Adult Formation Hour Options

9:20 a.m. 

4/9/2023

No Formation Hour ~ Happy Easter

4/16/2023

Worship Olympics ~ Sanctuary with Pastor Tim and Pastor Erica

Youth Summer Trips Informational Meeting (for Parents) ~ Church Hall with Clint and Kaitlyn

Jesus Calls Us ~ Room 120 with Dave Keammerer

April 23, 2023

Costa Rica Breakfast Fundraiser ~ Church Hall

Jesus Calls Us ~ Room 120 with Dave Keammerer

Sunday School Parent Coffee Klatch ~ Room 119

April 30, 2023

Jesus: The Greatest Story: Bible Study with Cheryl Slack ~ Church Hall

Jesus Calls Us ~ Room 120 with Dave Keammerer

Sunday School Parent Coffee Klatch ~ Room 119

Pampered Chef Fundraiser

for the Costa Rica Mission/Learning Trip

You can support our congregation’s team by stocking your kitchen with high-quality kitchen tools through this Pampered Chef fundraiser hosted by Becky Fry.

25% of the sales will be deposited into the team’s trip fund.

Shop through this link and share the link with friends and family.      www.pamperedchef.com/party/beckyfry0318

Orders are direct-shipped to each guest and can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. That means you can share this link with anyone and their order will support the fundraiser!

If you have questions or prefer not to shop online, contact our consultant and she’ll be happy to help you: 

Kathy Stefans  847-612-3025 kathy.stefans@gmail.com

Stephen Ministry ~ Always here for you

I feel so lonely...if I just had someone to talk to.

A Stephen Minister may be just who you need.  Call the church office (219.462.6660) or talk to a Stephen Minister (look for the blue badges) or one of the Pastors.

Remember to Update Your Contribution in Subsplash

A big THANK YOU to all who participated in our stewardship campaign!  If you have changed the amount of your offering, please remember to update your contribution in     Subsplash.  The church office cannot do this for you.  The instructions listed below will guide you through the process:

1. Go to our website:  www.clcvalpo.org.  Under the “Give” menu, select “Give Now.”  This will take you to the church’s mail giving page.

2. In the top right corner of that page, you’ll see an icon that looks like the head and shoulders of a person.  Click that, and then click sign in.  You will be prompted to sign into your account using email, Facebook, of Apple.  Choose the option that you originally used to setup your account (for most people, that will be email).

· Email:  Log in with your email address as your user ID and your password.  If you have forgotten your password, click on “Forgot Password,” and a link to reset it will be sent to your email.

· Facebook and Apple:  You will be automatically signed in by your device.

3.  Click the person icon at the top right of the screen, then click “Recurring Gifts.”  You should see your current setup displayed on the screen.  Click the arrow to the right of the displayed gift.  This will open a window that allows you to make any changes to your current setup.

4. When you are finished, be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom and click the large purple button that says “Save and Update Gift.”

You’re all set!  If you have any problems with the steps listed above, please contact Heather Budnik in the church office.  She’ll be happy to help!

Practicing Hospitality

What a blessing this beautiful Christ Lutheran Church building is. And one of the ways we are blessed through it — and can be a blessing — is by “having company.” Every Saturday night for six months, beginning April 15th, we will be having dinner and overnight guests— yes, we will be hosting the men’s shelter program again.

Welcoming these men for dinner and offering them a safe place to sleep over the past 10+ years has given many of us a chance to understand better how homelessness can happen, and how alike we all are— all people who need God’s guidance and grace. 

How can you be a part of this ministry? 

Bring a meal

Buy groceries for our shelter pantry

Do a load of laundry

Spend 4 hours drinking coffee and answering emails while the men sleep

Exercise your organizational skills as part of the scheduling team

Pray for our guests and volunteers

  If you have questions, contact:

 Lisa Owen (219-477-9240; jlo46383@msn.com)

Diana Iltzsche (219-628-0950; diltzsche@hotmail.com)

Tim Sutherland (219-309-4413; sutherla@iun.edu)

Tony Reinhold (219-241-0914; tonyrein@aol.com)

Lenten and Holy Week Services

Maundy Thursday (April 6) - 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday (April 7) - 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Candlelight prayer around the cross.

