively. Sunday Forum moves back to the basement classroom 9:45 - 10:45 a.m.

LARGE PRINT BOOK Exchange in the Works

A large print book exchange is coming to the narthex on Sundays. All we need are the books!

So far we have only a few books. Donations of large print books are needed. Please bring your large print books to the church office. If you wish a letter of acknowledgement for your donation, please leave your name, address and telephone number on a piece of paper inside the book. Donated books will be stamped to show that they are the property of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

When enough books are accumulated, a start date will be announced. Thereafter, a book cart with the books will be in the narthex after Sunday services. You will be free to borrow a book and return it to the cart when you have finished it.

Questions may be directed to Susan Teich

Improving Communication with Persons who Experience Memory and Language Challenges?

Circle of Care on May 8 at 6:00 p.m., will feature a discussion of this important topic led by Naomi Nelson. The focus will be on ways to promote sensitive and compassionate conversations. All interested persons are welcome.

Friday Morning Bible Study

New participants are always welcome to the Friday Morning Bible Study and will find that entry into the group is easy. Snacks are served at 10:00 a.m.; the class begins at 10:30.

Baptized into Christ - Luther’s Small Catechism

Persons wanting to deepen their understanding of faith or wanting to prepare for baptism are invited to this study of the most significant text for the Lutheran understanding of faith.  The class is on Wednesday, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the council room and will be taught by Pastor Moore. The series is scheduled through April.

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, April 25, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 26, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 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. Childcare is available when requested the Monday prior to the class.

Young Adult Bible Study on First And Third Tuesdays (note change in day)

Campus pastor Brad Fuerst is offering a Bible study specifically for young adults on first and third Tuesday nights of each month. Pr. Brad will be accompanying UH students on a mission trip to New Orleans. The next meeting is April 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the second floor council room at Christ the King Lutheran Church. The meeting ends at 7:30 p.m.; participants go out afterwards for fellowship.

Service & Care

Join the Houston Food Bank Team

The next trip is on May 10. We will leave the church at 8:00 and return about noon. For more information contact Anna Stock

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets on Monday, April 14 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.

Last Sunday, as a ONE Lutheran congregation, we joined with faith communities around the world to pray, raise awareness, and advocate on behalf of debt relief for the world’s most impoverished. As a result of our advocacy and bi-partisan cooperation in Congress, the Jubilee Act (HR 2634) passed the U.S. Houston of Representatives on April 16. A hearing on the Senate version will be held on April 24. For more information on how you can get involved, go to www.one.org or www.jubileusa.org

Did You Hear About the Hunger Crisis?

The world hunger crisis was all over the news this past week. In just three years, the price of staple foods like wheat, corn and rice has almost doubled. If we don’t do something soon, hundreds of thousands of people face starvation and a hundred million more could fall into extreme poverty.

Christ the King Church is a ONE Lutheran congregation. Please consider taking action with the ONE Campaign

Recycle

You have probably noticed the recycling boxes in the narthex as you leave worship services.

“We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally, as members of this church and as members of society…. As congregations and other expressions of this church, we will seek to incorporate the principles of sufficiency and sustainability in our life. We will take measures that work to limit consumption and reduce waste. We will, in our budgeting and investment of church funds, demonstrate our care for creation.” (from the ELCA Social Statement, Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, 1993)

Thanks to Don Rice, we have been recycling our weekly bulletins and other paper for about 18 months. We invite other members and families to join Don in our mission to care for creation by joining our recycling team. We need volunteers to collect our recycling and carry it to the recycling center. (The closest to church is on Westpark, but you can use any center that is convenient to you). Individuals or families can volunteer once a month, once every two months, or once a quarter. Of course, the more that join the team, the easier it is for everyone. What a great project for the whole family! Please contact Beverly Davis if you are interested in joining our recycling team and furthering our mission to be responsible stewards of God’s creation.

Get to Know CCSC and its Programs

Informal 45 minute Group Tours at our 3230 Mercer location.
Wednesday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m.

To register, please contact Clare Bruce
Bring your Friends!

St. Luke’s Needs Volunteers

The gift of blood is truly the gift of life. The St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Auxiliary needs volunteers to assist the St. Luke’s Blood Center on community blood drives. Volunteers are needed seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Volunteers assist prospective donors with donor registration cards and distribution of snacks post donation. Transportation to the drives is provided. For more information about volunteer activities at St. Luke’s, call the hospital’s Auxiliary office at 832-355-2102 or visit St. Luke’s Web site.

Fair Trade Coffee Sales Continue

Fair Trade coffee from Equal Exchange is on sale after services and during the week in 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, hot cocoa and baking cocoa, and chocolate bars produced by democratically run farmer co-ops in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Order these items online

Printer/Ink Cartridges Needed!

Luther League needs your ink cartridges! The youth of Christ the King urge you not to throw away that printer cartridge when it’s empty – recycle it! The youth group is starting a recycle drive in cooperation with Cartridge World in West University. Cartridge World will make a donation to CTK for the benefit of Luther League for each cartridge we recycle. That can add up to big bucks for programming, youth gatherings and mission trips. If you are already refilling your cartridges, please consider taking them to Cartridge World (located at 4036 Bellaire Blvd, next to Whole Foods) and telling them “Christ the King sent me!”