Feed the Need, So That No Senior Goes Hungry

Our mission offering for April will go directly to the Meals on Wheels program of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston. Our goal is to support at least one senior for one year at $1200. Everyday Meals on Wheels (coordinated through Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston) visits over 4,000 members of this community’s greatest resource, its seniors. Meals on Wheels not only brings a hot, nutritious meal to these homebound seniors, but gives them what they want the most: the opportunity to have physical contact with someone daily and continue to live independently and with dignity.

aniMeals on Wheels for Senior’s Pets
Pet Food Accepted During April

aniMeals on Wheels is a program that benefits clients of Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston. aniMeals volunteers deliver a supply of donated dog and cat food each month. aniMeals is necessary because Meals on Wheels delivery drivers noticed that the seniors in the Meals on Wheels program sometimes share their home-delivered meal with their pet. Some seniors have to make the difficult choice of feeding their pet, purchasing medications or feeding themselves. aniMeals helps to alleviate these tough choices seniors have to make and we need your help.
During April, we ask that members drop off pet food in the basket in the narthex.

Godly Play Lessons

Toddlers: A Sad Day and a Happy Day
Pre K and K: Holy Family & Easter Eggs
1st-2nd Grade: Synagogue & the Upper Room
3rd Grade: Story of the Prophet Elijah

Contemplative Prayer on Tuesday 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 Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. to room 210 and pray this ancient form of prayer.

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

A Ministry of Healing service is 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. The next Prayer Around the Paschal Candle will be held January 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the nave of Christ the King Church. 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

Friday Morning Bible Study

New participants are welcome to join the Friday Morning Bible Study. The study is 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.

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

The Prayer Around the Cross at Christ the King Church is held at the 6:00 p.m. Taizé Eucharist on the first Saturday of each month. A wooden cross on the floor of the altar sanctuary confronts worshipers with the suffering of Christ on behalf of humanity. In its presence the suffering of the world and our own burdens come to light. Christ gave salvation to all on the tree of the cross. It is the tree where life might be restored. Worshipers may choose to meditate on the cross from the pew or may enter the altar sanctuary and kneel at the cross.

Morning Prayer

Each weekday morning at 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer is said in the narthex. All are welcome to participate.

Wednesday Night Alive!

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.

Life Stories Spring Sessions in Wednesday Night Live!

The Life Stories Workshop meets during Wednesday Night Live! from 5 to 6:00 p.m. to share and learn about the process of capturing events and stories from our lives. For the spring sessions, we are using Christina Baldwin’s Story Catcher: Making Sense of Our Lives Through the Power and Practice of Story for guidance in our writing adventures. All are invited to participate. No special skills are required in writing, only an appreciation for story telling. For more information, contact Anna Fay Williams,

Help Send a Youth to Peru    

The seven youth traveling to Peru this summer are in need of sponsors to help subsidize travel expenses. While in Peru the group hopes to develop a multi-cultural experience and grow in their faith and leadership skills through relationships with Peruvian youth and adults at a Lutheran church in Trujillo, Peru. The youth have fundraised and received some scholarships, but still need additional funds. Please contact Tim Lenz for more information or to make a donation.

Water 2 Thrive Presentation on April 11

During the April 11 Luther League meeting at 6 p.m., Sheila Woodard, a representative of Water 2 Thrive (W2T) will lead a presentation on the faith-based non-profit group that transforms lives through the gift of clean water. W2T’s current efforts are supporting rural and impoverished communities in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.

