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Special points of interest:

Lefse Bake

Save the dates for Advent Recital Series & Christmas Cantata

CTK Kids & Youth Pages

Toiletries Drive

Reformation Books in the Library

A Message from Pastor Rick 2

All Saints Sunday Celebration 3

New Members to be Received 3

Thanksgiving Eve Worship 3

Communion Update 4

Post– Christmas Musical 5

Inside this issue:

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Volume 55 Issue 11

November, 2019

Please come to a very special day of celebration

and discernment, as we look toward the next 60 years as a

congregation at Christ the King

Lutheran Church

Sunday, November

10th 9:30am Worship

10:30am Event Childcare Provided

Light Breakfast Served See Pastor Rick’s article on page 2

Est. 1960

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By Pastor Rick

Family Reunion! When is the last time your whole family gathered together? I’m talking brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws and out-laws. :) Often, we only come together as family after a death… or more joyfully: for a wedding or retirement. But my point is: these events don’t happen by accident! They only happen when one or more family members take the time to organize the event and then make sure that everyone in the family is invited and knows the time and place. When is the last time your whole family got together?

If it’s been awhile since your last family reunion, don’t feel alone. By our best recollection, it has been 30 years since your church family here at Christ the King gathered together in one place. The reason for the last gathering was to make a decision regarding the building of a new building addition… an important decision! It is time to gather together again, as one congregation that calls Christ the King Lutheran Church home. We need to all be in one place, at one time, in order to again make our voices heard, together with the Holy Spirit. The future of Christ the King will be determined by the decisions that you are about to make and your voice is needed! Simply put, it is vitally important that everyone helps in deciding what gifts, skills, abilities and passions are critically important for your next Senior Pastor to possess. My task as your Interim Senior Pastor is to help you to decide how your future will unfold. Will your worship attendance and involvement here at Christ the King continue to dwindle? Or, as I believe to be very possible, will your membership double in the next ten years? What is to be the future of Christ the King? The decision you make as a united and engaged congregation in the next few months will have a tremendous impact on what your future here will hold. I want to call on all members of Christ the King Lutheran to come together for worship and the opportunity to literally see your voice be joined together with your brothers and sisters in Christ to make critical decisions. Together, we will ask the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts and minds in our conversations. The record of those conversations will in turn guide the Call Committee as they begin to do their work. Please plan to be in attendance at Christ the King at 9:30 on Sunday, November 10th for worship and discussion. Be prepared to be amazed at how many people call Christ the King their church home! After our 9:30 worship, we will have snacks and activities for the children and a simple meal for all the adults. Please remember: NO worship on Saturday, Nov 9th or Sunday at 8:15 on Nov 10th!! The 9:30 worship and gathering will be the ONLY service for Nov 9th & 10th. The regular schedule will resume with Wednesday worship and activities on November 13th. I am convinced that one day Christ the King will look back to realize that November 10, 2019 was a watershed moment in your history! Please plan to be part of this important time! Pastor Rick White

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All Saints Celebration The weekend of November 2-3 and Wednesday, November 6th will be our annual All Saints Celebration at Christ the King. As part of our worship celebration we will have a special time of remembrance at all services. On the altar will be several candles – one for each saint from Christ the King whose funeral has taken place since last All Saint’s Day 2018. The entire congregation will also be invited that day to come forward and light a tealight candle and place it on the altar in remembrance of a loved one or loved ones who now rest in the loving arms of Jesus.

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord. He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. John 11:25-26

Special Note About Christmas in Christ Chapel… After 16 years of arranging for a group from Christ the King to attend Christmas in Christ Chapel buffet and concert, we will not offer this in 2019. Gustavus Adolphus College has eliminated General Admission ticket purchase and individual tickets are reserved online. They have also eliminated the 5:00pm Sunday afternoon buffet and 7:30pm concert that we have traditionally attended. It appears the 3:30 Sunday concert has been sold out. Thank you to all those who have so faithfully attended these events. I will truly miss this gathering around the lutefisk bowl and music-filled chapel! -Pastor Donohue Sarff

Join in making lefse Saturday, November 23rd Your help is needed! Rolling, grilling, and packing will happen throughout the morning of the 23rd. Join in a CTK tradition and learn to make Lefse with the help of others. It's a great opportunity for fellowship in the kitchen. Sign up in the narthex to help or to provide supplies/ingredients. Lefse will be sold after services on the 23rd & 24th. If you have questions, call Jeri Retzlaff @ 507-351-0932.

Wednesday,

November 27th

6:15pm

(Community Supper

served 5:00-6:00pm)

New Members to be Received at CTK Our new member orientation will be held Thursday, November 14th from 6:00-7:00pm in the Fireside Room. If you have been visiting and are interested in becoming a member, please sign up online. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Tim at 345-5056 ext. 26, or timothyb@ctkmankato.org. We would love to have you join us and join our family here at Christ the King.

