king’s bannerctkelc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/kb-february-2019.pdf2 the king’s banner...

Christ the King Lutheran Church 1

KING’S BANNER2353 Rice Blvd,

Houston TX 77005ctkelc.org

Volume 73, Number 2February, 2019

Christ the King Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas

THE

Annual Meeting Part IIFebruary 10 at 12:30 p.m.Part II of the annual congregational meeting will be held on February 10 at 12:30 p.m. in the parish hall. On the agenda are the 2018 annual reports and the adoption of the 2019 budget. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend.

Blues, Brews, and Good News Begins in February on Final FridayFriday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.We're looking ahead, yes, to one of our new ministry out-reaches, Blues, Brews, and the News. Starting Friday, February 22, 7:00 p.m., enjoy the best blues with Houston's famed The Healers. The Healers have been one of Houston's best blues groups, regularly playing at The Big Easy. Now they will be our own "House Band" for this new event that happens every Final Friday of the month. Enjoy fine beer while we warm-up with The Healers. Then settle in with a stimulating topical conver-sation/presentation. Conclude by 8:30 with some final blues riffs, some wine and bread. Donations will be received gladly to support the evening fare. If there are some who would like to volunteer their help as production assistants (we need setup crew, brew handlers, PR help), please contact Pastor Duane asap. Circle on your calendars now Final Fridays at CTK with Blues, Brews, and Good News. And―just sayin―can there be anything cooler than having The Healers as the house band for Final Fridays at A Healing Place?

Winter Luau* DinnerFundraiser for Luther LeagueSaturday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.The youth group of Christ the King Church, Luther League, in-vites everyone to a fancy night out at church! Come together for a warm luau during the cold month of February with beach sunset scenery and a luau competition. Chef Nathaniel Winston will again pull out all the stops and create a four course meal. This fundraiser supports the 2019 summer trip to Germany for which 20 youth have signed up. Seating is available for individu-als, pairs, and small and large groups. Individual tickets are $50, $90 for two. A table is $300 (seven people). Free childcare is available. Email Ben Remmert at [email protected] to RSVP by Wednesday, February 6. *luau: a Hawaiian feast

Saturday February 97:00 p.m.

Winter

*luau: a Hawaiian feast

Family FridayFebruary 1, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Join us for “Family Friday” on February 1, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Christ the King. Make church your place for Friday dinner to-gether 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 Kin-dergarten children with their older siblings. Dinner, water and lemonade will be provided. Family Fridays take place monthly (mostly on the first Friday).

SociableSin February and March

See page 5

2 The King’s Banner

Pastor Duane's

World

A Healing Place

A powerful metaphor for me about our congregation’s life and mis-sion together is about water. That makes sense, since we Lutherans are centered on baptism. The wa-ter I think of is of oceans and rivers. That makes sense, too, since I grew up next to the Pacific Ocean as a surfer and have lived most of my adult life near a major river.

Consequently, I can “read” much about an ocean or a river. I can tell when and where the best wave to surf will swell up and can spot the areas where swimming is danger-ous. With a river, the best place to

be is in the middle, as much as possible; where there are the jetties and outcroppings—especially if the river is fast—there are the whirls and eddies that threaten. I have even seen waves on a river’s surface that make it look as if the river is going the wrong direction. Or, the river could appear as placid as a still lake. Still, either way, get in the main middle and you will be carried safely in the right direction, if sometimes seemingly slowly or in a rush. If one rides an ocean’s wave from the middle of one’s board, one enjoys the short-term rush with the mind’s exhilarating focus. If the river, the float down the middle brings with it contemplative peace and a sense of expansiveness.

Wave and river: these are metaphors I like about our life and mission here at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Sometimes our life and mission is singularly and energetically focused on getting one thing done without falling into and under the wave. Most of the time it is about staying in the middle—not as a way of non-commitment or indecision as the word can mean mistakenly—so that the dangers at the edges are avoided and the middle’s deep spirit can buoy us along. Riding or floating, we are going somewhere, and carried actually by an exciting and deeper grace than we ourselves could ever invent.

The Deeper Grace we know personally as God in Christ is carrying Christ the King Church as a communal mission to the world and us individually with it toward healing. The Deeper Grace has called us to be A Healing Place. This is what we have discerned over a full year and more in 2018; this is how we have read the waves and the river’s face. Practically speaking, we have done much listening to each other in sessions of Faithful Imagination. “Strategically,” we have identified where and how we want to be after five years of riding the Spirit, and so “tactically” we have named many projects (canoes? boats? surfboards?) to get us there; the “there” there to be known as A Healing Place.

We have committed to an improved audio system; to be-ginning a new outreach to a broader audience, for example with Blues, Brews, and the News. We will ramp-up new adult learning with on-line formats. We will begin live-streaming of

our worship and Bach Society events. We will deepen the experiential aspect of spiritual formation; build community with house churches, particularly for our members and friends who live more toward our suburbs and exurbs. We will double-down on community building for our younger families with children. We will quadruple down on our role in Lutheran campus ministry with a seminarian apprentice/intern (and this now more quickly than first imagined) in partnership with one of our ELCA seminaries. And we will make more palpable and practical what it means to be A Healing Place for each other and the community with all the spiritual, physical, emotional, and even legal (consider, e.g., a “Free legal Clinic”) gifts we can muster. After all, we are a gifted people here at CTK; we know and are excited by the divine truth that much is expected from those to whom much has been given. Our stewardship brochure, “Into a Faithful Future…as a Healing Place,” is included in the 2018 Annual Report so to remind us of the ample (!) planning that has characterized 2018.

In our period of discernment, we’ve also become clearer as a ministry staff and as a council that some restructuring is necessary. Fixing and maintaining the boat while we float is a routine task for a river sailor, and sometimes between waves a harness or fin must be replaced or wax added to the board (ask me sometime what that means!). Improve-ments will be necessary for infrastructure (e.g., manage-ment software); particular committees will be rebooted and boosted (e.g., buildings and grounds, finance); internal and public communication refashioned (e.g., website) and strengthened into one position.

