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This Church changes lives! |
News for the week of January 4, 2026
SCAM ALERT REMINDER They continue to be persistent! Once again, scammers are impersonating CLC Staff by text and email. Please be cautious! If the "from" address does not match
our CLC addresses, it is fake. If a text comes from a number that is not in your contact list, please do not reply! If you are ever unsure, call the church office to confirm. REMEMBER: our staff will NEVER ask for help with gift cards, and we DO NOT ask for assistance as we're going into a meeting. IF IT'S A NEW NUMBER, DO NOT RESPOND! That is the only way they will get tired of targeting us.
NEEDED: CHRISTMAS CARDS WHEN: ANYTIME WHERE: SANDY KEAMMERER’S
MAILBOX Sandy collects cards all year, so keep them coming.
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.
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
Message for our Stephen Ministers We have prepared, decorated, been renewed; we've celebrated, sang those familiar and loved
Christmas hymns, and we have gathered as we were able. Now we begin un-decorating and returning to those familiar patterns. Perhaps now is the right time to seek out a person to listen, to trust confidentially, as those concerns and bothersome details resurface. The birth of the One we celebrated is now in the world, active and available to all of us. Someone wearing those blue name badges or either Pastor is waiting to speak with you about having your own Stephen Minister. There are 17 of us, highly trained to faithfully walk with you, support you, on your
journey.
January Altar Gifts Holy Communion
Phyllis Schroeder ~ In Memory of David Safrin Family ~ Celebrating our Grandson, Luke, 9th Birthday! Altar Candles Phil Hahn ~ In Memory of Laurel Hahn Eternal Lamp Michael & Lois Felten ~ In Memory of Connie Felten Bretscher
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. The core group of peer support welcomes others to walk together in our grief journey . 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 January 14, 28; February 22, 25, 2026.
CLC Social Ministry and
Mission January 2026 “Spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed” (Isaiah 58:10). First Contact, Inc. and Mike Steiner Congregational Member Needs Memorial Fund.
Each month the Social Ministry highlights a special giving opportunity and volunteer opportunities. January’s emphasis is to support 1) First Contact Porter County https://facebook.com/firstcontactportercounty and 2) the Christ Lutheran Mike Steiner Benevolence Fund.
First Contact is a not-for-profit interdenominational resource
and referral ministry, which endeavors in the name of Jesus to assist Porter County residents in need. The vision of FC is to engage a community of givers, through churches, individuals, and organizations to help support those facing hardship. FC has offices in Valparaiso and Portage. When Porter County residents come to the offices of Christ Lutheran with needs as described above, First Contact is our partner in helping address these
needs. FC also welcomes volunteers to help in staffing their office hours. Mike (Marjorie) Steiner was a member of Christ Lutheran who through her will asked her family to donate her financial savings (about $15,000) to CLC. She asked that these monies be used to help CLC members who at a particular time have social, physical, and financial needs. The Social Ministry Committee established policies and procedures for making effective use of these funds to benefit those
needing help with rent, utilities, emergency food, medicine, and counseling. It has been years since Mike’s initial gift, and numerous CLC members have benefited, so the fund needs new donations each year. Help achieve our goal of $2500 in January (over/above giving combined with CLC’s $1200 budgeted amount). By achieving our goal CLC helps First Contact and Steiner Fund thrive. Use your weekly worship
giving envelope with a check to CLC and indicate “F.C./Steiner”, or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website https://clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button. Thank you to members for supporting
monthly 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.
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QUILTS Quilts Completed: 53 BABY CARE KIT PROJECT 2026 GOAL-500 KITS COMPLETED-75 JANUARY NEEDS-1 yard of flannel or more and girl tops and boy shirts in sizes 6 months to 2T. INTERESTING FACT- There are fewer items available at local resale shops.
FABRIC KIT PROJECT 2026 GOAL-100 KITS COMPLETED-8 JANUARY NEEDS-Cotton fabric in 3 yard lengths. Solid colors and printed designs can be used. This fabric is sent to LWR SEWING CENTERS somewhere in the world where sewing skills are taught. INTERESTING FACT-Since 2016 when this project started here at CLC, 1,310 kits have been sent.
PERSONAL CARE KIT PROJECT KITS COMPLETED 108 JANUARY NEEDS-CASH TO BUY NEEDED ITEMS IN BULK.
ALUMINUM CAN PROJECT 2026 GOAL-$250 Cans collected-0 JANUARY NEEDS-Fill the red truck or the white basket in the Gathering Area EACH SUNDAY! Having a party over the holidays that includes aluminum cans, remember to save them for LWR. INTERESTING FACT- The money earned from the cans purchased about 280 4 ounce bars of soap in 2025.
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