en A RECONCILING IN CHRIST Congregation http://www.ctkvestal.org © Copyright 2000 - 2008Church Community Builder. All Rights Reserved. http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=17 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=17&article_id=13 Most of the Messages are in ".pdf" format, and require the free Adobe Reader. 2007 Messages | Earlier Messages TitleDatePresented By 2008 Trying to Make Sense of It AllAug 24Mark Ridley When Christians Go AstrayAug 17Mark Ridley Some Lessons Learned on My SabbaticalAug 10Nadine RidleyDiscover Recovery 7: Serving OthersMay 11Mark RidleyDiscover Recovery 6: Relating to GodMay 4Nadine RidleyDiscover Recovery 5: ReconcilingApr 27Nadine RidleyDiscover Recovery 4: RepentingApr 20Mark RidleyDiscover Recovery 3: ConfessingApr 13Mark RidleyDiscover Recovery 2: SurrenderingApr 6Nadine RidleyDiscover Recovery 1: Admitting We Are PowerlessMar 30Mark RidleyEaster 2008: An Easter EarthquakeMar 23 Nadine Ridley40 Days with Jesus 7: Worst-Case ScenariosMar 16 Mark Ridley40 Days with Jesus 5: Don't Worry - Be HappyMar 2 Nadine Ridley40 Days with Jesus 4: Secret FaithFeb 24Mark Ridley40 Days with Jesus 3: A Kingdom HeartFeb 17Nadine Ridley40 Days with Jesus 2: Fulfilling the LawFeb 10Mark RidleyAsh Wednesday 2008Feb 6Nadine Ridley40 Days with Jesus 1: The BeatitudesFeb 3Mark RidleyJesus' Ministry - and OursJan 27Mark RidleyLiving Your LifeJan 20Nadine RidleyWilderness TestsJan 13Nadine Ridley Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:40:34 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=285 Christ The King is a church of young and old, liberal and conservative, and a mixture of colors and cultures. We don't consider that we've all "arrived" in our faith, and we actively welcome other "explorers" searching for a more meaningful relationship with God. At Christ The King, we're not big on fund-raising dinners or church committees, and we don't go in for guilt-trips or "culture-war" politics. We just try, above everything else, to be a place where hurting and hungering people can find healing and new life, through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Find out more about Christ The King by following the links on the left-hand side of this page. Tue, 13 May 2008 09:05:04 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=141 dayName = new Array ("Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday") monName = new Array ("January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "September", "October", "November", "December") now = new Date document.write("For " + dayName[now.getDay()] + ", " + monName[now.getMonth()] + " " + now.getDate()) Daily Devotional from Upper Room Ministries Look Up a Word or Passage in the Bible Tue, 13 May 2008 09:03:20 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96&article_id=277 Here's a list of our 40 Days with Jesus small groups. Register now for the one that's right for you! 40 Days with Jesus Small GroupsDayTimePlaceHostsSunday6:30 PMChurchShirley Lyttle and Julie SifertMonday6:30 PMChurchJody FiorentinoMonday7:00 PMHomeJennifer Lynn (Binghamton, 729-8881)Tuesday6:30 PMHomeDavid/Christy Banner (Endwell, 341-4122)Tuesday7:00 PMHomeKyle Brown (Vestal, 785-6707)Tuesday7:00 PMChurchPat Cerasaro DiPasqualeWednesday10:00 AMChurchPastor Nadine Ridley Group Is FullWednesday1:00 PMChurchMary Kay GriffithsWednesday7:00 PMChurchSherry RossmanThursday7:00 PMHomeJoe and Kathy Brunt (Vestal, 771-0320) (Childcare)Thursday7:00 PMChurchMarlene McElligottFriday10:00 AMChurchEvelyn Goetz Group Is FullFriday7:00 PMChurchBob and Linda Truman Group Is FullFriday7:00 PMHomeBarb Hayden Group Is FullSaturday8:00 AMChurch Pastor Mark Ridley (Men's Group) Choose your group and then register with our online form. If you opt for a group that meets at a host's home, call the number provided for directions. Childcare may be available; indicate your needs on the online registration form. Register Now! Wed, 7 May 2008 18:53:02 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52&article_id=103 To join the Prayer Network, use our online form. In a day or two, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to activate your membership. Welcome to the Prayer Network! Your prayers are appreciated - and your prayers have power! If you have any questions about the Prayer Network (or about prayer in general), please address them to either Pastor Mark or Pastor Nadine (office, 729-2688; home, 729-7971; pastors@ctkvestal.org).] Join the Prayer Network now! Wed, 7 May 2008 18:53:02 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=28 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=28&article_id=26 Every Sunday morning from 10:10 to 11:10 you'll find growth opportunities for the whole family -- from three-year-olds to adults. (Check for vacation times in the summer.) Children's Ministry. Jesus and Friends (our ministry for children from age 3 through sixth grade) gathers each Sunday morning for fun, learning, music and crafts. [More . . .] [To pre-register your child for Jesus and Friends or our youth classes or groups, click here.] Youth Ministry. On Sunday mornings, teenagers from seventh through twelfth grade meet in three different class-groupings. And there's lot's more happening beyond Sunday morning, too! [More . . .] [To pre-register your child for Jesus and Friends or our youth classes or groups, click here.] Adult Education. Classes for adults are also offered every Sunday morning. In addition to the ongoing Adult Forum, special classes are offered on a variety of topics throughout the year. And looking beyond Sunday mornings, our network of small groups provides a host of ways to make friends and grow closer to God. Sunday Worship Getting There Wed, 7 May 2008 18:53:02 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=40 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=40&article_id=46 When: Six weekday evenings, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Who: Any divorced or separated person of any age, whether or not they have remarried. Where: Christ The King Lutheran Church, 499 Plaza Drive, Vestal. Click here for a detailed map. Once you reach the church, there will be signs to guide you and hosts to greet you. Cost: The registration fee of $30 includes a copy of the book, Growing Through Divorce, by Jim Smoke, and covers other workshop costs, such as refreshments each week. Registration: Although we accept registrations as late as the second week of the workshop, it helps a great deal to know in advance that you're coming. Please send in your registration to the Church Office, call to register at (607)729-2688 weekdays between 9 A.M. and 1 P.M., or use our convenient online registration form. Wed, 7 May 2008 18:52:54 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=44 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=44&article_id=40 In the Newcomers' Class, folks who are new to Christ The King learn more about the church, meet current members, and get answers to all their church-related questions. The class, hosted by Pastors Mark and Nadine, takes place over several relaxed and informative evenings at church. Click here to register or to receive more information about the CTK Newcomers' Class. Wed, 7 May 2008 18:52:54 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=39 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=39&article_id=36 Alpha Meets on Sundays at 6:00 P.M. Register Online Now! What is Alpha? Alpha is a series of thought-provoking weekly sessions that provide a down-to-earth, practical introduction to Christianity. Alpha is low-key, friendly and fun -- and it's supported by all the major Christian denominations. Half-a-million Americans have already taken part! Who is Alpha for? Alpha is for anyone who wants to explore the validity and relevance of Christianity. Some who come have never set foot in a church. Others have attended church off and on for years but feel they've never really understood the basics of the Christian faith. Whether you're checking out Christianity for the first time or revisiting your faith, you'll find Alpha to be a true spiritual adventure. What's involved? Each Alpha evening begins with a light supper, followed by a talk on a topic like" • "Who is Jesus?" • "Why Did Jesus Die?" • "Does God Still Heal Today?" Then we break for coffee and refreshments and divide into smaller groups to discuss any questions prompted by the talk. There's also an optional Weekend Away midway through the course, where new friendships have the chance to blossom. What does it cost? There is no charge for the Alpha course, but guests are invited to make a voluntary contribution toward their own supper and toward the cost of their food and lodging during the Weekend Away. We all have questions . . . "Why?" "How?" "What on earth for?" Now there's a place to bring your questions -- a place where everyone's welcome and no question is out-of-bounds. It's a place where you can explore the meaning of life. It's called Alpha. For more information, contact Christ The King. Alpha Meets on Sundays at 6:00 P.M. Register Online Now! Wed, 7 May 2008 18:52:54 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=9 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=9&article_id=107 The CTK Choir helps to lead