BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Women's Ministry will be hosting another round of backyard gatherings on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, May 2 for casual fellowship and (hopefully) spring sunshine - this time in the yards of Katie Jentoft and Martha Olson. Please sign up in advance for a time slot. Email office@ctkcambridge.org for the sign up sheet. The sign up is intended to make sure the events stay within city/state guidelines. See you in the yard(s)!
Adult Ed on 4/11
On Sunday, April 11 Ted and Carolyn Turneau, a missionary couple we support, will be visiting us virtually at 9am during the Sunday School hour. If you are able, please plan to attend the Adult Education class that week to hear from the Turneaus, who work as teachers at two different Christian institutions in Prague, Czech Republic. We will be able to hear about the opportunities and challenges of reaching out to students during the pandemic and have the chance to ask questions and pray for them "in person."
Holy Week Schedule w/ Image
Join us for Holy Week services - our Good Friday service will be at 7:30p on April 2 on our Youtube channel; the Sunrise Service will be at 6:15a on April 4 on Zoom, and our regular 10:30a service will stream on Youtube. We are hopeful that the sanctuary renovations will be complete in time for Easter. Assuming they are, the 10:30a service will be both in person and online. In person attendance will be dependent on state gathering guidelines and registration will open the week of March 28.
Communicants' Class
A Communicants Class is starting soon for kids who may be ready to join the church. We are adapting the format this year to a co-teaching model, with parents teaching much of the content at home. Kids will also attend periodic virtual meetings to discuss the material with course teachers and peers. Parents interested in learning more about this class are invited to attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 3 from 8:00-8:45pm on Zoom. Please contact Dana Russell for details and the link to join the meeting.
Women's Backyard Events
Women's Ministry will be hosting backyard gatherings on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21 for a time of fellowship. One gathering will be on Saturday, March 20 from 2-4 pm at Amanda Holley's home in Wakefield. Two gatherings will be on Sunday, March 21 from 2-4 pm at the homes of Catherine Cook in Somerville and Laura Martin in Belmont. Please sign up for a time slot and get the information for the locations on this google spreadsheet. The sign up is intended to make sure the events stay within city/state allowed guidelines. Looking forward to seeing many of you!
Congregational Meeting (2/21)
Congregational Meeting Announcement: The Session of CTK has called a congregational meeting for Sunday February 21 at 7pm - 8pm. The purpose of the meeting is (1.) to release Pastor Nathan Barczi as a pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church* and (2.) to present a communication plan for the Five Year Plan. There will be a prayer meeting directly preceding the congregation meeting, using the same link, starting at 6:30pm. The Zoom link will be emailed to members, or you can request it by emailing office@ctkcambridge.org.
*Because Nathan is an Associate Pastor the congregation must vote to release him from his current role at the church. Nathan has accepted a call to be a pastor on the staff of CTK Newton. He is also currently serving as the director of the Octet Collaborative.
Pastoral Search Prayer Time
The Pastoral Search Committee is well on its way, but for all its considerations and deliberations, we need prayer more than anything. Paula Sachsenmeier and Laura Bullock have started Prayer Visits with our Community Groups to encourage all of us to join in regular prayer for the pastor and path God has in mind for our church family. If you’re not part of a Community Group, or if you missed the prayer visit for your CG, there will also be an additional prayer meeting on Zoom on February 23rd at 7pm. Please contact Laura to get the link. Let’s turn Psalm 127:1 into a prayer of dependence on God and anticipation of His faithfulness, by crying out: ‘MAY the LORD build OUR house…!’
Giving Thanks for the Barczis
The Barczi family will be transitioning to CTK Newton in March after 15+ years at CTK Cambridge. Please join us on Saturday, February, 27 at 6:30pm for an online celebration of the Barczis and their ministry at CTK-Cambridge. We will spend the evening hearing and sharing stories of our time with the members of the Barczi family. Consider bringing a brief memory or anecdote to encourage the Barczis and our church community. Contact the maoffice for the Zoom link.
Discovering CTK
Discovering CTK is a class for those interested in learning more about our church and denomination (PCA) and what it means to become a member. The next class will be offered the first weekend in October, and registration is now open. Please email laura@ctkcambridge.org with any questions.
