Mark your calendars

There will be one worship service during the summer months beginning on June 8 at 9:30 a.m.

May Altar Gifts

Holy Communion       Barb and Bill Lieske ~ Celebrating our twin boys' 40th birthday!

Altar Candles               Phil Hahn ~ In Memory of Laurel Hahn

Eternal Lamp              Phil Hahn ~ In Memory of Laurel Hahn

Welcoming & supporting a neighbor--Refugee Family Group

We've heard so much about our neighbors--last year, we welcomed a refugee family to town, helping them become established and successful as part of the Valparaiso community. Their life here has been good--a group of us from CLC and partner churches have been helping them establish housing, jobs, schools, assistance, and all of the necessary elements that make for a successful life in the US. It's been a wonderful experience to become friends with the family and support them in this part of their journey.

Join us! You are invited to join us for an overview and update on our work over the last year.

Group members, let's get together for an update on our work over the last few months. We have a lot to talk about!

**-- Refugee Family Support Meeting --**

Sunday, May 18, 12pm, CLC Church Hall

Need to contact an organizer? Email Lucas Ecklund-Baker at valpo.refugees.news@gmail.com, text/call to (219) 508-1497, or talk with any member of the leaders group.

See you there!

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

May 2025

Each month the Social Ministry Committee highlights a special giving opportunity.  May’s emphasis is support for Reconciling in Christ reconcilingworks.org/ric and LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County lgbtqofpc.org 

Reconciling in Christ (RIC).  After the three-year process of Deepening Our Welcome, Christ Lutheran became a Partner Organization in the Reconciling in Christ program (2024).  RIC is a holy ministry of welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy.  RIC’s believes that God values and embraces each person as a child of God, the Spirit gives a diversity of gifts for the common good, and Jesus calls us to work for justice.  As a RIC member congregation, we have the opportunity to support RIC in its work to bring more congregations into the “Lutherans for Full Participation” ministry.

LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County.   LGBTQ Outreach promotes an affirming community to LGBTQ+ youth and adults, through empowerment, advocacy, opportunity, and support.  The vision is to have a community (including churches) that affirms that people’s differences are seen as also our strengths.  LGBTQ Outreach serves community and allies by providing opportunities for employment, conversation, and connections, and education for the broader community. 

To help us support these ministry partners please use your weekly worship giving envelope with a check to CLC and indicate “RIC/LGBTQ Outreach” or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button and choose Monthly Social Ministry Emphasis.  Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry emphases.

Graduations 

On May 25 we will acknowledge those members and friends of our congregation who have graduated from High School, College, Technical and/or Advanced Degree Programs during the past year (summer 2024 - summer 2025). Please add your name to the list in the Gathering Place so we may recognize your accomplishments or email the office: jen.bias@clcvalpo.org

Retirements

Similarly, if you have retired during the past year (summer 2024 - 

summer 2025) please sign on the list in the Gathering Place so we may 

recognize your years of service and dedication or email the office:  jen.bias@clcvalpo.org.

The Pines Village Retirement Community is looking for a 6 ft. pool table for the members to use. 

Please contact Jerri Walesh at (219) 252-9331 for more information.

Senior Group

Thursday, May 22 @ 9:30 a.m. 

Church Hall

Come & hear about America's Greatest Treasure, our National Parks, at the Senior Group meeting on Thursday May 22 at 9:30 am. Explore with Beth and Milan Coburn the beauty, diversity, uniqueness, and significance of our National Park system. The Coburns have visited all 63 of the National Parks and have lots of information to share. Invite your friends to attend this program. 

Snacks will be provided.