Christ in Blessing

Recently, you may have been surprised to find a six-foot tall, hammered-copper image of Jesus between the main entrance doors to our church sanctuary. For over sixty years, this beautiful work of art hung on a large wooden cross over the altar of Lakeview Lutheran Church in Chicago (a few blocks from Wrigley Field). How in the world did it get to our church? 

The story begins about 1960 at Valparaiso University. Ernst Schwidder, a young artist from the Northwest, had been hired to build up the Valpo art department. He soon met Charles Edward Stade, the architect responsible for designing the Chapel of the Resurrection. These two champions of modern Christian art formed a partnership—Stade designing church buildings, Schwidder crafting liturgical furnishings. One of their early projects was Lakeview Lutheran, dedicated in 1961. Most of Schwidder’s artwork (in over 300 churches in the U.S. and Canada) consists of substantial, wooden altars and altar crosses, pulpits, baptismal fonts, and wall plaques, all ornamented with his distinctive combination of words and images. The Valparaiso University Archive now holds Schwidder's papers, and a number of his works are in the Brauer Museum on campus.

A few months ago, Valparaiso University Chaplain Jim Wetzstein, who is writing a Ph.D. dissertation on Schwidder, learned that, because of changing community needs, the Lakeview congregation had decided to tear down their church and replace it with affordable senior housing and a small chapel. They were unsure what to do with Schwidder’s art. Pastor Jim sent me an email. Being a fan of Schwidder’s work, I thought, “Hmmm. I wonder if Christ Lutheran would be interested?” The answer was: Yes! Pastor Tim, Pastor Erica, and Marla Niksch responded enthusiastically. The Lakeview congregation generously gifted the artwork to our congregation, and very soon Christ in Blessing was making the journey to Valparaiso thanks to Milan Coburn and Scott Schnabel.

When you walk by Christ in Blessing, notice the scars on his hands and feet, his right hand raised in blessing, his left holding the cup of communion. Other symbols include the water of life, a palm leaf with a crown, and the Star of Jacob. Interested in learning more? Look for a future Sunday morning Faith Formation program with Pastor Wetzstein, who will teach us about Schwidder’s life and work and help us think about the role of art in the church. Date TBD!

For Children and Families - Mark Your Calendars!

Third Grade Bible Basics

Every year, our Third Graders and families meet to learn about the Bible - Why do we read it? How does God's love come to us through the Bible? Where did it all come from, anyway? This year's Third Grade Bible Basics classes will meet on Sundays during the Formation Hour - March 3 and March 10. Email Pastor Erica (pastorerica@clcvalpo.org) with any questions, or to let us know you'll be attending!

Communion Conversations

CLC children and families are invited to our annual Communion Conversations on Saturday, March 9, from 9-10:30am. Our practice at CLC is to welcome children to God's table whenever families discern that they are ready to receive - and then to make an opportunity available to learn more, together! If your child is ready to begin receiving communion, or if they are already receiving communion and are ready to learn more, please join us! Email Pastor Erica (pastorerica@clcvalpo.org) with any questions, or to let us know you'll be attending!

Our All-Ages Easter Vigil is the highlight of the year! This year at 4pm on March 30, we will celebrate this ancient tradition while having a lot of fun along the way, using all 5 senses (plus our sense of humor) to walk through the family stories of God’s people and celebrate the Resurrection - and then break our Lenten “fasts” with s’mores. One of the best parts is always a collection of family storytellers for our Bible Stories - you can sign up at the following link, and contact me (pastorerica@clcvalpo.org) for any help with ideas or questions!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C49A4A92FA5FE3-47492298-easter

Easter Sunday Egg Hunt, March 31 after 10:30 service

Times are approximate, depending on when worship wraps up:

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)

We will have some plastic bags, but you may want to bring your own collecting container.  Emptied eggs will be collected back afterwards to be recycled for next year.

Attention Girl Scouts

If you are a Girl Scout, Girl Scout Leader or have earned the Gold Award and would like to be recognized on Girl Scout Sunday, March 10, 2024, please call the church office (219-462-660).

