Mark your calendars

Join us on Sunday Mornings during the summer months

at 9:30 a.m.

July Altar Gifts

Holy Communion   Marilyn McGawn ~ In Memory of Malcolm

 Altar Candles          Gregg and Vicki Copeland ~ In Celebration of our marriage

Eternal Lamp            Jeremy and Sara Long ~ In Celebration of our marriage

                                        Karen Boedeker ~ Celebrating the birthdays for 

                                                                           Jim, Karen and Brian!

Sometimes people ask “What exactly is a Stephen Minister?”

Stephen Ministers are there…

· after the phone call in the night that changes life forever

· after the baby comes home demanding more than they ever imagined possible

· after  the funeral when everyone has left and emotions come crashing

· after the doctor says, “I am sorry, there is nothing else we can do”

· after the youngest child pulls out of the hug and heads into the dorm

· after the senior living director says “Welcome to your new home.”

· after the divorce papers are served and she wonders if she will ever trust again

· after the gavel goes down, the handcuffs go on, and your loved one is led away\

· after the fire when rebuilding the home seems impossible

· after family have heard the story too often, but he still needs to talk about it

Stephen Ministers are well trained lay caregivers who provide emotional and spiritual support to people going through difficult times in life, providing hope and healing in the midst of their pain. 

Spreading Joy, One Stitch at a Time

Libby Novack’s confirmation project is all about spreading joy through small crocheted creations, and we’re so thankful to everyone who joined us in May for our joyful making session!

Want to get involved? You’re invited to knit or crochet pocket-sized creations anytime and drop it in the bin located in the Gathering Space at church. Yarn is available under the nursery desk, and if you're looking for ideas or patterns, feel free to email Faith Vittitoe at faithv@gmail.com.

We’ll be collecting these cheerful little creations through the end of July—thank you for helping us share a little handmade happiness!

Seniors’ Group goes to Lake Michigan

Thursday, July 24

Seniors’ Group to take an excursion on the Emita II that tells the story of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana Dunes. There will be a tour guide. 

With 15 reservations (paid in advance) we’ll get a special price of $22 per person ($10 off the regular fare).  Karen Seykowski will receive your advance payment to secure your reservation. Contact Karen at kjseykow@frontier.com or 219-462-3636 (leave a message).

Ask a friend, neighbor, family member to come along.  (Minor children need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.) 

On Thursday, July 24, we can board the Emita II at 1:30 pm; the excursion begins at 2:00 and lasts about 90 minutes.

Those who wish to bring a sack lunch can enjoy it on the Main Dock for the Emita II.  She docks at the Millennium Plaza along Trail Creek.  We would meet at the Main Dock at 12:30 pm & have lunch.  Then board Emita II at 1:30 pm. 

Emita II is accessible via the boat ramp.  Since the water level is very low, passengers would need to be able to take a couple extra steps down from the ramp before getting on the boat; some assistance can be provided.  There is a lower deck (shaded) & upper deck.  Restrooms (the heads) are on the lower deck. 

We Make Indiana - Porter County Chapter

Tuesday, July 22 | 6:30—8:00 CT

Christ Lutheran Church

“Seek the welfare of the city… for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7

God calls us to seek justice and care for our neighbors—and that includes ensuring everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. On Tuesday, July 22, from 6:30 to 8:00pm CT at Christ Lutheran Church, our We Make Indiana - Porter County Chapter will gather to share updates from the follow-up meetings we’ve held with city officials and council members since our powerful Housing Assembly in May.

We’ll also share what we’ve learned about the City of Valparaiso’s plan to rewrite its zoning laws—and why this is a pivotal opportunity to create a more just and welcoming community. Together, we’ll make plans to educate and mobilize our congregations so we can have the greatest possible impact on the outcome.

All are welcome—join us as we put our faith into action to build a city for all of us. 

RSVP today by clicking here.

Lutheran World Relief School Kits

As much as we love summer, school supplies will soon be in the stores. And, as always, we will be collecting for Lutheran World Relief. Education is one of the strongest tools a community has for breaking the cycle of poverty. Ensuring that girls attend school, especially in places where their access is deprioritized, has even stronger results. Lutheran World Relief School Kits contain essential supplies to help children — and in some cases, adults — continue learning in the face of serious obstacles. That learning leads to a better life for them, their families and their communities.

Our goal this year is to collect enough supplies through early October for 120 kits, each kit containing the following: 

FOUR – 70-sheet notebooks of wide- or college-ruled paper, approximately 8” x 10 ½” (LWR cannot use loose-leaf paper).

ONE – 30-centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other.

ONE – pencil sharpener.

ONE – pair of blunt scissors (safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well).

FIVE – unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers.

FIVE – black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink).

ONE – box of 16 or 24 crayons.

ONE – 2.5" eraser.

There is a basket in the Gathering Space for donations. 

Collecting school supplies with your children is a reminder that we need to continue to love our neighbors, near and far.  God’s love is everywhere!  If you have any questions, please contact me at kathyjopage@gmail.com.  Thank you for your support.

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

July 2025

Each month the Social Ministry highlights a special giving opportunity with July’s emphases to provide monetary support for 1- ELCA’s Global Missions’ Selian Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania Africa and 2- AMOS, “A Mission of Service” in South Dakota, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Selian Hospital, in Arusha, Tanzania http://selianlh.or.tz, (celebrating over 70 years and founded by Mark and Linda Jacobson) continues to thrive under local African leadership.  CLC is designated as an ELCA missionary partner congregation and continues to support Selian in their ministry of “providing competent and compassionate medical care, promotion of community health programs and proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

ELCA’s Global Mission nurtures the ELCA’s world engagement through the theology and practice of accompaniment by walking together with our global companions. Our work together has a multi-faceted approach to mission, from sending missionaries and personnel, to offering grants and scholarships designed to strengthen global church leadership and to support the ministries of companions.  https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Global-Mission 

An AMOS https://www.facebook.com/amissionofservice ministry team, including CLC’s Gail Mannington (Board member and Treasurer), regularly undertakes Medical Mission trips to South Dakota (Pine Ridge Reservation), in Guatemala (Esquipulas), and in Honduras (Copan).  On each trip AMOS provides medical clinics, health care, speech pathology services and education.  The next trip, to Pine Ridge, home of the Oglala Lakota tribe, and in collaboration with the nonprofit Re-Member, is leaving July 25 during Health Care Week.

During each trip the team sees and treats hundreds of patients during clinic days, and the needs are voluminous. AMOS raises funds to purchase and provide prescription medications, ointments, and vitamins, and also collects over-the-counter medications for the mission team to take (CLC members have donated hundreds of pounds of over-the-counter medicines).  

Help achieve our total goal of $2000 in July.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope mailed with check to CLC and indicate “Selian/AMOS” 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 the monthly social ministry emphasis.

Additional Opportunities:

Northwest Indiana Lutheran Food and Supply Pantries Donations.   

• Daybreak Men’s Shelter and Resale Shop https://newcreationresaleshop.com at 2102 Calumet Ave, 219-548-3548.  You can help feed our neighbors experiencing homelessness: Daybreak Men’s Center continues to be a daytime base for both single men and women working at the Resale Shop, providing daily meals and a space to be during the day. You can help feed their guests at the 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 for more information.  There is a basket inside door #3 for food donations. 

• Co-Action Housing Office https://coaction.care 2001 Calumet Ave., 219-548-2800.  Help stock our pantry with essentials: detergent (bottles and pods), paper towels, toilet paper, ramen noodles, canned soup, and dish soap?  You can drop off donations in the lobby at 2001 Calumet Ave., Valpo on Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.  If you purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist, they will be delivered to our housing office.

• Immanuel Food Pantry https://immanuelvalpo.org/food-pantry 1700 Monticello – drive up drop off items.  Donations can be dropped off 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 St., Valpo. 

To all our baby hat makers - it is time again! AMOS is taking their first stateside mission trip to the Oglala Lakota tribe at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota on July 25th.  The hats should be in smaller sizes since they are intended for newborns (sizes newborn - 6 months) and may be made out of any pattern and any yarn.  Please leave any completed hats in the AMOS box by Sunday, July 20th. Contact Angela Wehner at Cre8withangela@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you!