Welcome Visitors

We warmly welcome all visitors to Christ the King Lutheran Church. Please join us after Sunday worship for snacks, coffee, tea, and lemonade in the courtyard. Contributions benefit the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
We invite visitors to sign a pink worship card from the pew or the guest books at the doors.

Summer Office Hours

Summer office hours including a four-day work week of 10 hours per day and go through August 14. The goal in closing the building on Fridays is to save substantially on electricity expense.

Mission Offering

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

Feed the Homeless Ministry - August 2, 9, and 16

by Tim Redl

“I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink… I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me.” - Matthew 25:35-40

Since April 2004, members of Christ the King Lutheran Church have been gathering on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month for fellowship and to volunteer to feed the homeless of downtown Houston. We produce approximately 300-340 sandwiches and assemble 150-170 lunches and deliver them downtown directly to homeless individuals.

We operate on an annual budget of approximately $1,500, which is only about 37 cents per meal served. Please consider the importance of this ministry when donating to the Mission Offering and consider joining us on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 5:45 p.m. in the church kitchen. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome to participate!

You can also help the Feed the Homeless Ministry by donating your plastic grocery bags for us to use to distribute the meals in. Just drop the bags off in the church kitchen. Contact Tim Redl if you are interested in participating or have any questions.

Lutheran Principles in Health Reform

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives continue important debates on health care legislation. There is a great deal of discussion and confusion circulating, so it is more critical than ever for us to educate ourselves on the issue. For a Lutheran perspective, you are invited to pick up copies in the narthex of the ELCA Social Statement on health and health care, “Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor” and of Lutheran Services in America’s paper on “Health Care Reform: Responsibility for All.” You can also go on-line and click on “health care reform” for more information on the issue from a faith perspective.

Worship

Chorus and Choir Resume

The choral groups of Christ the King Church resume rehearsals on Wednesday, August 12, and invite new singers to join them. The Chorus sings at the 8:30 service on Sunday under the direction of Mark Mummert, and the Choir sings at the 10:50 service under the direction of Albert LeDoux. Both groups rehearse Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in their basement rehearsal rooms. There is no audition required; simply come to the rehearsal if you’re interested or call the church office (713-523-2864) for more information. This Wednesday’s rehearsal will be followed by a social hour to welcome new members, celebrate the new season, and congratulate those members who had birthdays over the summer recess.

Prayer Around the Cross on the First Saturday of Each Month the Taizé Service

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.

Prayer Around the Paschal Candle, Ministry of Healing on the Second Saturday of Each Month at the Taizé Service

An additional worship opportunity has been added to the Taizé service on each second Saturday of the month. It is called Prayer Around the Paschal Candle and offers the option to receive a Healing Blessing. The Prayer Around the Paschal Candle complements the Prayer Around the Cross which is held on the first Saturday of each month. Persons who wish may come forward for a prayer with laying on of hands and anointing with oil. The congregation accompanies and supports the individuals coming forward with songs of hope and resurrection faith. The Prayers of Intercession will deliver to God petitions on various aspects of healing. Gathered by the Holy Spirit around Jesus Christ, the Word of salvation, we pray for God’s healing in all its dimensions. See an expanded article.

Taking Faith Home Online

Taking Faith Home, our weekly devotional, is available online. Look for the Taking Faith Home icon.

ELCA to Engage in 50 Days of Prayer Leading to Churchwide Assembly

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has asked the church's 4.7 million members to pray and study Scripture for 50 days starting June 29, in preparation for the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The assembly is the ELCA's highest legislative authority and meets every two years. The 2009 assembly is in Minneapolis Aug. 17-23. The assembly will act on a proposed social statement on human sexuality, a recommendation on ministry policies and various churchwide program proposals. It will conduct elections and consider memorials (proposed at synod assemblies) and resolutions (proposed by voting members at the churchwide assembly). The proposed social statement and recommendation on ministry policies are sources of significant discussion within the church.

A prayer and study guide booklet prepared by the churchwide office is available in the narthex and commended to prayerful use by the congregation. The resource can also be downloaded

Contemplative Prayer on Monday Evenings

Matthew 6:6 says "go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret". Contemplative prayer is a Christian spiritual formation practice in which one "goes into their room to pray." Exterior stillness helps to develop an interior silence and space where one can listen with the ear of the heart to hear the God who is always more willing to listen to us than we are to pray. Come on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. to room 206 and pray this ancient form of prayer.

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.

Fellowship

Auf Wiedersehen!
Tot ziens
‘Til we meet again!