Nametags—Wear Them EVERY SERVICE Each week remember to fill out a nametag as you enter worship to help our new pastoral staff get to know you...... as well as you getting to know fellow members and visitors. Make it a habit now so that when we're all together on November 10, it will be easier for all members to connect names with faces.

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Toiletries Donations Accepted During November For the 3rd year, we are encouraging the congregation to drop off toiletries that we will share at Food For Friends (serving noon meals at the Salvation Army) in December. We are looking for travel to full size; shampoos/conditioners, body wash/soaps, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, combs/brushes, small containers of Q-tips. Drop off boxes are located just outside the church office the month of November.

Food for Friends is a ministry at Christ the King. It serves the noon meal at the Salvation Army five to eight times a year. If you would like to learn more about this ministry or join, please contact Justine Carlson.

Communion Practices at Christ the King During our October meeting, the Word and Sacrament Commission approved changing our communion practice and we will now be moving to having communion every service. There are many reasons behind this and I would like to take a little time and explain them a bit. The first and most important reason is theological. We should be practicing communion as often as possible! As Lutherans, we confess that in Holy Communion, God’s grace comes to us in a physical form. We can hold it, see it, and taste it. We are always in need of God’s grace so it is a good thing to be receiving it as often as we can. The Sacraments are the places where we know beyond any doubt that we encounter and receive God’s grace. Why would we want to limit our exposure to grace? Moreover, as a pastoral staff we want everyone to experience God’s grace as often as possible.

Secondly, the ancient liturgy that we follow expects that there is a time of shared meal. The liturgy represents a few things. The liturgy is a great drama that climaxes in Holy Communion. We gather together, confess our sins, pray together, hear the Word of God together, proclaim our faith together, share God’s peace, offer our gifts for the world, and then share a meal together before being sent back out to join in God’s mission. Communion is arguably the most important part of our liturgy, and so worship can feel incomplete without it. Worship is also a rehearsal for what the Kingdom of God is like. Again, we gather together as God’s people, we hear the Word of God, and then we receive God’s grace and forgiveness before being sent out. These are the rhythms of the Christian life and the Church and Communion is such an integral part of that rhythm. The ELCA document The Means of Grace, recommends that Communion should be practiced as frequently as possible.

The third reason is a practical one. By serving communion at every service, there will be no more confusion about if it is a communion week or not. We can all come to worship expecting to receive God’s grace. Have you ever had a hard week and come to worship looking for it only to find out that it was not being served that day? That can be very disheartening, but now you can always count on coming to Christ the King and receiving Communion. Also, some people are on a work schedule where they work the 1st and 3rd Sunday’s of the month and thus can only make it to worship on non-communion weeks. They too will now be able to partake in the Sacrament regularly.

Holy Communion is such a beautiful part of worship. Practicing it as often as possible helps us live out our baptismal promises to come to the Table, and helps us pastors live out our Ordination vows to practice Word AND Sacrament.

I hope that clears up questions you might have. If you have any other questions or concerns please let us know. Above all, we as the pastors and deacons of Christ the King hope you are as excited by this change as we are!

Blessings, Pastor Tim

Library News... At this time of Reformation we'd like to feature books about Martin Luther. Martin Luther and the Called Life by Mark D. Tranvik Martin Luther the Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the

World by Eric Metaxas Luther for Armchair Theologians by Steven Paulson Martin Luther Day by Day We Magnify You Luther the Reformer The Story of the Man and His Career by

James M. Kittelson and Hans H. Wiessman

Young Adult Away From Home? Addresses, Please!

If you have a young adult in your life who is off to college or serving in the military, please share their current address with us! We want to send off care cards/packages to let our young adults know we are thinking about them and praying for them. Please fill out the online form and submit addresses by November 17th.

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Parish News Christian Love and Sympathy to

Chad Wiens, Zak, Allie, and Ethan on the death of their wife/mother, Emily, who passed away October 13th. The family of Tom Browne, who passed away on October 19th. TY and Karen Yess and family upon the death of Karen’s father, Donald Fenske on October 9th.

Baptized in October... Cade Jeffrey Oachs, son of Brandon and Karie was baptized on October 5th. Josie Antonia Martinez, daughter of Joseph and Alyse was baptized on October 12th. Serenity Rae Peterson-Hillyer, daughter of Alec and Tessa was baptized on October 13th. Ace Christopher and Olive Marie Elliott, twin son & daughter of Adam and Kirsten were baptized on October 20th. Ali Elizabeth Johnson Braun, daughter of Kelly Braun and Holli Johnson was baptized on October 27th.

