Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Parish Newsletter
December 21, 2021
Staying Connected
Dear Friends,
 
On behalf of our clergy and staff, I wish you Merry Christmas. “The feast of the birth of Christ is not out of tune with the trial we are going through because it is the quintessential feast of compassion, the feast of tenderness. Its beauty is humble and full of human warmth.” (Pope Francis)

As Christmas fast approaches, our dedicated team is contingency planning for the predicted inclement weather impacts. We’re also fully observing protocols for virus spread prevention at our Christmas services, and offering options to protect at-risk parishioners, particularly young children, who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Due to the wet, windy, and stormy weather predicted, all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses will be indoors. Masks are county and state mandated.
 
If you are not comfortable bringing your family members to Mass inside the church, we’re offering several options to extend CTK’s welcoming spirit to all! At St. Stephen, the masses will be indoors. 

Masses inside the church on Christmas Eve: 3pm, 4:30pm, 8pm, 12 Midnight, with 30 minutes of Christmas music before each Mass.
St. Stephen at 5.30pm.

Christmas Day: 7.30am, 9.00am and 10.30am. St. Stephen at 9.30am.

There will be two masses at 3pm: in church and in the gym. The church service, which will be a family-oriented service, and arrival of Santa at the conclusion of Mass, will be livestreamed and broadcast over the radio (FM 106.7). Our parking lot WiFi: CTK Streaming and Password: outdoor1.This is our most highly attended service. When the church is full, we must close the doors to additional attendees. PLEASE enter the church together with your ENTIRE family, so no one will be separated to other campus venues.

3pm GYM: Live Mass - a traditional Christmas Eve observance.

At 3pm in the PARISH HALL you can watch the Livestream of the family oriented service in church.

Several TV screens will allow for church overflow and those needing a more open venue. Doors will be left open for airflow, so dress for cool temps. Communion will be distributed there.

The 3pm, 8pm and midnight masses will be livestreamed. You can watch from your car on CTK Facebook and CTK YouTube.

Communion for those attending 3pm Mass from their cars or Parish Hall:
Two locations: on the patio in front of the church, and outside the gym at west facing entrance.

We are planning to do our utmost - in every way possible - to extend a warm Christmas welcome to new and longtime parishioners - given the challenge of the pandemic and wet weather. If you have ideas or need help in attending live or by livestream, please call our office, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm so we may make your Christmas observance the best possible.

Please pray for lots of rain, but maybe for it to let up on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

God Bless!
Fr. Paulson Mundanmani
Sunday, December 26 Bulletin Letter from Chris Lang
at St. Stephen Parish.

To all of our fellow parishioners at CTK, this is your opportunity to get to know those of us at your sister parish, St. Stephen. Read More
Christmas Schedule
Friday, December 24
 Christmas Eve Masses
 3pm - Indoors (both in the church and gym)
(See letter above for more details)
4:30pm - Indoors/Church
8pm - Indoors/Church & Livestream
12 Midnight - Indoors/Church & Livestream
(Christmas Carols begin at 11:30pm)
St. Stephen Church - 5:30pm
 
Saturday, December 25
Christmas Day Masses
7:30am - Indoors/Church
9am - Indoors/Church
10:30am - Indoors/Church & Livestream
St. Stephen Church - 9:30am
An opportunity for Private Confessions
will be available on Thursday, December 23
after the 9am mass in the church.
Drive Through Communion
Christmas Day - 11:30am to 12:00pm
(in front of the church)
Reminder
There will be no 9am morning Mass on Friday, December 24 (Christmas Eve).
New Year’s Eve, Friday December 31
4pm Mass
Vigil for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
 
 New Year’s Day, Saturday January 1
9am Mass
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
St. Stephen Church - 9:30am
Livestreaming can be found either on our Facebook Page or YouTube Channel
By clicking either image below:
Ushers for Christmas Needed!
If you are able to help out with ushering at our Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Masses, please contact Sr. Dominic Marie at sisterdominic.marie@gmail.com
(See Christmas Mass schedule above)
Celebrate St. Stephen Day
St. Stephen's invites all CTK parishioners to join us on Sunday, December 26 as we celebrate St. Stephen Day. 

The celebration starts with Mass at 9:30am at St. Stephen, then continues in our parish center for a celebration including Christmas Carols and brunch.  To attend the celebration you must show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within the prior 72-hours. More information can be found on our St. Stephen website by clicking here.

We are also looking for an approximate head count to help with food arrangements. A message letting us know that you are interested in attending can be left through our website link, or by phone 925-274-1341 or email saintstephenwc@gmail.com
Weekly Church Bulletin
Parish Office Closed

In observance of the Christmas Holiday, our parish office will be closed on Monday, December 27th.
Over the Weekend
Thank you to our weekend Sacristans
and their ongoing commitment every week to this ministry.
We are truly grateful to have each of you!
Weekly Reflections on Sunday Readings
Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
The Feast of the Holy Family

It’s commonly believed that Luke spent time with Mary (probably in Ephesus where she lived). In the above passage, he shares a story he might have heard directly from Jesus’ mother.  Read More
CTK Worship Aides
Worship Aid for Christmas Eve Mass Here
Worship Aide for Christmas Day Mass Here
Worship Aide for Midnight Mass Here
Worship Aide for The Feast of the Holy Family Mass, Dec. 26 Here
St. Stephen Church - Masses
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek 94597

Saturday - Mass 5pm
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am
All worship aides can be found on the website here

St. Stephen Daily Mass: Monday - Friday at 8am
Confessions will be available on Thursday, Dec. 23 after the 8am mass.
Christmas Offering
On-Line Giving: (click button below)
Now includes Christmas
Offertory Envelopes and
Paper Checks
Can be sent directly to:
Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Rd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Offertory Envelopes and
Paper Checks
Can be sent directly to:
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Closing Prayer
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace,
may each of us recommit to our goal of peace.
Let us build peace by seeking justice:
justice for the poor, the refugee, and the immigrant,
for our sisters and brothers who experience exclusion.
Let us preach peace by sharing the love of God
and the Good News of the Gospel with those around us. 
May Christ's peace, hope, and joy be born into our hearts this Christmas.
Amen.

"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference"