Transition
CTK Administrator
Congregational Meeting

The members of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are called to a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 22, 2020 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, preceded by a prayer meeting that will start at 6:30p. This meeting will be held virtually.

Business to be conducted at the meeting:

  1. Elect a pastoral search committee* for the purpose of recommending a pastoral candidate for Cambridge

  2. Elect church officers – the slate of candidates to be elected will be shared upon approval by the Session

  3. Share information with the church

Instructions for how to participate in the virtual meeting will be forthcoming.

* PCA Book of Church Order chapter 20-2

Transition
CTK Administrator
Congregational Meeting (10/18)

The members of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are called to two upcoming Congregational Meetings.

The first is on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 7:00 PM and will be held virtually. Business to be conducted at the October meeting:
1. Consider the resignation of Rev. Rick Downs as Pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church
2. Approve a process for forming a pastoral search committee*
3. Hear more information and ask questions related to placing an interim pastor in Cambridge and the search for a permanent replacement

The second is on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM and will be held virtually. Business to be conducted at the November meeting:
1. Elect a pastoral search committee* for the purpose of recommending a pastoral candidate for Cambridge
2. Elect church officers – the slate of candidates to be elected will be shared upon approval by the Session

For updates about these two meetings, please follow https://www.ctkboston.org/news-events. Instructions for how to participate in the virtual meetings will be forthcoming. Other business may be added to either meeting. If so, we will provide advance notice.

* PCA Book of Church Order chapter 20-2

Youth Game Night

CTK Youth are invited to a game night on Saturday, January 11 from 6-8pm in the CTK social hall! We will test our map drawing, storytelling, and winter survival skills during "The Quiet Year". Cozy drinks and snacks will be provided. Contact Rebecca M. with any questions! Note: this game is better suited for high school students, if younger students are interested please reach out for more details.

CTK Winter Getaway

It’s that time of year again!  Registration is now open for the 2025 CTK Winter Getaway!  Join us for a weekend in the snowy woods of Alton, NH at Brookwoods Conference Center. Our speaker this year is Rev. Rob Hamby, Senior Pastor of Point Hope Presbyterian Church in Charlston, SC, speaking on “The Church Renewed: Bringing the Gospel to Life in Our Community”.  Scholarships are available.  Visit ctkcambridge.org/getaway for more information and to register! 

Advent Wreath

Parents, in the service this Sunday we will continue our Advent celebration by lighting the fourth candle in our wreath! Presenters will prepare a special teaching for the kids and, as has been the tradition at CTK, we’ll invite any children who would like to come up to the front to sit (parents, feel free to escort them). Families are also welcome to remain in the pew if preferred.

Serena - RUF

Serena Bergfors serves as Campus Staff at Boston University with our denomination's campus ministry, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). This year, BU RUF has been doing their teaching series on the Gospel of Mark. Check out Serena's talk on "Jesus and the Heart of the Law," from this series! Earlier in November, they had a "bring your friend night," and 5 or 6 students brought a roommate or friend with them! Please pray for the large group teaching meetings, as well as the smaller Bible studies during the week--that students would come to know Jesus and be strengthened in their faith through this ministry. Please also pray for Pastor Nathan and interns Sarah and Mitch as they disciple students on campus.

Serena is seeking some end-of-year giving to meet her ministry budget needs for this year. You can support Serena here!

Mini-Sabbatical

Dear CTK family,

I wanted to let you know that I’ll be taking a extended break starting Dec. 26th. It has been a long and excruciating two years of ministry for me related to the special case. Though I may not show it, I am thoroughly exhausted and need to catch my breath. The Lord has graciously enabled me to keep going through it all, but now he is calling me to get some rest.

While I would likely need a full 3 month sabbatical to really rest and recover, I don’t believe the church is in a place where we can sustain that. So, I will take roughly a month off, returning for our Winter Getaway on January 24th.

During this time I will be away from all my duties at CTK and will be off communications to try to really rest.

While I’m out, some friends of CTK will come to preach and administer communion each Sunday.  They’ve all been with us before and are familiar with our church. They are: RUF UCONN Pastor David Augustine, Emmanuel NYC Pastor Tim Chang and RUF MIT Pastor Solomon Kim.  Together they will preach through a mini series on the parables of Jesus. I’m grateful for their support in helping me get this break and look forward to hearing about the series.

I hope to rest well while I am on break. Please pray for me in that. I’m grateful for your many prayers for me during this time. I believe they are a large part of how I’ve been able to keep going.

Thank you for your support in the Lord and I will look forward to being back with you at the Getaway.

