This fall, Children’s Worship classes that meet during the service will be extended through Grade 5. The date this change will take place in September will be communicated to families in the coming weeks. In the meantime to help us with planning, we ask that parents please sign up their children (by Aug 31) to indicate their intent to attend classes for the upcoming school year using this link. Children will continue to be dismissed from the service just before the sermon and return just prior to the Lord's Supper. On the sign-up, you may also express interest in having supervision for children available during Adult Ed (from 9:15-10:15am).
Deacons
A major fire at an apartment building in Chelsea last week displaced over a dozen families. The city has temporarily sheltered them in a hotel, but they may be forced to leave next week. While La Colaborativa, a local community service organization, is working to extend their stay, the families are desperate to find other housing options to avoid being turned out on the street or forced to find space in shelters. If anyone at CTK has extra room in their homes where they could offer space to one of these families on a short-term basis, please inform the deacons at deacons@ctkcambridge.org, who will look into connecting you with La Colaborativa.
Winter Hill Roommate
Two female professionals seeking one female professional roommate to share a beautiful, sunny, and spacious 4-bedroom and 2-bathroom apartment in Winter Hill, Somerville. The room is available beginning early September. The move–in date is negotiable. Rent is $750/month, month-to-month agreement, and first/last month is due at move-in. Utilities are gas and electricity, which vary in cost depending on the season. Please contact Angela Lee at 347-462-6228 to arrange for a meeting and tour. Photos available upon request.
Children's Ministry Plans for Fall
We invite the congregation to an Information & Listening Session TONIGHT, Thursday, August 15 from 7:30-8:30pm on Zoom regarding the new direction and plans that the Children’s Ministry Leadership Team has been working on for the Fall. You can find more details of that plan here. The two main points are first, that we intend to prioritize teaching of all children through Grade 5 during the worship service. Because of limited volunteer and staff bandwidth, Sunday School classes for Grades K-5 would no longer be offered before the service (9:15-10:15 am) in order to shift resources for serving our children to the worship service. Secondly, we plan to introduce new curriculum materials in all children’s classes in the Fall. We realize this is a significant shift for children’s ministry, one that may raise questions and also may impact other ministry areas (e.g. Adult Ed and Youth Ministry). As we navigate these changes, we would like to hear input and feedback from the congregation, so please do join us tonight
Guest Preachers on August 4 & 11
Please note that Pastor Travis will be away from July 30 to August 9. David Augustine, RUF Campus Minister at the University of Connecticut, preached last Sunday, and Erik Larsen, PCA Pastor, will be preaching on August 11.
Children's Worship Volunteers
Are you interested in serving children and families at CTK? Openings are available this fall to help teach our Children’s Worship classes during the service (the sermon time). Volunteers are needed to serve as lead teachers or classroom assistants about 2-3 times per quarter. Curriculum is provided in advance (with some lesson prep needed). This is a great opportunity to build relationships with the children in our congregation. Please reach out to Dana Russell if you are interested or to learn more.
Congrats!
Congratulations to Chet and Kara Bickhart, the proud parents of their son Charles (Charlie) Brackett Bickhart, born Sunday, July 21.
Roommate/Apartment Needed
Katie Baldwin attended CTK last summer when she was in Boston for an internship, and is now returning to Boston to work full-time in software engineering. She is looking for a September 1 lease, either to join an existing apartment/roommate group, or find roommates with whom to find a place. She is hoping for female Christian roommates who are interested in prioritizing community and hospitality. She is looking to live in Cambridge, accessible to the Red Line. Please reach out (kgbaldwin2001@gmail.com) if you’d be interested or know of any opportunities!
An Update On Music Ministry Staffing
We want to let you know that, due to budget constraints and current need for the role, the Session has eliminated the role of music director at CTK. Instead, we are moving to a lead musician role, with responsibilities primarily for leading music during Sunday services. We have not yet begun a formal hiring process for this new role, but if you know of anyone who may be interested in the position, please have them reach out to jobs@ctkcambridge.org. If you have questions about this update, you can reach out to the Session at elders@ctkcambridge.org. Below please find a note to the congregation from former music director Amanda Holley.
