Adult Formation Hour Options

9:20 a.m. 

1/29/2023

Deepening our Welcome: Terms and Pronouns (Language, definitions, and concepts) ~ Fellowship Hall

From Darkness to Light ~ Room 120 with Dave Keammerer

Sunday School Parent Coffee Klatch ~ Room 119

GIVING ENVELOPES

There is a delay in receiving our envelopes.  They are not expected until February.  Please use the pew envelopes that are provided in the sanctuary.  I will let you know as soon as they are delivered.

Once again, thank you for your patience.

Please Join Us for 

Deepening Our Welcome Events

Schedule Change

Sunday, January 29: 9:20, Church Hall

Terms and Pronouns, an introduction to LGBTQIA+ language, definitions, and concepts, presented by Kyle Otten and Clint Mullet.

Sunday morning, January 29^th at 9:20 am, Church Hall

CLC Member Sharing: Stories of Family and Faith: Join us for a conversation led by Christ​ Lutheran members as they share the journeys they​'v​e experienced with family members in the​ LGBTQIA+ community.  The panel members will share how the journey has impacted their thinking about LGBTQIA+ issues and their hopes going forward for their family members. How​ has their faith affected their responses to their loved ones? How do we as God’s people​ respond to the LGBTQIA+ members of our community and our world?  Those who have agreed to share their stories with us are Irene Adams, Sue McPherson, Kyle Otten, and Kathy Sutherland.  There will also be time for​follow-up questions and conversations.

Sunday, February 12th: 9:20am  World Cafe,  Church Hall

Explore Ÿ Share Ÿ Listen Ÿ Connect Ÿ Discover   Join us at our Discovery Café!  In small groups around tables, we’ll explore meaningful questions about our Deepening Our Welcome process. As we thoughtfully share and deeply listen to one another, we will make new connections and discover collective insights guiding us toward creative action. This dynamic process includes switching tables along the way enhancing the unity of all present.

Lenten Dinners are returning to CLC!!!

During Lent, you are invited to join in Lenten dinners at 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays at CLC, before each 7:30 p.m. evening service. Please sign up for each meal in advance in the East Link so that the cooks know how many to expect, and consider bringing a dessert to share. A free-will offering will be collected at each meal. Come and join in the fellowship!

As the season of Lent approaches, we are looking for individuals or groups to make the evening meals. Sign-up sheets are in the East Link, for more information call the church office.  Remember when signing up to also ask for volunteers to set-up and clean-up the hall.

Dinner schedule 

February 22

March 1

March 8

March 15

March 22

March 29

The "We Tie Together Quilters" make 400-500 quilts per year for Lutheran World Relief. These quilts bring comfort and warmth to people in need all over the world. The quilts are made with donated fabrics and materials and we are very low on things to use in the middle of the quilts to make them warm. If you have any of these items, we would gladly accept your donations of sheets, blankets, mattress pads, or rolls of batting. Items need not be new. But must be clean. Items may be dropped off at the church office or in the Church hall on Wednesdays 9-11am while the quilters are at work. Contact Kathy Stefans with questions 847-612-3025.

Trivia Night is Back!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, March 12th from 4-8pm.

Tickets are $10 for teens/adults, $5 for youth aged 6-12, and free for children 5 and under.

Tables should be no more than 8 teens/adults.  Dinner included.

Sign up will be on the CLC website or forms will be in the east hallway and can be turned in to either Clint Mullet or Amy Knauff.

Contact Kathy or Tim Sutherland for more information.

January 2023

“Spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed” (Isaiah 58:10). 

First Contact, Inc. http://firstcontactinc.org  and Mike Steiner Special Needs Memorial Fund.

Each month the Social Ministry highlights a special giving opportunity and volunteer opportunities.  January’s emphasis is to support 1) First Contact http://firstcontactinc.org and 2) the Christ Lutheran Mike Steiner Benevolence Fund.

First Contact is a not-for-profit interdenominational resource and referral ministry, which endeavors in the name of Jesus to assist Porter County residents in need.  The vision of FC is to engage a community of givers, through churches, individuals, and organizations to help support those facing hardship.  FC has offices in Valparaiso and Portage.  When Porter County residents come to the offices of Christ Lutheran with needs as described above, First Contact is our partner in helping address these needs.  FC also welcomes volunteers to help staff their office hours.

Mike (Marjorie) Steiner was a member of Christ Lutheran who in her will asked her family to donate her financial savings (about $15,000) to CLC.  She asked that these monies be used to help CLC members who at a particular time have social, physical, and financial needs.  The Social Ministry and Mission Committee established policies and procedures for making effective use of these funds to benefit those needing help with rent, utilities, emergency food, medicine, and counseling.  Since it has been quite a few years since Mike’s gift, and since numerous CLC members have benefited, the fund needs new donations each year.

Help achieve our goal of $2500 in January (over and above giving combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200).  By achieving our goal CLC will help First Contact and Steiner Fund continue to thrive.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope mailed with check to CLC and indicate “FC/Steiner” 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.

 Additional Opportunities:

Northwest Indiana Lutheran Food and Supply Pantries Donations.   

Men’s Shelter (and Resale Shop) https://newcreationresaleshop.com 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 in between homes, providing daily meals and a space to be during the day (overnight shelter also resumed at area churches in fall 2021). You can help feed their guests at their daytime Center. Lunch supplies can be dropped off at the resale shop counter during open hours (usually 10-5). Needed items include:  lunch meat, fruit, individual juice, snack cakes, and chips.  Call 219-548-3548 for more information.  There is a basket inside door #3 for food donations. 