As for me personally, my role in ministry here was “acces-sorized” by my ongoing scholarly and pastoral interests in Moral Injury and public theology. To those ends, my book with Jeff Zust has garnered much interest, especially in military veteran circles. I will continue to be involved with moral injury questions in webinars for military service per-sonnel and a forthcoming article on congregationally-based care for moral injury victims. I do hope this will take root in our life and work together, too. Additionally, I was invited to author a larger article on public (not-so-academic) the-ology, faithful Christian practices, and the renewed threat of fascism around the world. This work is an important “sidebar” for me that continues to refresh and inspire my overall ministry with you in the pulpit, at the table, by bedsides, in private conversations, personal prayer and study, and with ample (abundant!) sociable life together.

In sum, 2018 was an exceptional period of discernment and focusing of new commitments. What an exciting time it has been, in its rare leisurely modes and in some times of higher excitement, as on a larger wave. I do expect 2019

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Collected at the church doors at the end of worship.

Souper Bowl of Caring February 3Wear your favorite sports team attire to church on Super Bowl Sunday and give generously to the Souper Bowl of Caring. Look (and listen) for the banging soup pots and drop in a dollar or two to assist people in need through Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) Emergency Services.

Mission Offering

Freewheels Houston, established at Christ the King Lutheran Church in 2015, has provided safe, reliable bikes to about 600 refugees and others who need transportation to get to work, school and other destinations.

In 2019, Freewheels will focus on meeting the needs of refugee teenagers as well as veterans emerging from homelessness and clients of other assistance ministries and nonprofits.

Freewheels will re-ceive the CTK mission offering for February 10, 17 and 24. We are also looking for more volunteers and donations of used bi-cycles. Please visit our website, freewheels-houston.org, for more information.

“I never thought you could bring that much joy to someone just by fixing a bike,” said CTK member and longtime Freewheels volunteer David West.

“Freewheels is an attractive place to volunteer because of the hearty welcome and comradeship among the volunteers, said Edward Pannell, who started volunteering at work days in 2018. “The volunteers work well together despite differing skills that we all have. The more knowledgeable are generous in their time for someone such as myself who is still learning.”

While the number of refugee arrivals has dropped signifi-cantly, Freewheels will continue to meet the needs of adults who need a way to work. Among the people we assisted in 2018 were a refugee who couldn’t accept a job without a way to get to work and a veteran who was able to get a job delivering meals in the Downtown area for Uber Eats.

On January 12, about 20 Freewheels volunteers traveled to Catholic Charities’ Rio Bend Community in Richmond, southwest of Houston, to distribute bikes and provide safety

equipment and training to 39 refugee and unaccompanied minor immigrants who are clients of the St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care program.

Freewheels’ biggest youth-focused event was a two-day bike camp held June 29-30 at Jane Long Middle School in Gulf-ton. About 65 middle school-age refugees enjoyed games, learned bike safety skills and rode home on Freewheels bikes at the conclusion. The bike camp illustrated how Freewheels has increased its impact by developing partnerships with others working with newcomers and others in the Houston community.

In February, Freewheels will begin a new partnership with HISD’s Margaret Long Wisdom High School (formerly known as Robert E. Lee High School). We will provide bikes and bike skills training in an after-school setting. Although we plan to start small—with students who don’t have access to school buses—we have strong support from the principal and key teachers and staff members. The need is great: More than 95 percent of the school’s 2,000 students are economically disadvantaged.

Freewheels is grateful for the support of CTK members and the CTK Foundation, which provided grants that enabled our early growth. Please help us continue to provide needed transportation to some the newest Houstonians.

February 10, 17, 24Visit Freewheels Houston Open House on Saturday, February 23Members of the Christ the King congregation are cordially in-vited to an open house during Freewheels Houston’s bike repair day on Saturday, February 23, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at 6020 Jessamine #204 in the Gulfton area of Houston—near the CTK ministry’s client base of refugees and immigrants.

Volunteers will share coffee and bagels—and even teach you how to fix a flat tire if you want.

CTK member and Freewheels volunteer David West with members of a refugee family who received bikes from Freewheels.


Sunday ForumSundays at 9:45 a.m.

in the parish hallMembers are invited

to suggest speakers or topics. Contact Pr. Karin at [email protected]

February 4: Health Care You Can Live Withpresented by Linda Schoene, Congregational NurseBook review of Health Care You Can Live With by Dr. Scott Morris, founder of the Church Health Center in Memphis, TN.

Our Lutheran Liturgy — The Root of Spiritual, Emotional and Physical HealingFebruary 10, 17 presented by Ann GebuhrDr. Ann Gebuhr will teach two Sunday Forum sessions on the nature and history of our Lutheran Liturgy. The first session will address the possible roles of liturgy as per-sonal experience in daily life and the world community. The second will take a close look at our Worship liturgy. Ann is a composer and has most recently researched Hildegard of Bingen whose work and music she has made accessible with her 2012 book Hildegard! Ann taught music and composition for many years at Houston Bap-tist University and is a member of Christ the King Church.

February 24: Our Lutheran Liturgy — Influences from Around the Woirldpresented by Deacon Rick EricksonJoin our Christ the King Cantor and Bach Society Houston Director for a look at influences from around the world on music in worship.

Houston Science and Religion Discussion GroupInterpretation of Jesus in the Qur’an, presented by Ibrahim SumerThe Houston Science and Religion Discussion Group (HSRDG) will conduct its regular monthly meeting on Mon-day, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the 3rd floor conference room. The public is welcome to participate in the HSRDG meetings, which are scheduled for the third Monday of every month.

Friday Morning Bible StudyJoin us for Friday Morning Study at 10:30 a.m. in the nave. It is an important time to gather for personal care, prayer, and study. Usually we take a close look at the coming Sunday lessons, under the leadership of Pastor Larson or Pastor Liebster. 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!