-November-

Community Supper

November 6th Pizza

November 13th

Mashed Potatoes & Chicken Gravy, Dinner Roll, Corn

November 20th

Orange Chicken, Rice, Broccoli

November 27th Chili, Corn Chips, Oranges

Prayer Article Series submitted by Pastor Donohue Sarff With Christ in the School of Prayer – Eighth Lesson – by Andrew Murray Because of his persistence or The Boldness of God’s Friends—And Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ... I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” Luke 11:5-8

Let us confine ourselves to the chief thought: prayer as an appeal to the friendship of God; and we shall find that two lessons are specially suggested. The one, that if we are God’s friends, and come as such to Him, we must prove ourselves the friends of the needy; God’s friendship to us and ours to others go hand in hand. The other, that when we come thus we may use the utmost liberty in claiming an answer. There is a twofold use of prayer: the one, to obtain strength and blessing for our own life, the other, the higher, the true glory of prayer, for which Christ has taken us into His fellowship and teaching, is intercession, where prayer is the royal power that a child of God exercises in heaven on behalf of others and even of the kingdom.

Save the Dates: Advent Recital Series 2019

Tuesdays at 7pm Dec. 3 – Nick Wayne Dec. 10 – Christ the King Musicians Dec. 17 – Shannon Beal & Garrett Steinberg 4-Hand Piano

All recitals will feature instrumental accompaniment

Christ the King Christmas Festival “The Hope of Christmas” Cantata

Saturday Dec. 14 @ 5:30pm Sunday Dec. 15 @ 8:15 & 9:30am

Wednesday Dec. 18 @ 6:15pm

Please join us if you are interested in singing for this year’s Christmas Festival! Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm in the Music Room.

Children/Youth Post-Christmas Musical All kids in grades K-12 - it’s time to start thinking about signing up for the CTK Post-Christmas Musical – “The Christmas Carol Special Report”! Rehearsal dates are Thursday-Saturday, December 26-28, and presentations are Saturday and Sunday, December 28 and 29. Tryouts for speaking parts and solos will be from 4-5 PM on Tuesdays, November 26, December 3, and 10. If these dates don’t work for you, please contact Chuck to set up another time. Registration is available NOW on the CTK website. Please invite your friends and neighbors and relatives to join us! We’ll have a GREAT TIME!

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Visit us online!

www.ctkmankato.org

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 252

Mankato, MN 56001

Contact the Staff Christ the King’s Phone Number: 507-345-5056

Pastor Rick White: ext. 23 / pastorrick@ctkmankato.org

Pastor Timothy Bowman: ext. 26 / timothyb@ctkmankato.org

Pastor John Petersen: ext. 24 / johnp@ctkmankato.org

Billie Jo Wicks, Deacon of Faith Formation : ext. 19 / billiejow@ctkmankato.org

Accounting Office: ext. 22 / accounting@ctkmankato.org

Al Lee, Technology Arts Director: ext. 36 / all@ctkmankato.org

Amy Olsen, Communications Director: ext. 21 / amyo@ctkmankato.org

Chuck Hoogland, Organist: ext. 25 / chuckh@ctkmankato.org

Garrett Steinberg, Director of Creative Arts: ext. 37 garretts@ctkmankato.org

Justine Carlson, Opportunity Coordinator: ext. 38 / justinec@ctkmankato.org

Rick Weber, Property Manager: ext. 11 rickw@ctkmankato.org

Robin Hughes, Choir Director: robinh@ctkmankato.org

Wendy Paulson, Director of Children’s Ministries: ext. 20 / wendyp@ctkmankato.org

222 Pfau Street Mankato, MN 56001

Deadline for Newsletter Articles Next Month: Monday, November 18th

Phone: 507-345-5056 Fax: 507-345-6115

Address Service Requested

CTK Lutheran Church is a caring community committed to empower all people

to know Christ and to make Christ known.

Weekly Worship Schedule

Wednesdays

6:15pm

Saturdays

5:30pm

Sundays 8:15am, 9:30am

Communion Served at Every Service

————

Worship services are broadcast on

Charter channel 181 and

Consolidated Communications

channel 7 Sundays at 3:00pm and Tuesdays at 10:00am. Church Office Hours

Monday-Thursday ~ 8:00am-4:00pm Friday ~ 8:00am-2:00pm

Saturday-Sunday ~ By Appointment

From the Desk of Opportunity Coordinator Justine Carlson justinec@ctkmankato.org / 345-5056 ext. 38

Serving Christ’s Church in November

OPEN = If you are available to fill this spot contact Justine

Greeters: 8:15 & 9:30 3 OPEN 10 Paul & Phyllis Olson **ONLY 9:30 SERVICE 17 Keith & Lisa Bos 24 Armin & Jeanette Schull

