Pastor Paul’s Pen
Rev.
Paul F. Gysan
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg Germany, for the purpose of debate. I think Luther should have posted a 96th thesis. Luther astutely observed, “There are three conversions necessary; the conversion of the heart, the mind, and the purse.” This thesis is certainly open for debate every time we deal with our stewardship of time, talents, and treasure.
There is no better time for us to think about this than during the month of October. Our congregational council is visioning ministry plans for 2008, which entail “ministry gifts” (talents/time), and “monetary gifts” (to enable our budget to fund our ministry). Such a budget will be considered during the congregational meeting in January, and input from your gifts of time and talents are resources to draw upon in enabling such ministry to occur.
The weekend of October 13/14 you will have an opportunity to share to reflect on “Ministry Opportunities” and ask yourself, “what is God asking of me as I ponder areas of ministry?” What gifts do I have to use to further the work of God’s Kingdom?
The weekend of October 27/28, Reformation Sunday, we will focus on our “purses.” Jesus talked a lot about money and how it might be used to be a blessing to others. You will have an opportunity to prayerfully ponder what you monetarily plan to give in 2008 to enable ministry to occur, both here in northern Virginia, and throughout our country and world.
In a world that is increasingly self-centered and insensitive, generosity goes against the tide. It stands in opposition to the me-first attitudes so prevalent in modern culture.
Luther knew that there needs to be a “conversion of the purse.” The one Lord Jesus who we surrender our life to instructs you and me to be givers. Jesus himself was a giver. Yes, “God so loved the world that he gave His only Son…” We have a giving God, and to give is to live! Through such monetary giving (as well as time and talents), it’s not about “me” but about “others.” People are blessed. God is honored. When we give generously, we express the character of God!
During October there will also be opportunities to view and discuss the film “The Ultimate Gift.” It’s a PG film the entire family will enjoy featuring an all star cast: Brian Dennehy, James Garner, Abigail Breslin, Bill Cobbs. It’s the best 117 minutes that you can spend during October. You may also wish to buy the DVD and look at it at your home. Based on Jim Stovall’s best-selling novel, it touches on these themes and many others: the significance of a work ethic, the meaning of true friendship, an appreciation for money earned, the importance of gratitude, dreams that help others. These are just a few of the themes that will be great points for discussion. I urge you to take part in showings and discussions offered at the church and in homes.
Finally, maybe some of you are saying, “didn’t we just talk a lot about money during the 25th Anniversary campaign for Christ the King? I made a monetary pledge for that. Why all this talk about money again?”
Our 25th Anniversary campaign was for debt reduction. We joyously are celebrating pledged gifts over three years of almost $800,000. Already those gifts are enabling more money monthly to reduce our principal, and blessing other ministries via the 10% benevolence given. But during that campaign we mentioned that this was a special gift, over and above our normal giving. In 1 Chronicles 29 we read that the “leaders of ancestral houses made their freewill offerings…they gave for the service of the house of God.” Such special gifts were needed in the building of the temple. They were over and above their normal giving.
Yesterday the “Fed” reduced the prime lending rate and someone said, “now we can have Christmas.” As I listened to that statement I thought Christmas was for that person gifts under a tree, rather than thanksgiving to God for the gift of his Son who was hung on a tree. Where would this world be without Christmas and Good Friday and Easter. God gave to us the ultimate gift of his love, God’s son Jesus!
Please uplift in prayer these two weekends (October 13/14, October 27/28). Be here to offer your “ministry gifts” of time and talent, and your “monetary gifts.” I pray that you might experience a conversion of the “heart, mind, and purse.”
PSPS
Pastor Scott’s Post Scripts
Mark
your calendars now…
Congregational
Retreat @
Camp
Nawakwa – 4/11-13/08
Can you believe we’re thinking April already? I’d like to invite you and your family to gather with other families and friends of Christ the King the week-end of April 11-13 at Camp Nawakwa in Pennsylvania.
