Dear CTK family,
We continue to rejoice and marvel at what the Lord has done over these months as we have awaited his provision for a new pastor. God has been extraordinarily good, and the church has been incredibly patient as we have moved forward from Rick's faithful leadership into a new season of ministry. By his strength we’ve endured, especially in light of the challenges of the pandemic, and the church continues to grow and strengthen. We benefited greatly from pastors Nathan and Omar who filled the pulpit early in this season, we enjoyed the fruitful ministry of our interim pastor Clyde, and we’ve been encouraged by our pastor friends from RUF and sister churches in the area who came to our help along the way.
Now we’re about to welcome our new pastor, Travis Drake. Pastor Travis starts this week. Travis’s arrival marks a fresh new season in the life of the church, full of anticipation and promise.
As we enter this new era, let’s be mindful of our expectations. Travis’s work schedule, leadership style, and pastoral approach will look different than Rick’s, Nathan’s or Clyde’s. We will want to give him the freedom and flexibility, with patience and grace, to develop and express his own ministry among us.
For this reason, the elders have begun a relationship with a pastoral transition consultant. We recognize that we have a certain culture – patterns of decision making and ways of interacting and so forth – that Travis will be stepping into. We want to identify those things and understand how best to serve alongside each other for our new pastor’s well-being and for the benefit of the congregation. This is a process that will take time as we learn how best to support Travis and he learns more about how best to adjust to our culture.
Above all, let’s be praying. Pray for Travis as he enters this new call as our pastor. Pray for the elders, deacons, staff, and ourselves as we start this new relationship. And pray for Travis, Esther and their sons as they navigate this big change.
Just a reminder, Travis will be commuting up from Philadelphia weekly until his family can relocate to the area this summer. You’ll begin to see him preaching starting this Sunday. Welcome Pastor Travis!
PSC Updates
This weekend, Travis Drake and his family will be visiting Cambridge! We are also expecting a significant snow storm on Saturday — what better way to welcome the Drakes to New England!
In light of Saturday’s storm, we are rescheduling several of the events we had planned for this weekend. The current plans are listed below, but please check the website calendar for the most up-to-date information.
In particular, the all-church Zoom Q&A with Travis has moved from Sunday to Saturday, and the Saturday meet-and-greet at the Russells is moving to Sunday evening. All meet-and-greets will be indoors. There will be light refreshments served, but we ask that masks be worn insomuch as possible.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Sun, January 23 - Sat, January 29 :: Invitation to a Week of Prayer and Fasting :: Various
Please be praying especially for safe travel for the Drakes on Friday and Monday.
Sat, January 29 - Sun, January 30 :: Candidating Weekend :: Various
Saturday, Jan 29
9a - 12p: Meetings with Ministry Leaders (on Zoom)
7:30p - 9p: All-Church Zoom Q&A with Travis
Sunday, Jan 30
10:30a: Travis preaching in service (register here)
2p - 4p: Meet-and-greet in Cambridge (sign-up online**)
7p - 9p: Meet-and-greet in Melrose (sign-up online**)
Sun, February 6, 7p :: Congregational Meeting and Vote :: Zoom Link
Regarding Sunday’s Service:
Due to Saturday’s snow storm and the foreseeable parking issues it may cause on Sunday morning, Sunday school and Adult Ed classes will end at 9:30a this Sunday to give more time to get to church and find parking.
For information regarding Cambridge’s snow policies and any parking restrictions on Sunday, please visit cambridgema.gov/snow . If there is a snow emergency, some major streets don’t allow street parking (see this map, parking not allowed on streets marked in orange during snow emergency). You can check for parking on other streets or in public lots or parking garages.
CTK Transition Plans
In the CTK Reader in December, we announced that the elders had officially issued a call to an interim pastor, and that a few steps remained to be completed: his presbytery needed to release him and our presbytery (Southern New England Presbytery) needed to approve him.
We were hoping that the interim’s current presbytery would complete these steps to release him in January, but that has been delayed until March. The Cambridge elders are still pursuing this interim candidate, but, in case of further delays, they are also working with McGowan to secure other possible interim candidates. This is a disappointing delay for us, but we are respectful of this other presbytery’s decisions and processes, and we trust in the Lord's provision in His time.