Are You Interested in Membership with Christ the King Church?

Friends who are new (or not so new!) to Christ the King Church are warmly invited to a luncheon and orientation on Sunday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m.,

in the 3rd floor conference room.

The meeting has three purposes. • Establish new friendship with each other and the pastoral

staff. • Learn about this community of faith – who we are, our tradi-

tions, our commitments, our place in global Lutheranism, why we do things the way we do.

• Express whether one wants to demonstrate public commit-ment to God's mission to the world through the ministry of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

Please contact the church office ([email protected] or 713-528-2864) to sign-up for the lunch meeting, or speak with one of the pastors if you have further questions. Wherever and whoever you have been, you are welcome here as one of God’s children and Christ’s disciples in our mission to amplify God’s love in the world.

Caring for Survivors of Human Trafficking: Using spiritual care to build relationships with the most vulner-able in our community.Thursday, February 14, 6:00 p.m., room 201All interested members and friends are invited to join our Com-munity of Hope lay chaplains in a conversation with Kimberly Williams, the Human Trafficking Program Coordinator at CHI St. Luke’s Health. Human Trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. Perpetrators use force, fraud and coercion to manipulate and entangle victims. This type of treatment causes lasting trauma and fear. The presentation will include an overview of human trafficking and the ‘red flags’ we should all be aware of. We will also discuss how fear, shame and grief affect a survivor’s spiritually, and how showing love can support victims in their darkest moments.

Kimberly is a driven advocate with a wealth of experience caring for individual in vulnerable situations. She facilitates training and collaborates with community partners to provide leadership in the Texas region.

Christ the King Young Professionals Sunday, February 17, 7:00 p.m. One of our “smaller” groups that meets reg ularly—usu-ally every third Sunday evening of the month—is the CTK Young Adults group. No age range is stipulated; it is open to all the young at heart. The “season” kicks in again over beer and theology and anything concerning how to live faithfully, February 17, 7:00 p.m. at The Volcano, corner of Morn ingside and Bissonet. Newcomers always welcome. For more info, contact Pastor Duane at [email protected].


Sociablesin February and March

Bayou, Birds, and Brunch Nature HikeEnjoy a bayou and bird watching hike followed by a delicious brunch.Hike will be approximately 5 miles along Terri Hershey Trail and/or Edith L. Moore Bird Sanctuary (and will include some hiking swag). Rain or shine (but not hurricanes).

Location: Home of Henry and Alicia GoodrowDate: Saturday, February 23 8:30 a.m.Hosted by: Henry and Alicia GoodrowCost: $ 30

Monopoly PartyTake a ride on the Reading Railroad!A fun filled evening for families, couples, and singles - ages 12 and up. Join us for a Monopoly board game party at Christ the King Church. We will use a fast-paced version of the rules to complete two one-hour rounds of play and determine a winner based on the results. Details to be distributed as we get closer, but activity will be 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., with a 6:00 p.m. start time for the first round of play. A meal will be served between rounds with hot cocoa provided to send you off into the night. Themed costumes encouraged!Space is limited - so sign up and show off your inner real estate tycoon…

Location: Christ the King Church Parish HallDate: Saturday, February 23 5:30-9:00 pm.Hosted by: Anita & Chris BryantCost: $ 15

Last Blast Before Lent:Texas TastingsJoin our very own Christ the King Church Creation Care Team for an evening of Texas Tastings.We will offer Texas-produced wines, cheeses, meats, produce, and other delectables to showcase the amazing options we have available to us from local sources.

Come enjoy a relaxing evening feasting on your new favorites before embarking on your Lenten fast!

Location: Home of Cindi ScruggsDate: Friday, March 1 6:30 p.m.Hosted by: Creation Care TeamCost: $ 25

History Bus TourGet schooled aboard the church history bus!Want to learn more about the history of some of our local houses of worship?

Join Houston’s own “hip historian” Mr. McKinney on the open-air Houston History Bus for a narrated tour of nearby religious institutions.

In addition to being a historian with deep knowledge of Houston and its neighborhoods, Mr. McKinney is quite the showman - you will be both informed and entertained, and he will gladly answer the questions you have along the way.

The bus will pick up and drop off in our CTK parking lot. After the tour, light refreshments will be served while we talk about what we saw, heard, and learned.

Location: Depart from and return to the parking lot at Christ the KingDate: Saturday March 2, 4:00-6:00 p.m. (rain date: Saturday March 23)Hosted by: Terri and Darden BourneCost: $ 55

Fruit of the Spirit: A Recital of SongsSoprano Jessica Moss and pianist Megan Glikes present a recital of art songs and arias by various composers with themes of the fruit of the Spirit as listed by Paul in Gala-tians 5:22-23. Please join us for an evening of uplifting music! And enjoy a few fruits and spirits as well.

Location: Christ the King Parish HallDate: Sunday, March 3 6:00 p.m.Hosted by: Megan Glikes and Jessica MossCost: $ 10

This February and early March, we have some fun opportunities for our members and friends to connect with each other and with art and nature.See details below.RSVP to Beverly at [email protected] before they fill up.

What are Sociables?Christ the King Sociables are hosted events that support our church mission in two ways: 1) they build and strengthen relationships and connections across our community, and 2) they raise funds for our outreach ministries.

All of the money that people pay to purchase places at Sociables this month will be donated to CCSC Emergency Services.

RSVP to Beverly at [email protected].


For information, contact Ben Remmert, Deacon Director of Youth and Family Ministry, [email protected] or 281-468-4686.

February Dates: 2: Youth Dodgeball Tournament, 2:00 p.m. 3: Souper Bowl of Caring Luther League Meeting, 12:30 p.m.6: Confirmation Class, 6:15 p.m. 8: Winter Luau Dinner Set Up, 7:00 p.m. 9: Winter Luau Dinner Fundraiser, 7:00 p.m.10: Luther League Meeting, 6:00 p.m. 13: Confirmation Class, 6:15 p.m.17: No Luther League Meeting20: Confirmation Class, 6:15 p.m. 24: Luther League Meeting, 12:30 p.m.