Christ the King Church FilmGoers Gathering April 17 at Houston Film Festival

Once again, the 43rd Houston International Film Festival offers many opportunities to see new independently produced films from April 9-18 and to hear from some of the producers and directors. 
We are planning to go on Saturday evening, April 17, to catch the offerings at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The 5:00 p.m. showing of a US premiere, Father vs. Son, indicates that the Director Joe Ballarini, and Producer Michael Huffington will be present. There is also a 7:00 p.m. world premier of an India/Houston film, Bodhisattva with only one showing.  
There are other choices since two or three films are shown at each time. We can touch base by meeting in the lobby at the AMC Studio 30 theaters at Dunvale before the 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. showings. Afterwards join us to discuss the films and get coffee or a snack at Fadi's Middle Eastern Restaurant, 8383 Westheimer, right around the corner from the theater

More information on the films or contact Anna Fay Williams

A Place for All People

A place for retreat, renewal, a change of perspective…..

A place for swimming, laughing, toasting marshmallows, singing God’s Praises LOUDLY

A place for prayer, quiet walks under 400 year old Live Oaks, and time beside still waters

A place for you

Lutherhill is becoming our Place for All People. For those who haven’t seen it, Lutherhill is our Lutheran Camp in La Grange, Texas built on several hundred acres of God’s beautiful hills and rocks. Six new cabins, new plumbing and new roads are the gifts growing this spring out of pledges from our sister congregations in Texas and Louisiana.We will ask you in the coming weeks to pledge yourselves, your time, and your money to support the Lutherhill Capital Campaign so this can truly grow into a Place for OUR People too.

Family Camping at Lutherhill

April 30-May 2 we’re taking the Families of Christ the King Church to Family Camp Weekend at Lutherhill. The weekend will be filled with activities for moms, dads, kids and grandparents. Several new cabins will be open for business. Bring a sleeping bag, a Bible, swim suit and extra clothes to get dirty while having fun! All activities are suitable for kids 4 and up (even the Ropes Course – ask Zach Goodrow and Katherine Willcockson and Rudy Hefty who are veterans). The registration form is available at Lutherhill.org and in printed form in the nursery and at the WNA registration table. Join us at the Place for All People! For more information, contact Alicia Goodrow

Lutherhill Golf Tournament

Lutherhill Ministries 9th Annual Golf Tournament Sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Join us Friday, April 23 at Longwood Golf Club in Cypress to support the camping ministry of Lutherhill. Register online

Faith Camp this Summer!

Children in grades K- 6 are invited to Faith Camp this summer at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire. Faith Camp is a summer camp ministry program that has been going for over 15 years. Faith Camp offers action-packed weeks of music, games, arts & crafts, kitchen time, splash days, small groups and bible study for children. The camp also offers childcare before and after camp each day. For more information please visit Faith Lutheran Church or contact Pr Tom Glasoe at 713-664-3048.

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.

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 Guild Annual Tag Sale

The annual Tag Sale at Christ the King Church will be Saturday May 15, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the parish hall and at 5511 Chaucer near the church. This is the Nursery Guild's only fundraiser and is used to support children's ministries at Christ the King. We will collect items for the tag sale in the week before the event. Take advantage of this event to clean out closets, garages and attics!   

We will need volunteers to help set up, sell and clean up on Friday, May 14 (all day) and Saturday, May 15 (7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.). We also are looking for individuals who can help with adverstizing. If you live or work near Rice Village, you could help distribute fliers or if you have a connection to a local newsletter you may be able to facitliate getting an ad in for our event. Sign up sheets for the event will appear on the bulletin board in late April but if you would like to commit earlier, please register with Jayme Zage

Christ the King Lutheran Church
Annual Report 2010
is online

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!

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

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 Diane Schoppe. 

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

April 11 Bible Study

Meets in the basement classroom.
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

April 18 Godly Play Class
Just for Adults

Come and see what Godly Play is all about – we promise you won’t have to sit on the floor.

Godly Play is different…
— here children can wonder all they want and not come to the “right” answer
— they share community time, but they can explore the story they choose on their own, too
— the community supports the growth of each other as we come close to the mystery of God’s presence among us
— sometimes there is listening or talking with God

The time of Godly Play is similar to Worship time…

We gather:
— TOGETHER We HEAR the story
— We RESPOND through thinking,
art or playing
— We PRAY & FEAST
and serve each other
— We are BLESSED by the whole & ONE
We are SENT until we come again...