worship at our 9:00 worship service. It's led by our Music Director, Jim Ford. The Choir is open to all who have a desire to praise God through song. Choir members range in age from Junior High students through adults. Rehearsals are held at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesdays. For more info, contact Jim Ford. Wed, 7 May 2008 18:52:37 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=26 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=26&article_id=24 The staff at Christ The King is here to serve our members and our community. Our Pastors are Mark and Nadine Ridley.The Ridleys live on the West Side of Binghamton, not far from Lourdes Hospital. Their family includes a standard poodle named Casey, along with two grown children -- Joy, who is a financial planner in Minneapolis, and Paul, who works for a financial consulting firm in Greenwich, CT. Mark grew up on the South Side of Binghamton. He received his B.A. from Colgate University, his M.A.R. from Yale University Divinity School, a law degree from Albany Law School of Union University, and his M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. (Between them, Mark and Nadine have more degrees than a thermometer!) He lived in Washington, D.C. for four years (where he practiced law with a large Washington law firm) before his first full-time church position as Associate Pastor at the Owego United Methodist Church. After four years there, he served as Associate Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Albany for three years before coming to Christ The King in 1988. Like his wife Nadine, Mark loves outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing, and kayaking. He is an avid amateur photographer as well. Pastor Mark's favorite television shows are Friday Night Lights and Monk, as well as classic movies; he reads omnivorously, enjoying everything from theology to murder mysteries. What does he like best about Christ The King? "Every year I've been here has been different; the congregation is very open to change. We've evolved together over the years. It's very hard to be involved at Christ The King without growing spiritually and personally, which makes it a very exciting place to serve. I can't imagine a church I'd rather serve." And we're very glad he feels that way! Nadine isn't a Southern Tier native; she's actually from Little Falls, near Utica. She entered the Christ The King family in 1998 as Pastor Mark's wife, but since 2000 she's been on staff as a Pastor. Earlier in her career, Nadine was a nurse, and she holds a master's degree in community health. Like Pastor Mark, she is a graduate of Yale University Divinity School. From 1995 to 1998, she served as Pastor of St. Martin Lutheran Church in Webster, NY, near Rochester. Nadine's hobbies include water sports, walking, and reading. Her favorite thing about serving as a Pastor at Christ The King? "The people!" The Church Administrator is Beth Quattrociocchi . Beth lives in Endwell with her husband Mike, daughter Perri, and son Nick (who are now away at college). They moved to the Southern Tier from Syracuse around 2000, and Beth usually attends the second service, but says she "attends the first when Nick is playing the tuba." Beth loves antique furniture, restoring old items, crafts, painting, and gardening. She also notes that she's "required" to love soccer, as Perri is an enthusiastic team member. What does Beth like best about Christ The King? "Interacting with the congregation. I adore the children who attend Jesus & Friends and gladly serve as a Sunday School teacher. We have a wonderful group of caring people at CTK. Mark and Nadine are great to work for! They are always looking for new ways and programs to better our congregation's relationship with God." The Director of Music for our 9:00 service is Jim Ford. Prior to coming to CTK in July 2000, Jim was an organist at a Presbyterian church and a United Methodist church (both in Binghamton), and he taught English to adults from all over the world in a program run by the Binghamton City School District. He has written original music for theatrical productions at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and at Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). His wife Colleen teaches social studies at Binghamton High School, and their son Mike is a physical education teacher and coach in the Susquehanna Valley School District. Jim is thrilled to work at Christ The King with people he respects and enjoys, and is especially grateful for the abundance of musical talent found here! The Worship Musician for our 11:15 service is Rich Cerniglia. Rich brings a lifetime of musical experience to this position. Rich first recorded with Daryl Hall and John Oates (check out the Hall & Oates album, War Babies, where Rich shares guitar duties with Todd Rundgren!). Rich has gone on to record 9 other commercial albums. As a concert performer, Rich has shared the bill with such legends as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Allman Brothers, Chicago and many others, and he's appeared on Saturday Night Live, American Bandstand and other TV shows. Rich currently writes music for Fox Sports and other network programs and teaches song-writing at Broome Community College. More importantly, in 1991 Rich opened his heart to Jesus Christ, and his music became a beautiful expression of his faith and his love for Christ. Rich has played with worship teams in a number of churches, both large and small, and has played in numerous Christian coffee house settings -- most recently providing the music for our Crossroads Cafe get-togethers at Curley's Coffee House in Johnson City. Now we're thrilled that he's signed on with us! The Nursery Supervisor is Gigi Gillette. The Sexton (Janitor) is Paul McLure. What We Believe Mission/Vision/Values The Wider Church Wed, 7 May 2008 18:52:27 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=97 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=97&article_id=280 Most of the Messages are in ".pdf" format, and require the free Adobe Reader. Current Messages | Earlier Messages TitleDatePresented By2007 Martin Luther's Christmas SermonDec 30M/N Ridley Learning from the GrinchDec 24Mark Ridley Christmas According to Matthew: Pt. 4Dec 23Nadine RidleyChristmas According to Matthew: Pt. 3Dec 16Mark RidleyChristmas According to Matthew: Pt. 2Dec 9Nadine RidleyChristmas According to Matthew: Pt. 1Dec 2Mark RidleyGiving ThanksNov 25Nadine RidleyA Family ThanksgivingNov 18Nadine RidleyPersonal Reflections on GivingNov 11Mark RidleyAtheism 5: Belief Is BarbaricNov 4Nadine RidleyAtheism 3: Belief Is UnscientificOct 21Mark RidleyAtheism 2: Belief Is DangerousOct 14Mark RidleyAtheism 1: Belief Is IrrationalOct 7Mark RidleyOne Life to LiveSep 23Nadine RidleyYou Give Them Something to EatSep 16Mark RidleyI Believe; Help My UnbeliefSep 2Mark RidleyNow What Do I Say?Aug 26Nadine RidleyWater, Wine and BreadAug 19Mark RidleyDoing What You Do Best Skills and Interests Inventory Jul 22Nadine RidleyInterruptionsJul 15Mark RidleyA God-given PassionJul 8Nadine RidleyYour Spiritual GiftsJul 1Mark RidleyGifts, Just Waiting to Be OpenedJun 24Mark RidleyJust a Little Time (Fathers' Day)Jun 17Nadine RidleyHealing PrayerJun 10Mark RidleyThe Myth of the Happy Meal Jun 3Nadine RidleySecond Wind May 27Mark RidleyAmerican Idols: Celebrities May 20Nadine RidleyAmerican Idols: Family May 13Mark RidleyAmerican Idols: Beauty May 6Nadine RidleyAmerican Idols: Sex Apr 29Mark RidleyAmerican Idols: Money Apr 15Mark RidleyEaster Changes Everything Apr 8Mark RidleyMaking Jesus CryApr 1Mark RidleyGod Loves You Mar 25Nadine RidleyWho Needs Jesus?Mar 18Mark RidleyEvangelism That Works Mar 11Nadine RidleyThe Incredible Shrinking Church Mar 4Mark RidleyWorship and PrayerFeb 25Nadine RidleyHide and Seek for Adults Feb 18Mark RidleyWorship 101 Feb 11Mark RidleyThe Years the Locusts Have Eaten Feb 4Mark RidleyBe the Body Jan 28Nadine RidleyThe St. Paul's Story Jan 21Mark RidleyBanquet Etiquette Jan 14Mark RidleyCreating Community Jan 7Nadine Ridley Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:22:25 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=98 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=98&article_id=281 Most of the Messages are in ".pdf" format, and require the free Adobe Reader. Current Messages | 2007 Messages TitleDatePresented By2006Two ChristmasesDec 24Mark Ridley"Silent Night"Dec 24Mark Ridley"It Came upon the Midnight Clear"Dec 17Nadine Ridley"Of the Father's Love Begotten"Dec 10Mark Ridley"O, Come, O, Come, Emmanuel"Dec 3Nadine RidleyRadical HospitalityNov 26Nadine RidleyHoly Thanks (Thanksgiving)Nov 21Nadine RidleyMarching Off the MapNov 19Nadine RidleyThe Anatomy of HypocrisyNov 12Mark RidleyLazarus LaughingNov 5Nadine RidleyFaith Without SacrificeOct 29Mark RidleyGod's Financial PlanOct 22Mark RidleySaying "Yes" to GodOct 15Nadine RidleyA Spiritual Check-UpOct 8Mark RidleyFaith and FriendsSep 24Mark RidleyFear Not, Little FlockSep 17Mark RidleyPassing the TorchSep 10 Nadine RidleyHaving a Shepherd; Being a SheepAug 27Mark RidleyYour Questions: How Can I Keep Hope Alive?Aug 20Nadine RidleyYour Questions: What Is God Like?Aug 13Mark RidleyYour Questions: Does God Heal Today?Aug 6Nadine RidleyYour Questions: Life