All-ages Easter Vigil on Saturday (April 8) - 4:00 p.m.
We keep the ancient tradition, in a family-friendly way.  Gather around the fire to hear the stories of God's saving love through the ages, remember the gift of Baptism, hear the Easter story as we gather around Christ's table.

Easter Sunday - 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. (pre-service music begins at         7:50 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.).  Easter Egg Hunt begins at 12:00 p.m. 
Festival worship services to celebrate the Resurrection!  Come celebrate the risen Christ.

Easter Egg Hunt

12:00– Pre-k & K (near the Memorial Garden)

12:10– 1st– 4th grade (out in the field)

12:15- 5th-8th grade (in the woods)

• Each month the Social Ministry highlights a special giving opportunity.  April’s emphasis is providing monetary and voluntary support for Housing Opportunities   www.hoi.help  (2001 Calumet Ave., Valpo). 

• With the extraordinary support from donors and the dedicated work of staff, Housing Opportunities serves many clients each year. Because of supporters, H.O. in fiscal year 2022 served 1,192 people across all programs. Thousands of hours of housing advocacy are provided to clients each year.  Also, H.O. has a resource center for vulnerable folks to shower, wash clothes, use pantry etc.

• We’ve been through a lot these past few years and while some difficulties are behind us, the return to any sense of normalcy does not provide a sense of relief for our neighbors struggling with homelessness and housing insecurity. Today, there are 129 households in our community who do not have secure homes or a warm place to sleep at night, who are having to choose between paying the bills and putting food on the table.

• Food Pantry donations are welcomed!  *Please see Facebook and www.hoi.help for updates needs

• Help achieve our goal of $2500 in April (over and above giving combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200).  Use your weekly worship giving envelope mailed with check to CLC and indicate “H.O.” or contribute through SubSplash on the CLC website https://clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button and choose Monthly Social Ministry Emphasis.  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

The AMOS TEAM is on the move again. 

NOVEMBER 2023

Needles, yarn and things like that,

could you help us make a baby hat.

New to this world a babe is born,

breezy and cold.  Let’s keep him warm.

Off to Guatemala in November will be, 

training the midwives, thanks, CLC.

AMOS and our ladies, hand-in-hand, 

making a difference, together we stand.

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.

Baby Care Kit Project

2023 Goal-500

Items collected - 325

April Needs:  4 oz. dial of soap (not the yellow bars)

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 - 48

April 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  - 345

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

April needs:  CASH. Any cash contributed by Easter Sunday will be matched by Dave.

LWR QUILTERS 

2023 Goal:  500

Quilts Made:  155

CANS FOR CARING KEEP those aluminum cans coming to the red Ford truck in the parking lot or to the white basket under the back shelf in the Gathering area. No amount of cans is too little. All donations add up. All money derived from the cans will go to Lutheran World Relief.  

Weekly Prayers

Prayers for Ukraine, communities recovering from violence

Turkey, Syria

Hospice:

• Julia & family (Chrisiana McLean/Faith Noe)
• Marge (grandmother of Ashley White)
• Bob (friend of Marla T)

Long-term/ongoing:

• Jimee Armstrong, starting brain cancer treatment
• Baby Gabriel (Great nephew of Linda Griffith), born early with major issues
• Wanda Rodgers
• Pastor Phyllis Kersten
• Malcolm, dealing with ALS, and Marilyn as she walks with him
• Bob (Lanie Steinwart’s brother)
• Tim (friend of Erin Crill),
• Wayne (Joel Koch’s dad)
• Fawn (Spears)
• Pattie (Bohacik)
• Joyce (Spoljaric)
• Vicke (Krall) - in remission!!
• John (Kirsten Reinhold’s partner)
• Bruce Malchow (Tim Malchow’ Father)
• Mark Ring (friend of Bill & Diana I)

4/2

• Pam Lewis
• Alexis (granddaughter of Tom & Lois Niksch)
• Clifford (Father of Candace J.) 
• Jim Kish (Linda Mapes)

3/27

• Tom McPherson 

3/20

• Brenda Norvell (friend of Jessica Peters)
• Faye Thompson (work friend of Bill Lieske)
• Tom Rusch (Bill Lieske’s BIL)
• Kristen (friend of Angela Wehner & Lisa Swayne)