First, a little about where our retreat will be held…Located about 30 minutes Northwest of Gettysburg, Camp Nawakwa is one of our Luther Outdoor Ministry Camps with facilities available for use all year round. Not only do they have an outstanding Summer program for all ages (from 1st grade-retiree), but their facilities are used throughout the year by congregations, groups, and others. Recently, Camp Nawakwa purchased an 221 acres for future ministry use. You can read more about Camp Nawakwa at www.lutherancamping.org.
So why a Congregational Retreat? Well, to experience fellowship and faith in an outdoor setting! The preliminary plan is to arrive at your leisure on Friday evening, enjoying some fellowship as you settle in. Saturday morning will bring a Bible Study and craft time. After lunch, there will be free time for a variety of recreational activities (enjoying that spring weather). After dinner, we’ll gather for a ‘Retreat Talent Show’ and then close the evening with Communion around the Campfire. Sunday morning, we’ll have a short service project, have a brief devotional service and head home.
The camp provides the meals…and the lodging is great…we won’t be staying in cabins, rather lodges with individual rooms.
This is a great opportunity for your whole family (young or old) to get away and be with your church family for a week-end and enjoy the outdoor creation that God has given us. Come and be a part of the excitement. Space is limited, so you’ll need to sign up now to guarantee your spots! Sign-ups will be posted on the Response Sheet soon, so keep watching for it! Looking forward to seeing you there!
President’s Commentary
Allen Wild
What a wonderful Rally Day! We thank the many members who made this day such a success. Special thanks to Kathi Evans and Kim Kennedy, co-chairs of our Fellowship Ministry, for coordinating the activities and food.
We also wish to thank Jill Peterson, Mary Rambo and Suzanne Gaibler for coordinating the reception following the Memorial Service for Joe Rymal. We sincerely appreciate the many members who supported the reception.
By the time you are reading this we will have also celebrated our Fall Festival on September 23rd so I will just remind you that our Christmas Party is scheduled for December 8th.
As I am writing this I note that the market made a record gain today. If you are fortunate to have appreciated securities you may wish to consider donating them to the church toward the general fund or to the Silver to Gold Campaign. Such gifts not only support the work of the church but may also provide some tax savings to the contributor. Please contact our Treasurer, Dave Rudorfer for more details.
The Sound B e t w e e n
“Vicki Power”
By: Kara Haug
It was amazing for me to learn that as a young girl my mother took herself to church. Her life growing up consisted of far from pleasing situations and religion for her family was not in the mix of it all.
As a teenager I never knew who in my family nurtured my faith. My family wasn’t very religious. To me it seemed as though we went to church because that is what a respectable family in my hometown did. We never talked about God much; we just prayed before meals and participated at church on Sundays. Yet I was very active in the church. Now, I am realizing that my faith and trust in God was instilled in me quietly by my mother.
Through my journey of faith I have often heard people use the phrases, “God wanted you,” or “Jesus sought you out.” I never really knew what to do with those phrases, but they start to make more sense when I apply them to my mom. I do believe that from a young age Jesus took my mom by the hand and has been holding on ever since. She has this amazing ability to connect herself to the world and people through her touch and intuition. The extent to which she can do this is hard for me to put into words, so for now I will refer to it as, “Vicki power.”
This power is what I value and respect the most about my mother, the way she feels for others. I was reminded of it again this summer when she came to help me move. We went to church together in D.C. with my husband to celebrate the rededication of the sanctuary at Luther Place. My mother was moved by the whole experience. She cried as she looked around the room and saw different colored people in a Lutheran church and when she listened to a transgender woman sing of gratitude and love. But mostly she cried when she noticed the eyes of a homeless woman.
There is a woman who attends that church, but sits alone in the back. She tries to remain unnoticed and avoids eye contact. Her eyes are hauntingly beautiful. They are crystal blue set in a dirt-covered face. My mother asked about her. “What is her story? Her eyes are so sad; she is in so much pain.” These are the words my mother said to me with tears in her eyes. She wanted to hold the woman and I wish she could have.
My mother’s touch is healing, partially because she is a physical therapist, but more so because she allows herself to get involved. Through practice she has developed her own technique. Her hands are like magnets traveling over the body finding spots that are in pain or out of alignment. With the slightest touch she can make the body move in ways unimaginable to unwind itself. While she works on people my mother can start to feel their pain; she takes the pain away.