After Death?Jul 23Mark RidleyYour Questions: Jesus and the End Times?Jul 16Nadine RidleyIn All ThingsJul 2Mark RidleyYour Questions: Hard Sayings?Jun 25Mark RidleyYour Questions: Old and New Testaments?Jun 18Nadine RidleyYour Questions: How Can We Interpret the Bible?Jun 11Mark RidleyJust the BeginningJun 11Nadine RidleyJesus and WomenMay 28Mark RidleyLeaving HomeMay 21Nadine RidleyDecoding Jesus: The Da Vinci Code May 14Mark RidleyThe Waiting Game May 7Nadine Ridley"Do You Love Me?" Apr 30Mark RidleyEaster: Do Not Cling to Me Apr 16Mark RidleyGood Friday: A Man for Others Apr 14Nadine RidleyMaundy Thursday: Foot-Washing Apr 13Mark RidleyLent 6: What Is Truth? Apr 9Nadine RidleyLent 5: Cleaning House Apr 2Mark RidleyLent 4: The Four-Day Darkness Mar 26Mark RidleyLent 3: Creating a Clean Heart Mar 19Nadine RidleyLent 2: Jesus and Nicodemus Mar 12Mark RidleyLent 1: The Other Brother Mar 5 Nadine RidleyAsh Wednesday: Journeying Toward the LightMar 1 Mark RidleyCross Training II Feb 26 Mark RidleyCross Training I Feb 19Nadine RidleySpring TrainingFeb 12Mark RidleyJonah: A Reluctant ProphetJan 29Nadine RidleyLike Sheep Without a ShepherdJan 22Mark RidleyThree Dimensions of a Complete LifeJan 15Nadine RidleyJourney of the MagiJan 8Mark RidleyThe Gift of TimeJan 1Nadine Ridley2005 Have a Defiant ChristmasDec 25Mark RidleyWhen God Became HumanDec 24Mark RidleyAslan Is on the MoveDec 18Nadine RidleyTurkish DelightDec 11Mark RidleyA World Without ChristmasDec 4Nadine RidleyThe Land Beyond the WardrobeNov 27Mark RidleyLuther's Dark SideNov 20Nadine RidleyLuther's Three Great DiscoveriesNov 13Mark RidleyMeet Martin LutherOct 30Mark RidleyCore Values 5: StewardshipOct 23Nadine RidleyCore Values 4: CommunityOct 16Mark RidleyCore Values 3: Transformation - Part 2Oct 9Nadine RidleyCore Values 3: Transformation - Part 1Oct 2Mark RidleyCore Values 2: HealingSep 25Nadine RidleyCore Values 1: Acceptance Sep 18Mark RidleyThe Gospel According to Abner Doubleday Aug 21Mark RidleyLiving the Hyphen to the Full Aug 14Mark RidleyFashion Sense Aug 7Nadine RidleyListen, for God's Sake! Jul 31Mark RidleyIt's Not Fair! Jul 24Nadine RidleyWeeds and Wheat Jul 17Mark RidleyIt All Comes Down to Love Jul 10Nadine RidleyMeet St. Matthew Jul 3Mark RidleyI Want to Know Jesus Jun 26Mark RidleyTwo Fathers Jun 19Mark RidleyThe Second Touch Jun 12Nadine RidleyFoundations of Faith Jun 5Nadine RidleySelective Memory May 29Mark Ridley Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:14:35 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=117 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=117&article_id=109 Celebrate Recovery is a fellowship that celebrates God's healing power in our lives. By working and applying biblical principles, we become free from our addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy and, most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others. As we progress through the program we draw strength from our personal, loving and forgiving Higher Power - Jesus Christ. Our local group is a unique lay ministry born out of a deep need for a support system for Christian individuals who are wrestling with chemical or alcohol dependency, sex addictions, eating disorders and more. Powerful, proven tools are offered to combat the fear, guilt, anger, loneliness, confusion and frustration which accompany these compulsive behaviors and their total affect on families. Somehow, because we are Christians, we think we should be immune to such "thorns in the flesh." When Christians recognize they have a problem, they work harder than most people to cover it up so their pastor and church friends won't find out. Thus, they end up trying to carry the burden all alone. Jesus said, "Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other to that you may be healed." (James 5:16) You no longer have to wage the battle by yourself. Help is available through this group for your destructive habits, hang-ups and hurts if you are only open to receive it. Our Celebrate Recovery group meets off-site on Sundays at 1:00 P.M. Visit http://www.CelebrateRecovery.com, call 725-2472 or email CRBinghamton@hotmail.com to learn more. Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:16:49 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=40 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=40&article_id=47 Session 1: Is This Really Happening to Me? Stages of the Divorce Experience Session 2: Coping with Your Ex-Spouse A Relational Reality that Still Exists Session 3: Assuming New Responsibilities Planning for Yourself and Your Future Session 4: Coping Skills for Worries, Dark Thoughts and Down Days Handling the Tough Times Session 5: Finding and Experiencing Forgiveness Cutting Loose and Moving On Session 6: Thinking About New Relationships Relating, Dating and Mating Again Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:11:15 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=40 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=40&article_id=37 Growing Through Divorce Thousands of people in our community have had their lives deeply affected by the tragedy of divorce. Every one of these people has deep and very specific needs that must be dealt with before they can move on to lead full and joyful lives. The purpose of Divorce Recovery is to help people find new meaning and value in their lives in the aftermath of divorce. Through a combination of lectures and small group discussions, participants will learn specific strategies for dealing with the trauma of divorce and will experience the support and concern of others who are facing similar issues. Please Note: These sessions are designed for people who are adjusting to the finality of a broken marriage, rather than dealing with the possibility of reconciliation. As one counselor has put it, "You can go through a divorce, or you can grow through a divorce." The goal of the Divorce Recovery Workshop is to help divorced persons make this difficult and painful time in their lives an occasion for growth and new life. Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:11:15 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=4 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=4&article_id=7 The mission of Children's Ministries is to help children through 6th grade grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, through mentoring, fun activities, music, worship, Bible study and small group interaction. Our Director of Children's Ministries is Julie Sifert. She works with the Children's Ministries Team to ensure that our programs meet the needs of all the children of our church. Click on the "Children" tab in the "Ministries" menu at the left to learn more about our Children's Ministries, including: Jesus and Friends First Communion Class Church Nursery Tue, 2 Oct 2007 04:56:14 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=5 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=5&article_id=11 Our Sunday morning ministry to children from three years of age through sixth grade is called "Jesus and Friends." It takes place during the Christian Education Hour, from 10:10 to 11:10. At Jesus and Friends, children learn about God's love through songs, stories, crafts and other fun activities. Up-beat music, attention-getting drama, kid-friendly crafts and games are all part of the Jesus and Friends formula. Caring adult leaders spend one-on-one time with the children each week, building relationships that can last a lifetime. Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:30:23 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=112 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=112&article_id=106 We offer three different Sunday School classes for youth: 7th - 8th Grade, 9th - 10th Grade and 11th - 12th Grade. Each of of the classes, led by caring adults, gives kids a safe place to explore the tough questions they're facing every day. Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:18:30 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=111 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=111&article_id=105 We offer three different Sunday School classes for youth: 7th - 8th Grade, 9th - 10th Grade and 11th - 12th Grade. Each of of the classes, led by caring adults, gives kids a safe place to explore the tough questions they're facing every day. Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:15:57 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=23 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=23&article_id=20 We offer three different Sunday School classes for youth: 7th - 8th Grade, 9th - 10th Grade and 11th - 12th Grade. Each of of the classes, led by caring adults, gives kids a safe place to explore the tough questions they're facing every day. Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:00:52 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=15 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=15&article_id=8 The philosophy behind our ministries to 6th through 12th graders could be summed up in a single phrase: "One Kid at a Time." We treat all teenagers as unique individuals, and we try to find the best way to help each of them find a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Click on the "Youth" tab in the "Ministries" menu at the left to find out more about our Youth Ministries, including: Sunday Morning Youth Classes • 7th and 8th Grade • 9th and 10th Grade • 11th through 12th Grade Youth Group Work Camp Confirmation Ministry Thu, 6 Sep 2007 15:15:55 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=51 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=51&article_id=62 When you use the link below to send us a Prayer Request, it goes to a group of people who have agreed to pray for needs as soon as they hear of them. Before you send your request, though, please read the Privacy Guidelines below. This will help you frame your request in a way that protects the privacy of the person being prayed for. To submit your Prayer Request, send us an e-mail, through the link below, setting out: Your Name (Use a nickname or leave blank if you wish.)The Person Prayed for (Include the person's name only with their permission; otherwise describe the person in general terms.)The Need or Condition Prayed for And remember, God works through prayer! Click here to submit your Prayer Request. [If you'd prefer to submit an anonymous Prayer Request (that will take a little longer to distribute), you can click here.] Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:39:34 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=29 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=29&article_id=27 Christ The King is located at 499 Plaza Drive in Vestal, New York, within fifteen minutes' drive of anywhere in the Binghamton metropolitan area. View Interactive Map | Get Personalized Directions From the East (Binghamton). Take the Vestal Parkway to University Plaza (the former Vestal Plaza). Just after the traffic light at the entrance to University Plaza, turn left onto Plaza Drive. Follow Plaza Drive up the hill, past Time Warner Cable. Look for the church sign and driveway on your left, at 499 Plaza Drive. From the West (Vestal). Take the Vestal Parkway past the entrance to Binghamton University. As you continue, you will ascend and descend a hill and see Universidy Plaza (the former Vestal Plaza) ahead on your right. Take your first right onto Plaza Drive. Follow Plaza Drive up the hill, past Time Warner Cable. Look for the church sign and driveway on your left, at 499 Plaza Drive. From the North (Route 17). Take Exit 70S off Rt 17. Follow NY Rt 201 south across the Susquehanna River. Continue straight ahead, following signs for Binghamton and NY Rt 434 East. Merge onto Rt 434 (the Vestal Parkway) and continue past the entrance to Binghamton University. As you continue, you will ascend and descend a hill and see University Plaza (the former Vestal Plaza) ahead on your right. Take your first right onto Plaza Drive. Follow Plaza Drive up the hill, past Time Warner Cable. Look for the church sign and driveway on your left, at 499 Plaza Drive. Sunday Worship Christian Education Mon, 5 Mar 2007 14:45:16 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=58 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=58&article_id=70 Here are some assorted provisions for your spiritual journey . . . Christian Book Distributors (CBD): A discount source for Bibles and Christian books ELCA.org: The online home of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ExploreFaith: Fresh insights for spiritual seekers FaithMaps: Tools for navigating theology, praxis and leadership in the emerging church Hollywood Jesus: Reviews and commentary on movies and popular culture from a spiritual perspective Interactive Passion History: An experience of the last hours of the life of Jesus Kirkridge Retreat Center: Fascinating workshops, or just a peaceful place to renew your spirit Life2theMax: An interactive youth lifestyle magazine from the U.K. Lutheran World Relief: Working with partners to improve people's lives in 50 countries Lutherans Concerned: Affirming God's love for all people of all sexual orientations The Ooze: Discussing community, culture, faith and ministry in the emerging postmodern world Selected Works of Martin Luther: An online Luther library Sojourners: A progressive Christian commentary on faith, politics, and culture SpiritHome: In-depth information on spirituality and the Holy Spirit The Upper Room: A popular daily devotional guide, including a suggested scripture reading Do you know of a resource that others would find helpful? Let us know and we'll post a link here! Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:37:55 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=58 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=58&article_id=231 Here are some documents and forms that may be of use to you:Application for Small Group Leadership Small Group Proposal Small Group Summary (Leader's Report) Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:36:48 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=31 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=31&article_id=28 Church Council is a group of members, elected by the congregation, who supervise the day-to-day operations of the church. Our current Church Council members are: Kyle Brown, President Cathy Gould, Vice-President Marilyn Dawes, Financial Secretary Susan Owen, Treasurer Joe Brunt Wendi Eames Steve Johnson John Lurenz Ray Roux Denise Scalzo Pastor Mark Ridley Pastor Nadine Ridley Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:24:43 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=93 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=93&article_id=260 Atlana pastor who could be expelled supported by former opponentBy JOHN BLAKE | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Published on: 01/17/07 James Mayer is a 70-year-old truck driver from South Carolina who calls himself a "tough Lutheran." But when he talks about what's happened to him during the past six years, his eyes well up. He swallows hard and sighs. Then the tears come. "Look at me," he says with a sheepish smile. "This is who I am. I'm not ashamed of it." Six years ago, Mayer was an angry man. St. John's Lutheran Church had elected the Rev. Bradley Schmeling, an openly gay man, as its new pastor. Only six people out of the then 250-member congregation voted against Schmeling. Mayer and his wife were two of them. He vowed not to return. This is the worst thing that could have happened to the church, Mayer thought. They're probably going to close the doors. St. John's doors remain open, but Schmeling's future is now in doubt. Bishop Ronald B. Warren of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America filed charges in August against Schmeling after the pastor told him that he had entered into a relationship with another man. ELCA policy permits gay clergy -- only if they're celibate. Schmeling's trial starts in Atlanta on Friday. He could be expelled from the ELCA. The Midtown church has since rallied around Schmeling -- and so has Mayer. He has not only returned to the church but contributed money to Schmeling's legal defense. He tears up at the prospect that "Pastor Brad" may no longer lead his church. "If you had told me six years ago that I was going to give money to Brad's defense," he says, "I would have told you, 'You've lost your mind.' "Middle-ground position Over the past three decades, most mainline Protestant denominations have become more accepting of gays. Some, like the United Church of Christ, even support the rights of gays to marry. The ELCA has not gone that far. It won't allow any "practicing" gays in sexual relationships with people of the same gender to be ordained as clergy. Those guidelines have been adopted by some other Protestant denominations. It's viewed as a middle ground, a way to avoid schism. Yet inevitably a congregation will violate these rules, deeming the celibacy requirements as outmoded interpretation of Scripture. St. John's is such a church. When it called Schmeling for interviews in 2000, he told them he was gay. But it wasn't an issue, says Laura Crawley, the congregation's president. "At the time, the bishop approved him," she says. "We were not breaking any sort of rules in calling him." Crawley says the church's call committee was drawn to Schmeling's ability. His way of translating ancient Scriptures into plain language. His habit of not just using children as cute backdrops in service but treating them as adults. His flair for creative worship. They knew, though, that he might break church rules someday if he met someone. Many actually hoped that he would. "When your job is giving 24 hours a day, you need someone in your life who is devoted to giving to you," she says. The church may have become more accepting of gay pastors, but Mayer didn't get the memo. He didn't change his views of gays. He was more concerned with survival. "The church was barely hanging on when he came," Mayer says. So was the ELCA. Like many other Protestant denominations, the organization's membership has been declining for at least 20 years.Some say most Protestant denominations are dying because they're diluting the Bible. Others say it's because they're not inclusive. When both sides clash publicly, they typically follow a formula. Clergy cite dueling biblical verses, pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit and parse the meaning of convoluted church policy phrases. Mayer doesn't cite biblical scholars or the Holy Spirit to explain his change. A reserved man, he doesn't even like talking about the subject. "I'm only here because of Pastor Brad," he says as he unfolds his lanky frame in a chair at a St. John's Sunday school room. