Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith.  Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.

The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.

Christ Lutheran Church, in partnership with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, invites you to join in this discussion circle on Wednesdays at 6:00 – 7:30pm beginning on January 12  and meeting  every other week for 10 sessions. We will meet via Zoom.  

For registration, go to: https://clcvalpo.org/SacredGround

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Owen ( jlo46383@msn.com) or Kathy Sutherland (ksutherland54@yahoo.com).  For more information about Sacred Ground, please see this link: https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/about

Priscilla Bible Study is beyond jubilant & gratitude with the outcome of our giving project.  The generosity of the donors was astonishing; we reached our goal of $1,600 five days before the cut-off date.  This is far beyond what we ever dreamed when we rolled out the 2021 Angel Tree Project just, 3 weeks ago.

If you wanted to donate, but now know the fund has received its goal, please consider giving to one (or some) of the other groups that have expressed holiday needs.  Again, thank you for your generous support  .  .  .  we have certainly shared God’s love & have extended more joy over the birth of the Christ child to some adults & children in Porter County.

THANK  YOU  ANGEL TREE  DONORS  FOR  YOUR  SUPPORT  &  GENEROSITY!!!

For this Advent Season, 64 adults & children, living in Porter County, were sponsored by our partner groups  > KidsReach at Hilltop Neighborhood House, Housing Opportunities, Disabled American Veterans, Little Lamb Preschool & our congregation.  Each sponsored adult & child will receive a $25 Walmart gift card.   Gift cards, contained in real Christmas cards, will be given to our partner organizations to distribute to the sponsored recipients before Christmas.

Priscilla will provide a more detailed report after we come down from our Advent “high” & elation that we are feeling now.

December’s Social Ministry emphasis is to provide monetary support, along with increasing partnership activities, for Bethel Lutheran Church, a diverse, urban ELCA congregation in the Miller neighborhood of Gary, Indiana (part of NW Indiana Conference of I-K Synod) http://bethelmiller.org and http://facebook.com/bethelmillerbeach    Bethel’s Pastor is Rev. Joy Heine, and Greg Bueltmann is Director of Music.  Bethel means "house of God" and members believe strongly “that the God of Jesus Christ truly is present as they regularly gather in fellowship around his Word and sacraments”.  CLC has partnered with Bethel over many years, and it is wonderful to further increase a relationship with a sister congregation.

• CLC began as an ELCA suburban mission congregation almost 51 years ago.  The ELCA I-K Synod Mission and Urban Congregation programs some years ago refocused on needs of urban, rural, and diverse congregations as well.
• Help achieve our goal of $2500 in December (over and above giving combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200).  By achieving our goal CLC will help Bethel Lutheran continue to thrive as a congregation with outreach activities to organizations such as Interfaith Action Network, Crisis Center, and Sojourner Truth House.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope mailed with check to CLC and indicate “Bethel” or contribute through PushPay on the CLC website https://clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button.  Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry emphases.

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Men's Shelter Update

New Creations Men's Center (and Resale Shop) at 2102 Calumet Ave, 219-548-3548  You can help feed our neighbors experiencing homelessness: New Creations Men’s Center continues to be home base for both single men and women between homes, providing daily meals and a space to be during the day. Overnight services began at area churches on October 15. Christ Lutheran will resume our hosting in April 2022.

In the meantime, you can help New Creation feed their guests. Lunch supplies can be dropped off at the resale shop counter during hours of operation (usually 10-5). Requests include:  Lunch meat, Fruit, Individual juice, Snack cakes, and Chips.  Dinners are also appreciated; please call New Creations (219-548-3548) for more information about quantities and scheduling of dinners. Information to follow soon on our scheduled night to feed the men. Meanwhile please pray for those in our community living in cars, tents and on the streets.

Immanuel Food Pantry https://immanuelvalpo.org/food-pantry 1700 Monticello – drive up drop off items.  Donations can be dropped at Immanuel, best done Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-3 pm, at entrance between church and school. Contributions especially appreciated now are holiday food items such as gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, cake and cookie mixes.  Also, cooking oil, salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, olives, pickles.

Hilltop Food Pantry https://www.hilltophouse.org/hilltop-food-pantry 606 Union St.

Housing Opportunities https://hoi.help/pantry 2001 Calumet Ave., 219-548-2800

There is a basket inside door #3 for food donations for Housing Opportunities.