Building Committee Updates

The Building Committee sent out a letter to the congregation last week with updates about the renovation project.  Most notably, work will begin shortly on reinforcing the trusses in the roof.  Scaffolding will go up soon for that, and the work is projected to take about three months.  For more information, and how this impacts the use of the building, you can find the letter at ctkcambridge.org/renovations.  Questions about the project can be directed to building@ctkcambridge.org and questions about how this will impact Sunday mornings can be directed to office@ctkcambridge.org.

Housing Needed

Housing Needed: Hannah is a recent Covenant College graduate who is coming to Boston at the end of January to start working in Somerville. She is looking for a place to rent/stay for a month or two while she gets her bearings. She is happy to sublease or pay rent if there is someone who has space. Her contact information is Hannah.Groenendyk@gmail.com or phone: 423-660-1920.

Arts Cohort

For those working in a creative arts field (painting, film, music, writing, etc.), join us for the next Boston Fellows Arts Cohort coming this winter (February 16-March 30). Through an 8-week curated curriculum, discussions will address the integration of faith and art under the categories of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. The Thursday evening gatherings will include readings, podcasts, short films, music and visual arts offerings concluding in a final dinner and art-share evening. There will also be a Teaching Saturday on Saturday, March 11 at 9am with guest speaker Bruce Herman, painter, Professor of Art (retired), Gordon College MA. Apply Here Scroll down to the bottom of the page for payment and application (deadline February 2) Tuition $100. Questions? Contact Lydia or Paula

Soccer Nights

Volunteers Needed: Soccer Nights (soccernights.org) is a low-cost summer evening soccer clinic in Central Square that seeks to promote athletic skill, leadership development, and citywide unity in neighborhoods throughout Greater Boston. They are running a program mid-June for 5 evenings in the Cambridge area for grade-school-aged kids and they are looking for volunteers! Anyone can volunteer, even if you don’t have prior soccer experience. You also don’t need to be there all five evenings (though preferred). We’ll be running our volunteer training with two options. We’ll walk through the flow of soccer nights, volunteer responsibilities, and teach volunteer coaches and assistants the drills we’ll run the kids through. Come ready to run around and have fun! Click here to sign up to help with 2023 Central Square Soccer Nights! Deadline for signing up is Sunday, May 21st, 11:59pm. They expect to have 150+ kids, with 50+ volunteers across various churches in the wider Boston area If you’re interested in helping out, please contact soccernights1@gmail.com.

2023 Getaway

There is still some space open at the Winter Getaway, taking place January 27 thru January 29! Register for a “Wait List” spot, and Laura will be in touch about potential sleeping arrangements. We also have a “Day Only” option if you’re unable to stay overnight. Visit ctkcambridge.org/getaway for more information and to register. Please note, private rooms are now full, but there is some space in the bunkhouses. Scholarships are available — we don’t want cost to keep anyone from coming!

A Note from Pastor Clyde

Dear CTK Family,

Valerie and I are deeply grateful for the opportunity to worship with you and serve with you over the past ten months. We have made some great memories with you. We are very excited about your future. It is as bright as the promises of God.

My encouragement to you is to continue to grow exponentially in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love this exhortation from Dane Ortlund.

Do you want to grow in Christ? Never graduate beyond the gospel. Move ever deeper into the gospel. Boom.

Even before I came to CTK, I experienced the affection of Christ Jesus for you all. I will continue to hold CTK in my heart and I will pray that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment. Paul's words from Philippians 1 capture my experience with you.

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Shalom, Clyde

PS 305 days until Christmas. 🎅

CTK Softball

Congratulations to the CTK Cicadas — our summer church softball team — for winning the ‘Presbyterian show-down’ vs. Citylife. We started strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They managed to tie the game 2-2, but we responded and pulled ahead, reaching a 6-2 lead. However, they caught up, resulting in a tied score of 6-6 going into the last inning. In a thrilling finish, we scored two final runs and held them off, securing a hard-fought 8-6 victory. Every run was scored by someone different, so it was a real team effort!

Christmas Eve & Day

Join us on Christmas Eve at 4pm for a family-friendly service of Lessons and Carols. Invite friends and neighbors as we read through the Christmas story, from Genesis through the Gospels and sing Christmas hymns that celebrate the coming of our Lord. Please note, there is no childcare available during this service, but the upstairs nursery and social hall will be open to children and their parents as needed.

Deacons' Fund Offering

Please note, our Sunday service on Christmas Day will be at 11am and will be a shorter service.

Given the abridged order of service on Christmas Day, the December Deacons’ Fund Offering will not appear as part of the day’s liturgy but instead be taken up entirely online. If contributing to the Deacons’ Fund is part of your giving routine—or even if you are a first-time giver—you may do so at any time between now and the end of December here: https://ctkcambridge.churchcenter.com/giving/to/cambridge-am-deacons-fund.

Men's Bible Study

Looking for a New Year's resolution? The Friday morning men's Bible study will begin a study of Galatians starting January 6th, and we're shifting back by 15 minutes so you don't have to set your alarm before 6! Join us 6:15-7:15am here on Zoom for fellowship, reading, reflection, and discussion. Contact Andy (astuntz@gmail.com) with questions.

skiing

Do you cross-country ski, or are you interested in learning how? A group of women from CTK is planning a 2-night trip to New Hampshire the weekend of February 18 (President's Day weekend). The trip will include ski lessons for anyone interested, a day skiing beautiful trails, possible ice skating or snow-shoeing, and shared meals. The cost of the trip is TBD based on lodging (VRBO-type options) and group numbers, but will likely be around $250-300 (ski rental and lesson included) plus a meal or two on the road. Carpooling will be available. To secure your spot, we'll need a non-refundable $100 deposit by Dec. 18. Contact Katy Carter (katycar@gmail.com) with questions or to sign up!

Prattville Gallery

Do you or your neighbors, coworkers, and friends have any New Year's Eve plans? If you and yours are free that evening, please join Rosemary Boyle on***Saturday, Dec 31th at 7pm,***  to celebrate The Origin of the World with work by Justin AugspurgJoanna MuehleisenStephen ThrasherPaula Sachsenmeier, and others (Address: 42 Nichols St, Chelsea MA). The celebration starts at 7pm and it’s like a museum, you can walk through at your own pace and leave whenever you’d like. Only difference is all of the artists are still living and most will be there. It’s a big honor and encouragement for artists to have people give the gift of their attention to the work and ask questions and discuss (or just look for more than a minute!). There are no questions that are off limits. The event will not have any programming/talks etc. Just time to look at the work. Requests to visit the "museum" outside public events, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Rosemary  1:1.