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even be talking to you.""The only thing I ever heard about gay was bad." He says he never talked about homosexuality growing up on a farm in Prosperity, S.C. There was no theological debate; the issue was settled. "I came up with very little knowledge of gayness," he says. "The only thing I ever heard about gay was bad. This is all I knew: He's gay. He's bad." That didn't change when St. John's called Schmeling, a seminary student at Emory University who was completing his doctorate. When the church selected Schmeling after a congregational vote, Mayer started thinking about other churches. But they had to be Lutheran. Mayer was a devoted Lutheran who once broke up with a girlfriend because she was a Baptist. He can trace his Lutheran ancestors back to the 17th century. And though he had attended St. John's with his wife, Irene, for 47 years, he was prepared to move. "I figured it was going under," he says. "I might as well hunt somewhere else." Schmeling drew him back home, though. First, he reached the person Mayer calls "the most important person in my life" ‹ his wife, Irene. The two will celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary this month. Schmeling called Irene at their Forest Park home to introduce himself. "The word 'gay' didn't really come up in my conversation," Irene Mayer recalls. "He was calling with concern about myself and my family." Schmeling kept calling her. "Over a period of time, he won her over," Mayer says. "She just started loving him."Church revival Mayer also noticed that his church wasn't dying anymore. In six years, St. John's membership grew from 250 to about 350. More children and young adults joined. Once, Mayer knew all the members -- but he has since lost track. "I'm the old person right now," he says with a smile. Then Schmeling touched another important person in Mayer's life -- his 47-year-old daughter. He won't divulge the details but says that his daughter was experiencing some significant personal problems. She wasn't a member at St. John's, but Schmeling met with her and helped pull her out of her crisis. "Every time I ever said, 'I need you,' that's all I had to say, [and] he was there," Mayer says. Finally, Schmeling evoked memories of another important person -- Mayer's father, Enoch, a turkey farmer. "My mother preached the Bible; Daddy lived the Bible," he says. "If I said I needed help, he was there. The words 'I love you" weren't part of his vocabulary. It was just something I knew." Mayer says he saw the same quality in Schmeling. He somehow made people know that he cared for them. He made time to help. Made time to meet complete strangers. Made time to make everyone welcome. By the time Mayer learned that Schmeling had a partner, he says it was "irrelevant" to him. "I wasn't surprised," he says. "If you find someone like Pastor Brad that everyone likes, you know that he was going to run into someone who was gay and who felt the same way the rest of us do." When asked about biblical verses that condemned homosexuality, though, Mayer's posture stiffens. He says: "I don't go there. "That's between Pastor Brad and God," he says. "None of us are perfect. We're all going to answer for our sin." When asked about ELCA guidelines, he grasps for the right words. Finally, he says after sighing, "I don't know everything in the world. I don't understand how we all couldn't be born perfectly. "It's just that over a period of time, I came to realize Pastor Brad wasn't the person I thought he was. He was still gay. But the knowledge that I had of gay people wasn't who he was. "He was just like everybody else." Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:48:13 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=44 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=44&article_id=51 At Christ The King, we've identified four basic types of small groups. They're all important, but each has a different purpose. K-Groups. Back in New Testament times, the first Christians discovered what the Bible calls koinonia, a Greek word variously translated as "fellowship," "community," "communion," "intimacy" and "friendship." As Christians experienced that koinonia with each other, they also grew into koinonia with God (1 John 1:3, 6-7; Phil. 1:5; 2:1). At Christ The King, our K-Groups (short for Koinonia Groups) are designed to help group members experience the same koinonia that energized the early church -- the same growing intimacy and deepening fellowship, with each other and with God. Interest Groups. These groups are similar to K-Groups, except that people come together around a common interest. That interest can be almost anything, from serious Bible study to learning how to fish or play bridge! What's important is that friendships are made and lives are shared. Support/Recovery Groups. Our Support/Recovery Groups meet to address a shared concern (support) or a crippling need (recovery). Relationship-building still takes place in these groups, but the primary focus is on helping participants deal with their specific concerns or needs. Examples include Divorce Recovery, Family Matters (a group for parents) and our Weight-Loss Support Group. Ministry Teams. Another type of group at Christ The King is the Ministry Team. These groups focus on performing a specific ministry in the church or community, while building caring relationships among the group members. Examples include Stephen Ministry, or the CTK Choir. Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:25:23 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=51 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=51&article_id=63 Confidentiality. The Prayer Requests that come to the Prayer Network often contain personal information about the people who seek our prayers. We recognize that such information is entrusted to us only so that we can pray for people's needs; this is a sacred trust that we endeavor to respect at all times. Accordingly, all participants in the Prayer Network agree not to share personal information contained in Prayer Requests with anyone else. Such information is used only in prayer. Third-Party Prayer Requests. You are welcome to post Prayer Requests for yourself or for a third-party. But we ask that you keep the privacy of the third party in mind as you frame such Prayer Requests. First, always obtain the permission of the person being prayed for before posting a Prayer Request. "I'm sure the person wouldn't mind" is not enough - the person should knowingly consent to having his or her need posted on the Prayer Network. In particular, you should always obtain the person's consent before using his or her name in the request. If permission has not been obtained, or if the person requests anonymity, then it is sufficient to describe the condition in general terms, such as, "Please pray for a person who entered the hospital for surgery today." While more information could help us pray more specifically, it is more important to protect the person's right to privacy. Anonymity. Ordinarily, the e-mail addresses of persons submitting Prayer Requests are visible to members of the Prayer Network. Those who prefer to submit an anonymous Prayer Request can do so by clicking here.]. Please note that anonymous Prayer Requests may take up to a day or two longer to distribute than normal requests. Click here to submit your Prayer Request. Sat, 16 Dec 2006 02:42:27 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=91 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=91&article_id=245 At the Informational Forums held on October 22, a number of excellent questions were posed by members regarding the proposed merger of Christ The King with St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Johnson City. Here are some questions and answers from the Forums. 1. How many members does St. Paul's have? What is the adult, youth population? Like many churches, St. Paul's has an official membership list that includes scores of people who are no longer active in the congregation. But about 75 adults have actually attended or contributed to St. Paul's over the last 12 months, along with about half-a-dozen children and 3 teenagers. It's impossible to know how many of these individuals would actually become active members of Christ The King if our congregations were to merge. 2. Will the name of our church still be Christ The King Lutheran Church? Yes. The Church Council and members of St. Paul's realize that the reputation and "name recognition" that Christ The King has built up in recent years would be an asset to our consolidated congregation. 