March Dates:1-2: Sr. High Retreat at Lake Livingston

Luther League MeetingsThe Luther League is open to all youth in 6th - 12th grades. We will have two options for the youth to meet for a time of fellowship, fun, bible study, and prayer. The First and Third Sundays of the month our youth will meet at 6:00 p.m. The Second and Fourth Sundays of the month our meetings will be after late service at 12:30 p.m. Friends and visitors are always welcome! We need help with meals for our February meetings. Please contact Deacon Ben Remmert to sign up.

Youth Dodgeball Tournament: February 2, 2:00 p.m.High School youth are invited to Faith Lutheran Church, Bellaire for a Dodgeball Tournament in honor of raising money and non-perishable foods for Souper Bowl of Caring. All participants are to bring non-perishable food items to the tournament. For more information or to sign up for the CTK team contact Deacon Ben Remmert.

Souper Bowl Sunday: February 3All youth in 6th-12th grade are invited to help serve on Sunday February 3rd as we collect donations for our Souper Bowl offering. This year our offering is going to CCSC to help their food pantry. You are welcome to wear your favorite team color(s) to worship. For more information, please contact Beverly Davis or Deacon Ben Remmert.

Winter Luau Dinner Fundraiser: Saturday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.The youth group of Christ the King Church, Luther League, invites everyone to a fancy night out at church! Come together for a warm luau during the cold month of February with beach sunset scenery and a luau competition. Chef Nathaniel Winston will again pull out all the stops and create a four course meal. This fundraiser supports the 2019 summer trip to Germany for which 20 youth have signed up. Seating is available for individuals, pairs, and small and large groups. Individual tickets are $50, $90 for two. A table is $300 (seven people). Free childcare is available. Email Ben Remmert at [email protected] to RSVP by Wednesday, February 6.

Sr. High Retreat at Lake Livingston: March 1-2 Our high school students are invited for an overnight at Lake Livingston at Deacon Ben’s lakehouse! Our students will have a great opportunity for fellowship, swimming, fun, and growing in their faith with caring conversations on science of faith. Cost is only $40 for housing, food, and activities. Please RSVP no later than Sunday, February 24.

Luther League youth gathered on January 19 for fellowship at the Texas Escape Room, painted the new youth r o o m m u r a l , and cheered on the marathon runners the next day.

Youth and Family Special Speaker Chelsie SargentFebruary 10 at 9:45 a.m. Youth in 7th-12th grade and parents are invited to come together for a special presentation from local teen counselor Chelsie Sargent, M.Ed., LPC-S. Chel-sie’s presentation will educate on the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, the early warning signs of dating violence and abuse, what to do if you find yourself in an abusive relation-ship, and how to get help if you are in an abusive dating relationship. All the youth and parents are encouraged to bring a juice, milk, donuts, or a side-dish to share with the group. Please make sure to contact Deacon Ben Remmert if you are bringing an item to share.


Summer Camp and TripsLutherhill Elementary Camp and Beach Camp Registration is openElementary Students- (1st-6th Grade)Lutherhill Elementary Summer Camp- July 14-19Those that have completed 1st-5th grade will spend a whole week at Lutherhill discovering all of the joys camp has to offer with Deacon Ben Remmert! Alpha Campers (1st Graders) are at camp from July 14-17 and Youngin’s (2nd-3rd Graders) and Yearling’s (4th-6th Graders) are at camp from July 14-19. Enjoy fun bible studies, camp-wide worships, afternoon activities and daily All Camp activities. Spend an evening around the campfire making s’mores. Cost break-downs are below. Sign up and Register by February 15.

Alpha (1st Grade) Program Cost: Paid in Full by March 15-$290, May 15- $325, after May 15-$340

Young’ns (2nd-3rd Grade) and Yearling’s (4th-6th Grade) Program Cost: Paid in full by March 15-$450, May 15- $500, after May 15-$525

Blue Ridge Mountain Service Week: June 15-238th-12th grade youth are invited to experience the great beauty of both people and nature in the scenic small town of Taylorsville, North Carolina. We will be participating in work projects, running a Kids Club, helping at a local nu-trition program and supporting a few other ministries in the local area we will make connections with the people of the area while addressing some significant needs. In the evenings, your group will visit a cowboy church, experience the thrill of a homemade water park, hike to the top of Lowe’s Lookout and partake in a community cookout. Late RSVP and Deposit of $350 are due at the latest February 15 to Deacon Ben Remmert.

Lutherhill Beach Camp: July 21-26Those that have completed 6th-8th grade can experience a week at Lutherhill as a confirmation group with Deacon Ben Remmert at Zion Retreat Center in Galveston Island! Campers will experience the love of Christ both inside and outside the walls of Zion by taking advantage of the beach and surrounding attractions by dive into Bible studies, enjoy worships on the Gulf of Mexico, cook for one an-other, experience service opportunities in the surrounding communities, explore the island of Galveston, and grow in community with fellow junior high students. Cost break-downs are below. Sign up and register by February 15.Program Cost: Paid in full by March 15-$490, May 15-$540,after May 15-$565

Plan for Summer

Save the Date: Tag Sale — May 4The annual Tag Sale at Christ the King Church will be Satur-day May 4, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the parish hall. Give us anything you want out of your closets, garages and attics! We will collect items starting the Sunday before the sale, April 28. Furniture sells well so we would gladly take it if you can get it to the church. Larger items and large volume donations can only be accepted in the parish hall on Thursday May 2 and Friday May 3.

We will need volunteers to help set up, sell and clean up on Friday, May 3 (all day) and Saturday, May 4 (7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.). We are looking for help with advertising. If you live or work near Rice Village, you could distribute fliers, or if you have a connection to a local newsletter you may be able to facilitate getting an ad in for our event. Sign-up sheets for the event will appear on the bulletin board in early April, or you can email Deacon Ben Remmert at [email protected].

