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This Church changes lives! |
News for the week of November 2, 2025
ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Our congregation will meet Sunday November 9, 2025 at 9:20am in the Sanctuary for our Annual Meeting, gathering for prayer, conversation, and discussion. Join us as we hear stories of the impact of our year in ministry, thank
our Council leadership, and elect our leaders for the coming year. Copies of our Annual
Report will be available soon in the Gathering Space. Questions can be directed to
Angela Wehner, Council President, or Pastor Tim. See you November 9!
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Advent Worship Services Wednesday, November 19; December 3, 10, 17 7:00 p.m. In-person & Livestream Blue Christmas/Longest Night First Christian Church Tuesday, December 16 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24 In-person & Livestream 4:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Sunday, December 28 Lessons and Carols One Service Only 9:30 a.m. In-person & Livestream
CLC Retreat - Save the Date!
Mark your calendars now for our annual congregational retreat:
February 20-22, 2026 at Lindenwood Retreat Center in Plymouth, IN
Jesus is the Reason for the Season! Continuing with our tradition at CLC, we are taking up a collection for Christmas gifts for our CLC
Staff. If you are interested in contributing, please either drop off your contribution to Jen at the church office or place it in the offering plate with the designation “Staff Christmas Gift.” It is our intention to divide the funds evenly among all of our CLC staff. Christmas will be here before you know it, please have all contributions in by Sunday, December 21. If you have any questions, please contact any Church Council Officer.
November Altar Gifts Holy
Communion Sara/Jeremy Long ~ In Memory of Allen & Helene
Bauer Vickie White ~ In Memory of William Altar Candles Michael/Lois Felten ~ In Memory of Paul Bretscher Grace/Jeff Safrin ~
Celebrating our daughter, Kelly’s Birthday Eternal Lamp Bill/Diana Iltzsche ~
Celebrating our daughter, Elisabeth’s 47th Birthday Vickie White ~ In Memory of William
Attention All CLC Musicians
Over the last few years we have had a great opportunity of having a youth orchestra providing beautiful music for our 4:00 pm family service on Christmas Eve. Since it has been a success, I’d like to extend an invitation to all members of our congregation this year who play or have played an instruments in the past to be a
part of an “Intergenerational Orchestra” for our family service. Moms, dads, siblings, cousins, and friends are all welcome to participate this year. If you are interested, please speak with me after any of our Sunday morning worship services, or email me at brian.bartusch@clcvalpo.org. Music will be available to pickup in the Music Room starting November 23rd. Brass, strings, woodwinds, and percussion—so dust off that trumpet or trombone, tune up that violin or cello, and come be a part of our Christmas Eve celebrations!
Brian
Bartusch/Director of Music Ministries
The CLC Youth silent auction November 2-23.
CIRCLE Dinner Providers Needed
Meals are needed for the high school youth group. Circle meets every Sunday from 6-8pm, with a meal
to start at 6:00. Would you be willing to cook a meal and share it with the kids? You would be cooking for about 15 people and are welcome to stay for fellowship. If you are interested, please sign up here or scan the QR
code:
Senior Group Outing Glass Blowing Thursday, November 20, 2025 FIELD TRIP to the Hot Shop Valpo Glass Company, 955 Joliet Road, Valpo. The Hot Shop will not be charging us any fees for the outing, unless you want to purchase something. For those interested, lunch gathering to follow at the Chili Bowl. If you have not already signed up, please call Beth Bigham at 847 323 2512 so you may be added to the signup sheet and to the carpooling list if needed.
Carpooling from church will be available at 9:15
a.m. Please indicate on signup sheet if carpooling is needed. Glass presentation will begin at glass shop at 10:00 a.m. Questions: Beth Bigham 847 323 2512.
Christ Lutheran Church offers a Grief Support Group every other week
on Wednesdays from 9:30 - 11 am in the Conference Room. (209). The group serves adults who have experienced a loss of a spouse, parent, child, friend, or neighbor. Come when you can. Coffee and Kleenex available. The group is facilitated by Cheryl Slack, a Stephen Minister. You may contact her at 219-241-0677 or one of the pastors if you have any questions. Upcoming dates are November 12 and 26; December 10 and 31; January 14, 2026 All persons experiencing grief are welcome to attend.
