The Iglesia Luterana Evangelica de Peru (ILEP) has experienced fast growth over just a few years. More pastors, more congregations and more communities served, along with an escalating economy and the devaluation of the US dollar, mean it’s time to re-think mission, synod structure and much more.
We are being called on to help during this transition time as our TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod steps up to temporarily fund pastors’ salaries. The goal is $16,000 and we are half way there! Gifts of all sizes will help us reach this goal.

We are blessed to be walking along side this dynamic, young, and growing church--developing new ways to serve people in poverty and doing justice together.

The Sunday Forum topic on November 15 will be on our companion synod relationship with Iglesia Luterana Evangelica Peruana.
More info >>

Godly Play Lesson Today

Pre K & K: Ark and Tent
1st & 2nd Grades: Samuel
3rd Grade:Story of Ruth

Thanksgiving Day Worship

On Thursday, November 26, at 10 a.m., a Service of the Word will be held in the nave. The service will include traditional Thanksgiving hymns, a sermon, and a Litany of Thanksgiving. All are welcome. Casual attire is encouraged.
Join us for Thanksgiving Dinner.

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 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.

Friday Morning Bible Study

New participants are welcome to join the Friday Morning Bible Study. This year’s study will be based on the readings prescribed for Sunday worship. Entry into the group is easy. Snacks will be served at 10:00 a.m. Class begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 11:45 a.m.

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.

Parking at Rice Stadium Lot Permitted

Press the intercom button at the entrances to the stadium lot.
Let the attendant know that you are going to church. The attendant will let you in at no charge.
Rice personnel can use their parking cards.
Parking in the lot south of the church is available Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.

Menu for Wednesday, November 11

Mixed Greens with Halved Cherry/Grap Tomatoes
and Assorted Salad Dressings
Ropa Vieja (Cuban beef dish)
Rice with Black Beans
Steamed Carrots
Fried Plantains
Cookies

Dinner prepared by Angelika Schmidt-Lange and Mariela Eddington

Christ the King Festival Auction

2009 Festival to Focus on
Service and Care Ministries
In 2009, Christ the King Festival weekend will highlight our work as the sent people of Christ—members of the Village Church with a Global Mission. The Festival Dinner Auction on Friday, November 20 will focus on raising funds for our Service and Care Ministries, with half of the auction proceeds going directly to those ministries. The other half of the proceeds will benefit Camp Lutherhill. Continuing a change made last year, during the entire Festival weekend (Friday and Sunday), we will have a Service and Care Fair, where we can learn more about our Service and Care Ministries and our ministry partners. The 2009 Service and Care Fair will include Direct Ministry Sponsorships. Please plan to take part in Festival this year and help support our Service and Care Ministries. Given the current economic climate, our neighbors are in great need of our generosity and concern.
A dinner buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvre will be provided. There will be a silent auction held during dinner starting at 7:00 p.m. and a live auction with larger items after dinner. The cost is $12.00 per person plus a bottle of wine or dessert to share. Childcare will be provided at no cost.
Please contact Terri Bourne with anything you can offer for either the live or silent auction or any help that can be provided. You can plan a fun sociable event; offer your special talent, skills, or professional expertise to the highest bidder; or provide quality, hand-made crafts, merchandise, gift certificates or a basket of related items.
Please let the church office know if you plan to attend and will need child care.

Amazing Faiths Project Dinner Dialogues

On one evening, Houstonians gather in private homes to share a meal and converse about faith, spirituality and religion in intimate groups of 8-10 people. These dialogues are moderated by trained facilitators and create a safe space for Houstonians of every faith and no faith to share and fellowship with one another.
The dinners will be held on Thursday, November 12 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Last year there were over eighty Dinner Dialogues in Houston. We would love to see even more dinners this year as we spread our movement of respectful dialogue. We encourage you to join us as either a host or attendee on this fabulous night of dialogue! Register to host or attend .