The Dialogue Project: Faith in Our City Explore Faith in Houston! Faith in Our City is a program that increases awareness of the variety of faith traditions we have in our community. Interfaith Monistries will spotlight a different faith tradition each month through two separate opportunities: a Lunch & Learn and a guided tour of a house of worship representative of that faith. All Lunch & Learns at 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer (500 Fannin, Ste 100). Sponsored by Interfaith Ministry’s Multi-Faith Council and the Freed Foundation. House of Worship Tours occur at various times. More information and registration at imgh.org.

Lunch & Learn: $25.00 Tour of House of Worship: $25.00

Lunch & Learn + House of Worship Tour: $40.00

ZoroastrianismLunch & Learn: February 12

Tour of Zoroastrian Association of Houston: February 17

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)Lunch & Learn: Date TBD

Tour of LDS Meeting House: March 18

IslamLunch & Learn: April 10

Tour of River Oaks Islamic Center: April 15

SikhismLunch & Learn: May 15

Tour of Sikh Center of Gulf Coast: May 23

Eastern OrthodoxLunch & Learn: June 19

Tour of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral: June (TBD)

BuddhismLunch & Learn: July 9

Tour of Jade Buddha Temple: July 20


8:15 am Morning Prayer

9:00 am Prayer Shawl ministry

5:00 pm Family Friday

9:00 am Young Adults volunteer

10:00 am Assisting Minister/Server training

1:00 pm Yoga2:00 Luther League Dodgeball

6:00 pm Contemplative Worship

8:30 am Worship9:45 am Sunday School

9:45 am Sunday Forum

10:50 am Worship12:30 pm Luther League

Church Office Closed




5:00 pm The 5 O’Clock5:30 pm Dinner begins5:30 pm PreK Music 5:45 pm Infant Music 6:00 pm Choristers6:00 pm Table Grace6:15 pm Confirmation6:15 pm Jr Choristers6:15 pm Brass Choir6:20 pm Toddler Music 6:30 pm Isaiah7:30 pm

Choir and Chorus


10:00 am Piecemakers

7:00 pm Suffering, Death, and Resurrection digital class



10:00 am Friday Morning Bible Study

1:00 pm Yoga6:00 pm Contemplative Worship

7:00 pm Winter Luau

8:30 am Worship9:45 am

Sunday School9:45 am

Sunday Forum9:45 am

Justice Advocacy9:45 pm Youth/Family

Breakfast10:50 am Worship12:30 pm

Annual Meeting6:00 pm

Luther League




7:15 pm Congregation Council


5:00 pm The 5 O’Clock5:30 pm Dinner begins5:30 pm PreK Music 5:45 pm Infant Music 6:00 pm Choristers6:00 pm Table Grace6:15 pm Confirmation6:15 pm Jr Choristers6:15 pm Brass Choir6:20 pm Toddler Music 6:30 pm Isaiah7:30 pm

Choir and Chorus


10:00 am Piecemakers6:00 pm

Caring for Survivors of Human Trafficking

6:00 pm Montrose Grace Place





10:00 am Altar Guild

1:00 pm Yoga6:00 pm Contemplative Worship



10:50 am Worship7:00 pm Young Adults



7:00 pm Houston Science /Religion


5:00 pm SEARCH Coming Home dinner

8:15 am Morning Prayer 10:00 am SEARCH

Cards and Coffee5:00 pm The 5 O’Clock5:30 pm Dinner begins5:30 pm PreK Music 5:45 pm Infant Music 6:00 pm Choristers6:00 pm Table Grace6:15 pm Confirmation6:15 pm Jr Choristers6:15 pm Brass Choir6:20 pm Toddler Music 6:30 pm Isaiah7:30 pm

Choir and Chorus







7:00 pm Blues, Brews, and Good News

8:30 am Nature Hike

9:00 am Freewheels Open House

1:00 pm Yoga5:30 pm Monopoly Party

6:00 pm Contemplative Worship



10:50 am Worship12:30 pm Luther League

6:00 pm Creation Care webinar





5:00 pm The 5 O’Clock5:30 pm Dinner begins5:30 pm PreK Music 5:45 pm Infant Music 6:00 pm Choristers6:00 pm Table Grace 6:15 pm Jr Choristers6:15 pm Brass Choir6:20 pm Toddler Music 6:30 pm Isaiah7:30 pm

Choir and Chorus




February 2019Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28

Lesser Festivals and Commemorations2 PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD 3 Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, 865 5 The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 14 Cyril, monk, 869; Methodius, bishop, 885; missionaries to the Slavs 18 Martin Luther, renewer of the church, 1546 23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, 156 25 Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, 1921

7:10 a.m. 12:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Sandwiches will be served after the 12:15 p.m. service.

Ash Wednesday March 6

Imposition of Ashes

AlertWe are taking a group to

Israel/Palestine in October 2019

Group limit will be 20Contact Pastor Duane Larson at

[email protected]


Christ the King Church comes together every week of the school year for Wednesdays@Church or W@C. All activities are centered around dinner together. There is music for chil-dren and parents, singing for children, classes and music for adults. With dinner at the center there is ample time to make and meet friends.

TableDinner 5:30-6:40 p.m. parish hallTable grace 6:00 p.m. parish hall

Children’s MusicPreK-K music 5:30 p.m. room 011Infant music 5:45 p.m. room 201Toddler music 6:20 p.m. room 201Junior Choristers 6:15 p.m. room 011Choristers 6:00 p.m. room 001

StudySmall Catechism 5:00 p.m. room 301Confirmation Class 6:15 p.m. room 204 Isaiah 6:30 p.m. room 301musicBrass ensemble 6:15 p.m. narthexChorus and Choir 7:30 p.m. 001/011

Family Music for Babies and ToddlersWednesdays, 5:45 and 6:20 p.m.Our Family Music for Babies & Toddlers (birth to 36 months) is designed to bring the love of music and movement to babies and toddlers while laying a strong foundation for further musical skill development. Cost per child is $65/semester.

