The Kings Messenger Christ the King Lutheran Church

Church Office Hours:

Monday-Thursday—

8:00am to 4:00pm

Friday—

8:00am to 2:00pm

Saturday-Sunday—

By Appointment

December 2017

Vo lume , I s s ue

Inside This Issue:

Missio Dei

Advent Cantata

Hilltoppers

Advent Worship

Entertaining

Seminar

Kiwanis Holiday

Lights

Community

Support

Opportunities

Christmas Outreach

New Members

CTK Kids

This year’s post-Christmas musical is called “The Next Noel”. Remember last

year, in “The First Leon”, when Leon wanted so badly to be in the Christmas

pageant? When he did get a part he thought he had totally messed it up. In reality,

he gave the story of Christmas a complete new meaning.

This year Leon comes back as the director of the Christ-

mas pageant, but now he has a little problem with his

ego. We are looking for any and all kids in grades 1-12

(and older!) to join us in presenting “The Next Noel” on

Saturday, December 30, at 5:30pm, and Sunday, Decem-

ber 31, at 8:15 and 9:30am. Rehearsals will be from 1:00

to 4:30 PM on December 26 – 29. Tryouts for solos and

speaking parts will be on November 28, December 5,

and December 12 from 3:00 – 5:00pm. If those times

don’t work for you, please contact Chuck at . . . . . . . . .

. chuckh@ctkmankato.org or 507-390-5852. Register .

. online at ctkmankato.org

Children’s Christmas Musical

The annual Advent Recital Series continues with a performance from Garrett and

Anastacia Steinberg on November 28 and four December performances. Join us in

the Worship Center at 7:00pm on Tuesdays. There is no cost for admission. Free-

will offering will be received. Performances are as scheduled: 12/5 - Quadraphonic

Vocal Quartet - John Kind, John Petersen, Jim Hatleli, David Holmes, 12/10

(Sunday, 3:00pm) - Paul and Helen Baumgartner - 4 Hand Piano, 12/12 - Stepha-

nie Thorpe - Vocal, 12/19 - Nick Wayne - Vocal

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship

Christ the King will be holding four worship services on Christmas Eve and one

on Christmas Day. Sunday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): 10:00am, 2:00pm,

4:00pm and 10:00pm. Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day): 10:00am.

Advent Recital Series

Pancake Breakfast Youth Fundraiser

Sunday, December 3 8:30-10:30am

Free-will offering/Suggested donation: $8/adults & $5/children

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Missio Dei by Pastor Trish

Worshipping as a Family

We are in the midst of what we typically call the “program year” – the time from September until May when

we offer not just educational activities like JAM, CLUB, or Kids Klub, but also other events like Hilltoppers,

Choir, Handbells, etc. When it comes to our times of education, you could say that we offer weekly opportuni-

ties. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean we have a “lesson” every week. Perhaps as a parent, you wonder

“why not?”

For all of our children, from the Rainbow Room through CLUB 9, we have a planned curriculum for the

year, teaching everything from Bible stories to parts of the catechism to theology - what we believe as

Christians and specifically, as Lutherans. While lessons offered in a classroom or - for our younger learners – in

a rotation format are important, there are other parts of being church together that are just as important. And

it’s those parts of church we want to give our children and families an opportunity to experience together as

well.

So that’s why we do Faith in Motion worship services. You’ve heard me say it or write it before, but the

very BEST thing parents can do to set their children on a lifelong journey of faith is to WORSHIP

TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. That’s the #1 action that instills and continues faith. In response to this fact,

we offer Faith in Motion worship services to be as supportive as possible for your family to worship together.

That’s why we don’t offer JAM at the same time on those Sundays – we want to make it as easy as possible to

be in worship, instead.

That’s also why we do some different things on festival days, such as Reformation and All Saint’s Sunday.

