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Dear Faithful People of Christ the King Lutheran Church,

Happy New (Church) Year!

“If you have ears, hear!” (Matthew 13:9)

Hearing Matthew’s Gospel nearly every Sunday until November 22, 2026, the above phrase, a favorite of Matthew’s, will be repeated several times. I believe that one of the most important gifts church staff members should have is the willingness to listen to the congregation we serve and respond accordingly. Our staff does this consistently. The schedule of services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day listed below, which is different from the schedule of the past two years, is the result of careful listening and response. At our Rice Village campus, that schedule is:

CHRISTMAS EVE HOLY COMMUNION

4:00 pm           German Language Holy Communion Service with candle lighting

6:00 pm           Holy Communion with Carols and candle lighting

9:00 pm           Holy Communion with choir, carols, and candle lighting

CHRISTMAS DAY

11:00 am         The Christ Mass: Holy Communion celebrating Christ’s Nativity

Please note the changes from the last two years.

In 2023 and 2024, the earliest Christmas Eve service, which was billed as a service for children and families, was at 2:00 pm. Since then, our staff learned that those in our congregation who work in medical facilities are unable to bring their children to worship at 2:00 pm since they are needed at work; and so we have returned that service to 6:00 pm which also aligns with the needs of many in our congregation for whom the 6:00 pm liturgy is integral to their family tradition.

Similarly, the later Christmas Eve service for this year is not at 8:00 pm as in the two years before, but at 9:00 pm. Again, many in our congregation have long-standing family traditions and an 8:00 pm service rushed them through those traditions.

Both the 6:00 and 9:00 pm liturgies will be full Christ-mass services concluding with the singing of “Silent Night” by candlelight (The 4:00 pm German service will conclude in the same way). At 6:00 pm, our children and youth will have special roles. At 9:00 pm, the choir will lead our hymns and praises.

Christmas Day at 11:00 am will also be a full and festive Christ Mass, mass in this case meaning holy communion.

Please note now that there will be Contemplative Communion on Saturday, December 27 at 6:00 pm (the usual time), but on Sunday, December 28, there will be but one liturgy at 10:00 am and will include a baptism as well as Holy Communion.

At our Memorial Drive campus, all three Christmas Eve services will be in the Fellowship Hall. The former Sanctuary is not usable because of a myriad of structural issues.

Our partners in the Norwegian Seafarers will hold Christmas Eve services in Norwegian at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm with a meal following the later service.

At 11:00 am on the morning of Christmas Eve, our congregation will celebrate a Christmas Eve service of holy communion in English, also in the Fellowship Hall.

After carefully listening to our members at both campuses, our staff made schedule recommended to our Worship and Music Committee who, in turn, made several adjustments. They, in turn, made recommendations to our Congregation Council who, on our behalf, set this schedule. We all pray that these adjustments based on our congregation’s input will allow all our members, family, neighbors, and friends to celebrate with joy God’s Gift, Jesus Christ, to our weary world.

Peace and Joy – and Courage!

Mandy

Amandus J. Derr

Interim Pastor