In the coming months, Omar Ortiz, the Director of the CTK Church Planting Center, has agreed to step in as acting interim pastor. He will preach at Cambridge through the next two months and will also pick up some of Nathan’s responsibilities as Nathan transitions to CTK Newton. Other weekly responsibilities, such as teaching Adult Education, will be assumed by the elders.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to transition@ctkcambridge.org.
Please continue to pray for CTK’s leadership and our congregation as a whole during this transition: for wisdom, patience, and most importantly, an abiding trust in God's faithfulness.
Important Announcement
There will be an important announcement directly following the service this Sunday (12/20), so please join us for the livestream. The announcement will come after the benediction. The elders will also be hosting a town-hall style meeting over Zoom at 4pm for any questions or discussion.
Interim
Update on the Interim: the Cambridge elders have officially issued a call to an interim pastor and he is excited to join us at CTK. There are, however, a few steps left to be completed: his presbytery needs to release him and our presbytery (Southern New England Presbytery) needs to approve him. Both presbyteries will be meeting in January. The elders are hopeful and excited to bring this interim pastor on board.
Church Assessment
A critical part of the transition process is prayerfully considering the history, mission, and vision for the church. Following a series of interviews, surveys, and interactions with a sample of the CTK congregation, including some staff, officers, and a variety of members, McGowan and Associates have compiled an assessment and a list of recommendations for CTK to consider as a congregation. The elders would invite the congregation to read these assessments and recommendations, as well as provide their feedback in a survey, all of which can be found at ctkcambridge.org/assessment. This information is also linked on the Transition web page, found on the CTK website under "About". This survey will be open and accepting responses through December. There will be additional opportunities to discuss the church’s history and mission in the new year, so stay tuned!
PSC Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the Pastoral Search Committee. Please email your nominee and if they agree to the nomination, please send their name to transition@ctkcambridge.org. Nominations are due this Sunday (11/15). For information about the roles and responsibilities of the PSC, please visit ctkcambridge.org/transition.
Congregational Meeting
The members of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are called to a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 22, 2020 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, preceded by a prayer meeting that will start at 6:30p. This meeting will be held virtually.
Business to be conducted at the meeting:
Elect a pastoral search committee* for the purpose of recommending a pastoral candidate for Cambridge
Elect church officers – the slate of candidates to be elected will be shared upon approval by the Session
Share information with the church
Instructions for how to participate in the virtual meeting will be forthcoming.
* PCA Book of Church Order chapter 20-2
Pastoral Search Committee Discussion
The congregation is invited to a meeting on zoom this Sunday (10/25) at 6:30p to discuss the process of selecting a pastoral search committee. The elders are grateful for requests they have received for time at the beginning of the meeting to pray together as a church, so we’ll start at 6:30p with an extended time of prayer (about a half hour) followed by discussion. The meeting will end by 9:00pm. We encourage you to join for this important time when we will call upon the Lord together, and then discuss together this important step in the life of our church. Please contact office@ctkcambridge.org for the zoom link.
Congregational Meeting (10/18)
The members of Christ the King Presbyterian Church are called to two upcoming Congregational Meetings.
The first is on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 7:00 PM and will be held virtually. Business to be conducted at the October meeting:
1. Consider the resignation of Rev. Rick Downs as Pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church
2. Approve a process for forming a pastoral search committee*
3. Hear more information and ask questions related to placing an interim pastor in Cambridge and the search for a permanent replacement
The second is on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM and will be held virtually. Business to be conducted at the November meeting:
1. Elect a pastoral search committee* for the purpose of recommending a pastoral candidate for Cambridge
2. Elect church officers – the slate of candidates to be elected will be shared upon approval by the Session
For updates about these two meetings, please follow https://www.ctkboston.org/news-events. Instructions for how to participate in the virtual meetings will be forthcoming. Other business may be added to either meeting. If so, we will provide advance notice.
* PCA Book of Church Order chapter 20-2