Special

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giving option will work in the same manner as mortgages, loans payments, or insurance premiums that are automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account.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.

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.

Mission Offering

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

Mission Offering for June 8-29 is Lutheran Social Services, Inc

Every year the Houston Astros host a fundraising effort for Lutheran Social Services, Inc. (LSS) on Lutheran Day at Minute Maid Park. Tickets sold through LSS are half price plus $2. The extra $2 go to the children’s ministries of Lutheran Social Services.

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. Last year we came in second. This year could be Pr. Moore’s big break! Game day is Sunday, July 20 at 1:05 p.m. The Astros play the Chicago Cubs.

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. LSS has been and continues to be a prominent partner in the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disaster relief efforts. In the Houston area, the Krause Center in Katy specializes in treating abused, neglected, and troubled boys and girls, ages 11-17.

Reserve your seat for Lutheran Day at the Astros

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

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.

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.

Mexican Missionary will Visit on June 15

David Brondos is an ELCA missionary serving in Mexico, where he has worked with the Lutheran Church since 1984. He teaches at the Theological Community of Mexico, an ecumenical consortium of Seminaries in Mexico City that includes Augsburg Lutheran Seminary, helping to prepare students for ministry. He will be in Houston on Sunday, June 15 to preach at both services and give a presentation at the Sunday Forum at 9:45 a.m. in the basement classroom.

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

THREE NORDIC TENORS

The THREE NORDIC TENORS, direct from the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen, Denmark, will perform at Christ the King Lutheran Church on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. Their program comprises classical music from the world of opera, operetta, Broadway musicals and Scandinavian folksongs. Performing in 2008 with two guest sopranos, their North American tour boasts stops in Atlanta, Houston, Austin, Seattle, Brainerd, Minneapolis and Sarnia in Canada. They have been touring since 1999 and have traveled all over the world playing in U.S. cities as well as Dubai in the Middle East, Peking in China and all over Europe.

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 continues thru on June 29
12:15 p.m. - parish hall

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.

Transitions Seminar for Women

On Tuesday, June 24, The Transition Network is sponsoring a transitions seminar for professional women over 50 interested in thinking about and talking about their transition from their "mainstream" lives to “What's Next”?

This seminar is to celebrate the publication of TTN's first book: Smart Women Don't Retire; They Set Themselves Free. Every woman participating will receive a copy. The Transition Seminar is also meant to recognize the great hunger many women have to explore this subject with others moving in a similar direction just as they have productively explored other personal issues with like-minded women over the decades.

The seminar will be held at the United Way Building on Waugh Street from 5:30-8:30 p.m. A light supper as well as the book is included in the $65 price. Pre-registration is necessary. Sign up online or email susan@lieberman.net for information.

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

Music Explorers - Summer 2008
Infants, Toddlers, Elementary Age Children

Debbie Whitmire is teaching Music Explorers classes this summer on Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m. through July 30, (no classes on July 2nd). The infant to 2 yrs old class will be at 6:00 p.m. The 2-6 yrs old class will be at 6.30. Debbie will be teaching Orff instruments to kids age 7 yrs old and up at 7:00 p.m. Pizza will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. Classes meet in the basement adult classroom.

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.

Luther League Cookout at Parsonage June 8!

All 6th thru 12th grade students and their families are invited to the parsonage on Sunday, June 8 to celebrate the end of the school year and beginning of summer starting at 5:00 p.m. We will be grilling chicken, hamburgers, and Portobello mushrooms. Please bring beverages or a side dish such as salad, beans, pasta, etcetera, and we’ll take care of the rest! The parsonage is located at 2342 Rice Blvd.

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. 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.

Lutheran Day at Astros

Support the Krause Children’s Treatment Center and foster care services in the Houston area and catch a great game at Lutheran Day at Minute Maid Park Sunday, July 20 at 1:05 p.m. Many bullpen seats have been reserved for Christ the King Lutheran Church at a reduced price of $15 each. The church who sells the most tickets to the game will get the opportunity for their pastor to throw out the first pitch of the game! For more information or to reserve tickets please contact Tim Lenz by Friday, July 11.