Those have been worship services that we want you to be able to attend, so we schedule a partial time of

education, or we offer something like the “Reformation Pep Rally” for a family activity after worship. By the

time you read this newsletter, Thanksgiving Eve services will have been another service like that, as will future

worship services like Ash Wednesday, or Maundy Thursday.

We know it’s tempting to think of these days as a good day to “take a little time off” but that’s not our

intent! Instead, these days are not just opportunities to worship as a family but we often have some educational

opportunities mixed in as well. So…the next time you see something “special” happening in the educational

realm for your child, please – take advantage and come experience another part of being church together!

Christ the King Lutheran Church presents

“A Baby—Born to be a King” Advent Cantata

Join us for performances on Saturday, December 16 at 5:30

Sunday, December 17 at 8:15 & 9:30am,

Wednesday, December 20 at 6:15pm

Directed by Garrett Steinberg and Robin Hughes

Featuring 50+ voices, 20-piece orchestra, CTK Hand Bells, Band, and Choir

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Announcements

We are often experts in using the season of Advent as a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s

birth, but what about the waiting and watching that is also a part of this season? This year, we invite you to

take a little bit of time our each week and join us for a short, approximately 30 minute worship service with a

theme of “The Geography of Waiting”. Services will be from 12:15-12:45pm on the following Wednesdays –

November 29, December 6,13, and 20. Worship will have a more “contemplative” flavor, and will consist of

music, scripture, prayer, and a time to be still while considering our weekly themes of hope, courage, joy and

love. Our hope and prayer is that this short “time out” in the midst of the season will refresh and renew you.

Come join us!

Hilltoppers

Pastor John and Ellen Petersen will be presenting a program of Advent and Christmas music on Tuesday,

December 19th beginning at 11:00am in the Worship Center. Selections will include a number of traditional

Christmas songs along with an opportunity for all to join in singing some of your favorite Christmas carols.

A potluck lunch will follow at noon. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway.

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Midweek Advent Worship

There’s still time to sign up for the annual Women’s Advent Brunch on Saturday, December 2 at 9:30am in the

Community Room. This year, Karen Storvick, along with Carole Hayes and a special guest will present

“Nourish your heart and soul”. Registration is available online or in the Narthex.

Women’s Advent Brunch

Advent Worship Opportunity

Christmas is an incredibly joy-filled time for most people. But in the midst of great joy there can often be

hidden pain as well. As part of our Christmas worship opportunities we will be having a “Longest Night

Service” at our 5:30pm worship time on Saturday, December 23. As we continue to wait and watch for

Christ’s coming, we will also be acknowledging the losses that remain with us and that we especially

remember during this season. If this season is a season of sadness in the midst of joy please join us at

worship on December 23.

Following the Advent Brunch, Contents will be hosting a seminar about entertaining for the holidays presented

by Karen Storvik on Sunday, December 2 at 1:30pm in the Community Room at Christ the King. The seminar

will present exciting, creative ways to entertain, decorate, and create a refreshing experience for you & your

guests. Celebrate the seasons in style with ideas from Contents and Cooks & Company. All proceeds from the

seminar will go toward The Reach. Reservations may be purchased at Contents, 304 South Minnesota Avenue

in St. Peter. Call 507-934-8616 for more information.

Holiday Entertaining Seminar

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Christ directed his Disciples to "feed them" in Mathew 14:16. We have two ongoing ministries that directly

effect hunger in our community: Community Suppers and Food for Friends. Food for Friends serves meals at

the Salvation Army on 8 Saturdays a year feeding over 600 people. There are professional staff and volunteers

that spend hours preparing and serving main courses, vegetables, fruit, buns, cookies, coffee, milk and juice.

Our next opportunity occurs on December 9th. To this end we ask you bring extra toiletries, such as travel

sized shampoo, soap, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste. These could be store-bought items or ones collected

from hotel stays or trips to the dentist. There is a box outside the office waiting for your unopened toiletries

that will be distributed on December 9th. Please put those items in the box by December 6th.

