During the COVID pandemic, our weekly email updates were first called "A Season of Grace in a Time of Fear." We hoped that you might find some moments and places of the peace of God in that time of fear, uncertainty, and confusion. Eventually, the title became "Seasons of Grace," and now, "Grace Notes." Here's the place to look for weekly updates and reminders, and notes on things to look forward to.
 KEYSTONE HABITS Pastor and Bev Cahill under an aqueduct in Caesarea, Israel - January 2023 | 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) |
 CHOOSING CHURCH The Jaunary 2023 Israel tour group "choosing church" - Sunday worship at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem | CHOOSING CHURCH Sunday, October 8, 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>> ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 Living Softly in a Hard World, Part 2: In a world that seems to be getting darker every day (and not just because the days are getting shorter), how can we be its light? You can open, download, and print the printout for both OCTOBER 8 worship services at 8:15 and 10:45 am HERE>> COMING in OCTOBER - NEW sermon series (October 1, 8, 15, & 22)! 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 Sunday, October 15
On Sunday, October 22
On Sunday, October 29 "Friends and Family Sunday!" Pick up an invitation card sometime this month to give or send to a friend or family member! Throughout the morning we'll
|
 STUDYING SCRIPTURE | STUDYING SCRIPTURE - Bible Studies this Week SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS FOR ADULTS - 9:30 am in the Sanctuary - the Book of Revelation.
SUNDAY YOUTH CONFIRMATION CLASS - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall - October 8 - Apostles' Creed, Article 1 "God the Father," Part 1; October 15 & 22 - Apostles' Creed, Article 1 "God the Father," 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! AND FOR KIDS - SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall |
 COMMITTING TO COMMUNITY | COMMITTING TO COMMUNITY NEW! Helping our neighbors around the world At Christ the King in October we’re collecting personal care items to send to Lutheran World Relief for people recovering from the many natural disasters we've been hearing about. LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF ACCEPTS ONLY THESE ITEMS IN THE HEALTH KITS: combs, bar soap, nail clippers, packaged toothbrushes and bath towels (read LWR’s specifications for each item, and more about this project HERE>>). Donated items that are not on this list will be given to the Lodi Family Center. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED AS A "THRIVENT ACTION TEAM PROJECT!" You can follow this project on the Christ the King Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ctklodi or HERE>>  Christ the King Lutheran Church is a member of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pastor Cahill is the Second Vice President of the SELC District. Last week (September 25-29) he attended the SELC District Board of Directors meeting and the District Professional Church Workers Conference. Click HERE>> to learn more! MORE ABOUT THE SELC (Click HERE>>)
THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE SELC DISTRICT NEWSLETTER "THE BEACON" FEATURES ARTICLES ABOUT
You're invited to these events at other area churches of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod this month . . .
 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. And HERE>> are the minutes from the meeting of September 14, including announcements of upcoming activities at some of our participating churches. 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 |
 PRIORITIZING PRAYER | PRIORITIZING PRAYER 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' Fall 2023 newsletter "The Messenger" HERE>> and you can download and read or print "How to Pray for Missionaries" from Wycliffe Bible Translators HERE>> (Note: please be sure to include in your prayers our SELC missionary in India, and ongoing SELC mission projects in Montreal and in Honduras) And a reminder! THIS NOTE about a special "Scripture Celebration" with Wycliffe Bible Translators, coming October 12!
SOMETIMES OCTOBER IS CALLED "PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH" - but in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod we have many different kinds of church workers - including volunteers! We have quite a few here - in the office, at the organ or CD player, on lawn mowers, on a ladder, and many more! You can learn more about some of them - and think about ways to pray for them - by clicking this button: |
 SEEKING SOLITUDE | Seeking Solitude 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 an October suggestion: take two walks by yourself in one of our Medina County parks. If you must take your cell phone with you, keep it in your pocket. On the first walk, enjoy the colors of the leaves changing on the trees. It might be worthwhile to notice that the leaves of some trees turn yellow, while others turn orange and still others a deep red. Thank God for His artistic imagination! On the second walk, notice how the wildflowers are going to seed; how the milkweeds are beginning to split and send out their seeds into the wind (see the picture, left); how the walnuts are dropping to the ground. Thank God that autumn is not only the time of year when the lively summer comes to an end, but the season when He is preparing for new life to come again in spring after the cold of winter. 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! |