She has always managed to do this for me. When I visit home I love spending my time going through old pictures and boxes of other items my mother has saved from our past. In those boxes are drawings and stories of mine from grade school. My imagination must have been limited as a child because most of what I wrote about and drew related to cuddling with my mother. “Vicki Power” is the strongest in my mother’s hugs. Her hugs have healed me many times, especially during the times I least like them too. My mother and I have some really great screaming matches with one another. Though we scream and yell at one another from time to time she will end the match with a hug, a hug that tells me her love is never ending. Her hugs are like a sponge, they absorb you and you know you’re cared for and loved unconditionally.
I often rely on my mother’s opinion because of her power of intuition. This is where her connectedness to the world and people really shines through. For instance: my mother has been able to tell when a friend of hers from miles away is in need; she dreamed that a friend of mine was pregnant two weeks before my friend knew; she knows about my life changing events life without being told; she knew when my Grandma Shirley died a thousand miles away; and she knew my Grandma Shirley was present at my wedding when she heard her voice singing through my Aunt’s. As a visionary thinker and deep feeler my mother opens herself up to the world. She is persistent in prayer though becomes bashful to pray out loud. She always tells me of the story when she prayed so hard for a little girl after both my brothers were born and was so happy when she had me as her last child. She calls me her gift from God.
In all these things I see the way God works through my mother. She shows great strength to have traveled to church on her own. I imagine my mother felt that sense of calling walking to church on Sunday. I do believe it was a sense of home and security for her. Maybe this is why when I needed a new sense of home and security for myself in high school, she quietly led me to church. She never seemed to ask me as many questions when I would walk across the street and spend hours with our congregation or my friends I made in youth group. She would just let me go.
I am guilty of saying that I hope I don’t become my mother in certain things, but I hope that I can have just an ounce of compassion and depth that she holds. I look up to mom for the “Vicki Power” God has blessed her with. I pray that on my mother’s 60th birthday this October she realizes that she too is a gift from God.
Kingdom Kindred
Ben Rissing is a Wertheim Fellow with the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School in Cambridge. Ben is currently leading several graduate student teams exploring multinational business, global workforce dynamics and intellectual property formation. His research team’s website is http://www.globalizationresearch.com/. He lives in downtown Cambridge within a five minute walk of six or seven different churches. Ben says he has been enjoying the services but misses Christ the King. Ben says, “I’m blessed to be part of the Christ the King Fellowship, even if I am 400+ miles away…Eric Hill was named to the 2007 spring semester dean’s list at Washington University in St. Louis. Eric is enrolled as a business major. Students must attain a 3.6 grade-point average or better to receive this honor…Alex Swineford wrapped up his local kart club championship in both of his racing classes - Briggs Junior Sprint Light & Heavy. Watch for him on ESPN soon as they were filming the race weekend…next stops are Road Atlanta & Daytona Kart week in December…Isn’t it amazing what you can find in church. During a recent service Pastor Gysan was going through the church’s “Lost and Found” box and Tate Dulaney found his hat. The smile on his face and joy in his heart were a beautiful illustration of the shepherd who found the lost sheep, and the woman who found his lost coin…Congratulations to Tom Kalka who during a recent triathlon in Reston came in among the top 25…
Dear Friends at Christ the King,
On behalf of the Rymal family, I would like to thank each of you for supporting us through prayer, cards, calls and so many other ways since Joe’s unexpected death. Many of you I know of and have thanked you personally (or will soon). I also know there are many others who are not so visible but have been caring in the background. To each of you, I want you to know that your gifts of food for the reception, ushering, kind words on Sunday mornings, ALL these acts reflect God’s love through your hands. I look forward to continuing to be a part of this compassionate community, seeking to serve Christ together.