Lectors: Listed as 5:30 / 8:15 & 9:30 / 6:15 2/3/6 Jeri Retzlaff/Lynn Austin & Mary Oudekerk/Josephine Toth 9/10/13 **NO 5:30 or 8:15 SERVICE** NONE/NONE & Morrie Borglum/Garrick Rudolf 16/17/20 Larry Schnoor/Dianne Wagner & Joy Macheel/Chloe Sinning 23/24/27 Randy Rose/Todd Lundquist & Sean Sletten/Cindy Kehoe 30/December 1/4 Jennifer Olseth/Zachary Borneke & Stan Bruss/Mary Peters

PRAYER CHAPEL: 8:15/9:30 3 Lonnie Reemer/Chuck Dahline 10 Todd Lundquist **NO 8:15 SERVICE ** 17 Don Schuldt/Becky Moe 24 Ann Stewart/Sandy Smith

Communion Preparers 2/3 Jodie Wallschlaeger 16/17 Lori Westendorf/Marilyn Dundas 27 Maxine Thompson/Marlys Jorgenson 30/Dec.1 Jodie Wallschlaeger

USHERS 5:30 L’Myra Hoogland 8:15 Jim Borseth/Armin Schull 9:30 Phil Patterson/Jay Thompson/ Garrett Starr/Denny Schuetz 6:15 Jason Fette, Dan Schwamberger/Anna Toth 27th—Jessica Joyal ** We are in need of more people to usher at all of the services...if interested please contact Justine

COMMUNITY SUPPER SERVERS 6th Ben & Denise’s Group: Abigail. Ashley, Eleanor, Ella, Esther, Kaia, Megan, Morgan Dane & Christine’s Group: Axel, Evan, Hudson, Jackson, Landon, Matthew, Max, Max, Peyton 13th Tiffany’s Group: Breanna, Ella, Ellie, Estelle, Gabrielle, Kendahl, Rachel Rachel & Tia’s Group: Chloe, Josephine, Liliana, Madison, Olivia, Tori 20th CTK Council/Commission Members 27th Kim’s Group: Ella, Ellison, Jayne, Julia, Mylee, Savannah, Tiegen Darcie’s Group: Alex, Christopher, Cole, Isaac, Sam, Sullivan, Tyler

Sunday, November 3: All Saints Day.

All children will participate in the entire

worship service as we remember our Saints.

This is an especially meaningful worship and

we feel it’s important for children to

experience it as well.

Sunday, November 10: the BIG 60

Celebration!!! Kids are welcome!

There will be Rainbow and JAM for all

children (we welcome Kids Klub kids too!) as

usual at 9:30am. Food and special activities

will follow at 10:30am in the Chapel so

parents may attend the gathering

celebration in the Community Room.

Wednesday, November 20: this is the

night of the Winter Warm-up event for CLUB

kids, but there will be Rainbow Room and

JAM as usual.

Wednesday, Nov 27: Thanksgiving Eve

worship with First Communion at 6:15pm.

NO Children’s Education.

Sunday, December 1:

No JAM or Rainbow Room

due to the Thanksgiving

Holiday.

PARENTS OF JAM, KIDS

KLUB & RAINBOW ROOM...

Volunteer schedules are now posted at the

Education Office window and at the

Rainbow Room bulletin board. Schedules

are complete through December 2019. so be

sure to check if you are scheduled and put

the dates on your calendar!

parents for your partnership in Children’s Ministry!

Communion Faith Lab

The Communion Faith Lab is scheduled for Sunday, November 3rd at 10:30am. Registration is available online at ctkmankato.org. First Communion Worship will be Wednesday, November 27 at 6:15pm.

If your child has already received the sacrament of Holy Communion, but has not participated in the Faith Lab, we strongly encourage you to register them, so that they can have a deeper understanding of this journey.

It’s not too late to sign up...register online at ctkmankato.org.

SUNDAY

NOVEMBER

10

Don’t miss

it!!!

CTK YOUTHN O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9

Check Here to See What's What for Youth Grades 6-12

LET'S TAKE A MISSION TRIP!Have you help ever thoughtabout what it would be like servein a different community? Haveyou ever been fully immersedinto a faith experience? Makeplans to join us to learn moreabout an exciting mission tripoportunity this summer!

10-31 NO CLUB

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WINTER WARM-UPWe are excited for the WinterWarm-Up event on Wednesday,November 20. Chaplain Sirifrom Gustavus and some GACstudents will be joining us forconversation on faith andscience. Area churches willjoin together at Bethlehem forthis awesome evening ofworship and learning together. Senior High,you are welcometo join us! Chat with Billie Jo ifyou want to know more!

CLUB 8 RETREATCLUB 8 kids, it is your turn!

Plan to join us November 16for our retreat to GAC!

Informational Meeting Wed Nov 6 at 7:30 pm

Youth grades 6-12 welcome!Bring a parent/adult!