The Houston International Seafarers' Centers are a “home away from home” for seafarers visiting the Port of Houston. Chartered in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as a non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Texas, the two Centers have during their existence served over a million visiting seafarers. Both Centers exist as the result of a deep desire and concern within the local maritime industry, followed by active support and involvement of the community and local churches, to provide a safe and welcoming recreational and spiritual environment on land for those who have chosen the sea as their livelihood.
Recognizing that all human persons are a gift of God, the mission of the chaplains and Committee for Ministry to the Port of Houston is to carry out a ministry of presence, outreach, witness, worship, service, and advocacy to, with, and for seafarers and their families from around the world. The Lutheran Port Ministry Committee works to support our chaplain Ben Buehl.
Due to Homeland Security proceedures, about 70+% of the seafarers are not allowed to leave their ships due to nationality and or not having been provided visas by their ship owners. Almost 7,000 ships came in last year with 15,000 crew members. Chaplains are very busy with extra onboard work. Our mission offering supports Chaplain Buehl’s ministry.
Our November 22 and 29 mission offering will support the Lutheran Port Ministry.

You can also help the seafarers by filling a shoebox with personal items and small gifts which will be distributed for Christmas by the chaplains.

Godly Play Lesson Today

No lessons this Sunday,

Children will participate in the Advent Wreath Workshop.

Friday Morning Bible Study

There will be no Bible study on December 4, The study will resume on January 15.

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.

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.

Prayers and Thoughts for All at Fort Hood

Support and encouragement notes can be sent to c/o Chaplain Richard Brunk, Garrison Chaplain's Office, Bldg 44, 761st Tank Battalion Avenue, Fort Hood, TX 76544-5000

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.

Advent Wreath Workshop and Advent Café

On November 29, the First Sunday in Advent, during the Sunday Church School hour, the Altar Guild will conduct an Advent wreath workshop in the parish hall. Adults, youth, and children are invited.
Greenery, candles, ribbon, and frames will be available for a suggested donation of $10. If you have your frame from last year and only need greenery and candles, a $8 donation is suggested.
The youth group opens the Advent Café with goodies and hot chocolate. DivineChocolate Advent Calendars will be available for sale. Proceeds benefit Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and the Luther League.

BeadforLife Bead Party!

BeadforLife eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Ugandans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women make gorgeous handcrafted paper beads from recycled paper and turn them into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Join us Sunday November 29, at 9:45 a.m. and Wednesday, December 3, at 5:30 p.m. in the parish hall to learn about BeadforLife and to purchase this colorful handmade jewelry... and help others a world away. More information about the BeadforLife

Youth Advent Retreat

All 6th through 12th grade students are invited to Lutherhill December 11-12 for fellowship, worship, study, and fun at this year’s Advent Retreat. The fee of $65 will cover transportation, lodging, food, activity fees, and the cost of two chaperones. The deadline to register is December 4.

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.

Last Wednesday Night Alive! of 2009 - December 2

Menu: Chili (Texas nave, of course), Cole slaw, Corn bread, Beans, and Dessert.
The meal will be pre;ared by Paul Monroe.

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.

Nursery Volunteers

Do you like babies? Or watching young children play with trains and other toys? Our church's families are growing, and we need your help. We are looking for more volunteers to help out in the nursery a few times a year, for either the early service or the late service. Babies need to be held, and there are small children to be read to. If interested, please contact Diane Schoppe or sign up in the nursery. See you there!

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 29 – Advent Wreath Workshop, Advent Café, and the BeadforLife Bead Party

December 6 - Bible Study

Lucky Sahualla will lead a Bible study in the basement adult classroom. The class explores the appointed biblical readings for the day in depth as a means to let the stories speak to us in new ways. No preparation, homework, or materials necessary, just an open mind and a willingness to ask and answer questions.

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.

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.

Donate New Toys and Books

Please donate new, unwrapped toys and books (avoiding items violent in nature) for children ages 0 – 15 to the Christian Community Service Center (CCSC).
You may place donations in the box in the narthex or in the church office through Sunday, December 6.
When shopping for toys, remember the toy each child receives through Jingle Bell Express may be his/her only Christmas present. Consider purchasing one or two “primary gifts” rather than several small “stocking stuffers.”

You’re invited to a BeadforLife Bead Party!

Be inspired by hardworking Ugandan women lifting themselves from poverty.
Purchase jewelry handmade from colorful recycled paper...and help others a world away.
Learn how you can make a difference and have fun doing it!

Sunday, November 29 9:45 a.m.
Wednesday, December 2 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 13 9:45 a.m.

BeadforLife eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Ugandans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women make gorgeous handcrafted paper beads from recycled paper and turn them into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The beads become income, food, medicine, school fees—and hope. Paying the members fair-trade prices allows them to meet their daily economic needs. All net profits from BeadforLife are invested in community-development projects that help people work their way out of poverty. To get a preview of the jewelry that will be offered for sale at the BeadParty along with more information about the BeadforLife program

Fill a Shoebox for a Seafarer

In keeping with our motto, the village church with a global mission, Christ the King Church children will be wrapping shoeboxes to give to seafarers who visit the Port of Houston this holiday season. The gifts will be distributed by the Seafarers’ Ministry, which comprises Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran chaplains.
We encourage families to fill a shoe-box FULL with items such as: combs, soap, shaving cream, disposable razors, lip balm, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pads, pens, pencils, puzzles, envelopes, needles and thread, deodorant, heavy socks (no ankle socks), shoe laces, work gloves, knit caps, flashlights, calendars, bottle openers, nail clippers, aspirin, band-aids, key chains, small photo albums, Texas souvenirs, disposable or one-use cameras, playing cards, magazines, hard candy (no chocolate) or something fun. (These are items we take for granted but they are appreciated tremendously by the seafarers. There are very few women on the ships. Please pack boxes primarily for men).

Please bring your filled shoebox to the narthex through December 13.
For more information, contact Tim Lenz

Check your Blood Pressure

The next blood pressure screening will be on Sunday, November 29 after each morning service in the narthex.

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

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.

On 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!

Care Packages for College Students

Want to show a little love? Houston Lutheran Campus Ministry is looking for persons willing to assemble Finals care packages for Rice University and University of Houston college students. On Tuesday, December 1 at 9:00 a.m. servants will gather in the fellowship hall at Christ the King Lutheran Church to assemble the packages and write meaningful notes of encouragement for college students connected through Houston Lutheran Campus Ministry. Here’s your opportunity to express God’s love to students during what can be a very stressful time. All the faithful are invited to assist! Please email Pr. Fuerst

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets on Monday, December 14 at 5:45 p.m. in the kitchen at Christ the King Church.

Join us on the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings of each month at Christ the King Lutheran Church to make sandwiches and prepare meals, and then deliver them to downtown homeless individuals. Our schedule is as follows:

5:45 p.m. - Meet in the kitchen and parish hall to set up and prepare the meals
7:00 p.m. - Leave CTK for downtown to deliver the meals

All are invited to help out with meal preparation, downtown delivery, or both! All are welcome.Contact Tim Redl for more information.

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.

Serve Lunch at SEARCH

Christ the King Church members and friends join members of congregation Brith Shalom on the third Wednesday of each month to assist with the preparation and service of the noon meal for clients of SEARCH Homeless Services. Our next outing will be on Wednesday, December 16, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. Contact Beverly Davis

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.

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.

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.