Christmas Bazaar at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church
4309 Young Street, Pasadena

Come and experience the culture and flavor of Scandinavia in Houston!
Shop for unique Christmas gifts of Norwegian pewter and crystal, Swedish linens, knitwear, Norwegian “nisser” and jewelry. Handmade embroideries and special holiday crafts. The bakery will sell homemade breads and Christmas cookies. There will be a wide selection of Scandinavian foods, cheeses, chocolate, etc. in the Norwegian store!

Friday, November 13, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.

The church has a Norwegian worship service with a choir on Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
More information >>

Wednesday Night Alive!

Wednesday Night Alive! is a great opportunity for members and friends of the congregation to meet over dinner, in class, in the kitchen, at the welcome table or while making music together. All members, recent and longtime, are especially invited to come and find their spot as volunteers and participants.

Wednesday Night Dinners Are for EVERYONE!

If you haven’t had a homemade dinner lovingly prepared by our food service ministry team, you’ve really missed out. Instead of cooking on Wednesday evenings, swing by the parish hall between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. and either eat-in with friends and family, or take-out a delicious and inexpensive meal. Adults $5/children $3.

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.

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.

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.

Members are invited to suggest speakers or topics to be addressed during Sunday Forum.
Contact Susan Myres Uri with your ideas and comments.

November 8 – Listening Post

The Church Council will be leading a Council Forum to address issues facing the congregation and discuss questions or concerns from members. The Council Forum is presented as a quarterly opportunity for communication exchange.

November 15 – Peru

All adults and youth are invited to Sunday Forum on November 15 to learn about our companion synod relationship with Iglesia Luterana Evangelica Peruana – ILEP. Tim Lenz and Sheri Alsguth (from Advent Lutheran Church) will lead a presentation on our synod’s relationship with ILEP along with sharing experiences on past and upcoming trips to Peru.
ILEP is a member of the Lutheran World Federation and has approximately 1,100 members. It is comprised of over a dozen congregations and several mission starts or “faith communities,” as they are called in Peru.

Confirmation Classes

The new confirmation class combines youth to be confirmed in 2010 and in 2011. Ten of our members will be participating in this year’s class. This year the youth will study and memorize the Small Catechism. Confirmation class takes place on Wednesdays, beginning September 9, at 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. in the council room. Pr. Moore and Tim Lenz will lead the class.

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, December 4, 7 until 9 p.m., and Saturday, December 5, 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.

Volunteers Needed for Canstruction

Christ the King Church has been invited to send volunteers to “decanstruct” tens of thousands of donated canned goods from Canstruction 2009 and pack them for transport to the Houston Food Bank on November 14. Volunteers will meet at Christ the King Church at 7:00 a.m. Volunteers ages 8-14 need to bring a parent or grandparent along. Wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Bring small sissors or pocket knives, and a big smile.
RSVP Anna Stock by email.

Feed the Homeless

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

Thanksgiving Dinner at Christ the King Church

Grandma comes to the parish hall – and you don’t even have to drive “over the river and through the woods”-- for Thanksgiving Dinner! Paul and Marie Monroe have graciously volunteered to prepare turkey & dressing and potatoes for a family-style Thanksgiving Day dinner in the parish hall. Any students who aren’t going home, young adults (single and otherwise) without plans, and all adults without family in town are invited to join them. If you would like, you may bring a covered dish to share (salad, vegetable, bread, dessert, fancy drinks, etc.). So we can get an accurate count, please notify Beverly Davis if you would like to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with your brothers and sisters here at Christ the King Church.

Lunch will follow the Thanksgiving Day worship service and will run from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. when the turkey tryptophan kicks in.

Support Our Troops Overseas

Christ the King Church members have the opportunity to donate Ready Brew coffee to the U.S. Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. For $10.00 you can provide a box of instant coffee that is single-serving and of excellent quality. Former Marine Sgt Cory Reckeweg, son of member Linda McGraw, is hoping to donate 400 boxes of Ready Brew to the US Marines of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. You may submit a check made out to Christ the King Lutheran Church earmarked “Coffee for Soldiers” in the offering on Sundays.