Food For Friends Outreach

Announcements

We’ve kicked off a year of collecting items for assembling baby care kits that will be sent to Lutheran World

Relief and then distributed all over the world. Our children and youth will be assembling the kits in early

March, so we are taking donations between now and then. For a detailed list of what’s needed, check the No-

vember newsletter or the LWR website at https://lwr.org/get-involved/build-kits-of-care/baby-care-kits. For

the month of December, we’d like to focus on the clothing needed for a kit. So, while you are out Christmas

shopping this month, we hope you’ll consider purchasing an item. We need two different items for each kit: 1)

a jacket, sweater or sweatshirt (with or without a hood) in sizes from 6-24 months, and 2) gown or sleeper

(without feet!) in that same size range. A top/pants or romper can also be substituted for a gown – just make

sure the clothing doesn’t have feet. Are you a sewer? We also have patterns to sew a baby gown or hooded ba-

by cape, or someone to serge “onesies” as we turn them into T-shirts. If this is something you can help with,

let Wendy or Pastor Trish know. Drop off location for any of the items for the kits can be found in the educa-

tion wing right outside the chapel doors. Thank you!

Baby Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief

Kiwanis Holiday Lights

Toys For Tots

Christ the King is collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys For Tots. Toys

may be dropped off in the bins at church until Friday, December 15.

Giving Tree Christ the King is once again participating in the Giving Tree Ministry for the 2017 Christmas season. Please

take a tag from our Giving Tree, and help a family in need this Christmas. Our families are either being served

by the Theresa House/Welcome Inn or identified as being in need by District 77 social workers. Gifts need to

be returned to the church by Sunday, December 3rd. Thank you for your generosity!

Come and see the Christ the King tree at the Kiwanis Holiday Lights in Sibley Park November 24 to

December 31. Visitors walking through the park will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite tree.

Cash prizes are given to the top 3 vote-getters, so let’s make sure to vote for CTK! Sibley Park is open 5:00-

9:00pm Sunday-Thursday and 5:00-10:00pm Friday & Saturday.

A special welcome to all of the new members who joined Christ the King on Sunday, October 29: Dianne

Brandt | Orion & Chloris Carlson | Monte & Marjorie Curtis | Kirsten & Adam Elliot; Madden | Brennan &

Erin Enstad | Jeff & Jodie Gerdts | Dan & Leah Hansen | Danny & Sarah Heath; Sophie | John & Norma

Jensen | David & Carolyn Krause; Zachary, Elizabeth | Melvin & Debbie Luebke | Scott & Rachel Moeller;

Calvin, Olivia, Will | Brad Nicholls & Rita Sandvik | Harriet Peterson | Susan Sartin | Shannon & Amy Sin-

ning; Chloe, Parker, Mason | Laura Templin; Olivia, Talulah | Deborah Tennant | Kyle & Jodie Ward; Anni-

ka, Grace | BJ & Laura Weness | Ed & Joani Werner | Mark Wiese & Brianne Frawley

Welcome New Members

Looking for an easy holiday gift idea? Visit the SCRIP table in the narthex between services to purchase gift cards from a variety of stores. For each gift card sold, Christ the King receives a percentage of the proceeds. Over the past 2 1/2 years, our SCRIP program has earned the church over $4,500!

Buy SCRIP Cards for the Holidays!

Support Christ the King with Amazon Smile

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Announcements

Reaching Out at Christmastime

We again invite you to give a special monetary gift (suggested gift $15.00) to continue our outreach

ministry to the homeless in Mankato. What a wonderful way to memorialize/honor a loved one by helping

a less fortunate member of God’s family. Fill out the form and return it to the church office no later than

Wednesday, December 20.

Names will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletins. Please label checks “Christmas Outreach”.

