With the goal of reaching everyone in our congregation the Generosity Team, with encouragement from pastors and several members, has decided to have our first ever “Phone-a-thon”. We will be attempting to reach all members who have not returned their pledge cards by phone. A script will be provided for each person making phone calls. If no one answers a message will be left. We will only be asking for pledge cards to be returned, no personal financial information will be r

Change is good and there seems to be a lot of that happening at CtK. It's exciting and yet change can be hard. So, we pray for peace and patience as we move forward. The search for a new pastor and bookkeeper. New partners joining the church. Visitors who want to know about CtK. Reaching out to the community. Spreading the Gospel. The list goes on but you get the idea. All part of growing as a body of Christ. How do we stay connected? How are we becoming more visible in our

After the horrifying 9/11 attacks, two friends wanted to make a difference for others. They decided to make lap quilts and donate them to cancer patients at St. Elizabeth Hospital and Appleton Medical Center. It’s now 25 years later and this ministry continues. These care and comfort quilts are donated to local hospitals, dialysis centers and hospice for patients going through cancer treatments, kidney dialysis and end of life care. We have a group of people who meet month

John 1:39 - “Come,” Jesus said, “you will see.” Luke 8:39 - ‘Go and tell what God has done for you.” Greetings CtK family, What an exciting year of partnership we had at CtK. Thanks to your generosity together we have accomplished so many wonderful things. We provided support for our youth with their backpacking trip. We have an active fellowship weekly following worship. We installed a beautiful new electric sign. We launched the “Feed my Sheep” program to support a l

Crafty Friends was started after Pastor Judy Deckert and Deanna Gjerald spent a great weekend at a craft event in Pastor’s former parish Grace Lutheran in Appleton. They had so much fun, they decided to establish a chapter at their own church, Christ the King Lutheran Church of Combined Locks. It was decided to include all congregation members, male and female, as well as their families, friends, and neighbors. Everyone was invited to spend the day in fellowship while sharin

We are women who gather once a week to share our thoughts and feelings about books, videos, the Bible, and life. We have been gathering here at CtK for more than 25 years (I think!). Part of each Saturday morning is filled with prayers for the world and others in our lives. Sometimes they are prayers of thanks and praise, sometimes prayers of concern for others and sometimes prayers for our own needs. Most of our meeting time includes discussion of the topic we are studying.

Youth workers unite as partners in God's mission, called to equip young people to live as bold disciples of Jesus in church and community. In the ELCA, this unity is strengthened through shared training, mutual support, and justice-centered ministry that trusts the Holy Spirit to ignite passion and courage in leaders and youth alike. Youth workers "unite" by sharing Christ's love together, forming teams that nurture young people's faith through service, leadership, and commun

It started as a youth group fundraiser that the youth put on for several years. When the group no longer sponsored the sale, many of the vendors were wishing to continue so some adults took over. The Craft Fair was intended to be a way of showing the congregation what talents the members have and let people know who to go to if you need help with a craft or would like to learn a new skill. Another way to connect. Before Covid, we had over 30 vendors. Since then, our numbers h

There has been a hint of autumn in the air these past few days. Children are excitedly (or perhaps begrudgingly!) shopping for new school supplies, and families are doing their best to savor the last fleeting moments of summer vacation. Here at Christ the King, we're preparing for a busy and exciting new ministry year. Program calendars are being finalized, classrooms and supply closets are getting reorganized, and we're learning everything we can about next summer’s ELCA Na

By the end of August many folks are winding up summer travel, while others are already back to school. I sometimes think about the visual where the motion of a person jumping is broken into fifty or more images. The person leaps off the ground forward, but then fifty additional images leap in succession. The first image lands, and then one-by-one the others arrive. Several solitaire card games in a line move piles or decks of cards the same way. The motion from August to Sept

Why We Sing Together There is something truly remarkable that happens when a room full of people lifts their voices together in song. It’s more than just a musical tradition—it is a deeply spiritual practice that unites our hearts, roots us in Scripture, and creates an atmosphere where God’s presence is celebrated. When we sing together as a congregation, we aren't just passive listeners; we are active participants in worship. Congregational singing reminds us that no matter

At the first meeting of the Doughnut Whole Gang in September 2019, Todd Wulf asked, “this summer, I noticed that the lights on CTK’s sign are not working. Could we use our Wholey Dough weekly offering to pay for repairs?” Todd asked Jim Weyers if he could repair it, while Todd cleaned the background, and repainted the black letters. At our next meeting Todd commented “this sign is over 20 years old and is showing its age. Could we check if we could raise funds for a new e

Dear members in Christ, I have never written a blog before so please forgive any rambling. I had the privilege and honor to lead our group of intrepid youth and adults on our backpacking trip to Christikon Bible Camp in McLeod, Montana. Pastor Dennis mentioned in a sermon that at one point or another, everyone is alone in the wilderness like Jesus was during his temptation. That wilderness could be a loss of a loved one, job related, health struggles, or even spiritual stru

A video study last fall that began with no expectations has turned into a group of people who continue to want to have Faith conversations together. They decided to name themselves “Faith & Friends”, and would love to have you join for our new study starting this September. It's a 6 week video series called “A Purpose Driven Life.” Where the idea of another Bible study began… One of the ways God has stretched my faith was by leading me to step out of my comfort zone and invit

Being new to Christ the King, I felt welcomed from the first day. Everyone I meet has a smile and kind words to share. Transitions can be challenging and while CtK awaits a new pastor, the strength that members of this church exemplify assures me I'm in the right place. The role as Communications Coordinator is something I am passionate about and where I can use the gifts God has given me. My background is in theatre management as the administrator for Jubricosa, a non-profit

Attention: Women of Christ the King (and friends)! Do you find yourself feeling disconnected from people in your life? Maybe you feel stressed by all the changes in our world, or maybe you want to take some time to relax, meet other women, and just hang out? Come and see what has been put together by some caring women from our synod to help us learn, share our faith, connect with others and just have some fun. You are invited to attend the WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Luth

As a community of faith, we are called to love our neighbors not just in words, but through our actions. For many families, putting food on the table and affording basic everyday essentials remains a daily struggle. We can make a tangible difference. We are collecting donations for the Dale/Hortonville community food pantry, and your generosity can help bring comfort and relief to families in need. This will be an ongoing collection, and items will be delivered periodically a

This summer, children are invited to discover what it means to love boldly, help generously, and welcome others with open hearts at our upcoming “Who Is My Neighbor?” Vacation Bible School. At the center of this year’s theme is the Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25–37, where Jesus teaches that being a neighbor is not about where someone lives, what they look like, or whether they are just like us. A true neighbor is the one who shows mercy, crosses boundaries, and

The Season of Harvest: Living in God's Abundance "The harvest is plentiful..." — Matthew 9:37 There is something special about harvest season. Fields that were once planted with small seeds become filled with crops ready to be gathered. Farmers understand that harvest does not happen overnight. It comes after months of preparation, faith, patience, and hard work. The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. Throughout Scripture, God uses the imagery of planting, sowing,

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” This was our Psalm for last Sunday and it got me thinking. Making a “joyful noise” when we gather for worship is easy at CTK. Coming “into his presence with singing” on a Sunday morning, no problem (we are blessed with an amazing music program). But, but what about the rest of the week? How do we remain “joyful” when a loved one is ill? When we are strugglin