Sincerely, Greta Rymal
Prayer
Concerns
Kay Teach, Martha Gaibler, Adam & Ruth Meidinger, Virginia Whitman, Frank Whitesell, Conny Kleissas, Richard Schumaker, John Kraft, Betty Cordovana, Tom Harris, Robert Herre, Mary & David Gibson, Darrel Ask, The Canady Family & Erin Peterson Family, Janey Rice, Larry Simmons, Gail Magley, Patricia Mort, Hilton Patterson, Fred Vanhala, Charles Reges, Bob Hyland, Ellsworth Cottom, Abby Piper, Anna Walker, Jonathan Reading, Monica Sullenberger, Dave Lombardo, Mimi & Christopher Jacobs, Dolly Whelan, Nick Nicolai, John Kornetka & Bo Mausteller, Danny Friedheim, Nick Cafferky, Dot Miller, Evelyn Miller, Joni Wallace, John Corey, Roy Miller, William Heikkila, Evelyn Fagley, Ronald Campbell, Carol Knight, Bob Zmuda, Bobby Macher, Carole Lowman, Jack Turner, The Nestington Family.
Military Personnel - 1st Lt. John Felts, Stacy Caum, Chris Nogle, PFC Erik Hood, Maj. Andrew Phillips, Bernadette Meehan, Steve Beckwith, Jonathan Reading, Chad Isabelle, Nate Seymour, Sgt. John Heikkenin.
STEPHEN
MINISTRY
Christ the King’s Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties and transitions in their lives.
CHAPEL CALL
Stephen Ministers available for prayer after worship
Has there ever been a Sunday morning where you have wanted to remain in the Sanctuary after worship and spend some time in prayer? Or perhaps a Sunday morning where you needed someone to say a special prayer for you and/or with you?
A Stephen Minister will be available after each service Sunday morning (for about 10 minutes or so) by the pulpit for anyone who would like to have someone to pray with.
You can identify the Stephen Minister by their blue name badge.
CHRIST THE KING STEPHEN LEADERS
Pastor Gysan & Pastor Scott, Spiritual Leaders
Susan Boruff, Referrals Coordinator
Joni White, Continuing Education Coordinator
Gale Bobzien, Training Coordinator
Christ the King Stephen Ministers
Stephen Ministers (Active)
Pastor Gysan, Spiritual Leader
Pastor Scott, Spiritual Leader
Gale Bobzien Susan Boruff
JoAnn Durig Kathi Evans
Kim Kennedy Carlton Ruthling
Stephen Ministers (Sabbatical)
Rudy Chatlos Floyd Gaibler
Melanie Miller-Cvilikas
Steve O’Connor Thom Overton
Jeanne McKinley Mike Swineford
Mary Rambo Greta Rymal
Joni White Victoria Wagner
Bill Wagner
Services are held each Saturday evening at 6:00 pm and
Sundays at 8:30am and 11:00am.
September 22 & 23 – 17th Sunday of
Pentecost
--Baptism of Tess Davis, daughter of Donn and
Sharon at the 8:30am service.
--Summer Workcamp Reflections at all services
September 29 & 30 - 18th
Sunday of Pentecost
October 6 & 7 – 19th
Sunday of Pentecost
--Blessing of the animals during the 6:00pm
Saturday service at the outdoor worship area.
--Sandwich making for Martha’s Table
following the 11:00am service.
October 13 & 14 – 20th
Sunday of Pentecost
Time and Talent Sunday
--Opportunity to respond to “Ministry
Opportunities”
--Installation of Bishop Graham at 7:00pm at
St. John the Divine in Silver Spring.
October 20 & 21 – 21st
Sunday of Pentecost
October 27 & 28 – Reformation
Week-end
Wear the Color Red - Stewardship Sunday
--Apostles’ Creed Milestone
--4:00pm - Synod Reformation Service at the
National Cathedral
Synodical
Bishop’s Installation
The Installation of the Rev. Richard H. Graham as Bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will take place on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 7:00 pm at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. St. John the Evangelist is located on 10103 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson will preside over the Installation as well as preach. There will be a short reception after the Installation Liturgy hosted by the Installation Team.
Every congregation in the Synod is invited to have a representative carry their congregational banner as part of the procession. If you are interested in being Christ the King’s Banner bearer, please contact Pastor Scott as soon as possible.