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

Book Reviews

The ever popular book reviews have returned for the summer months.
Books for review for June are:

June 8: Penny Linsenmayer reviews Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
June 15: The Rev. David Brondos, visiting missionary, makes a presentation.
June 22: Helen Viereck reviews The Places in Between, by Rory Stewart.
June 29: Mary Ann Beseda reviews In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

Summer Reading to Children

From 9:45-10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings this summer, children may gather in the Children's Library on the 2nd floor for Story Hour. We are blessed with a wonderful selection of children's books some of which will be read and enjoyed each week. Parents and siblings are also welcome. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Children's Library so anyone who likes to read out loud might volunteer for one or more Sundays.

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 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

Service & Care

Letting our Lights Shine

In the April Banner, we invited our members to tell us the names of the organizations you support through your volunteer efforts. We hope to compile and publish a list of these organizations in an up-coming Banner. We expect this list will serve two important purposes: (1) capture the vast scope of organizations and activities our congregation supports through our members’ service to others and (2) help members who are interested in similar types of service activities to connect. Please take a moment and let us know about your volunteer activities and the organizations you support. Thank you for you assistance in this effort and, more importantly, for your service to others in witness to Christ.

Keeping Your Well Full

All interested individuals are invited to our summer congregational care evening on Thursday, June 26. Vicki Bradley will present “Keeping Your Well Full,” sharing insights into how we can keep our own wells full as we care for others. Ms. Bradley is a lecturer in the anthroplogy department at the University of Houston and also serves as a trainer and consultant for caregivers in the Houston area. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall for a salad supper and fellowship.

Join the Houston Food Bank Team

Our next trip is scheduled for July 12.
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, June 9 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.

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

Blood Drive on Sunday, June 8

The M.D. Anderson Blood Mobile will be here on Sunday, June 8 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

In February we set a Christ the King Church record of donated pints. Thanks to all who donated blood. Come out and help us surpass that record in June. Thanks in advance!

Paper Recycling Steps Up

Our recycling container has arrived! It is located by the mechanical yard on the south end of our parking lot. Please collect and drop off ALL your paper items. The church will be reimbursed per ton of paper picked up. We need to collect at least 1.5 tons per month.

Accepted items include: newspaper, magazines, shopping catalogs, junk mail, office and school papers, envelopes with and without windows, phone books, paper bags (paper clips and staples do not have to be removed)
Items not accepted include:
cardboard, cereal/soda cartons, food wrap/containers, paper cups, tissue products, metal, trash, cans, plastics and glass.

National Cancer Survivors Day June 1

Christ the King Lutheran Church will join with congregations throughout our country on June 1 in offering prayers of thanksgiving and support for cancer patients and survivors everywhere, especially within our own congregational family. This year, CanCare’s Survivors Day Luncheon will be at the Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday, May 29, 2008. NFL Hall-of-Famer, Marv Levy, a prostate cancer survivor and former Head Coach of the 4-time Super Bowl Champions, the Buffalo Bills, will be the keynote speaker. What a story he has to share! For luncheon information, call 713-461-0028.

Volunteer Training June 20 – 22 CanCare Volunteer Training for cancer survivors and caregivers who want to help others facing a battle with cancer. Make hospital visitations or support someone one-on-one diagnosed with your same type of cancer. 713-461-0028 or patwh@cancare.org.

Cancare has Urgent Need for Hospital Volunteers

Who: Cancer survivors and caregivers of survivors
* Use your cancer survivorship to encourage others facing cancer in 12 area hospitals and cancer treatment facilities.
* Short, flexible schedules
* Free parking at hospitals
Call CanCare at 713-461-0028 for additional information

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!”