Calling all CTK Youth: The middle school youth are invited for a cookout Saturday, June 12 5-7 p.m. at the home of Tim and Janis Dietz. The high school youth will meet on Sunday, June 13 6-8 p.m. at the home of Rick and Martha Olson. Please RSVP to Lydia Carter by June 6 for more info and directions. There will be tasty food, games, and fellowship. Let’s kick off the summer!
Women's Ministry Picnic
On Sunday, Sept 20, the women of the church are invited to a BYOLunch picnic after church in Sennott Park around noon. This is a great opportunity to meet someone new, connect with a leader of one of the upcoming Fall Bible studies, and enjoy this lovely September weather. If you can come, please email Eliza Sheffield - an RSVP is appreciated but not necessary. If you're not able to attend but want to get involved, please reach out to Laura Martin at lauraamartin87@gmail.com. Whether you're new or have been at CTK for awhile, we would love to get to know you and help connect (and reconnect!) you with other women at the church.
Women's Evening Bible Study
The evening women's Bible study will resume on Monday, September 21 to start a new study of 1 Timothy and Titus by John Stott. The study will meet every-other Monday evening at 7:30PM on Zoom. Contact Katie Jentoft (katie.jentoft@gmail.com) or Emily Stuntz (emily.debaun@gmail.com) for more information on the study and getting the materials.
Women's Bible Studies
Women’s Bible Studies have resumed for the Fall. The Morning Bible Study will meet on Wednesdays, 9-10:30a, following a new study by Nancy Guthrie “God does his best work with Empty.” The Evening Bible Study will meet every other Monday at 7:30p (next meeting on 10/5) and will be following a study of 1 Timothy and Titus by John Stott. Please contact Kelly Sawyer (Bostonkelly@gmail.com) for the Wednesday morning group and Katie Jentoft (katie.jentoft@gmail.com) or Emily Stuntz (emily.debaun@gmail.com) for the Monday evening group.
Q&A
Last Sunday, the elders hosted a Q&A to further discuss the pastoral transition and the next steps for CTK. A representative from McGowan & Associates was present to help talk through some specific upcoming steps such as the interim process, the vision and discovery process, and more. You can view the recording of that Q&A webinar at ctkcambridge.org/transition at the bottom of the page.
Fourth Fridays
Once upon a time, we had a monthly event called “Fourth Fridays,” where people could gather at a local pub after work to socialize and meet new people. For obvious reasons, that hasn’t been happening for the last 5 months. But this Friday (8/7), there will be a modified “First Friday” event at 7pm, hosted by Rick & Martha Olson on their roof deck in Cambridge. In order to be socially distant, attendance needs to be limited to the first 6 RSVPs. If you would like to attend, please consider your own risk level, please follow all state guidelines, and please RSVP to Martha Olson.
Women's Ministry Book Club
This summer, the women of the church are invited to a summer reading group. We will be reading Austin Channing Brown's book I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness (2018). In this memoir, Brown describes and reflects on her experiences as growing up as a Black Christian female in America. They will meet one more time on Zoom to discuss the book on August 25 at 7:30pm. Please contact Rachel Thrasher with any questions, and contact Morgan Crago if you would like a copy of the book. We hope to see you there!
Q&A
There will be two Zoom Q&A’s for congregants to ask any questions about the reopening process. The first will be TONIGHT Thursday, June 11 at 8pm and the second will be Friday, June 12 at 3pm.
Building Renovations
Now that the sanctuary renovations are complete, the deacons are continuing to plan other repairs and improvements to our church building--and we welcome your input and help! We are holding monthly Zoom meetings to plan and prioritize building work, and anyone in the congregation is welcome to join the discussion (either once or every month). The next meeting is Tuesday, May 11th from 7-8:30pm on Zoom, and topics will include:
selecting a design for a balcony rail extension to improve safety in the sanctuary,
refining the scope of exterior masonry repairs for later this year, and
prioritizing potential HVAC improvements throughout the building.
If would like the Zoom link, or if you’re unable to join the meetings but have thoughts or questions about the building, email us any time at deacons@ctkcambridge.org.
Sunday Volunteers
Every week at CTK, in normal times and now, we serve the Lord and each other by contributing to our corporate worship through various roles. But in these unprecedented times, the staff and leadership of CTK would like to express particular gratitude to the volunteers who have been serving on Sunday mornings these last weeks. With heartfelt thanks, we would like to recognize Tim Carter and Cara Pardo for serving on the music team, as well as Kris Sachsenmeier, Sam Beswick, and A.W. Simmons for running the livestream.