Worship
& Music News
Sweet fall is almost here and your Worship & Music team is poised and ready to serve however, “the few, the proud” should only refer to the Marines. True we are proud of the work we do but we are too few to do the work of Worship & Music as is befitting this congregation. We are Altar Guild, ushers, lectors, 2 adult choirs, 2 children’s choirs, 2 hand bell choirs, acolytes, crucifers…Need I go on? We need more hands and more voices to fill the wide variety of opportunities available. So give some prayerful thought to where you might be of service.
Now to share with you something new. We all appreciate the flowers that grace our altar each Sunday. For those of you who do not know how it works, the plan is this: Members sign-up on the calendar in the narthex for a date they want to have flowers. They are sent a reminder letter to return their payment to the church office along with their dedication to be put in the bulletin. The flowers are delivered on Saturday. It’s a nice plan on paper but the reality lately has been more often than not, the flowers are delivered and the church pays the bill. Altar flowers are not an expense item in the budget. The new plan then is this: Members sign-up for a date they want to have flowers. They will be sent a reminder letter by the 15th of the month prior to the month they have selected. The payment and dedication will need to be into the church office by the end of that month. When flowers have not been paid for, there will be no altar flowers for that date.
Speaking of flowers, a huge bouquet of thanks goes to Kathy Dobos who designed and produced the marvelous brochure, “Music at Christ the King”. It gives a brief overview of our music programs as well as bios of our music directors. Be sure to pick one up from the wall off the narthex by the back entrance door.
Lynne Roots
CTK Cherub
Schedule for
October ’07
– June ‘08
Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007- 8:30 Service
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007- 11:00 Service
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007- 8:30 Service
The following Sundays will be used for Christmas program
rehearsals: Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and 16 during
the Sunday school hour.
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007- Christmas Program-4:00 p.m. More information to follow.
Monday, Dec. 24, 2007- 5:00 p.m. Children’s Christmas Eve
Service
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008- 11:00 Service
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008-8:30 Service
Sunday, March 9, 2008- 11:00 Service
Sunday, April 20, 2008 – 8:30 Service
Sunday, May 11, 2008 -8:30 Service
Sunday – June 1–Preparation for the Youth Service during Sunday
School hour
Sunday, June 8, 2008-
9:45 – 10:45- Rehearse for Youth Service
11:00- Youth Service
Bad News/Good News
Unfortunately, we do not have enough singers to offer our Women's Ensemble this year. However, we are encouraging any ladies who wish to sing to join our King's Choir that rehearses at 7:30pm on Wednesdays. All women (and men) are welcome. Junior & High School Youth are also welcome! We will be doing a nice assortment of musical pieces and are currently preparing for a Concert at the National Lutheran Home on November 17th. In addition, we will be learning a Christmas Cantata scheduled for performance on December 9th. Come, lift your voice in song!
Jane Cooper, Dir. of Vocal Music
703-759-3919
King’s Kids Choir
What a great start to our King’s Kids Choir this year! We have 12 people signed up to sing, and have already learned a round. But all our singers so far are girls. Don’t boys sing anymore? Come on, guys, we need you! We have made the rehearsal place & time easy, in Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays (just 15 minutes before our Sunday School openings).
Contact: Jane Cooper, 703-759-3919
King's Chimers
Third to Sixth graders, it's not too late to sign up to be part of the King's Chimers, Christ the King's Tone Chime Choir. If you already know how to read music, you can begin practicing with the group right away. Simply call Mrs. Magley (703-430-8488) & tell her that you would like to begin. If you don't read music, Mrs. Magley will be glad to meet with you & other new Chimers for a special session or two to bring you up to speed. Chimer practices are on Sunday evenings from 6:00 - 7:30pm in the Music room. The group plays once a month for an 11:00am worship service & will also be playing for one or two community concerts this year.
“Part
of a disciple’s job description
is to
study Scripture diligently”
Fall Seminary Weekend
Do you feel a call
by God to live out your baptismal vocation as disciples of Jesus Christ through
service as leaders in public ministry for the sake of the Gospel? You are invited to gather for the Fall
Seminary Weekend - October 12 & 13, at Gettysburg Seminary. This weekend is designed to give women and
men (college age and older) who are thinking about attending seminary a chance
to experience seminary, as well as those who have already applied, who will be
able to learn more about community life, academic programs of study, candidacy,
financial aid and the admissions process.