Wednesdays@ChurCh Isaiah through February 27, 6:30 p.m.Jesus read from the Isaiah scroll in the syna-gogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-20). Paul and the evangelists cite Isaiah more than any other book of the Hebrew Scriptures. The early Christian church fathers referred to Isaiah as their “fifth gospel”. For seven sessions (January 16-February 27), Kris-tine Wallace will lead a study of the book of Isaiah, a complex text encompassing oracles from the 8th century to the 6th century BCE. Our lectionary contains

more passages from Isaiah than from any other book of the Hebrew Bible; more prophetic readings are taken from it in the Jewish lectionary as well. Our study can give us a fuller and deeper understanding of this beloved text.

Conversations with Martin Luther’s Small CatechismThe 5 O’Clock class, through February 27The topic for this reading class is not so much the Catechism itself, but how did it come to be? The story of the Small Catechism reflects Martin Luther’s own life and questions. With the help of a little history and back-ground, the words of the catechism open up as gospel proclaiming the freeing word of the Reformation. Join us in our conversations about this gem of the Lutheran tradition. Copies of the book are available as class set to all participants.

Best Friends are Made in the Kitchen All members who enjoy good food and good fellowship are invited to join us by volunteering one Wednesday dur ing the spring semester. Food service will be from 5:30-6:40 p.m. each Wednesday through April 24. We have a full range of positions available from cooks to servers to dishwashers. Contact Beverly Davis at [email protected].

Time and Talent SurveyEach year a wonderfully large number of you generously do-nate your time and talent to the life and mission of our congrega-tion. As we with this new year have answered God’s call for Christ the King Lutheran Church to be A Healing Place for each other and for the larger commu-nity, we each have the opportu-nity to discern and give again of the unique gifts God has grown in us. What wealth of wisdom, talent, and passions with which God has equipped this cherished congregation of Christ the King!

You are cordially encouraged to be involved in the life of our congregation and community this year. You can find the 2019 Time and Talent Booklet on our web-site which describes the various opportunities available for you to use in completing the survey, and you can find a link to the survey in our weekly emails or contact [email protected] for assistance. If you prefer to complete the survey on paper, both the booklets and response forms are available on the table in the narthex. Feel free to take one and return it to the desig-nated basket or to the church office. Thank you for your faithful service to our congregation, our community and the world as God makes us into “a healing place.”

TIMETALENT

&


Service and CareSEARCH Cards and Coffee MinistryPlease join us in hosting our monthly coffee hour for SEARCH Homeless Services clients at the Perry St. Apartments, 4415 Perry, a New Hope Housing project in the Third Ward on Wednesday, February 20 10:00-11:00 a.m. This collaboration with SEARCH takes place every third Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact Beverly at [email protected].

Young Adults VolunteerJoin the Young Adults as we volunteer at CCSC’s Emer-gency Services (3434 Branard) on Saturday, February 2 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. All are welcome to join us on the first Saturday every other month. Mark your cal-endar for April 6. For questions or to RSVP, please contact [email protected].

Learning from the World’s Children2nd Annual Gershenson Lecture featuring Caryl Stern, President & CEO of UNICEF USA

Tuesday, March 5, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

Sponsored by IM’s women’s initiative, IMpower, this community-wide event will feature Caryl Stern, President & CEO of UNICEF USA, one of our world's most notable organizations working toward the day when no child dies from preventable causes. The evening will also feature a special fireside chat with Caryl and Lisa Falkenberg, a Pulitzer Prize Journalist and now Houston Chronicle’s Editor of Opinion. A dessert reception will follow the lecture.

Tickets are $15.00. Purchase tickets at imgh.org. Please contact Jodi Bernstein @[email protected] or 713-533-4969 for information.

In January, the Christ the King volunteers had a great start to another year at the Houston

Food Bank. The CTK group of 16 people (our most in a few months!) had plenty to do and got through quite a few pounds of food. Back on the senior produce project we did in November, the CTK group helped assemble 2,000 bags of fresh produce to be distributed to senior citizens. With each bag carrying 5 pounds of vegetables, our group helped create 10,000 pounds of food for seniors in need. A big thank you to our great group of volunteers! See photos on page 13.

We'll be back at it in March at our next scheduled ses-sion on March 9.

As a scheduling note, we will be cancelling our May date as the Houston Food Bank will be closed during that shift during an event.

Christ the King 2019 schedule:• Saturday, March 9• Saturday, July 13• Saturday, September 14• Saturday, November 9

Useful informationWhen: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Where: Houston Food Bank Warehouse, 535 Portwall St., Houston, TX 77029Attire: Closed-toe shoes, pants, sleeved shirt (short or long sleeves)Carpool: If needed, it will leave the church parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Please specify if you wish to carpool so we can be sure to send someone there before heading to the HFB: [email protected]

Thank you for all your hard work,Yuricel Mondragon and Justin Schneewind

Saturday March 9

houston food bank Leave the church at 7:30

Return at noon For information, contact [email protected]

Montrose Grace PlaceThursday, February 14 Christ the King volunteers will be providing and serving a meal for at-risk LGBTQ youth on Thursday, February 14 at Kindred in the Montrose area. All are invited to help with this unique com-munity project. For more information or to volunteer, contact Rebecca at [email protected]. Can’t make our February date? Then mark your calendars for the next date on April 11.

Coming Home ― An Evening Meal SEARCH Homeless Service’s Mentoring ProgramTuesday, February 19On February 19, we have an opportunity to support SEARCH Homeless Service’s mentoring program by providing and serving dinner to SEARCH clients and their volunteer mentors. Coming Home is a unique six month program that pairs a person who has experienced trauma, loss and separation from community with a mentor. We get to support the program by providing and sharing the evening meal with the clients and mentors. Please join us on Tuesday, February 19, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, please contact [email protected].