In Search of Belief

The discussion continues on Joan Chittister’s book, In Search of Belief facilitated by Barbara Rozek. Popularity of this discussion group has encouraged us to continue the dialogue of this challenging look at the Apostles Creed.
Come, read together, and discuss the new perspectives on the Apostles Creed suggested in Joan Chittister’s book. Drop by and share in the reading and discussion. Books are provided.
Newcomers welcome.
This discussion group meets in the council room on 2nd floor.

Thesis Defense

Jessica Cannon, doctoral candidate and Christ the King Church member will defend her thesis on Monday, April 19 at 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. on "Lincoln's Divided Backyard: Maryland in the Civil War Era" at Rice University, Humanities Building, Room 316. The public is invited.

Jessica will also present her thesis to the Sunday Forum on May 23.

April 25 is Texas Lutheran University Day

All members and friends, and especially Texas Lutheran University (TLU) Alumni are invited to join us on April 25 at Christ the King Lutheran Church for TLU Day.  President Svennungsen will preach at 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. and she will talk to our Sunday Forum from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. in the basement classroom. Following worship we will hold a luncheon in the parish hall, where President Swennungsen will speak briefly and take time to meet prospective students and parents.

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 two day class on Friday, May 7, 7 until 9 p.m., and Saturday, May 8, 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 for the two-day class is available when requested the Monday prior to the class.

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 at 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. in the council room. Pr. Moore and Tim Lenz will lead the class.

Justice Study Group Meeting

Join us on Sunday, April 11, at 12:15 p.m. in the council room on the 2nd floor for our first Justice Study Group meeting.. Feel free to bring your Sunday Café lunch upstairs with you. Members who attended the synod’s Justice Network event will be there to share their experiences. We will also determine the focus of the group, which is intended to examine the meaning of local and global justice in the context of Christian imperatives. For more information, e-mail Donna Vass .

Feed the Homeless

The Feed the Homeless Ministry meets on Monday, April 12 at 5:45 p.m. in the kitchen at Christ the King Church.

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

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

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

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, April 21, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. Contact Beverly Davis

Dinner for Residents of Hospitality Apartments

Christ the King Lutheran Church members will host a Spring dinner for the residents of the Hospitality Apartments on Thursday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m. Please join us to serve dinner and enjoy fellowship with the residents who are currently living at the apartments while they or their loved ones receive treatment at the Texas Medical Center. We enjoyed a wonderful evening with the residents in October and would love to have you join our crew. If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute, food or monetary donations are welcome. The apartments are located at 7219 Cecil – you are welcome to visit anytime.
Contact Julie Giam to volunteer or for more information.

Save the Date

Bread for the World Offering of Letters
on Mother’s Day, May 9

In 2010, Bread for the World members are urging Congress to protect and strengthen tax credits that benefit low-income families.

www.bread.org

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 2009, Emergency Services responded to a highly increased demand for basic needs by providing food, clothing, financial assistance and referrals to 22,365 persons in crisis. This effort included helping 1,160 families avoid homelessness or substandard living conditions by assisting with electricity, water, natural gas, and rent payments. More than 243,700 pounds of food was provided to hungry neighbors and 11,913 clients benefitted from gently-used clothing. The Community Garden harvested 2,059 pounds of fresh produce, aiding clients’ nutritional well-being. 
The Gethsemane Food Pantry expanded to three days of operation, working to address hunger in the southwest portion of our service area. The pantry fed 18,380 persons from 4,723 households, tripling results from the prior year. Of those served, 51% of client households included one or more employed adults. A Community Garden was established on site, and three Food Fairs were held to augment on-going services.
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

The next blood pressure screening will be on April 25 after each morning service in the narthex. Monthly blood pressure screenings are held on the last Sunday of each month.

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.

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.