Your Name:_________________________________________

Phone #:____________________________________________

In Memory/Honor of: (circle one choice):

__________________________________________________

Paid by cash ____ check____ Date_____________________

Another easy way to support Christ the King is through Amazon Smile!

The church will receive a percentage of eligible purchases on Amazon. All you have to do is visit

smile.amazon.com and choose Christ the King Lutheran Church as your preferred charity (visit this link: at

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0885992). Shop for gifts and other holiday essentials and you’ll be giving

back to church as well!

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Baptized Recently:

Mason Jaxon Sinning, son of Amy and Shannon,

was baptized on November 11.

Jacob Matthew Norland, son of Emma and Matt,

was baptized on November 12.

Sympathy to: Kris Anderson and family, upon the death of her

brother, Kurt Krenz, who passed away on November 6.

Angie Kopp and her family, upon the passing of her grandmother, Clara Schilling, on November 10.

Tom Vavra, Scott and Katie Nessler and family, upon the death of Tom’s wife and Katie’s mother, Jane Vavra, on November 16.

Parish News

Oct-17 Month Actual Month Budget Difference YTD Actual YTD Budget Difference

Income $74,809 $70,695 $4,114 $268,128 $277,160 $(9,032)

Expenses $78,334 $77,755 $579 $298,103 $299,855 $(1,752)

Net Income $(3,524) $(7,060) $3,536 $(29,976) $(22,695) $(7,281)

Looking Ahead at the Lessons… (listed 1st lesson/2nd lesson/Gospel)

December 3—Advent 1—Pastor Patrick Isaiah 64:1-9 / I Corinthians 1:3-9 / Mark 13:24-37 December 10—Advent 2—Pastor Patrick Isaiah 40:1-11 / II Peter 3:8-15a / Mark 1:1-8 December 17—Advent 3—Cantata Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 / I Thessalonians 5:16-24 / John 1:6-8, 19-28 December 24—Nativity of Our Lord—Pastor Trish Isaiah 9:2-7 / Titus 2:11-14 / Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) December 25—Christmas Day Worship December 31—Christmas 1—Children’s Musical Isaiah 61:10-62:3 / Galatians 4:4-7 / Luke 2:22-40

With Jesus in the Prayer Gym: Finding Prayer Role Models—Job

Our Personal Prayer Trainer continued his teaching about prayer using the person of Job as an example. Our entire group had been reading the book and searching for clues to a healthy prayer life. By this time, we all knew the tragedies Job experienced. We learned he was surrounded with people who were liberal with advice about his troubles. Our PPT said: “Your first reaction to reading the book of Job was the way Job’s friends talked to him. But let’s go back to the beginning again. Before all that advice pounded Job deeper and deeper into despair, there was silence. His three friends just sat with him. They didn’t speak a word. They were just there with him. They didn’t even say, ‘Hey Job, let’s pray about this.’ Of course there is an appropriate time to have verbal prayer with those going through difficult times. But silent presence IS a kind of prayer. It allows for the Holy Spirit to do the speaking and for us to listen. Your assignment before we gather next time is to … yes, continue reading Job … but sometime just put the book down and find someone with whom you can sit in silence. Pastor Donohue Sarff

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Winter Weather Policy Please keep in mind Christ the King’s winter weather

policy as we head into what are typically our coldest

months. All church events will be cancelled and the

building will close on any day that District 77 closes or

lets out early due to weather conditions.

Text to Give!

A new and easy way to give to Christ the

King! Just text CTK123 and the amount you

wish to give to 73256.