Assisting Minister and Server TrainingA make-up training for Assisting Ministers and Servers will be conducted in the nave on February 2 at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon in the nave. If you are interested in serving in one of these capacities, whether you have experience or are a nov-ice, attendance at one of the trainings is required. If you are considering to become a worship server, please speak with one of the pastors.

Adult Nursery Playmates NeededCalling all members who are young at heart to enjoy a little “play therapy” with our littlest angels on an occasional Sunday morning. We are in need of nursery volunteers for both services, but particularly for 8:30 a.m. worship. For information, contact Beverly at [email protected].

Flu Season Officially Begins..It’s not too late to vaccinate!Each year the CDC monitors and analyzes key flu activity indicators every week. On December 21, 2018 the CDC reported sustained increases in influenza-like-illness and the proportion of laboratory-confirmed flu cases nationally. That was the signal for the official start of flu season. In addition, a seventh flu-related pediatric death has already been reported. It’s too soon to make any assessment about how severe this flu season will be, but there will be 11-20 weeks of elevated flu activity.

Severe flu outcomes are a somber reminder of how serious flu can be, even for otherwise healthy people. Flu vaccination protects against influenza and reduces the risk of flu complications, including flu-asso-ciated hospitalization, admissions to the intensive care unit, and even death in children. To date the rate of hospitalization in children under the age of five is the highest of all age groups. Historically it is usually the over 65 age group that has the highest rate of hospitalization.

With significant flu still to come this season, CDC continues to recom-mend that anyone who has not yet gotten a flu vaccine this season should get vaccinated now. It takes approximately two weeks for the protection provided by vaccination to begin.

In addition to getting the flu shot remember these simple recommendations to help protect yourself and others:

WASH hands frequentlyCover coughs and sneezesStay home if you are sick

Flowers for the Nave via SignUpGeniusTo give Sunday flowers in 2019 you may sign up using the SignUp-Genius (signupgenius.com/go/30e0849a4a92ca2f85-2019), or the mobile bulletin board. Flower arrangements for week-end services are $65. Please pay for the flowers when you sign up. Checks can be made out to Christ the King Lutheran Church with “Altar Flowers” in the memo line and placed in the offering.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper March 5, 5:30-7:00 p.m.Volunteers and Revelers NeededThe annual Pancake Supper will be March 5 in the parish hall. Come and eat all the pancakes and sausage you can and enjoy music and pancake races. Traditionally, this is the day people eat up all the foods they can't have during Lent - butter, meat, eggs, and wine - and have the last big party until Easter. There will be projects for the kids begin-ning at 5:30 p.m., with dancing for everyone, followed by singing our last "Alleluia." Supper will be served from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. If you can help shop, cook or clean up at the supper, please contact Marie Monroe at [email protected] or 832-488-7696. Come and have the most fun you'll have until Easter.

Ukrainian Egg Decorating WorkshopPasanky (Ukaranian egg decorat-ing) classes will meet on the 3rd floor at 6:00 p.m. starting on Thursday, Janu-ary 31 and continuing through April 11, led by Marie Monroe. The cost is $10 for new students and $5 for returning students. Everyone learns and works at their own speed, and you are invited to enjoy this relaxing, meditative art. You

too can make beautiful eggs.

Contact Marie for more information, [email protected], or just show up on a Thursday.Contact Marie for more information, [email protected].

Yoga on Saturdays 1:00 p.m. every Saturday in the parish hall

All welcome: novice or experienced. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat.

$ 7


Justice Advocacy Opportunity

– Advocate with the ELCA

Justice Advocacy WorkshopSunday, February 3, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston, a Houston affiliate of the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy, invites you to learn to effectively raise your voice for the voiceless. The workshop is taught by experts from TX Impact, an Austin-based interfaith justice advocacy or-ganization, and will highlight eco-justice issues likely to be presented in the Texas legislature this session. The Justice Advocacy Workshop is free, and will take place at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (1900 Bering Dr.), as well as online, via a simultaneous web meeting. Please register for this event. The training will be recorded, so if you can’t make it, you can still get a copy of the training recording to review later. For more information, please contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected].

Churchwide Assembly Look-Back: Donor SabbathAt churchwide assembly in August of 2016, a memorial to observe a National Donor Sabbath was passed. The me-morial reaffirms the church’s recognition of organ/tissue & whole blood donation as an act of stewardship and an appropriate means of contributing to the health and well-being of others. The National Donor Sabbath is observed two weeks before Thanksgiving each year.

The Work of the ELCA: Volunteer OpportunitiesYou likely already know about volunteer opportunities at CTK, and you may be aware of volunteer opportunities at our synod. But, the ELCA has a host of other volunteer opportuni-ties, through Lutheran Services in America, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA-affiliated camps/retreat centers, Mission Builders, the Lutheran Volunteer Corps & more. To learn more about the many volunteer opportunities within the ELCA, go to elca.org, place your cursor over “Our Work”, and click the link for “Volunteer Opportunities” in the Publicly Engaged Church section.

Urge the Governor to Get Briefed on Climate ScienceLast December, Governor Abbott stated, when asked if human-made climate change played a role in Texas weather disasters, that he is not a scientist and therefore it would be impossible for him to say. 27 Texas climate scientists responded by offering to brief him on the science of human-caused global warming and its projected impacts on Texas. Urge the governor to get briefed on the latest National Cli-mate Assessment from the federal government. Its findings yet again demonstrate that we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in our own back yards, from bigger wildfires to heavier rainfalls to hotter heat waves. Sign a petition urging Governor Abbott to meet with TX climate scientists (go to thepetitionsite.com/214/500/218/urge-gov.-abbott-to-meet-with-climate-scientists/).

Lutheran Legislative EventThe annual Lutheran Legislative Event, usually held in Feb-ruary, is now the Lutheran Episcopal Legislative Event and will take place March 17 - March 19. Details at texasimpact.org/event/the-lutheran-episcopal-legislative-event.