With deference, respect, and mutual love, all those involved on Sunday mornings — staff and volunteers alike — are encouraged to consider their own needs and the needs of their families, and to bow out from service at their discretion. With that in mind, the Pardos have decided that it would be best for their family for Cara to remain home on Sundays. We wanted to announce this in advance so that it wouldn’t be cause for surprise or concern on Sunday morning during the service. Their family is well. We are so grateful for Cara’s service and for Jonathan, Penny, and Maxwell’s sacrifice in doing without her these past five Sunday mornings.
John
Rick Downs will be leading a discussion through the gospel of John via Zoom, on Thursdays at 6:30p, starting TODAY. All are welcome, and those who are new to studying the Bible are particularly encouraged to join. Contact Rick for more information.
Women's Morning Bible study
The Thursday morning Women’s Bible study is on hiatus from its regular study, but they will be meeting online on Wednesdays at 1:30p to read a devotional and pray together. Please contact Kelly Sawyer for more information.
Men's Breakfasts
Every fourth Saturday, there is a Men’s Breakfast in the social hall on from 8-10am. The next one will be on March 28th. Come expecting to be challenged, ready to pray and fellowship with other men in our church. Please contact rickdowns@ctkcambridge.org to RSVP.
Holy Week Dates
Please join us online for a Good Friday service on our YouTube channel at 7:30pm on April 10 as well as an Easter sunrise service via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/210402734) at 6am on April 12. And since we won’t be together for Sunrise breakfast, I’ve included our french toast recipe as well as our egg and cheese strata recipe, in case you’d like to make your own :) And don’t forget the bacon…
A Holy Week / Easter Devotion is available for families. The events leading up to Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection are told through a series of 12 Scripture passages and symbols. Families may watch the video in one sitting on Easter or watch portions over the next several days.
Men's Breakfast Cancelled
CANCELLED: The Mens Breakfast this Saturday, February 22, is cancelled. Join us in March!
Sam Allberry Conference
Hope Fellowship Church is organizing a conference with Sam Allberry on February 7-8 on Singleness in God’s Family. Allberry writes in his book, “Much of what we commonly assume about singleness - that it is primarily about the absence of good things like intimacy, family or meaningful ministry - is either flat-out untrue, or at the very least, shouldn’t be true. To be single, we often think, is to be alone and spiritually hindered. But the Bible paints a very different picture of singleness: it is a positive gift and blessing from God.” Don’t let the title of the conference mislead you, this is for all who are a part of the family of God. All of us who are a part of the family of God need to think better and more biblically about singleness whether we are married or not. We hope that many who are single in Boston will find this conference helpful but also that many who are married will attend and that we will be able to live together more helpfully in the church. You can learn more about the conference and register here.
Congregational Meeting
THIS SATURDAY: CTK All-Church Gathering and Congregational Meeting on Saturday, January 11, 2-4p. This year, consider your holiday baking a practice round for the main event…The First Annual CTK Cupcake Challenge will be held on Saturday, January 11 at 2p in the social hall. No need to bake to join the fun. We’ll also have a coffee bar and a hot chocolate bar. Come in and warm up before the Congregational Meeting at 2:30p and Worship Service and Officer Installation Service at 3p. For more details visit https://www.ctkboston.org/news-events
Theology Reading Group
Join the Theology Reading Group on January 17th as we begin our discussions on The Confessions of Saint Augustine this winter and spring. We meet on Fridays at the Field Pub in Central Square at 4p.
New Women's Bible Study
A new women’s bible study on Ephesians is just starting up. The study will be every-other Monday evening from 6:00-7:15 pm at Caffè Nero in Central Square. The next meeting will be Monday, January 27th. Contact Laura Martin for more information. Additionally, if you are unable to attend the study and would like to do the Ephesians study on your own or with a friend, you can contact Laura about getting a copy John Stott’s Ephesians Study Guide and staying connected with others doing the study.
Andy Crouch at LCA
Lexington Christian Academy is hosting Putting Technology in Its Proper Place: An Evening with Andy Crouch on Thursday, February 13 at 7p . This event is free and open to the public, however, registration is required. This event is geared toward adults.