We will talk together, worship together, dine together, and experience
seminary life together. Those who attend
will experience a Biblical Studies presentation made by one of our outstanding
faculty, as well as learn about study opportunities available through our
partner schools in the Washington Theological Consortium. There is no cost for the weekend; the
seminary provides housing and meals, and can assist with transportation to and
from the seminary. Check the seminary
website (www.ltsg.edu) for more information and for the Seminary Weekend
registration form.
YOU
H and Family News
For
Youth Updates check-out www.ctkyouth.org
Writing Group
On Tuesday, October 2nd, from 7:00 - 9:00pm, Kara Haug will lead a writers group. This group is for those who have an interest in writing, who have always wanted to write but were too afraid, who love to write, and for those who just need time to express themselves. The technique is based off of Amherst Writers and Artist method. This group is opened to freshman in high school through adults. The hope is the group will meet on the first Tuesday of every month. Please contact Kara at kara.haug@verizon.net if interested.
DRIVEN
On October 14th, look in the bulletin for an activity around service. Our Harvest of Hope weekend was cancelled due to homecoming. But keep that Sunday open so that we can serve together.
October 27th we will be going deep. Come be together as we talk about issues that you deal with everyday while doing other activities. This event will happen in the late afternoon from 3-5 in the youth room. Please look for future details.
Parent’s Night
Friday, October 19th, will be another parent’s night, a time for parents to enjoy fellowship together and learn. Please check the bulletin, bulletin board, and mailings for more information.
Confirmation
On Sunday, October 28th, the confirmation youth will be heading down to the cathedral to enjoy a worship service. We will leave around 2:00pm and will return at 6:00pm. More details to come.
“Part of a disciple’s job description
is to serve for the sake of others”
Thrivent Builds with Habitat
On September 12th the first coat of interior paint was completed on the entire condo unit we are sponsoring with 11 other local Lutheran Churches. Interior doors have been delivered and following their installation baseboard and window trim will be added. Volunteers work Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you wish to help with this project, please contact Allen Wild for more details.
Mississippi Update
Bethel Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Biloxi continues to publish updates on the rebuilding of their city. The Bethel Lutheran Church Hurricane Katrina Ministry update can
be found at their web page http://myweb.cableone.net/LESMBETH/index.htm.
Martha’s Table
Please join us on Sunday, October 7th, in Fellowship Hall after the second service. We will be making sandwiches for the homeless and hungry in Washington DC. We need lots of volunteers to help assemble the sandwiches. We also need volunteers with vehicles to transport the sandwiches into the district. Please sign up via the bulletin insert or contact Tracey Shenk via email Tracey@shenkfamily.com.
Salvation Army Grate Patrol
5 or 6 volunteers are needed (adults and youth) in delivering bag lunches to the hungry and homeless in DC. We will depart from the church at 5:15pm for the Salvation Army’s Harbor House in Washington DC on Saturday, October 20th. We will go with the Salvation Army to deliver lunches starting at 6:30pm. We will be back by 9:00pm. More volunteers are needed to meet at CTK at 4:00pm to assemble the bagged lunches and also to donate food and cold weather supplies such as socks, hats, gloves, etc.), which will also be distributed. Please indicate your interest on the Sunday bulletin insert.
NOVACO News- A New Family is Coming!
As you know, our NOVACO mom - Jasmine, has graduated from nursing school, has gotten a job, and is moving out of the NOVACO program on her way to independence! Praise God for His work in her life! We will soon have the opportunity to help another family! The details are yet to come, but we are looking for interested individuals to act as co-liaisons for the family.
What does a liaison do? The liaison(s) would be the point of contact from our congregation for the NOVACO family. The liaison would communicate with the family and then provide our congregation with information about the needs of the family. Volunteers from the congregation will then provide the goods and services that are requested. Because CTK shares this responsibility with 2 other churches - we would only be the “lead church” - and be the primary contact for the family - once every three months on a rotating basis.