Pumpkin Carving
CTK's Great Pumpkin Event This church-wide pumpkin carving and decorating event will be on Saturday afternoon, October 16th at Arsenal Park in Watertown from 2-5:30pm. All are welcome for food, fun, contests and prizes! Bring your own pumpkin to carve from 2-4:30 (tools will be provided) or bring your already carved pumpkin for judging at 4:30 (there will be several different categories and prizes)! Hot dogs and chips served from 4p - 5p and mini pumpkin decorating for all throughout the entire afternoon. Please email dana@ctkcambridge.org if you have questions.
Christmas Eve Instructions
Join us tomorrow night at 6pm for our Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols service. You can find the bulletin for the service here. The service will be over a Zoom call with a shared screen, so we recommend updating your Zoom app so that you’re able to have a side-by-side view. Read further instructions about side-by-side view here. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87588933067. Please feel free to share this link with family and friends, but please do not post it to social media or other online platforms.
Candle Pick up
Join us on Christmas Eve for a Lessons & Carols service held online. While this service will be different than years past, one tradition we will be maintaining is the lighting of candles for the last two songs of the service. If you would like a candle for the service, we have some available for pick up or delivery - you can sign up for a candle here by Sunday the 20th.
Starlight Banquet
On Saturday, December 12, CTK is glad to let Starlight ministries use our church for their Annual Christmas Banquet. Starlight ministries is a branch of the Emmanuel Gospel Center and works to alleviate homelessness in Boston, and we have helped with their Christmas events in the past. Given the current situation, this will be a drop-by event where guests can come get a packaged meal and a gift. Starlight staff will use our kitchen to cook the food, but will need some help packing things and greeting the guests! Please consider signing up for some of the volunteer slots available on this spreadsheet.
Christmas Concert
Celebrate the Advent season with singing at CTK’s Eighth Annual Christmas Concert, this year online! Come join CTK’s talented musicians for an evening of festive performances and rousing caroling on Saturday, December 12, at 6:30pm. Check the Reader or contact laura@ctkcambridge.org for the link.
Discovering CTK
New to CTK? We recognize these are strange times to be new at a church. We would love to help you connect to our various ministries. You can email Laura Bullock, the church administrator, with any general questions you might have. But in particular, we would like to draw your attention to our Discovering CTK class, for those who would like to learn more about the church and our denomination. Our plan this fall is to do the class over 4 Saturdays on Zoom, from 9-10:30am (10/17, 10/24, 10/31, and 11/7). If you would like to attend but that time doesn’t work for you, please let us know.
Fifth Friday
In the absence of our Fourth Friday get-togethers from pre-COVID days, Rick & Martha Olson are hosting a “Fifth Friday” event on their roof deck on Friday, October 30th at 7pm. Because of social distancing constraints, attendance needs to be limited, but you can sign up at https://doodle.com/poll/txa9di3xm9v7nkuz for a certain time slot(s) between 7p and 10p. Appetizers and drinks provided, but those who prefer to bring their own food/beer/etc. are welcome to do so. For questions, please contact Martha Olson.
High School Event
The high school youth meet up that was scheduled for Sunday, November 1 is being postponed until November 8th because of weather. On Sunday, November 8 at noon the high school youth will be meeting up (socially distanced) at Sennott Park near the church to talk about plans and ideas for youth ministry this year. We invite students in grades 9-12 to join us to give input and fellowship together. Parents are welcome to stay but not required. More details to come. Contact Lydia Carter with questions.
Work Day
Even though we are not gathering in our normal capacity, the church building still requires some TLC. If you would be comfortable attending a masked work day at the church, please save the date: Saturday, October 17th. More details to follow. Please RSVP to laura@ctkcambridge.org or contact deacons@ctkcambridge.org with any questions.
Middle School Gathering
On Sunday, November 1 at noon the high school youth will be meeting up (socially distanced) at Sennott Park near the church to talk about plans and ideas for youth ministry this year. We invite students in grades 9-12 to join us to give input and fellowship together. Parents are welcome to stay but not required. More details to come. Contact Lydia Carter with questions.
Women's Ministry Picnic
On Sunday, October 18, the women of the church are invited to a BYOLunch picnic after church in Sennott Park around noon. For those who were able to attend our meet-up in September, you may remember meeting new friends, reconnecting with familiar faces, and - importantly - ZERO occasions of joining in a conversation only to find yourself on mute. We expect more of that goodness again. NEW this time: We plan to spend a few minutes in conversation and prayer as a group. We hope you can join us! (@ Teens, you too!!)
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.