Special

Auf Wiedersehen to the Knebels

It is difficult to believe that nine months have passed since Sebastian, Victoria and Alfred arrived as our guests at Christ the King Church. As Guest Organist during the past year, Sebastian has shared a very special musical talent. His playing is unique and full of personality. He is highly esteemed by his peers and regarded by organists, music directors, and conductors of chamber ensembles as a superlative musician. Leaders of the Bach Society, and fellow musicians with whom he has collaborated in Houston, have made every effort to persuade him to make Houston his permanent home, but to no avail. He is determined to return to Germany to raise his child, Alfred.

We will miss Vicki and Alfred who have been a great support for Sebastian and the congregation. The whole family has used this time to improve their English, all the while proving highly resistant to our special Texas accent.

Sebastian has worked hard and taken his responsibilities seriously. He is a “team player” willing to work in harmony with the pastoral and musical staff of the congregation. Toward visitors he always shows hospitality and is outgoing and friendly. He is totally aligned with the mission of the Church. We look forward to their return visits for Sebastian’s playing the Bach Organ again. Godspeed and farewell!

Electronic Giving Now Available

Electronic Giving allows you to choose the donation frequency, one-time, weekly or monthly, and the donation amount for each fund you wish to support. Contributions will be transferred electronically from your checking or savings account directly to the church account. This new giving option will work in the same manner as mortgages, loans payments, or insurance premiums that are automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account. While away on vacation, you have peace of mind knowing that your pledge has been received and is contributing to the work of the church, especially during those otherwise low cash flow months of the year! Just click on the Easy button.

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.

Drop Off For Tag Sale Next Week, May 17

On Saturday, May 17, 8:30 – 12:00 noon, the annual tag sale will be held at Christ the King Church. It will be held in two locations: in the parish hall and, for the larger (furniture) items, in the driveway of 5511 Chaucer Drive, a few steps from the parking lot. Signage will help find the way.
All members and friends are encouraged to help make the sale a success by donating items of all kinds. Clothes will only be accepted in pristine condition.

The church will be open for drop off all week during office hours and in the evenings until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. If possible, price the items. Things that are in very good shape should not go much under 50% of their original cost. Please advise us of any large and/or valuable donations prior to delivery. All remaining items will be donated to local charity.
. For questions, and to sign up as a volunteer, contact Donna Olson-Salas or Pr. Liebster

Tag Sale Voluneers Needed on Saturday, May 17

Volunteers to help with the tag sale are still needed on Saturday morning between 8:00 and 12:00 noon. Please sign up on the mobile bulletin board, contact Donna Olson-Salas or Pr. Liebster

Tag Sale to Benefit the House of Tiny Treasures

This year ten percent of the proceeds of the tag sale will go to the House of Tiny Treasures which is Houston’s first accredited child care center exclusively serving homeless children. It is owned and run by the Houston SEARCH Homeless Project. Traditionally the tag sale has benefitted our own children’s ministries to help with larger needs such as nursery and Sunday church school furnishings. To increase the outreach and stewardship awareness the Nursery Guild has decided to tithe the proceeds. Financial donations beyond the sale will be gladly accepted. Please contact Kellye Burke, chair of the Nursery Guild.

Mission Offering

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

Mission Offering for May - Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic

Mission Offerings in May will support the educational ministries of our companion synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic: village schools, young women’s scholarship programs for middle and high school, and Women’s Center training programs.

In 2008, the Village Education Project (VEP) has 89 classes in 20 schools. The church started schools in villages without government schools. Classes are open to boys and girls of all faiths. Some villages have now graduated students after the six years of elementary school. Those who pass the state exams are then eligible to attend high school. While villages and parents must provide thatched-roof classrooms, a home and garden for the teacher, and small fees, in a country struggling to survive, schools will not be able to continue without outside support. Ian Graue, ELCA missionary advisor to the VEP, says that he has heard words of gratitude expressed countless times in many different ways by young people who would otherwise not have had a chance at basic education.

Just $20
will keep one child in school for a year.

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: Pentecost
3rd Grade: David

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 onthe 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.

Confirmation Celebration

On Sunday, May 18 at the 8:30 service we celebrate with the confirmation students and their families as they affirm their baptism and are confirmed into the membership of our congregation.

This year’s confirmands are: Aaron Schaer, Julia Scruggs, and Andrew Winston

Recognition of Teachers and Assistants on May 18

Sunday Church School assistants and teachers and WNA Alive! faculty and volunteers will be recognized in both services on May 18 to thank them for a great year of dedicated teaching.

Circle of the Holy Eucharist Cards Available for Children

Sets of cards based on the Circle of the Holy Eucharist Godly Play lesson are available for young children to use during all services. The cards have simple phrases and photos that encourage children to follow the sequence of liturgical actions. They are in the chest by the nave door.

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.