3. What technicalities are involved in the proposed merger, beyond simply welcoming St. Paul's members to our church? What is the difference between a merger of our congregations vs. individual members of St. Paul's just joining CTK? If the proposed merger is approved, St. Paul's and Christ The King would become one congregation, known as Christ The King. All members of St. Paul's (and Christ The King) as of the effective date of the merger would automatically become members of the consolidated congregation. Similarly, all assets of both churches would vest in the consolidated congregation. (The consolidated congregation would worship at our current location on Plaza Drive, rather than St. Paul's building on Main Street in Johnson City.) There were four main reasons why St. Paul's Church Council recommended that their congregation seek to merge with Christ The King, instead of merely dissolving: First, they wanted to see the ministry they have undertaken for the last 89 years continue, in a new setting, rather than simply disappearing. Second, they wanted to keep as many of their members as possible together as a "family," rather than scattering throughout the community. Third, they wanted to be assured that their home-bound members would receive consistent pastoral care, rather than "falling through the cracks" in the event their church simply closed its doors.Fourth, they wanted to see their church's assets put at the disposal of a thriving, mission-minded local congregation, rather than being dissipated. 4. Other than more people, what changes would Christ The King experience as the result of the proposed merger? We often say at Christ The King that "every time a new member joins our church, we become a different congregation." That would certainly be true if the proposed merger were to take place. The influx of new members would bring new strengths and talents, new energy and excitement, and new perspectives and needs. Worship. Should the merger take place, we estimate that an average of approximately 25 people from St. Paul's would worship with us each week, primarily at the 9:00 service. This would not increase our worship attendance beyond levels we have easily accommodated in the past. We can also expect a few new additions to the Choir, as well as a number of new volunteers to help with worship leadership tasks. Since Pastor Nadine would no longer be spending two Sundays each month at St. Paul's, she would be with us in worship (and Sunday School) each week. The two Deacons from St. Paul's would join our three Christ The King Deacons (subject to approval by the consolidated Church Council), and all Deacons would be available to assist the pastors in worship. We do not anticipate any other significant changes in our 9:00 service as a result of the proposed merger. Over time, we will all be learning new hymns and liturgical settings for that service, as we explore the resources contained in the new hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship. St. Paul's currently has eight "shut-ins" (members who are unable to attend worship due to ill health). As a result, St. Paul's has a number of "eucharistic ministers" -- lay people who have been trained to take communion to home-bound members. We would continue the use of these eucharistic ministers, and would offer training to others who may be interested in this ministry. Programming. Since most of the members we would receive from St. Paul's are of retirement age, they would help to fill in a demographic category that has long been under-represented at Christ The King. We've already instituted a First Friday Luncheon, as a monthly noontime gathering principally for folks in this age group; we hope that a number of people from St. Paul's would join us for this luncheon. Some would likely also be attracted to our Wednesday evening Life Together suppers. St. Paul's currently offers a Wednesday morning Bible study group and a weekly "Healthy Bones" exercise group; these would continue at Christ The King. In addition, we would expect a number of people from St. Paul's to join existing programs at Christ The King, such as Stephen Ministry and our many small groups. We will, of course, also be open to new programming needs and opportunities as they arise. Organization. Under the proposed merger, the consolidated congregation would continue to operate under the Constitution and Bylaws of Christ The King. As of the effective date of the proposed merger (probably some time in early to mid-December), an interim Church Council would take office, consisting of all but one of our current Christ The King Council members, plus three St. Paul's members. This interim Council would serve only until our Annual Congregational Meeting on January 28, 2007, at which time all Council positions would be filled by vote of the congregation. (The Nominating Committee will prepare a slate of Council nominees prior to the Congregational Meeting.) 5. Would we assume St. Paul's debts? If so, how would that affect our financial situation? Under the proposed merger, we would assume St. Paul's debts, if St. Paul's had any. Fortunately, they have no debts or other liabilities. They currently do have assets, however, such as cash in bank accounts. Whatever money remains at the time of the merger would accrue to Christ The King. Another asset of St. Paul's is their church building (located at 500 Main St. in Johnson City, near the off-ramp from NY 201), and their secondary parking lot (located at 20 Baker St.). Title to the building and parking lot would vest in Christ The King as of the effective date of the merger. (For more about this property, see Question 6 below.) The biggest asset of St. Paul's, of course, is its people. They are a mature and dedicated band of believers with many gifts to share with us, as our brothers and sisters in Christ. 6. What risks would we be taking on by assuming ownership of St. Paul's building through the proposed merger? If the proposed merger takes place, our intent would be to put St. Paul's property on the market as soon as possible. It could be sold to another congregation or to a private developer. Although the property is currently zoned for multi-unit residential use, it could be redeveloped for professional offices or other non-retail proposes, with a permit from the Village of Johnson City. A professional appraisal of the property is currently under way (at St. Paul's expense); we'll announce the valuation of the property as soon as the appraisal is completed. The consolidated congregation would be responsible for the care of the property until such time as it is sold. Last year St. Paul's spent approximately $20,000 to insure, heat and maintain their property; that cost included snow plowing, utilities and general upkeep. Currently several 12-Step organizations use the building six days of the week; these groups have been given notice to vacate the premises by the end of this year. Thereafter, the only remaining entity using the building will be Grace Tabernacle, a Haitian pentecostal congregation that has had a long-standing and cooperative relationship with St. Paul's. Grace Tabernacle has offered to contribute $450 per month (and to keep the sidewalks shoveled) in return for their continued limited use of the building. With only Grace Tabernacle using the building, we expect the total annual "carrying" cost for the property to be approximately $15,000 per year. With Grace Tabernacle's contributions offsetting $5,400 of this cost, we anticipate the net carrying cost to be in the neighborhood of $10,000 per year. In the past, the people of St. Paul's have proven to be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given them. Through the first three quarters of 2006, they have contributed $35,000 to their congregation -- a pace which would total over $46,000 by the end of this year. It is impossible, of course, to predict how much of the past giving by St. Paul's members would carry over to the consolidated congregation in future years. But our Church Council believes that the giving that would likely come to us from former St. Paul's members should be sufficient, at least for the short term, to cover the cost of keeping the St. Paul's building on the market. Once the building is sold, of course, the proceeds from the sale would go into the coffers of the consolidated congregation, to be used as the congregation sees fit. Council believes that the potential benefit that would accrue to our church upon the sale of the property far outweighs the risks we would have to bear while the property is on the market. 7. Under the proposed merger, Pastor Nadine would no longer draw a salary from St. Paul's, yet she would be ministering to the combined churches. Would we pay her the combined salary of what she received from both churches? And what about other paid staff members of St. Paul's? A merger would not obligate us to hire any current employees of St. Paul's. Their salaries, including Pastor Nadine's annual salary of $15,500 from St. Paul's, would cease. In fact, St. Paul's organist, secretary and sexton are already looking for -- or have found -- other positions. As noted in the answer to Question 6 above, it is difficult to know in advance what the financial impact of the proposed merger would be. While the influx of new members from St. Paul's would doubtless result in increased giving to Christ The King, at least a portion of that new income would have to be earmarked for expenses associated with St. Paul's building, until such time as it is sold. Once the building has been sold, however, we would be in a position to reassess our financial situation. When Pastor Nadine joined our staff in 2000, the congregation set the goal of paying our two pastors a combined salary of 50% more than we would pay one pastor. But under our 2006 budget we are paying them only 10% more than a single pastor. If and when our financial situation permits it, Council would like to see us move toward our original salary goal for our pastors. 