Thank you!!

Join us for Faith Formation!  Beginning Sunday, February 18^th -- continuing through Lent and beyond!

Join us during the weeks of Lent for the study of The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. This book and video series introduces us to the roots of racial injustice in the American church.  The six sessions at CLC will take us on an historical, sociological, and religious journey from the American colonial period right through the Black Lives Matter movement and charts a path forward to replace established patterns and systems of complicity with bold, courageous, immediate action.

The author, Jemar Tisby (BA, University of Notre Dame; MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary), is President of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, where he writes about race, religion, politics, and culture.  He is also cohost of the Pass the Mic podcast and is studying for a PhD in History at the University of Mississippi with a focus on race religion, and social movements in the twentieth century.

This series begins on February 18^th at 9:20am in the Church Hall (big room next to the kitchen). 

It is not necessary for you to purchase the book or study guide, but if you would like to purchase the book, click here.  If you would like to purchase the study guide (which includes a personal study guide for reflection between sessions – a possibility for your Lenten devotional time) click here.

Questions??  

Contact Kathy Sutherland (ksutherland54@yahoo.com) or Patrice Weil (psherriweil@gmail.com )

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

February 2024

Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.  Protect the rights of all who are helpless. 

(Proverbs 31:8)

Social Ministry Emphasis for February is Hilltop House https://www.hilltophouse.org 

February’s emphasis is to provide monetary and volunteer support for Hilltop House and Hilltop Food Pantry.  HH is located “on a hill” in a neighborhood west of Valparaiso U. where social service needs are real for the families and children living there.    HH can provide as a health care provider Medicare and Hoosier Healthwise benefits to those in Porter County living below the poverty level (estimated to be 9000 children and 4000 women in Porter County).  A gift of $50 permits Hilltop to provide childcare, health care, and community improvement activities within a child’s own family setting (also contributions may qualify for Indiana’s Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit). 

Help achieve our goal of $2500 in February (over and above giving combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200).  By achieving our goal CLC will help Hilltop continue to thrive.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope with check to CLC and indicate “Hilltop” or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website https://clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button.  Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry emphases.

Also, look for the Hilltop Soup dinner fundraiser March 19 at VU Union (volunteers from CLC are being solicited to help with setup, cleanup, and other activities).  And, the Hilltop Food Pantry Hilltop | Food Pantry (hilltophouse.org) welcomes food donations at 606 Union Street, Valpo.

 Social Ministry and Mission

Lenten Dinners at CLC!!!

During Lent, you are invited to join in Lenten dinners at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at CLC, before each 7:00 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!

Dinner schedule:

Ash Wednesday - Bread Breakers:  Spaghetti & Sausage, Salad, Fruit

February 21 - Hospitality and Outreach - Soup, Salad and Bread

February 28 - Stephen Ministry: Pasta, Salad, Bread

March 6 - Sanctuary Choir: Soup, Salad, Bread

March 13 - CLC Deaconess Crew

March 20 - Mardi Gras Crew:  Jambalaya

Attention All Thrivent Financial Members!

Do you have any Thrivent Choice Dollars that have not been directed to the charity of our choice? 

Minimum and maximum Choice Dollars Designations

Eligible clients will be designated a minimum of 25 Choice Dollars and a maximum of 5,000 Choice Dollars per eligibility period (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31).

Choice Dollars designated during the calendar year can be directed until March 31, 2024.

There are two ways of directing Choice Dollars to Christ Lutheran Church:

Computer:  Go to the Thrivent Financial web site (www.Thrivent.com) and direct

the Choice Dollars on-line. 

Phone:  Call Thrivent Financial at 1-800-847-4836.  When prompted by the electronic answering    system, say “Thrivent Choice.”  Follow the remaining prompts, and a representative will come on the line to assist you.  You will need your Thrivent membership ID number and will need to answer some other personal questions to verify that you are the Thrivent member who is on the line.