Congregational Picnic on May 18

Because Pentecost and Mother’s Day fall on the same day this year, Christ the King Church’s traditional Pentecost picnic will NOT take place on Pentecost Sunday, but rather a week later on Trinity Sunday, May 18. We invite all to come dressed casual, in the colors you like best!
We are looking for potluck donations of all kinds to complete the meal and make the picnic a successful event. So put on your cooking hats and get busy! Here is how it will work:

- The Education and Enrichment Commission leaders will provide fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuits for $5 per person with a cap of $20 per family.
- Everyone attending the picnic is asked to provide a choice of green salads, fruit, dessert or any favorite picnic dish.
- We are looking for a few donations of large portions that would feed 12 to 20 + people, such as potato and pasta salads, bite size corn on the cob etc.

Recipes have been made available should someone look for an inspiration, like Tortellini Salad, Pasta Salads with and without meat, Black Bean Orzo Salad, Fiesta Taco Salad, Cole Slaw Salad. Contact Mike Shelton

Wednesday Night Alive!

Wednesday Night Alive is finished for this school year. Join us for the Summer Wednesday Night Alive! events. More information to come.

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.

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.

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.

Visit Heifer Ranch!

If any 6th - 12th grade youth or adult would love to get to know the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas July 13-18, please contact Tim Lenz as soon as possible. We have 3 spots available to participate in the Summer Action program at one of Heifer International's learning centers. Participants will engage in a journey of personal growth committing to the value of serving others through interactive learning, community building and work projects.

Airline Vouchers Needed!

The Luther League is looking for families and friends willing to donate frequent flyer miles and airline vouchers for their summer trip this July. 12 youth are traveling to Heifer Ranch, located in Perryville, Arkansas, to engage in a journey of personal growth as they commit to the value of serving others through work projects and interactive learning. The Luther League is busy fundraising to lower airfare costs, but additional help through miles and vouchers would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Tim Lenz if you would like to make a donation to the Luther League

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 are invited to email Pr. Liebster or Tim Lenz

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 basement classroom

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Central African Republic

Carolyn Jacobs continues her talk about her journey to the Central African Republic (CAR), as a participant in the ELCA-sponsored companion synod trip in February.

On May 11, she will emphasize life in CAR and the personal experience of the trip. Slides will be shown at both presentations.

The West Texas Polygamists: Law, Religion and Children’s Rights

On May 18, the Sunday Forum will feature CTK members Jim Paulsen and Susan Myres Uri on the topic: “The West Texas Polygamists: Law, Religion and Children’s Rights.” Jim teaches family law at the South is a board-certified family law attorney who currently represents several FLDS children as a State Bar of Texas volunteer attorney.

Table Talk

Due to requests by Sunday Forum participants, Michael Pullara will do a follow-up table talk on Through our Enemies’ Eyes on Sunday, May 11, at 5:00 p.m. in the second floor council room.

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

All Graduates!

There will be a rite of milestone observance of graduation in both services on May 11, followed by a cake reception.
If you are receiving a degree from high school, undergraduate, or graduate programs, we would like to know! Talk to Beverly Davis, the pastors, or email the church office with details about your graduation date and any plans you have for your future.

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.

Young Adult Bible Study on First And Third Tuesdays

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 May 6 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

Our next trip is scheduled for July.
Join the volunteers going to THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK on the second Saturdays of odd numbered months. You can perform a wonderful service, burn calories, build muscles, and make new friends all at the same time. We leave the church at 8:00 a.m. and return about noon. Everyone is invited to join us. We will have a group lunch afterwards for the volunteers.

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, May 12 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.

Are You Thinking Green?

You can recycle your plastic bags by donating them to the Feed the Homeless Ministry. We reuse plastic bags to put the prepared meals into to deliver them to homeless individuals in Houston. We are running low on plastic bags and could use your extra bags to avoid spending money on purchasing new ones and keep our operating budget low.

Mothers’ Day Offering of Letters

Bread for the World’s 2008 Offering of Letters will be held after each service at Christ the King on Sunday, May 11, Mothers’ Day.

Each of us will have an opportunity to write congress urging support for programs to provide more and better aid for the world’s poorest countries. The global-wide run-up in food-stuff prices has resulted in global-wide increases in poverty, malnutrition and starvation. The brunt of the problems fall on mothers who are fighting harder and harder to feed and cloth their children. We are seeing the progress made in recent years fighting hunger slip away.

Specifically, we will urge Congress to increase poverty-focused development assistance by $5 billion in fiscal year 2009 and to pass the Global Poverty Act, so that our assistance will have the maximum impact for those with the greatest need.

Help the People of Myanmar

Assistance for the people of Myanmar can be sent through the international disaster response arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: ELCA International Disaster Response, PO Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764, 1-800-638-3522 and www.ELCA.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet.

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.

Gulf Coast Severe Storm and Hurricane Preparedness Training

Hurricane season begins June 1st. Rice University is sponsoring two all day preparedness events, Thursday, May 29 and Monday, June 23.

Topics include: Severe Storms and Flooding Emergency Preparedness, Evacuation and Transportation, Sheltering in Place, and Social Dimensions and Public Outreach.
Registration is free of charge. Box lunch will be provided for $8.50. To sign up for one of these training sessions, please contact the conference administrator
Maria Modelska 713-743-3677 and indicate if you want to buy a box lunch

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!”