8. How can we "harvest" the good ideas from the congregation of St. Paul's and South Hills Presbyterian, so we can adopt those that work? Since Pastor Nadine has served as pastor of St. Paul's for the last two years (and vacancy pastor for the two years before that), she is familiar with the programs and initiatives that have been undertaken at St. Paul's in recent years. The pastors have also been meeting informally with former members of South Hills Presbyterian Church, discussing their experiences there. The people of both congregations bring a wealth of valuable experience to our church. As the former members of St. Paul's and South Hills are integrated into our congregation, we will seek and encourage their input in planning programs and activities at Christ the King, as we would with any other members of our church. Together, we can be even more effective in furthering our congregation's God-given mission: to bring healing and new life to hurting and hungering people through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ! Fri, 27 Oct 2006 05:41:34 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=37 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=37&article_id=44 A Definition. Here at Christ The King, we have a working definition of worship. Worship is . . . coming into God's presence to express our love for God and experience God's love for us. In every service of worship, we strive for that kind of exchange of love. Click on the "Worship" tab in the "Ministries" menu at the left to learn more about such Worship Ministries as: Senior Choir Worship Arts Team Worship Tech Team Worship Leadership Teams Deacon Team Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:23:55 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=45 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=45&article_id=41 God has given all of us wonderful gifts, shaping each of us as a unique creation. And the Bible tells us that God gives us those gifts, not just for our own benefit, but also for the benefit of others. But often we don't take the time to discover the gifts we've been given. That's what the Gifts Discovery program is all about. In Gifts Discovery -- offered either as a weekend retreat or as a 5-week seminar -- you'll uncover your Spiritual gifts, Heart (passions), Abilities, Personality and Experiences. Together they reveal your unique, God-given S_H_A_P_E. And once you've discovered your gifts, we'll help you find ways to put them to use in meaningful ministries. Isn't it time to unwrap your gifts? Fri, 7 Apr 2006 07:54:51 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=40 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=40&article_id=131 Here's another way that we at Christ The King can reach out to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) has now been granted access to some of the devastated areas and has established a staging area in Jackson, Mississippi. And Lutheran World Relief, which usually deals exclusively with needs abroad, is working with LDR to distribute health kits to those who have had to flee their homes. These health kits help children, men and women who are refugees maintain personal hygiene while living in exile. Items may also contribute to a new start for those who can return home. The following items are needed for each health kit (all items should be new and in good condition): One hand towel, dark color recommended One washcloth, dark color recommended One bath-size bar of soap, any brand, in its original wrapping One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging One 5-7 oz. squeeze tube of toothpaste with remaining shelf life of at least 12 months (see note below), remove packaging One comb, wide tooth preferred, remove packaging One metal nail file or nail clippers with file attached, remove packaging Six Band-Aids® (or similar brand), preferably 1/2" to 3/4"; secure together with a rubber band Note: Toothpaste is marked with an expiration date. Please include toothpaste with at least a 12-month shelf life; 18 months highly preferred. Bring the items listed above to Christ The King. For the next two Sundays, September 11 and 18, the children and youth of our church will assemble the items into kits and package them for shipping to Lutheran World Relief. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:27 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52&article_id=65 Participants. Anyone is welcome to join the Prayer Network and receive prayer requests. All you need is a commitment to pray for people's needs whenever you receive a prayer request. Confidentiality. The prayer requests that come to us often contain personal information about the people who seek our prayers. That information is entrusted to us only so that we can pray for people's needs; this is a sacred trust that we must respect at all times. Accordingly, all participants in our Prayer Network must agree not to share any personal information with anyone else. Such information is to be used only in prayer. Confirmed violations of confidentiality will result in the violator being barred from the group and from any further access to prayer requests. Receiving Requests. When you receive a prayer request, you should pray for it as soon as possible. It is also helpful if you keep a record of prayer requests and add them to the personal prayer requests you pray for in your regular Quiet Time with God. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:27 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=51 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=51&article_id=48 The Saturday morning Men's K-Group gathers each week from 8:00 to 9:30 to share bagels, coffee and our journeys. We talk about all kinds of things, we pray together, and we support one another. And we love having new people join us! Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:27 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=59 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=59&article_id=73 A gathering of people interested in developing their writing skills. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=54 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=54&article_id=54 The Tuesday Morning Bible Study group is for women of all ages. Meeting each week from 9:30-11:00 A.M. (9:00-10:30 A.M. in the summer) for study, fellowship, and prayer, we alternate between studying the Bible and reading books together. (Recent books we've read include Bad Girls of the Bible and The Screwtape Letters.) Although we meet at Christ the King, our members come from many churches, so come and bring your friends! New members are welcome at any time Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=56 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=56&article_id=55 The Prayer Team is a group of individuals who are willing to pray for and with others during and after our Sunday worship services and in other settings. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=49 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=49&article_id=60 Introduction. Through prayer, God makes us partners in his work in the world. Prayer is mysterious, but it is also the most powerful force on earth. Just consider . . . We can touch people's lives without ever meeting them - through our prayers! We can help hurting and hungering people find healing and new life in Christ - through our prayers! We can bring peace and comfort to people going through the toughest crises they'll ever face in life - through our prayers! That's why we've set up our online Prayer Network. We're using the power of the Internet to help us pray for people who need our prayers, whoever or wherever they may be. Request Prayer Join the Prayer Network Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=47 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=47&article_id=43 LifeShapes is not a program. It's a discipline -- a way to understand ourselves and our relationships with Christ and one another. LifeShapes links the discipleship principles of Jesus to memorable images -- eight shapes. It forms the vocabulary that expresses the theology and daily life of a disciple of Jesus, painting a clear picture of what God intends to do in your personal life, in the church and in the world. In Jesus' day, teaching was based on the oral tradition. People learned through storytelling and verbal teaching rather than reading texts. Today we're still visually oriented. Trying to convey aspects of discipleship through lists, principles and phrases does not work in our time. But LifeShapes provides a simple but powerful way to help you learn and to remember the principles of the Jesus-driven life. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=48 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=48&article_id=44 The Upstate New York Synod's Southern Tier Conference stretches along the NY-PA border for almost a hundred miles (from Corning to Binghamton), extending as far north as Ithaca and Norwich. Within the conference are 13 ELCA congregations, with average weekly worship attendance ranging from 26 to 157. At any given time, some of these congregations are without a pastor. (In the fall of 2004, for example, four of the congregations had no pastor of their own.) What do congregations do when they are without pastors, or when their pastors are ill or absent for other reasons? In some areas they can call on retired clergy or pastors who work in non-parish settings (hospital chaplains, for instance). But in the Southern Tier there simply aren't enough "extra" clergy to go around. Recognizing the difficulties facing conferences like ours, the Upstate New York Synod has been encouraging conferences to train and certify deacons: i.e., qualified lay persons who can be authorized by the Bishop of the Synod to preach at worship and/or preside at communion. The Synod recognizes two types of deacons: (1) Congregational Deacons, who can be authorized to preach and preside in their own congregations, and (2) Conference Deacons, who can be authorized to preach and preside in other congregations (within the deacon's conference). Following guidelines established by our synod, our conference conducts a six-month training program for Congregational and Conference Deacons, called the Southern Tier Conference Academy. While the Academy is principally designed to prepare participants to serve as deacons, the individual class sessions are open to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge or skills. The six sessions of the Academy are held on Saturdays, from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M., over a period of six months. The sessions cover the following topics: Deacon Skills Old Testament Survey New Testament Survey Lutheran Identity Preaching Worship and Spiritual Formation There is no charge for attending Academy sessions, but participants are expected to purchase their own study texts. Some congregations offer grants to help their deacon candidates with book and travel costs. In addition to the class sessions described above, our synod requires that deacon candidates undertake "at least 15 hours of instruction or study in the particular area of ministry in which they will serve." This requirement is generally met through independent study, in consultation with the candidate's own pastor. Once they have completed the course of study described above, candidates can be commissioned as deacons only upon the recommendation of their home pastor and Church Council, as well as the Southern Tier Conference Deacon Training Team, the Dean of the Conference and, ultimately, the Bishop of the Synod. Deacons are commissioned for three-year terms, renewable indefinitely. Deacons are expected to complete 10 hours of continuing education each year, either through established programs or independent study, in consultation with their pastors. When deacons are called upon to preach or preside outside their home congregations, they are paid mileage and an honorarium equivalent to that paid to a substitute pastor. If you're interested in becoming a deacon, discuss it with your pastor. Then attend the first Academy session, on "Deacon Skills." That session will help you determine whether you have the gifts needed to be a deacon. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=50 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=50&article_id=45 Fellowship. It's more than coffee hour and church suppers (although they're important, too). When you get right down to it, fellowship is that sense of belonging that all of us are looking for -- that feeling you get when you're finally home where you belong. We've found that fellowship doesn't just happen -- and so we work hard to create a sense of community at Christ The King. Part of it is the small stuff. The coffee's always on after worship, for example, and you'll always find people hanging out long after Sunday services are over. But fellowship also comes from more organized opportunities, like Dinner Groups. Each fall we assemble groups of about 8 people who agree to meet for monthly dinners at each other's homes. There's no agenda; just good food and good conversation. And maybe the beginning of a life-long friendship! Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=24 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=24&article_id=55 We're a group of people on a spiritual journey. And we've discovered that the greatest joy comes when we share the journey together! We're a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the ELCA), but we're a diverse group, from a variety of religious backgrounds. Many of us are former Roman Catholics, and many have come from other non-Lutheran (mostly Protestant) backgrounds. While some of us are life-long Lutherans, others haven't ever been part of a church before. But wherever we've come from, we've all found a spiritual home here at Christ The King. Here you'll find people at every stage of life -- from those just starting out to those with a lifetime of experience to share. And you'll find people at every stage in their spiritual journeys, too. That's one of the things that makes Christ The King such an exciting place. We're also a "Reconciling in Christ" congregation. That means that we offer a warm and explicit welcome to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation -- or, for that matter, their race, social class or any other designation. When we say everyone's welcome at Christ The King, we mean it! We think you'll find Christ The King to be a great place to worship God, to make friends, to grow in your faith, and to make a difference in the world. So, welcome to Christ The King! We hope it's the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship! Meet Our Staff What We Believe Mission/Vision/Values The Wider Church Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=44 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=44&article_id=53 Small Groups -- Big Impact. Here at Christ The King, we're in the business of helping hurting and hungering people find healing and new life, through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. And we're convinced that the best environment for cultivating that "growing relationship with Jesus Christ" is a small group. Why are small groups so important? Because in small groups . . . you build relationships of quality and integrity with others you experience Christian love and caring, at the deepest possible level your faith deepens, as you and your group-mates study together, share your discoveries, and hold each other in mutual accountability you and your group grow closer as you work together to help others you have a laboratory where you can test your gifts and find them confirmed by others you're part of a group that's there for one another, through good times and bad. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=18 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=18&article_id=13 Each year we hold a special two-session class for parents and their 4th or 5th grade children, to help prepare the children for their first Holy Communion. For more information, contact Pastor Nadine Ridley. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=17 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=17&article_id=14 The Children's Ministry Team consists of the Leaders, Teachers and Helpers who prepare and conduct our ministries to children through 5th grade. The Team always welcomes new people with creativity, teaching skills, or just a love for children! Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=19 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=19&article_id=16 Our church's ministry to children begins with our Nursery, which welcomes children from birth through kindergarten age during our Sunday morning worship services. A paid Nursery Supervisor presides over a Nursery designed to communicate the love of Jesus to even the smallest child. The Nursery is also a haven for children up to three years old during our Christian Education Hour, between the worship services. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=24 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=24&article_id=21 At least once a month, the youth of Christ The King meet as a large group for special events. Activities include camping trips, retreats, recreational outings and service projects -- a wide variety of activities designed to appeal to as many youth as possible. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=25 http://www.ctkvestal.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=25&article_id=22 Every summer a number of our youth, along with adult advisors, travel to another part of the US or Canada to minister to elderly or handicapped people by helping them with home repair or renovation projects. The week is facilitated by the Group Workcamps Foundation, a national youth ministry network. Workcampers work hard during the day, building handicapped-accessible ramps, replacing roofs and painting siding. Then each evening they gather for high-energy rallies with other work teams. Workcampers have tons of fun -- on and off the job! Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:16:26 MST