Christ the King Episcopal Church welcomes all people, wherever they are on their spiritual journey. We seek to grow in love for God and our human family, to look for the face of Christ in all whom we meet, and to promote justice and peace in the world.

ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

A PDF version of the report for the Annual Meeting held on January 10th is now available by clicking here.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER

Please come to our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper on February 16th.  The youth and adults who will be going on the summer mission trip to Kentucky will be cooking and serving delicious pancakes, sausage, applesauce, coffee and juice as a last celebration before Lent begins the next day. We will also be burning palms that evening for use on Ash Wednesday.
We will be serving dinner from 5:30pm-7pm.  Please come and bring your friends.  If you would like to help set up, cook or serve, please sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway (in Episcospeak: the narthex).

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday is on February 17th.  We will be offering services at 7am and 12:30pm, as well as an ecumenical evening service (details to follow).

Ash Wednesday is a contemplative, penitent service that reminds us that as human beings, we are frail mortals, dependent on God for life, sustenance, forgiveness and renewal. It marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period for prayer, contemplation, and a deepening of our relationship with God.

RETREAT AT HOLY CROSS MONASTERY

February 19 to 21 (Friday to Sunday)
Lenten Retreat: Christ Who Arouses
Led by The Rev. Martin Smith

"Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." (Eph. 5:14) This verse from an early Christian hymn draws us into reflection on the ways in which the Living Christ shows his desire to awaken us, enliven us, and bring us into the daylight of awareness. In this Lenten retreat we will meditate on the experience of being aroused from denial, avoidance and numbness to live the awakened life. Martin Smith is a priest well known throughout the Episcopal Church as a writer and retreat leader. He currently serves as Senior Associate Rector on the staff of St Columba's parish, Washington, D.C.
Fee $250 Deposit $80

The Mid-Hudson chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship

is sponsoring

The Prince of Peace:

a Discussion on Just War and Pacifism

President Obama recently used the theological term – a “Just War” - in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech regarding his decision to send more troops into Afghanistan. Our program will attempt to answer the following questions.

1. When, if ever, is the use of military force morally justifiable?
2. How do people of faith respond to this question in light of theological principles, tradition and the world situation today?

Join us on Sunday, February 28th

at St. John’s Episcopal Church

207 Albany Avenue

Kingston

from 3 to 5 pm

Our speakers are:

The Rev. Dr. Bruce Chilton

Professor of Religion at Bard College; Executive Director of the Institute of Advanced Theology and noted author

Deacon Tom Cornell

founder of the Catholic Peace Fellowship; member of the Catholic Worker Movement; and colleague of Dorothy Day

The Rev. Tom Margrave

Graduate of West Point and Vietnam War veteran;

Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Cornwall

A good-will offering will be taken and refreshments served following the program.

For more information, call 845-331-2252

LENT PROGRAM ON DEATH AND DYING

A three session adult education program sponsored by the Pastoral Care Committee will be held during Lent on Wednesday evenings: March 10th, 17th and March 24th at 6:30pm. The evening will begin with a simple soup supper, and then various speakers will address topics such as the theology of death, planning funerals, green alternatives to traditional burial, etc. Pondering one’s mortality, and also our hope in the resurrection is a great way to prepare for Easter, so please join us.

LENT EVENSONG AND SILENT AUCTION

The choir will once again offer a Lenten evensong, on March 14th at 5pm, to be followed by a wine and cheese reception and a silent auction to raise funds for choir robes.  Please come and be uplifted by the beautiful, contemplative service of evensong, while also supporting our dedicated choir.

RETREAT AT HOLY CROSS MONASTER

March 27 (Saturday)

Be Still And Know That I Am God - An Introduction to Centering Prayer
Led by Bruce Gardiner, Contemplative Outreach - Hosted by Br. Charles n/OHC

Based in the Christian contemplative heritage, and most particularly in the anonymous 14th century English classic, The Cloud of Unknowing, Centering Prayer is a method of response to God's invitation to enter into loving intimacy and ever-deepening relationship. The practice prepares us to be open, available, and present to God's action and presence in the innermost recesses of our being. It facilitates a process of interior transformation initiated by God and leading, as we consent, to divine union. Centering Prayer has been given its contemporary expression by Trappist abbot, Fr. Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O., who also founded Contemplative Outreach in order to bring the riches of the Christian contemplative heritage to a lay audience beyond the cloister.

"An Introduction to Centering Prayer" will consist of four brief talks and two periods of centering prayer. The talks explore prayer as relationship, the method of centering prayer, and its fruits. Also there will be ample time for responding to participants' questions.

After the introductory workshop, there will be six weekly follow-up sessions, consisting of a period of centering prayer and a short video by Fr. Thomas. These videos were created to answers questions that arise as one begins the practice of entering prayer.

Bruce Gardiner is the local contact person for Contemplative Outreach in the Albany and upper Hudson Valley area. Bruce has been commissioned by Contemplative Outreach and Fr. Thomas Keating to teach Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. Bruce is currently affiliated with the Princeton-based consultancy Kepner-Tregoe, Inc.
Fee: $35; Deposit: $35

Parish Information Sheets

We gather dates for the Prayers of the People from our “Parish Information Sheets” which are on the shelf outside of Alison’s office.  Please fill one out, and keep us updated on new phone numbers, email addresses, and any corrections. Thank you.