Christ the King Foundation Accepts Grant Requests

The Board of Directors of the Christ the King Foundation is now accepting grant requests for projects meeting Foundation Criteria. Individuals or groups may request grants to further special projects and needs of the congregation or its mission to the community. The Foundation makes grants based on the income from its investments. Past grants have been awarded for seminary scholarships, programs at the Melanchthon Institute and other special educational programs, and outreach projects.
Application forms will be in the church office for your grant request.
Deadline for requests is noon, December 1, 2009.

Search Homeless Services Sleepout Event on November 14

This year marks the second annual SleepOut event that will take place on November 14 at Sesquicentennial Park in downtown Houston. The purpose of the event is to kick off National Homeless Awareness Week and to raise money to end the homeless epidemic in Houston. All of the proceeds for the event will go towards SEARCH Homeless Services.
The event was started by a group of young professionals, also known as the Young Ambassadors. The group is committed to supporting SEARCH’s efforts to end homelessness in Houston. Last year the group raised over $50,000 that helped to replenish the food pantry of SEARCH after Hurricane Ike.
Participants may SleepOut as individuals or in teams and must raise a minimum of $100 to SleepOut. The $100 may be paid by the participant or acquired through sponsorships from friends, family, and community members donating money on their behalf. Corporate sponsorships are also available. The event will take place November 14 at 5:00 p.m. – November 15 at 7:00 a.m. For more information please visit http://www.sleepout.org or contact member Steven Bryant.

On November 22 (Christ the King Sunday) and November 29 (Advent Wreath Workshop Sunday), the Luther League will sell Divine Chocolate Advent Calendars with milk chocolate hearts behind a nativity scene and the Divine Chocolate story on the back. Be sure to stop by and purchase one for every member of the family. The proceeds go to the cocoa farmers in the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana to help build wells, fund schools and provide mobile medical clinics for their communities.  The members of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative are involved in the business decisions from “bean to bar,” so together, the good we can accomplish is sweet indeed!

Serving Lunch at SEARCH on the Third Wednesday of Each Month

Join members of the congregations of Christ the King Church and Brith Shalom 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.

Pet Food Needed!

aniMeals on Wheels needs your help! The program, which delivers food for pets of seniors who receive Meals on Wheels, is experiencing a shortage in pet food. The program began because seniors receiving Meals on Wheels were sharing their limited resources and, in some cases, their much needed home-delivered meal with their pet. We provide this service because for some seniors their pet is their only companion. aniMeals on Wheels is sustained by donations and is delivered entirely by volunteers.

Please, help feed these companions by donating both dog and cat (wet or dry) pet food. For questions about the program, donation, or volunteer information please contact Stephanie Kimball or 713-533-4948. You may drop off pet food in the collection baskets in the narthex on Sundays.

Check your Blood Pressure

The next blood pressure screening will be on Sunday, October 25 after each morning service in the narthex.

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.

Donations Needed for SEARCH

Insect Repellant still Needed – Until it freezes, the damp days in Houston still encourage mosquitoes to multiply. Our street population is still pestered by these insects. SEARCH’s Mobile outreach team is in need of insect repellant.
Need for Blankets
Search Homeless Service’s Mobile Outreach team is in need of blankets as we look towards the cool/colder months ahead. In the past they have had blankets donated to them in bulk from an organization, but this year they have been informed that there will be a charge for them. Please bring in gently used blankets that can be distribute to this homeless community.
Please bring your donations to the drop off box in the narthex.

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.

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

Food Donations Needed

Help fill the shelves at Emergency Services of the Christian Community Service Center (CCSC). Food donations are needed. Current needs are: peanut butter, tuna fish, meaty soups, canned fruit and vegetables. Please bring your food donations to the drop off box in the narthex.