SUNDAY, September 17, 2023 through
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Worship at 8:15 am and 10:45 am
You can choose to join us in person at Christ the King, or watch our services live or recorded ​on Facebook (8:15 am) HERE>> or on YouTube (10:45 am) HERE>>
You can open, download, and print the printout for  both September 17 worship services at 8:15 and 10:45 am HERE>>

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
​Saint Peter once asked Jesus if he had to forgive his brother seven times for the same sin.  Jesus told Peter "what about 77 times?"  In the sermon for September 17 we'll think about why forgiving seems so hard for people - and what Jesus has done to help

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus tells a parable about fairness.  Or maybe it's about jealousy.  Or could it be about acceptance?  Or maybe about the value of a person (like you or me)?  Maybe it's about all of the above - come along and see!

COMING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
NEW series!  Living Softly in a Hard World
(Saint Paul's letter to the Christians in Philippi)
Over four weeks we'll focus on one model of how the love of Jesus can give you the strength to remain un-hardened by the world around you. 
On October 1:  When all you think you can see are the walls closing in, are there still reasons to thank God?

Bible Studies this Week
SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS FOR ADULTS - 9:30 am in the Sanctuary -  the Book of Revelation. This week - Living Faithfully in the End Times.  Next week (September 24) - A Vision of Heaven

SUNDAY YOUTH CONFIRMATION CLASS - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall - September 17 & 24 - The Ten Commandments, Part 2

WOMEN'S WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES - in the Parish Hall
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm and Wednesdays, 9:30-11 am
Our current study is Gideon - see Pam Reece for details, and a book!

LWML "Let's Meet" Bible Study - Thursday, September 21, 10:30 am hosted at Christ the King, and on ZOOM.  This month:  "Here am I, Send Me."

​AND FOR KIDS - SUNDAY SCHOOL  - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SEASON BEGINS SEPTEMBER 17 WITH RALLY DAY!
Please join us in the Parish Hall to welcome everyone back to another year of Sunday School!  Treats, games, crafts, and fun for everyone (yes, even adults!)  No RSVP is needed - just show up and join the fun!

​Church Council Meeting 
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, NOON
Our Council officers have been chosen (and volunteered!) to work together to guide our church now, and as we move into the future.  You're welcome to sit in on any of our meetings!

​This week's edition of our e-Newsletter "The BEACON" features articles about 

• A recent "Mission Forum" at Ascension Lutheran Church in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Some fun events at our sister congregations in Hazleton and Macungie PA
• Prayer requests for our pastors, churches, people - and our missionary in India
• The schedule and link for the LWML (Lutheran Women's Missionary League) "Let's Meet Bible Study" hosted at Christ the King
• An investment offering from The Lutheran Church Extension Fund
• A note from Pastor Ken Ballas "Making Time for the Word of God"

. . .  and more!  You can check it out HERE>>

Here at Christ the King, we support the Matthew 25 Coalition of Churches in Medina County with our prayers and offerings (and a line in our budget).  HERE>> are some stories of how we've helped people acute and unexpected financial needs in our communities over this past summer.

The Matthew 25 Coalition of Medina County and the Matthew 25 Outreach Center of Ashland / Richland Counties 
NEXT FREE MONTHLY PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION
Saturday October 13 
at the Cloverleaf Elementary School, 8337 Friendsville Road
          Distribution 10 am – 1 pm
​Volunteers needed 8 am – 2 pm
Questions? 419-961-0110, or visit this website www.m25oc.org

​​Find the Christ the King prayer list at our updated prayer website HERE>>

​You can also download and read or print the Lutheran Bible Translators' September prayer calendar HERE>>
and you can download and read or print the September prayer list from Wycliffe Bible Translators HERE>>

​
Please pray about this important issue during September


​Click the button below for more about Suicide prevention, including a document called "Finding Hope: A Toolkit for Suicide Prevention"

The "Being Challenge" encouraged us to develop habits similar to the ones Jesus used, that pulled together his life and ministry on earth, like a keystone does for an arch. 
The "Keystone Habits" (in the order you'll see them below) are Choosing Church, Studying Scripture, Committing to Community, Prioritizing Prayer, and Seeking Solitude)

You can choose to join us in person at Christ the King, or watch our services live or recorded ​on Facebook (8:15 am) HERE>> or on YouTube (10:45 am) HERE>>
You can open, download, and print the printout for  both September 10 worship services at 8:15 and 10:45 am HERE>>

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Readings from God's Word this Sunday are about government and authority (Romans 13) and children and forgiveness (Matthew 18).  What could possibly be the link that brings all these together? 
​Could it be - baseball? 

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
​Saint Peter once asked Jesus if he had to forgive his brother seven times for the same sin.  Jesus told Peter "what about 77 times?"  In the sermon for September 17 we'll think about why forgiving seems so hard for people - and what Jesus has done to help

SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS FOR ADULTS - 9:30 am in the Sanctuary
On September 10 we begin an 11-week study of the Book of Revelation. This week - Be Prepared!  Next week (September 17, if there's time!) - Living Faithfully in the End Times

SUNDAY YOUTH CONFIRMATION CLASS - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall
​September 10 - The Ten Commandments, Part 1
September 17 & 24 - The Ten Commandments, Part 2

WOMEN'S WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES - in the Parish Hall
Beginning September 12
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm and Wednesdays, 9:30-11 am
Our current study is Gideon - see Pam Reece for details, and a book!

​​The Matthew 25 Coalition of Medina County and the Matthew 25 Outreach Center of Ashland / Richland Counties 
FREE MONTHLY PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION
Saturday September 9 
at the Cloverleaf Elementary School, 8337 Friendsville Road
          Distribution 10 am – 1 pm
​Volunteers needed 8 am – 2 pm
Questions? 419-961-0110, or visit this website www.m25oc.org

Church Council Meeting 
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, NOON
Our Council officers have been chosen (and volunteered!) to work together to guide our church now, and as we move into the future.  You're welcome to sit in on any of our meetings!

​Find the Christ the King prayer list at our updated prayer website HERE>>

Below is a terrific resource called "Finding Hope: A Toolkit for Suicide Prevention", with these pages:

• Know the Facts
• Is my loved one suicidal?
• How to ask about suicide
• Worried about a young person?
• Taking action to keep a person safe?
• After a suicide attempt
• Finding Hope
• Managing suicidal thoughts
• Safety planning, and
• Resources  (although the listed resources are in Northern Indiana, many of them are local chapters of national organizations)

Also, Pastor Cahill has had Applied Suicide Intervention Training (ASIST) from Living Works, and can be available to help or advise.

​The Keystone Habit of "Solitude" doesn't simply mean loneliness; it means being away from the usual distractions of life to notice what God is doing around you and with you.  So here's a September suggestion:  go for a walk by yourself in one of our Medina County parks.  If you must take your cell phone with you, keep it in your pocket.  Don't listen to music; instead, listen for the sounds of breezes in the trees, the voices God has given the birds in the trees and frogs in the ponds, and the rustling of critters in the underbrush.  Don't watch videos; instead, look around at what God is doing in the plants and flowers as they all get ready for Autumn.  Do this several times in September, and notice the changes He is making as He changes the seasons.  NOTE:  if you don't use a decent amount of bug spray before your walk, you'll notice that lots of bugs are hungry, too!