 Housing Opportunities https://hoi.help/pantry 2001 Calumet Ave., 219-548-2800.  Food Pantry Needs:  Peanut butter, Jelly, Spaghetti sauce (in jars), Tuna, Canned Chicken, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo.  Non-Pantry Needs:  New Pillows, Twin size sheets (can be used – no stains).  One click donating! on Amazon wish list – items shipped directly to the shelter!   www.hoi.help/pantry or drop off items in lobby at 2001 Calumet Ave.

 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. 

 Hilltop Food Pantry https://hilltophouse.org/food-pantry  606 Union Street

Sandy & Dave Keammerer are always collecting the following items for Lutheran World Relief (LWR).  Please drop off at the church and put in white basket in Gathering Place and feel free to call the office if you have any questions.

Looking for something worthwhile to do to pass these wintry days, become a LWR diaper sewer.

1. Diapers are precut and ready to sew. 

2. Hem by serger or regular sewing

machine using straight stitch or zig zag. 

3. No due date-sew at your convenience. 

4. Contact me by email dnssk@frontier.com or 219-462-8447. 

Here are the numbers so far for 2023:

Diapers-600

4 ounce bars of soap-300

Diaper pins-300

Towels-150

Socks-300

Receiving blankets-300

Jackets-150

Pants-150

Shirts-300

Hats-75

Baby Care Kit Project

2023 Goal-500

Items collected - 150

February Needs:  Boys/Girls HATS & JACKETS

Size 6 months to 2T (No newborn clothing can be sent)

BABY CARE KITS
All clothing items 6 months to 2T
(2) gowns or sleepers: long- or short-sleeved
(2) t-shirts: lightweight cotton
(1) jacket/sweater/sweatshirt: with hood, or include a baby cap
(2) pairs of socks
(2) receiving blankets: medium-weight cotton or flannel, or crocheted, or knitted with lightweight yarn, up to 52" square
(4) cloth diapers: flat fold preferred
(1) hand towel: dark color recommended
(2) gentle soap bars: 4oz., bath-size, in original wrapping
(2) diaper pins: or large safety pins
3-ply baby yarn and flannel fabric in increments of .75 yards.

Please indicate if items given are laundered. 
 

Fabric Kit Project

2023 Goal-150

Items collected - 24

February Needs:  3 yard lengths of cotton fabric

FABRIC KITS
(2) spools of thread (250-300 yards)
(2) pieces of cotton/cotton blend fabric (3 yards)
 

Personal Care Kits

Item collected  - 180

PERSONAL CARE KITS
New and in original packaging
(1) bath towel: lightweight, dark color preferred (between 20' x 40" and 27" x 52")
(1) toothbrush: adult size
(1) nail clipper
(2) bars of soap (4 oz.)
(1) Sturdy comb

LWR QUILTERS 

2023 Goal:  500

Quilts Made:  289

POP CAN PROJECT: BRING CANS any Sunday to the white basket in the Gathering Area or to the red Ford truck in the parking area. All funds derived from cans goes to support the Lutheran World Relief projects. 

Weekly Prayers

Prayers for Ukraine, communities recovering from violence

Hospice:

• Dave Palagi (cousin of Ed W. Seykowski)
• Julia & family (Chrisiana McLean/Faith Noe)
• Karen Owen

Long-term/ongoing:

• Baby Gabriel (great nephew of Linda Griffith)
• Bruce Malchow
• Wanda Rodgers
• Bill Parker
• Nabil Maytan, 10-yr.-old son of a former music prof. (Violinist) at VU. Pastor
• Pastor Phyllis Kersten
• Malcolm
• Tim (friend of Erin Crill)
• Wayne (Joel Koch’s dad)
• Fawn
• Pat Betz
• Pattie
• Joyce
• Vicke
• John (partner of Kirsten Reinhold)
• Wally
• Irene Umbach
• Ken Watson

1/17

• Jean (friend of Sheila Burnside)
• Mark (extended family member of Sheila Burnside)
• Ramona
• Bob Chevalier (Jacquie's Father)
• Jonathan (Venstrom Family)
• Jeff (brother of Jen Bias)
• Bob (friend of Marla Tiebert)
• Ron  Sherrington (Candace Jacques - a friend’s Father)
• Gregg 
• Chris Kyes (son of Linda Hazelton
• Risé (Betty Luckett), cancer diagnosis
• Steve in ICU after seizure, and Kim who is caring for him (brother-in-law and sister of Pat Betz)
• Bob (friend of Marla Tiebert), lung cancer
• Ron Sherrington (Candace Jacques - a friend’s Father), lung cancer
• Chris Kyes (son of Linda Hazelton), mass on liver, awaiting tests.

1/22

• Mark Ring (friend of Bill & Diana I), brain surgery
• Katelyn Balakir, speedy recovery from ski accident
• Chuck Schaefer (recovering from surgery)
• Romeo (Danelle), suffering from heart disease
• Mike (friend of Gail Mannington), recovering from heart attack
• Sharon (Melissa Summerville’s mother), recovering from cataract surgery
• Randy (friend of Marilyn/Bob Hall), bacterial brain infection.  Also his wife, Thelma as she cares for him.