2025 KICKOFF - CLC SENIORS 

Please join us February 20, at 9:30 a.m. in the CLC Fellowship Hall, for a "2025 Get to Know Each Other/Planning Meeting".  Feel free to bring a favorite snack to share with the group.  There is a sign-up sheet on the Senior Bulletin Board, or you can call one of the people listed below to sign up for the meeting.  

(If you give us your contact information, you will receive a reminder text prior to the meeting from 

219-242-3576.) 

We are trying to plan out this year's activities, and to find the best day & time for our monthly meetings.  As always, we are open to activity ideas as well. (We try to gather at least 10 times during the year, and in the past, we have had guest speakers, gone to museums, volunteered for special activities, gone to plays, and of course, gone out to eat.)  If you are unable to join us on the third or fourth Thursday of each month, please let us know what day(s) would work better.  We will discuss a possible change of meeting time with the group at the meeting on the 20^th and will try to choose the one that works for the majority of interested people.  

You can notify us of your day preference or sign up by contacting the church office or by calling Beth Bigham (at 847-323-2512),

Marilyn Hall (at 219-242-3576), or Judy Haalboom (at 309-368-9536). 

Getting to Know CLC

Curious how God changes lives in and with this congregation?  Join us to for our “Getting to Know CLC” series as we explore Christ Lutheran's ministry, history, and teaching.  We'll gather for a 3-week series during the Formation Hour on Sundays (9:20am-10:20) February 9, 16 and 23 in the Sanctuary, followed by an opportunity to formally stand with the congregation, confess our faith together, and declare that "Yes! God has something for me here."  

Register for our series:

https://groups.planningcenteronline.com/groups/2494676/members

NEED YARN??

If you need yarn for any of your projects; baby care kits, hats for AMOS or for anything else—we have a lot available in the hallway near the music room.  Call the church office if you have any questions; 219-462-6660.

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

February 2025

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 www.hilltophouse.org and Refugee Family Support Fund.

February’s emphasis is to provide monetary and volunteer support for Hilltop House, Hilltop Food Pantry, and CLC’s Refugee Family Support Fund.  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). 

Also, look for the Hilltop Soup dinner fundraiser Tuesday, March 18 at VU Union (volunteers from CLC will be 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,

CLC’s Refugee Family Support Fund has been a wonderful help to our local Refugee Family over the past year.  Our family has found housing, employment, a means of transportation, English language training, schools for the kids, faith communities, and more this past year.  As the family continues to transition to life in Valpo and Northwest Indiana, this Support Fund continues to help the family move towards independence and sustainability. Also, look for volunteer opportunities throughout the year to assist members of the family and to get to know the family better.

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 and our Refugee Family continue to thrive.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope with check to CLC and indicate “Hilltop/Refugee” or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button, choosing “Social Ministry Emphasis” from the pull down menu.  Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry emphases.

“Faith at Work” Participants needed!

In the spring 2025 months we are looking for CLC members, guests, & friends who would be willing to reflect and share about vocation, call, and their faith at work. We will likely have several people with similar work situations participate in the same week as a group panel to share their thoughts. Guiding questions will be provided before the sessions, such as : What called/calls to you in your work? Does your work give you a particular window on God at work in the world, or on the needs of the world? Is there a way that you understand your work as service to God and neighbor? Are there places in your field/your work that are a struggle to fit with your faith, or where you feel a tension/disconnect? How have your thoughts about your work changed as you’ve moved deeper into your field and grown in faith? 

Please talk to Pastor Erica or Karen Hernes karenhernes@gmail.com if you are interested in participating. 

Attention all Youth

If you are participating in the ISSMA program this year through your school, we would love to have you share your talents with us in worship. If you are interested, please contact or speak with Mr. Bartusch to schedule a time to play during our Sunday morning worship services.