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Dear CTK community,
It has been one of my greatest joys to lead this congregation in song, as we gave voice to our prayers and praises together. For almost 18 years, I had the privilege of worshiping, serving, celebrating, grieving, growing, praying, and doing life with the members of this church community while leading its music ministry. I am deeply saddened that my time at CTK-Cambridge has come to a close, but I am praying that the congregation will continue to sing the truths of who God is and what he has done, giving him all the honor and glory.
Amanda
If you would like to reach out to Amanda, you can contact her at amandarholley@gmail.com.
Women's Book Club
Women of CTK, we’ve finished our book club for the summer, but we’ll be doing a field trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum on Thursday, August 22nd. If you are interested in joining, email Sarah Goodman at ssgoodman617@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Congregational Meeting
Reminder: The members and regular attenders of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are invited to the annual congregational meeting this Sunday, July 14th. Lunch will be provided before the meeting, directly after the service. Meeting will start by 1pm.
Pathways Healthcare
Pathways Healthcare provides hospice care locally, and they are looking for one or two volunteers to visit their patients on a regular basis. Becoming a hospice volunteer does require an application and some additional documentation but it is an extremely flexible and rewarding opportunity. You can learn more here or contact Meaghan Chapman with any questions.
Park Street Schools
Job Opportunities: Park Street School, located in the heart of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, offers a continuous, integrated, Christian-based learning environment to students from toddler to grade six. They are currently looking to hire for the 2024-2025 school year. For a list of job openings, click here, or contact Amanda Wang with any questions.
Hospitality Slides
During the last sermon series on Hospitality, we had a workshop at the church and on Zoom to talk practically about how to grow in hospitality as individuals and as a community. You can find the slides for that workshop here.
Adult Ed
Adult Ed class: Pulitzer-prize winning author Marilynne Robinson has written a new non-fiction book called Reading Genesis, which will serve as the basis for our summer adult education series. We’ll read Genesis stories together and use excerpts from the book as inspiration for the discussion. If you’d like a copy of the book, please email laura@ctkcambridge.org. Class continues this week, July 7th.
Summer RUF
All college students in town for the summer are welcome to join our Summer RUF meetings, Wednesdays from 7:30-9pm in the Fellowship Hall at Christ the King. We will meet weekly for singing, fellowship, and discussion of Christian calling, through July 17th. Contact Serena Jones for more information (serena.jones@ruf.org).
July 4th
Join us for our annual July 4th Picnic at Sennott Park on Broadway in Cambridge, at 4:30p on Thursday the 4th! Invite friends and neighbors! Head to the fireworks afterwards, if you're feeling brave! Please sign up here to bring something or to help with set up or clean up. Pulled pork sandwiches provided by church, as well as plate/cutlery/etc. We especially are looking for help with set-up/clean-up. Hope to see you there!
Congrats!
Congratulations to Tanja and Tex Adkins, the proud parents of their daughter Eloise Philippa Adkins, born Saturday June 15.
Youth Ministry Volunteers
Being part of the Youth Ministry is not only an important way of connecting with the youth (grades 6-12) and showing God’s love, it can be so much fun! There are many ways that you can get involved. Please check out this sign-up and select any roles you’d be interested in learning more about. Feel free to email youth@ctkcambridge.org or speak directly to Gi Yoon-Huang at church on Sundays with any questions. We look forward to teaming with you!
Men's Bible Study
The Friday morning men's Bible study is starting a new series looking at passages where God makes covenants with humanity, from the Garden of Eden to the new covenant in Jesus' blood. They meet 6:15-7:15am every Friday here on Zoom for fellowship, reading, reflection, and discussion. No preparation required, and visitors are welcome! Contact Andy (astuntz@gmail.com) with questions.