Saturday, December 22 & Sunday, December 23, 2018This Week and The King’s Banner, our monthly newsletter,

are available at ctkelc.org

THIS

WEEKThe Rev. Dr. Duane Larson, Senior Pastor The Rev. Karin Liebster, Associate Pastor

Deacon Ben Remmert, Director of Youth and Family Ministry Beverly Davis, Director of Congregational Care Linda Schoene, Congregational Nurse

Deacon Rick Erickson, Cantor, Director of Bach Society Houston Brian Glikes, Music Associate Robert Walp, Brass Choir Director

Noelle Jung, Church Business Administrator Phone: 713-523-2864 Email: ctk@ctkelc.org Website: ctkelc.org

Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 2353 Rice Blvd, Houston TX, 77005

We celebrate with these members and friends who are remembering their baptism this week: Gaelyn LesherSarah ThweattAlexandra UriKatie FeuilleEvren GenerNiell GormanLouis MonroeDavid Jurgens

Will MallonPierce MathisCharles TurnerShanna ThorvilsonLucky SahuallaMeredith MurphyEric OlafsonGrace Ford

Christina Azure-KellerStephanie HoogerwerfPenny LinsenmayerPeter NikonowiczOliver MiertschinMarlee ThompsonAnna Fay WilliamsMary Ella Orsburn

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Sunday, December 23 8:30 a.m. Worship ELW 5, nave 9:45 a.m.Goodies potluck and coffee in the courtyard 10:50 a.m. Worship ELW 5, nave

Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Church Office Closed 4:00 p.m. German-language service, nave 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion, nave 10:00 p.m. Holy Communion, nave

Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day11:00 a.m. Carols and Communion, nave

Wednesday, December 26 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer, 3rd floor Thursday, December 27 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer, 3rd floor

Friday, December 28 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer, narthex

Saturday, December 29 1:00 p.m. Yoga, parish hall 6:00 p.m. Contemplative Worship, nave

Sunday, December 30 8:30 a.m. Worship ELW 5, nave 9:45 a.m. Goodies potluck and coffee in the courtyard 10:50 a.m. Worship ELW 5, nave

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

worship.The December Mission Offering is designated for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America World Hunger Appeal. The ELCA’s commitment to sup-porting people who live with chronic hunger, dis-ease, and poverty around the corner and around the world is carried out by ELCA World Hunger through relief, development, education, and advocacy. Last year, we contributed over $17,000 to the World Hunger Appeal and, historically, our congregation has regarded the World Hunger Appeal as one of our distinctive global mission priorities.

All money raised by the World Hunger Appeal comes through specially designated offerings and donations from ELCA members, congregations, and friends. ELCA World Hunger receives no benevolence (general budget money from general ELCA member offerings); the ELCA’s world hunger ministry is based in congre-gations, where most of the fundraising takes place.

ELCA World Hunger

Appeal

Yoga on Saturdays1:00 p.m. every Saturday in the parish hall. All welcome: novice or experienced. Wear comfort-able clothes and bring a mat.

Your Ministry Needs Your GenerosityIt’s not unusual that we need your generosity at the end of the year to balance the budget and to start the new year with a necessary reserve fund. We need $450,000 by year’s end to ensure our health going into 2019. Last year we came near this mark at year’s end. Can we do it again? And better? Thank you so much for your prayerful and sacrificial support. Christmas Eve

December 244:00 p.m.Heiligabend German-language service6:00 p.m. Holy Communion around the Crèche with Carols and Candlelight10:00 p.m. Holy Communion with Carols and Candlelight (Incense)

Christmas DayDecember 2511:00 a.m. Carols and Communion

First Sunday of ChristmasDecember 296:00 p.m. Contemplative Worship December 308:30 a.m. Worship 10:50 a.m. Worship

New Year’s DayJanuary 16:00 p.m. Organ Concert

Heiligabend

Christ the King Lutheran Church24. Dezember 4:00 p.m.

Gottesdienst in deutscher SpracheGerman language Christmas Service

New Year's Day Organ ConcertTuesday, January 1, 6:00 p.m.Amanda Mole is a young artist who has quickly distinguished herself as one of America's leading concert organists. Among her countless talents is her mastery of performing on historical instruments such as our organ here at Christ the King Church. Start 2019 on a high note with what promises to be a dazzling recital.

Thank You to our Members and FriendsGratitude is extended to our members and friends for the many toy donations for Christian Community Service Center’s Jingle Bell Express and for the 78 boxes of goodies delivered to the Port of Houston for the seafar-ers. Thanks, also, for contributing hundreds of plastic caps and lids for the Santa Fe High School memorial benches. Velma Rice engaged us in this project and will deliver the caps on behalf of the congregation.

Adult Nursery Playmates NeededCalling all members who are young at heart to enjoy a little “play therapy” with our littlest an-gels on an occasional Sunday morning. We are in need of nursery volunteers for both services, but particularly for 8:30 a.m. worship. For informa-tion, contact Beverly at beverlydavis@ctkelc.org.

$-

$90

$180

$270

$360

$450

Needed Actual

December Giving (in thousands)

Week 5

Week 4

Week 3

Week 2

Week 1

NEEDED TO MEET EXPENSE OBLIGATIONS $450,000

$72.5k

Pledge Cards 2019 Into a Faithful FutureAll non-members and friends are welcome to par-ticipate in our Faithful Future. Pledging continues through December.