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

Serving Christ’s Church in December

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

Greeters: 8:15 & 9:30

3 Stan & Kathy Bruss 10 Ron & LaVonne Rohn 17 Armin & Jeanette Schull 24 No Greeter—Christmas Eve 31 Denise Amundson

Lectors: Listed as 5:30; 8:15/9:30

2/3 Becky Rose; Bob Meier/Jim Armbruster 9/10 Sandy Smith; Jan Meier/Jess Smasal 16/17 No Lectors—Cantata 23/24 No Lectors—Christmas Services 30/31 No Lectors—Youth Musical

Communion Preparers

2/3 Bob & Jan Meier 16/17 Shawna & Kenneth Kopp

PRAYER CHAPEL: 8:15/9:30

3 Lonnie Reemer/Todd Lundquist 10 LaVonne Rohn/Becky Moe 17 OPEN/Dianne Wagner

WEEKEND USHERS:

* Do not have to usher on 24th 5:30 L’Myra Hoogland/Darene Rutzen 8:15 Larry Anderson/Bob Meier/Wayne McGuire/ Ken Wagner/Matt Norland 9:30 Matt Bristol/Garrett Starr/Andy Brown/ Duane Olson 6:15 Dave Thompson/Jason Verly/Youth

COMMUNITY SUPPER SERVERS 6 David & Darcie’s Group: Alex, Christopher, Cole, Isaac, Parker, Samuel, Sullivan, Tyler 13 Kim’s Group: Ella, Ellie, Jayne, Julia, Mylee, Savannah, Tiegen 20 Sara’s Group: Chloe, Josephine, Liliana, Lily, Madison, Olivia, Tori 27 No Supper

Wendy: 345-5056, ext 20, 382-2125, wendyp@ctkmankato.org and Justine: 420-4393, justinec@ctkmankato.org

Family Advent

Dedicated dates for families to participate in Advent activities to learn together, play together, and

prepare together for the birth of our Savior.

Wednesdays, Nov 29 and Dec 6

5:15

Rainbow Room and Kids Klub @ 5:15: gather in Moved by the Spirit for music with Pastor

Trish; (program practice for grades 1-4 will be at the beginning of the 7:07 time).

Family Advent 5:30-6: together as a family, visit the designated workshops and enjoy

some Advent activities to help prepare and ponder this special time of year.

7:07

Kids Klub @ 7:07: gather in Moved by the Spirit for program practice.

Family Advent 7:30-8: together as a family, visit the designated workshops and enjoy

some Advent activities to help prepare and ponder this special time of year.

Sundays, Dec 3 and 10

Rainbow Room program music in Rainbow Room; JAM program music in Moved by the Spirit—

9:15-9:30

Family Advent stations 9:30-10: together as a family, visit the designated workshops and enjoy

some Advent activities to help prepare and ponder this special time of year.

Children’s Christmas Program

The Advent Wreath

Wednesday, December 13 @ 6:15pm

Rainbow Room children should meet in the Rainbow Room at 5:50pm

JAM and Kids Klub choir kids gather in Moved by the Spirit at 6pm

Characters meet in King’s Productions at 5:45pm

Readers and Candlelighters meet in Temple Talks at 6pm

Dress rehearsal will be Saturday, December 9; 9-11am in the Worship Center

There will be no Children’s Ministry (Rainbow Room, Kids Klub, JAM) until the new year—

We resume Sunday, January 7 and Wednesday, January 10.

Have a blessed and very Merry Christmas!

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 Patrick Patterson: ext. 23 / patrickp@ctkmankato.org

Pastor Trish Reedstrom: ext. 26 / trishr@ctkmankato.org

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

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

Amy Olsen, Administrative Assistant: ext. 21 / amyo@ctkmankato.org

Chris Thompson, Financial Administrator: ext. 22 / christinet@ctkmankato.org

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

Devin Rubink, Communications Specialist, ext. 18 / devinr@ctkmankato.org

Garrett Steinberg, Director of Music and Creative Arts:

ext. 37 / garretts@ctkmankato.org

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

Mandy Rubink, Director of Middle School Ministries:

ext. 19 / mandyr@ctkmankato.org

Rick Weber, Property Manager: 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, December 18.

Worship services are

broadcast on

Charter channel 181

and

Consolidated

Communications

channel 7

Sundays at 3:00pm

and Tuesdays at

10:00am.

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

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