Family Fridays in JanuaryChildren’s science museum tour sociable in January

Making Epiphany stars on January 6


Wildlife Habitat CertificationWinter is a great time to start thinking about how to improve your garden for birds and other backyard wildlife. Start planning your garden now and make a haven for wildlife by including the elements of a Certified Wildlife Habitat? It’s as easy as providing three food sources, one water source, two places for cover, two places to raise young, and two sustainable gardening practices. Many garden features provide wildlife with more than one habitat element.

Here are a few examples: • Native nectar plants—food, cover • Berrying shrubs—food, cover, places to raise young • Fruit or nut producing trees—food, cover, places to raise young • Native milkweed—food, cover, places to raise young • Garden pond—water, cover, places to raise young

By providing food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young you are eligible to have your yard recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. When you certify, you’ll join over 225,000 gardeners across America who provide safe places for wildlife like birds to thrive. Creating a wildlife habitat garden not only helps wildlife, it gives you a beautiful place to experience nature every day.

To certify your garden, use the following link: nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify

February 3Heidi Blankenburg-

SalazarTodd BalsleyBrandon BouldinDawn DancyJohn SommerEd NikonowiczBob SolbergRuth DittmarMeghan MurphyNicholas Nash

Celebrate your Baptismal Anniversary!February 10Sterling PaulsenDewey LetnessRosa OechslinWhitney AdamsValerie LloydFederico Salas-Isnardi

February 17Angie MatternSara HarlanAndrea PreisingerCordelia BryantPeggy SimonEric VuongHenry Trahan

“Remember and rejoice, Renewed by floods of grace

We bear the sign of Jesus Christ, That time cannot erase.” (ELW 454)

February 24Erin BurtonCarl GlatzelJudy VinsonTimothy WinstonDuane LarsonStephan RothErin SimpsonMartina Luke-

DornMark SmithAidan SwindellMeredith MooreJamie Gibbons

Pastor Duane’s World continued from page 2

Pastor Duane's

World

to be more of the same, and with all your ministry staff, we commit to stewarding the good work of 2018 into a broader and deeper impact yet of Christ’s love for all whom we touch with the gospel.

And such a rich life of carrying the gospel with y’all simply could not happen were it not for the fabulous commit-ment and skills of our whole ministry team and lay gov-

ernance. How richly we are blessed and how thankful I am for wide and deep collegiality! How grateful I am to serve with you here! How grateful I am to be with you and for you! How happy I am with you to sail on the “Good Ship Christian,” occasionally to “surf the Lord,” and to be refreshed with you continually in the waters of baptism, fed by Christ himself, practicing peace and serving together. Love, Pastor Duane

Some of our 16 volunteers at the Houston Food Bank in January.

Climate Change & What You Can DoSunday, February 24, 6:00 p.m.In February, Dan Cohan, associ-ate professor at Rice University, Department of Civil & Environ-mental Engineering, will speak on climate change. Climate change has been deemed one of the most significant envi-ronmental issues facing North America by the U.N.'s Global Environmental Outlook, the U.N.'s flagship environmental assessment. Professor Cohan will educate on the latest re-search and reports on climate change, so that you thoroughly understand the issue. He will also explain the actions you can take to combat climate change. Register at eventbrite.com. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected]


A note (archival-worthy, of course) from your Archivists submitted by Beverly PalmerFor a number of years now, Marie Monroe and I have been trying to impose order and magnitude on boxes and boxes and more boxes of documents and photo-graphs from the beginning of our church’s history. We have been able to discard much, but a LOT remains. Most of the remaining items were unorganized as to date and subject matter, and this is not even to men-tion the daunting task ahead of us of trying to identify people and events in photographs. As if all this were not challenging enough, from time to time we were unable to access the boxes of material when they were stored elsewhere due to various moves from buildings being sold and the flooding of the basement. But now we have official storage space for our boxes and we even have our own little dedicated workroom in the basement. We are feeling pretty special.

Consequently, we have been able to resume work with vigor, and have made huge progress during the past few months. An order is slowly emerging, and a pat-tern is also emerging for a permanent arrangement of this mate-rial. It’s all very excit-ing, and the process has been inter-esting and nostalgic as we re l i ve the history of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

Through our review of documents and photos, we have learned that some things never change. It is widely acknowledged that our church today is uniquely dynamic, filled with passionate members committed to living out their faith in the church, the community, and the world. But this is not new. Right from the very beginning, members of Christ the King Lutheran Church have always been graced with a faith, commitment, passion and energy far out of propor-tion with the number of people involved. It has been easy to see how our church became what it is today.

Alas though, as order is gradually emerging from chaos, we are beginning to notice some gaps in documents and a dearth of photos for some years, especially for the period 1945 to the early 1960s. Be-ginning in the mid-1960s, preservation of documents improved, but there are still a lot missing through the 1980s. Therefore, we are urging you to look through your own archives for anything relating to Christ the

King. Many of you have been long-time members yourselves, and a num-ber of you may have had parents who were here during the early years. We are especially interested in photographs, Banners letters, and confirmation photos but would appre-ciate anything else, such as special bulletins, newspaper clippings, committee and Board notes and documentation, posters, etc.

Also, we extend an invitation to anyone who would like to join us in this important journey through our church’s history. Other than loving and revering old documents and photos, and perhaps having a penchant for putting things in order, no particular skills are neces-sary. If you have any archiving knowledge, however, you will in turn be revered. For information, contact Marie Monroe at [email protected] or Beverly Palmer at [email protected].

First issue of The King’s Banner was published in January 1948. Notices of birthdays, perfect attendances at church, Sunday school, births, broken arms, anniversaries, illnesses, etc. under column entitled “Did You Know?”


We Love a Parade!Martin Luther King Day Grande Parade

January 21

We Love a Parade!Martin Luther King Grande Parade

January 21

king’s bannerctkelc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/kb-february-2019.pdf2 the king’s banner...

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