CLC Social Ministry and Mission November 2025 Each month the Social Ministry highlights a special giving opportunity pertaining to hunger, homelessness/housing, or mission. March’s specific emphasis provides monetary/volunteer support for the Daybreak Shelter (including Men’s Resale Shop) daybreakshelter.org and Gabriel’s Horn (in conjunction with Family Promise of P.C.) www.gabrielshelter.org Daybreak Shelter (500 Don Hovey Drive) and Men’s Resale Shop (2102 N. Calumet Ave.) support our unhoused neighbors in Valparaiso – Daybreak’s vision is that one day there will be a home for every unhoused individual within the City. Daybreak offers a 24-bed primary shelter for men, a co-ed overnight warming/cooling shelter, and a day center where individuals can receive case management and support as they work toward attaining
housing. See Daybreak’s webpage for volunteer signups to volunteer to prepare and/or serve a dinner at Daybreak. The Resale Shop is always in need of donated furniture and appliances. Please see a separate announcement in CLC weekly E-News about smaller items needed for donation to Daybreak during the month of November. Gabriel’s Horn in South Haven/Portage (792 McCool Road) is a Shelter for Homeless Women and Children. The short term shelter with supportive services include an aftercare program, arts &
crafts classes, counseling, case management, and transportation. The Shelter helps lives rebuild, return to independence, and find dignity and hope – together creating a supportive environment where dreams of stability become reality. Please see a separate announcement in CLC weekly E-News about items needed for donation to Gabriel’s Horn during the month of November. Help achieve our goal of $2500 in November (over and above giving - combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200). By achieving our goal CLC will help Daybreak
Shelter and Gabriel’s Horn continue to thrive. Use your weekly worship giving envelope with check to CLC and indicate “Daybreak” or “Gabriel’s Horn” or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website clcvalpo.org via the “Give”
button. Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry emphases.
Make Your Gifts Give Twice! CLC’s Alternative Gifts Fair is coming to the Gathering
Space on Sunday, November 30 and December 7, from 8-noon. Shop for ways to support fair trade, charitable organizations and local ministries. More details coming!
Let’s Fill The Gap! Fill the church grocery carts by the front entrance and the boxes in the Gathering Space to
support our Social Ministry partner organizations this month. GABRIEL’S HORN is collecting for their clients and to support local food pantries during this lap in SNAP benefits. DAYBREAK needs items since they are at full capacity in their men's shelter side ( will be up to 50 soon) and the warming shelter side will be filling up with the colder temperatures. Here are items needed that you can bring to church for the pantries: Cereals (low sugar, multigrain and kid friendly options) Instant oatmeal packages Pancake mix and syrup Breakfast
bars Canned vegetables and fruit Canned soups and stews Canned pasta meals Canned tuna and chicken Rice (any kind) Mac and cheese Pasta and pasta sauce Peanut Butter and jelly Apple sauce cups Trail mixes Popcorn packs Animal crackers Flour, sugar, spices Cooking oil Hot chocolate Coffee and teas 100% Juice boxes For Daybreak shelter: Paper towels Toilet paper Gallon Ziplock bags Laundry detergent pods ( unscented is best) Attention Thrivent Members: Thrivent Action Team Grants can be used for either shelter. Please contact Diana Iltzsche if you have Thrivent and need help completing a grant. They are very user friendly and helping feed or house neighbors is always something Thrivent wants to help members support. Diana Iltzsche (219-628-0950) or diltzsche@hotmail.com.
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QUILTS Quilts Completed: BABY CARE KIT PROJECT
2026 GOAL-500
KITS COMPLETED-0
NOVEMBER NEEDS-All clothing items can be used and 4 ounce bars of gentle soap.
INTERESTING FACT-The LWR Calendar year begins in November for 2026. 700 Baby Care Kits were assembled in 2025.
FABRIC KIT PROJECT
2026 GOAL-100
KITS COMPLETED-0
NOVEMBER NEEDS-Cotton fabric in 3 yard lengths.
INTERESTING FACT-136 Fabric Kits were packed in 2025.
ALUMINUM CAN PROJECT
2026 GOAL-$250
Cans collected-0
NOVEMBER NEEDS-CANS, CANS, and MORE CANS-FILL THAT RED TRUCK !
INTERESTING FACT-$190 were earned in 2025 from our CAN
COLLECTION!
NOTE: PLEASE WHEN COLLECTING AND
DONATING CANS PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE TRASH. THE LWR ALUMINUM CAN PROJECT IS FOR CANS ONLY. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING!
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