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Dear faithful People of Christ the King Lutheran Church:

Today is Memorial Day. Amidst all the other ways we observe this day, and in this time when so many live, work, and serve in harm’s way, I invite you to pray this prayer:  

Almighty God, you are our strength and our shield. We give you thanks for the members of our armed forces past and present, and especially for those who have died while serving. May their sacrifices serve the cause of peace, and may our nation be ever grateful for their service. With your wisdom and strength guide our military’s leaders and give to all people a desire for justice and peace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

(Prayer for Memorial Day, Sundays and Seasons)

This week our parish staff will say good-bye to a faithful colleague as Maribel Haro leaves us and enters seminary. Maribel has served at Christ the King Lutheran Church for two years and for the past 10 months has served as Director of Communications, which means that our website, weekly emails, This Week and our Saturday, Sunday and holy days liturgical bulletins have been under her watchful care. We rejoice with her as, hearing a call from God and beginning seminary studies as a full-time student beginning next week. As she has been a blessing to us, we pray she will be a blessing to those God calls her to serve.

Later this week, Maribel will be training our next Director of Communications, Diego Amezcua, a very recent graduate in Communications and a member of our sister congregation, St. James Santiago Apóstol Lutheran Church. Diego is an active member of that congregation, a valued volunteer in their Family Life Center and a leader in their Camp Hope program. We give thanks that God has enabled us to quickly fill this vital staff position!

The festival portion of our year concludes this week as we celebrate the Holy Trinity on May 30 and 31. After Sunday’s 11:00 am liturgy, our choir will begin their well-earned summer hiatus. Also, at 11:00 am, the Rev. Dr. David A. Brondos from Mexico City – whose mission we support – will be our guest preacher. And, beginning next Sunday, “Stations of Creation” will be displayed in our nave with spiritual resources to strengthen us in our commitment to care of creation.

Peace and Joy – and Courage!

Mandy

Amandus J. Derr

Interim Senior Pastor