This is a great opportunity for service to others and a chance to really make a difference in someone’s life. A group effort would not only make this very simple, but it would be fun and meaningful if a group of friends wanted to serve in this manner. Training will be provided. If this sounds like something you might be interested in - please prayerfully consider it and call Pastor Gysan or Tracey Shenk.
Namibian Pastor To Be Our Guest!
Plans are underway for Christ The King to host Pastor Brian Mbazuvara from Namibia in November. He will preach at our services on November 24 & 25. We are looking for members of our congregation to host him in their homes for 2-3 days during his visit with us (November 22-29). Please contact Pastor Gysan for more details.
20th
Annual Help The Homeless Walkathon
Join the walkers from Christ the King on Saturday, November 17th, on the Mall in Washington DC at 9:00am. We are walking to raise funds and awareness in support of Lutheran Social Services to prevent and end homelessness. Last year 679 walkers helped LSS raise $24,000 from this 5K walk to help the homeless. Join thousands of others as we walk on November 17th. You can join the CTKGF team by walking or just by making a donation. Go to www.helpthehomelessdc.org. Click “How can I Help make a difference.” Go to “Beneficiary Organization Directory” and go to LSSNCA – click. Click here to register for LSS. At top click “registration” – agree – join our team CTKGF LSSNCA. You can then make a donation on line. Youth 25 and under ($15). Adults $25. Register on-line or make out a check to “Help The Homeless – LSSNCA” AND GIVE IT TO PASTOR GYSAN before November 17th.
Fall Campus
Cleanup report
Thank you to all the workers at the fall campus cleanup:
Allan Ruppar, Tom Cooper, Jane Cooper, Pastor Paul, LaVonne Gysan, Pastor
Scott, Tom Kalka, Steve Siebert, Art Evans, Kathi Evans, Karen Magley, Donna
Kiffe, Bob Hummel, Steve Cressman, Annette Brady, and Ben Sottile. Saturday, September 15th was a day
of beautiful weather for working outside.
There was fellowship and there was work.
We accomplished quite a lot.
With the help of Steve Cressman, and his back hoe, we dug
up twelve tree stumps (twelve and a half if we take credit for the partial job
done on the stump in front of the kitchen).
Other work done includes:
Trim the rear of the shrubs away from the church and other
buildings.
Remove limbs overhanging gutters at the front of the
church.
Remove the bush blocking the view of the church
cornerstone.
Remove the basketball backstop and the bent pole.
Trim the low branches out of the trees in the parking lot.
Chip the brush and broken limbs left over from last
spring’s campus cleanup.
Continue chipping the accumulation of down limbs piled
among the trees.
Repair the leak in the gutter on the east side of the
church.
Repair the sagging gutter section in front of the church.
Repair some of the mess created by groundhogs.
Clear brush from two areas near the fire pit.
Trim low limbs from trees between the church and parsonage.
Trim shrubs in the area between the church and education
center.
The day included encounters with the indigenous
wildlife. Bob Hummel ran a weed whacker
into a wasp nest. Later in the day Steve
Siebert uncovered two more wasp nests.
Jane Cooper found a yellow jacket nest.
Steve Cressman and Allan Ruppar had a less exciting encounter; they
found a toad (and did not see the turtle that was there three weeks ago). LaVonne Gysan also was surprised by a snake
that was lying beneath some pine needles.
Maybe she should be in the next Olympics with the speed she showed in
running from that snake.
September 15th was the fourth campus cleanup
that has included an attack on the accumulation of broken limbs piled around
the CTK campus. There has been a great
deal of progress. Evidence of progress
includes a large stack of fire wood, and several piles of wood chips. Members are invited to take some of each
home.
Kitchen Lost & Found
During a recent straightening of the kitchen, many members personal items were discovered. Some have been brought to events & others were taken to people's homes, when meals were provided. They have been stacked on the rolling cart to the right of the double door as you enter the kitchen. Please check the cart & see if any of your kitchen items are there. After October 31st, they will be given away or put away in the kitchen.