Wednesdays@ChurCh

Resumes January 16

Sunday Forum 9:45 a.m.December 23 No Sunday Forum Coffee in the Courtyard December 30 No Sunday Forum Coffee in the Courtyard

January 6: Enjoy Epiphany star folding and king cake in the courtyard. All mem-bers and friends are welcome.

January 13Parliament of the World’s Religionspresented by Lisa BrenskelleWhat is the Parliament of the World’s Re-ligions? What is their mission and history? What programs do they offer? Who is involved in the Parliament of the World’s Religions? What happened at their 2018 conference in Toronto? What was it like to attend that gathering? Get answers to these questions and learn all about the Par-liament of the World’s Religions from Lisa Brenskelle, who attended and presented at the 2018 parliament.

Lay Chaplain Training Begins January 28Do you want to deepen your relationship with God? Do you want to strengthen your ability to handle difficult circum-stances in your everyday life? Do you want to be a better listener—to God, to your own heart, to your neighbor? Then, the Community of Hope might be for you!

The Community of Hope training awakens participants to God’s call on their lives through experiential discovery and understanding of their own spiritual gifts for ministry. Each student is encouraged to make a journey into wholeness. More than the absence of illness, a healthy person is one who has discovered meaning and purpose in life and understands the importance of mind, body, spirit balance. The program is rooted in Benedictine Spirituality and is based on the classic “clinical pastoral education” model used to train chaplains. It builds community and develops spiritually centered pastoral caregivers, equipped for ministry in multiple settings.

Contact Beverly at beverlydavis@ctkelc.org or 713-400-0517 for more information and to register. Classes will be held on Monday evenings starting January 28 and continuing through April 15. Class size is limited. Registration deadline is January 10.

Festival of the Epiphany and Baptism of Our LordJoin us in closing the 12 days of Christmas with the celebration of Epiphany and Baptism of Our Lord on January 6. We will bless the nave and inscribe the lintel at the 8:30 and 10:50 a.m. services. The magi will be back and coffee hour features king cake. A printed prayer rite and chalk can be taken home to inscribe and bless one’s own house or door.

Family Friday on January 11Join us for “Family Friday” on January 11, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Christ the King. Make church your place for Friday dinner together with other families. Bring the kids, a bottle of wine or beer to share and let’s “crash together” after the work week. We will eat, enjoy fellowship, and play. We close with a good night story and prayer at 7:00 p.m.

Invited are all young families with babies, toddlers and Kindergar-ten children with their older siblings. Dinner, water and lemonade will be provided. Family Fridays take place monthly (mostly on the first Friday).

Friday Morning Bible Study Resumes January 11Join us for Friday Morning Study at 10:30 a.m. in the narthex. It is an important time to gather for personal care, prayer, and study. Usually we take a close look at the coming Sunday les-sons, under the leadership of Pastor Larson or Pastor Liebster. Sometimes we might change the format. The Spirit is lively with us! There is always great, and sometimes provocative conversation; all about how the Lord stimulates us into deeper faith and reasoned, respectful growth in understanding. The sumptuous food is always wonderful, too. Everyone welcome!Luther League Drive-in Movie Trip January 5, 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.A great evening of fellowship as we welcome in the New Year by going to a good ol’ drive-in movie theater. We will meet at church and carpool over to Showboat Drive-in located at 22422 Farm to Market 2920, Hockley, TX 77447 at 4:00 p.m. Cost is $20 which covers admission and transportation. Please RSVP to Ben Remmert by January 4st. Friends are welcome to attend.

Sign up for Sunday Flowers NowYou are invited to donate the Sunday flowers throughout the year. Here’s your chance to contribute flowers in honor or memory of your loved ones. The 2019 Flower Chart is on the mobile bulletin board in the cloister or the foyer (during the week). The Sunday flowers are a significant part of the Altar Guild ministry as its members deliver them after services to families and individuals to express the congregation’s support in times of joy, sadness or concern. Our cost for flower arrangements for weekend services are $65. Please pay for the flowers when you sign up. Checks and cash can be dropped in the offering baskets (made out to Christ the King Church, memo line “Altar Flowers”). For online giving please use the Donate link on the church home page, ctkelc.org.

Saturday January 12

houston food bank Leave the church at 7:30

Return at noon For information, contact ctkhfb@gmail.com

Palestinian PicturesThis Advent and Christmas, check out and enjoy the photographs done by young adult art students attending Dar Al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, Palestine. All the photographs are prize winners from through-out Palestine. They tell the story of life in Palestine/West Bank. The biographical sum-maries of the young artists also are inspiring. The exhibit is in the parish hall through the end of December.

Christmas Goodies Coffee Hour Potluck on Sunday, December 30Got extra Christmas treats? Share them with your church family! For the Sundays during the Christmas season, we are asking congregation members to kindly share some of your Christmas bounty and help pro-vide after-church snacks on Sunday, December 30. Any and all treats are welcome - sweet and savory. Just bring your plated treats with you on either Sunday and add them to the snack potluck.

First Day Hike on January 1Start 2019 off right with an easy hike in town. Join Irmi Willcockson and Christ the King Church friends at 10:30 a.m. to hike level trails for about an hour, finishing up with lunch (chili, corn-bread) under the pavilion at Herman Brown Park, 400 Mercury Dr. (77013). Please RSVP to beverlydavis@ctkelc.org so Irmi will know how much lunch to prepare. A donation of $10 to benefit SEARCH Homeless Services will be gratefully received.