Adult Forum December 14:  The conversation focusing on Walter Brueggemann’s book:  Sabbath as Resistance:  Saying NO to the Culture of Now will conclude on Sunday in the Church Hall at 9:20.  Kathy Sutherland will facilitate that time together. Discussion will concentrate on the commandments that concern neighborly relations, climaxing with those regarding coveting, the act that is the ultimate destruction of the neighborhood, per Dr. Brueggemann.  Come for the first time or come, complete the conversation.  (Reading the book is not a prerequisite for participation.)   

Please, please, please consider helping during worship as an acolyte, lector, prayer assistant, communion assistant, ushering, light/sound tech, livestream tech. It is open to adults and children.

Let the office know if you have any questions. 

Please, please, please help– you are already sitting in the pews and it only takes a few minutes of your worship time.   Thank you!

HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Advent Worship Services

Wednesday: December 17

7:00 p.m. 

In-person & Livestream

Blue Christmas/Longest Night

First Christian Church

Tuesday, December 16

6:00 p.m. (new time)

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

Registration is now open for the CLC 2026 Retreat: Living as a Christian When the Ground Feels Shaky

We'll gather at the Lindenwood Retreat Center in Plymouth Feb 20-22, hearing stories of faith and sharing in study, worship, and fellowship. Follow the link/QR code below to register online!  Any questions ask Don MacMillan or Pastor Erica.

https://clcvalpo.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3325005

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.

THE ANGEL TREE HAS A FEW MORE ANGELS

Christ Lutheran Church has organized a way for you to give to others who need some help during the upcoming Christmas Season. Recipients of these angel gifts are for our families in the community.

Please take an angel, replace with ornament and return present gift wrapped by Friday, December 19.

December Altar Gifts

Holy Communion       

Bill and Diana Iltzsche ~ In Celebration of our daughter, Natalie Morrison's, 43rd Birthday!

In Loving Memory of Joyce Foreman

Altar Candles

Sara and Jeremy Long ~ In Memory of Carson and Vera Abbott (Grandparents)

Eternal Lamp  

Bill and Diana Iltzsche ~ In Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ!

Got coins or cash tucked away from past travels?  

If you have any foreign coins or paper currency remaining from past travels, please consider placing them in the offering plate.  It will be sorted and sent to support UNICEF’s mission to aid children in need around the world.    Let those leftover euros, pesos, yen or pounds go to good use! 

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:

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 December 31; January 14, 2026

All persons experiencing grief are welcome to attend.  

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

December 2025

Bethel Lutheran Church – Miller/Gary

• December’s Social Ministry emphasis is to provide monetary support, along with continuing collaborative activities, with Bethel Lutheran Church, a diverse, urban ELCA congregation in the Miller neighborhood of Gary, Indiana (part of NW Indiana Conf. Of IK  Synod) bethelmiller.org and facebook.com/bethelmillerbeach    Bethel’s Pastor is Rev. Joy Heine.  Bethel means "house of God" and members believe strongly “that the God of Jesus Christ truly is present as they regularly gather in fellowship around his Word and sacraments”.  CLC has partnered with Bethel over many years, including our 5th joint worship service at a Gary park this past summer, and it is wonderful to further build relationships with a sister congregation.  In December CLC and Bethel are partnering on a donation project with the Crisis Center in Gary.
• CLC began as an ELCA suburban mission congregation almost 55 years ago. The I-K Synod Mission and Urban Congregation programs some years ago refocused on needs of urban, rural, and diverse congregations.
• 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 Bethel Lutheran thrive with outreach activities to organizations such as Interfaith Action Network, Crisis Center, and Sojourner Truth House.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope with a check to CLC and indicate “Bethel” or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button.  Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry emphases.

Little Lamb Preschool Scholarship Needs

There are several families this year that are in need of tuition assistance scholarships.  Little Lamb has used most of our current scholarship funds to assist with this.  Unfortunately, we are forecasting even more need in our spring semester.  Christ Lutheran has always been such a generous partner in helping with our families’ needs.

Please consider donating to our scholarship fund so that we can help with this growing need for tuition assistance. Donating to the scholarship fund is an easy process.  You may donate by check (made out to Little lamb Preschool) or by using the Give Directly tab on the CLC website.  Please specify Little Lamb Preschool.

Thank you very much for all you do to help this ministry.