Pastor Liebster and Family Off to Holland

On Sunday, August 16, at 6:00 p.m. the congregation will gather in order to send Pr. Liebster and family on their 10 month leave for the Netherlands. It will also be a great occasion to celebrate homecoming after three months of summer just before school starts later in the month. We will gather in the parish hall and the newly renovated courtyard. The hamburger cookout will be catered by Goode Company ($10 per person, $40 cap for families). Chicken burgers and portobello mushroom burgers are available by advance orders only. Participants are asked to bring dessert and beverages. Please make your reservation with the church office

Yoga on Saturdays - 1:00 p.m. (note new time change)

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.

Wednesday Night Alive!
Volunteer Dinner September 2

On Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00 p.m., there will be an orientation for all Wednesday Night Alive! volunteers, including all teachers, greeters, storytellers, music teachers, and registration persons. The orientation will include the Safe Haven policies and information on the new schedule and programming. Childcare will be available. Adult volunteers are needed to work with all age groups as storytellers, greeters for Godly Play, Godly Play teachers, congregational greeters/meal sales, and nursery volunteers.

Calling all Cooks and Bottlewashers

Our Food Service Ministry Team will continue to delight our hungry Wednesday Night Alive! participants again this school year. We are blessed with great cooking, as well as serving and cleaning talent, in our congregation. All members who enjoy good food and good fellowship are invited to join us by volunteering one Wednesday during the fall semester. Food service will be from 5:30-7:00 p.m. each Wednesday from September 9 through December 2. We have a full range of positions available from skilled to unskilled (from cooks to servers to dishwashers). And not only do Food Service Ministry Team volunteers get the satisfaction of serving others, but they also get a free meal. How’s that for a great deal! Contact Beverly Davis

Thank You, Christ the King Lutheran Church!

We thank you for celebrating God’s gift to us - our boy, Holden. Your generosity, authenticity, and pervasive joy are not just blessings to us, but are also true gifts for welcoming others into this community. We look forward to Holden’s baptism at the Easter Vigil next Spring, and we’ll be counting on you to do your part in raising a good Luthedist.

Grace to you!
The Reverends Fuerst and Holden

Parent's Night Out/Movies in the Hall

Interested in an evening out while your children are cared for in the church nursery? Christ the King has a baby sitting co-op that provides a monthly evening out while parents take turns working in the nursery. Want more information? Contact Mark Wolf.

Education

Summer Book Reviews

Sunday - 9:45 a.m. in the basement classroom.

These interesting, educating and often fun sessions presented by members of the congregation will run through late August.

August 9: Alan Dieter reviews AD 381: Heretics, Pagans, and the Dawn of the Monotheistic State, by Charles Freeman
August 16: David Frazier reviews Shamans Through Time: 500 Years on the Path to Knowledge by Jeremy Narby and Francis Huxley.
August 23: John Boles reviews The Fire Spreads: Holiness and Pentecostalism in the American South by Randall J. Stephens
August 30: Rally Day, no Book Review

Class for New Members and Inquirers

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, August 14, 7 until 9 p.m., and Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m. until 5 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 made available when requested the Monday prior to the class.

Sunday Church School

Teachers are still being sought for the 2009-2010 church school year. Come join our fantastic teaching team in the following ways:

• Teacher for the Toddlers (2-3 year old)—If you would like to play with play dough, tell stories, sing songs, color, and share the feast with lively and sweet children,
• Team-teach—Maybe you’d even like to team-teach with a friend. Experience with children is good but not required.”
• Assistants—Assist a teaching team for a class by regular attendance but without a commitment to lesson preparation. Assistants are especially needed in the toddler class this year.
• Substitute Teacher—Join the “substitute pool” by agreeing to be “on call” at short notice, although we try to give several days notice. Lessons will be pre-planned for subs

Please email Marie Monroe if you would like to join our fantastic teaching team this year.

Living Word to Host Film about Liberia’s Journey to Peace – Friday, August 14

Living Word Lutheran Church, 3700 S. Mason Road in Katy, will show the film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, at 7 p.m. August 14. After the film, Pastor Emmanuel Jackson will hold a moderated discussion time about the film and his experiences. This is a free event and child care will be available. No reservations are required, but the film is not recommended for children under age 13. For more information about this event, please call the church office at 281-392-2300. More information about the film

Rally Sunday - August 30

Join us on Sunday, August 30 at 9:45 a.m. in the parish hall for this annual start of our Sunday Church School year. Bibles will be presented to third graders, confirmands will be introduced, and children will meet their Sunday Church School teachers.

Jessica Cannon will coordinate the Rally Day breakfast. Volunteers are needed and welcome to contact Jessica

Service & Care

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets on Monday, August 10 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 Tim Redl for more information.