-Travis

Women's Brunch

Women of CTK!  Join us for the annual Women’s Christmas Brunch, Saturday, December 7th at 10a.  It will be a white elephant Christmas gift exchange (second-hand and hand-made gifts are welcome -- not to exceed $20 value).  All women and girls are invited, and please invite a friend or neighbor.  If you didn’t receive your Paperless Post invitation, please email women@ctkcambridge.org to RSVP.  

pastoral note

Dear CTK family,

You may be feeling a variety of things today as a result of the election.  I feel many things myself.  At the conclusion of a long and contentious election, I want to share a short pastoral note to help us process this result as a community and, most of all, to help us remember the Lord as our King in the days to come.  

If you feel elated or relieved at the result –

Talk to God about these things and set them before him, first and foremost.  Be careful not to put more of your hope in the result than it can hold.  Ps. 146:3-4 says, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.”  It is not wrong to hope in this life, but this life does not last. So, in relief or elation, do not forget the only King and only hope that truly lasts and that truly sets you and others free.  He is the one our hearts need most.  He is the One whose kingdom we pray would come and whose will we pray would be done on earth as it is in heaven. Look to him most of all in this time.  And as you look to your King, do not forget or look down on your neighbor who may feel differently. You are still called to love them as yourself and to care for and about them. Because power, in the Christian life, is meant to be used for others (Mt 20:28), not lorded over them (Mt. 20:25).   

If you are discouraged, angry, or worried by the result –

Also remember Ps. 146:3-4.  The ways and plans of ‘princes’ come and go, but the Lord is enthroned forever (Ps. 9:7).  If, quite differently than your elated or relieved neighbor, the president-elect makes you deeply worried, remember there is a king above this ‘prince.’  And that King uses even the worst rulers as mere instruments in his hands to show what his loving, gracious and powerful kingship is like (see Rom. 9:17).  Though we need to process what is in our hearts and wrestle with our concerns, we are not without hope or help in that.  Rather, we have a God who gives us to withstand difficult circumstances and who makes us both know and show a resilience that is greater than the world can touch.  We are a free people in Christ – we always have been, no matter the earthly kingdom – and we always will be. We can be sad, angry or worried, but while we feel that, we are still drawn into something vastly greater by our King. Remember, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).  

So whatever you feel today and in the days to come, invite the Lord to meet you in that.  Talk to him about what you feel.  Ask him to lead us, as the exiles and strangers we are, to the heavenly country that is our real home – even if we only see it and greet it from afar (Heb.11:13-16). 

May the Lord be near us,

Pastor Travis

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Cultural Engagement Seminar

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With the approaching election, we’re again in a difficult, contentious time. To help us better interact with our family, friends, & neighbors during this season, Pastor Travis will lead a 4-week seminar on Cultural Engagement. The seminar doesn’t take a side politically but advocates for a gospel “third way” beyond our political divisions where the church shines as something altogether different. Join us with friends, neighbors, or just bring yourself!  Register for in-person or Zoom at ctkcambridge.org/cultural-engagement and join us on 10/2, 10/9, 10/23, 10/30 at 7:30p.

Crafting Party

All women and girls (middle school and older) are welcome to come to the Autumn and Holiday Craft Party with Andrea! on Saturday, Nov 9 from 10AM to Noon in the Social Hall. We will be making veggie-print tea towels and they will be beautiful for gifts -- or decorate your own apartment/home! Please consider bringing a $2 donation per person to off-set costs of the materials. Sign up by Nov 7 by emailing women@ctkcambridge.org.

Informational Meeting

The elders will be holding an informational meeting for all members and regular attenders to discuss the outcome of the special case trial. The meeting will happen directly after the service on Sunday, November 10th. Please consider submitting your questions ahead of time so the elders can best prepare for the meeting. There is a link to the google form for questions in an email that went out to all members and attenders. If you didn’t receive that and would like to, please contact office@ctkcambridge.org.

During the meeting, childcare and supervision for kids 1+ years (and walking) and older will be provided in the Social Hall. A few notes regarding child/youth supervision:

  • Parents, please pick up children in nursery immediately following the service.

  • Kids (1+ years and walking) may head to the Social Hall for supervision with volunteers.

  • Parents of Grade K or younger must check-in/out children. ALL parents are asked to pick up children afterwards (so we can account for everyone).

  • Kids will be served a snack during the meeting (bagels, fruit, cheerios & water) and should take a seat at a table when they arrive. If parents have any allergy concerns, you must let Dana know in Social Hall.

  • Rest of congregation – bagels on offer to grab during break near the bookshelves (please try to keep clear of the kids tables in the back).

Mt Auburn Hike

Women and girls of CTK! Join Martha Olson for a hike through beautiful Mount Auburn Cemetery this Saturday, October 5th. They’ll be meeting at 11am at the visitor center. However, we are permitted to bring a snack. We will meet at 11AM at the visitor center. Parking and transportation options (bus lines, biking, driving) are on this link of their website. If you have any questions, reach out to Martha at marthabwolson@gmail.com or 203-605-9898.