Shoes Needed For Orphan Souls!! - Drop off Shoes by August 17

There are millions and millions of feet all over the world that belong to kids without shoes. Many of those feet belong to older children and teenagers who are the forgotten ones in orphanages. We need YOU to put shoes on their Big Feet by donating shoes, sizes youth 1 through adult 10. Due to customs regulations, shoes for the children need to be new – and we also need new, clean, white socks for those beautiful feet! Bring your shoes and socks donations to church by August 17 and we’ll get them packaged and shipped. If you’d prefer to give a cash donation, make the checks out to Christ the King Lutheran Church, memorandum Shoes for Orphan Souls. Be a Big Foot Benefactor and Bring Big Smiles to Beautiful Children! For more information please contact Tim Lenz or Cindi Scruggs

Serving Lunch at SEARCH on August 19 (the Third Wednesday of Each Month)

Join members of the congregations of Christ the King Church and Brith Shalom, along with friends from W.R. Grace & Company, on the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. to assist with the preparation and service of the noon meal for clients of SEARCH Homeless Services. Anyone interested in helping with this new project, contact Beverly Davis

Helping with Hunger

The Christian Community Service Center’s Emergency Services needs your donations. Houston's needy come to the doors of Emergency Services six days a week seeking assistance. The program helps clients, who qualify, with food, clothing and possibly some financial assistance.
In 2008, CCSC attended to the immediate needs of over 15,000 individuals. In the first quarter of 2009, they saw a 67% increase in the number of people seeking assistance. Many of these individuals were woman and children.

Specific items needed are canned fruits, and meaty soups. Also, jars of peanut butter and large boxes of cereal. Please donate!

Donations may be dropped off at the food basket in the narthex on Sundays.

Check your Blood Pressure?

Monthly blood pressure screenings are held on the last Sunday of each month.

Make a Difference Today

Even in tough economic times, we want to make sure the commitment to fighting global poverty remains on the agenda of the government.

The total spent on all poverty-fighting programs make up less than one percent of the entire U.S. budget, yet with partners around the world, we are saving millions of lives and helping the world's poorest people break free from crippling poverty. These efforts will be even more critical as the effects of any global economic slowdown are magnified in already struggling countries. Many Christ the King Church members have joined the ONE Lutheran Campaign. You can join with ONE to remind our leaders to keep their promises to the world's poor. - www.one.org/keepourcommitments.

Caring for One Another

Check out the Congregational Care Team display board in the narthex. Please consider joining our team in one or more capacities:

• Meals: Provide an occasional meal to a member or family in need or for a memorial reception
• Transportation: Provide occasional transportation for a doctor’s appointment, worship, shopping, or an emergency (as you are available, of course)
• Visiting/Phoning: Visit or phone a member who is temporarily or permanently indisposed, providing a listening ear and a compassionate presence
• Prayer Notes: Write a note to members expressing our support during times of need and to acknowledge life changes (scheduled for one month a year)
• Emergency Phone Tree: Inform a few of our members (call list) of a member’s death of other extraordinary emergencies
• Bereavement: Provide a faithful, appropriate presence to those experiencing a loss, such as death, property, divorce, or employment
• Community of Hope: become a lay chaplain through this training program and on-going support system.

For more information, contact Beverly Davis

Our Faith in Action

Every day, in a million ways, members of the ELCA are making the world a better place. In far reaches of the globe, and right here in our neighborhood, you’ll see that Lutherans aren’t folks who simply talk about their beliefs. We put them into action.

So make a meal to share. Have your opinion on government policy heard. Help a friend through their time of need. Here you’ll find stories that inspire and opportunities to get involved. Find out just how rewarding God’s work can be.

Help SEARCH Help Others

Now that summer is upon us, the Service of the Emergency Aid Resource Center of Houston (SEARCH) has a constant need for insect repellant and sunscreen. Our congregation has been asked to donate insect repellant and sunscreen. There is a collection box in the narthex for these items.

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

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.

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 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. Order these items online

Contributions

Electronic Giving Now includes Credit/Debit Card Donations

Members and friends now have the option of choosing how to make donations: checking account, savings account or credit/debit cards. Electronic Giving allows to choose the donation frequency, one-time, weekly or monthly, and the donation amount for different funds. Contributions will be transferred electronically from designated accounts or credit/debit cards to the church account. These giving options will work in the same manner as other automatic withdrawals. The charge for using a Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and Discover is 2.75% per transaction. American Express charges of 3.5% per transaction. For example, a $100.00 gift using a Visa card is reduced to $97.25 for the church. There is no charge for donations made through checking or savings accounts. This option gives peace of mind knowing that one’s pledge will be received and is contributing to the work of the church, especially during the low cash flow months of the year! Just click on the Easy button.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.