Great Cloud of Witnesses: Stories of Faith and Resilience will continue to address the importance of listening to the stories of those from the margins who have much to teach about faith and resilience. 

May 3

This week we will listen to and discuss the video by Kaitlin Curtice from the “Why Christian?” (2018) conference which gathered together pastors, practitioners, artists, dreamers, and doubters around one question: Why Christian?

Kaitlin Curtice is a Native American Christian author and speaker. As an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Citizen Band and someone who has grown up in the Christian faith, Kaitlin writes on the intersection of Indigenous spirituality, faith in everyday life, and the church.

May 10

Come join us to listen to and discuss a video by Taína Rodríguez Encarnación called “ I Clap on the 2.”  This talk was one of a number of presentations on the ELCA National Day of Racial Healing, 2026. 

Taína Rodríguez Encarnación is a Puerto Rican educator, school counselor, advocate and builder of brave, beloved spaces in Chicago public schools and across the ELCA. A cradle Lutheran, she comes from a long line of pastors whose witness to God’s justice and mercy has deeply shaped her life. Encarnación’s vocation sits at the intersection of faith, mental health and advocacy for children, families and communities at the margins. 

 May 17 

Come join us as we welcome Charolette Hawkins as she talks about the history, meaning, and importance of the celebration of Juneteenth.  Charolette Hawkins has been a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Gary, IN, for nearly 40 years. She has served in many capacities, including Office Administrator. She has a degree in business administration/labor relations from Purdue University – West Lafayette and an MBA from Purdue University NW campus. She has two adult sons (Carlton & Travis), two adult bonus kids (Monica & Brian) and 7 grandkids. She is the co-chair of Interfaith Action Network (IAN), which advocates for social justice. She is deeply dedicated to her faith, her family and her church. Charolette is in formation for the Lutheran Diaconal Association.   

Sheltered in Grace: A Special Giving Appeal

Something remarkable is already happening.  Since we launched Sheltered in Grace at our meeting last week, $57,765 has already been committed — nearly halfway to our Foundation Goal of $120,000 for the sanctuary roof. Our Council and Property Committee gave first, and our congregation has been responding. There is real momentum here, and we are aiming higher.

Our goal isn't just to fix the roof — it's to reach the Hallelujah Goal of $250,000+, where every dollar beyond the actual roof cost goes directly to our mortgage principal. When we reduce that principal, we can request a reamortization: our lender recalculates our payments at the same rate on the lower balance. Lower payments. Less interest. Real budget relief that frees resources for ministry for years to come.

The roof is the occasion. Strengthening our financial footing is the opportunity.

Our goals:

· Foundation Goal — $120,000: Sanctuary roof replacement

· Hallelujah Goal — $250,000+: Roof + mortgage principal reduction

We are asking every household to prayerfully consider a gift over and above regular giving.

Commitment date: June 1 // Gifts received through: August 1

Make your commitment at 

clcvalpo.org/shelteredingrace, or return the enclosed commitment card. Interested in giving appreciated securities, a tax refund, or an IRA charitable rollover? Check the box on the card and Heather Budnik will be in touch.

What we built together is worth protecting — and worth investing in.

BUDGET UPDATE

In response to the budget meeting question about Pastor Erica's compensation, please note that the numbers for fiscal year 2024-2025 are not correct. The housing allowance presented was carried over from a prior year, but it should have been changed to the current number. The numbers for 2025-2026 and the proposed numbers for 2026-2027 are correct, and there are no changes needed to the budget passed at the meeting. 

Music at Christ Lutheran Church

Thursday (6:00 – 7:10 pm):  Celebration Ringers Handbell Ensemble 

Thursday (7:30 – 9:00 pm):  Sanctuary Choir rehearsal

If you enjoy singing or interested in ringing, we’d love to have you join one of our musical ensembles! Contact our music director Brian Bartusch (brian.bartusch@clcvalpo,org) or speak to him after a worship service if you are interested or have any questions.

Getting to Know CLC

Curious how God changes lives in and with this congregation?  Join us to for our “Getting to Know CLC” series as we explore Christ Lutheran's ministry, history, and teaching.  We'll gather for a 3-week series during the Formation Hour on Sundays (9:20am-10:20) May 10, 17 and 24 (Note:  the 24th is at 8:20) in the Sanctuary, followed by an opportunity to form0ally stand with the  congregation, confess our faith together, and declare that "Yes! God has something for me here."  

New Member Welcome on Sunday, May 24 during 9:30 service.

May Altar Gifts

Holy Communion       Vickie and Gregg Copeland ~ In Honor of Family

Altar Candles               Phil Hahn ~ in Memory of Laurel Hahn

Eternal Lamp              Given to the Glory of God

Box for donated items is located near the church office. You can donate until Sunday, May 3. Thank you in advance!!

Our friends at Bethel Lutheran Church have invited folks at CLC to a workday to clean up the Bethel Cemetery and help restore a beautiful space that is somewhat overgrown back into a lovely sacred place.  Anyone with a willing heart and with or without gardening skills is encouraged to come. Please join us on Saturday, May 16^th at 9am – 1pm.  Lunch is included. Please plan to wear gloves, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes as there is poison ivy on the site. 

Sign up in the Gathering Space. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Sutherland ([email protected] or 219-309-4414) or Tim Sutherland ([email protected] or 219-309-4413) 

Attention:  YOUTH

If there are youth in grades 6-11 interested in attending Lutherwald (June 14-19) , please let me know! [email protected]. 

I need to start the registration process soon! 

Communion Conversations for Children and Families

It’s time for our annual Communion Conversations - the chance for our young people to learn more about the sacrament. If you have a child who is ready to receive communion, or a child who is already receiving and is now old enough to join us to learn more (late preschool on up), please shoot me an email at [email protected] so that we can find a good time for everyone! (We usually try for a Saturday morning from 9-10:15am.)

Bible Basics for Third Graders and their families - Our tradition at Christ Lutheran is to help families mark their growth in faith and in reading skills with a Bible of the child's own, and a chance to stop and learn together about the Bible and how it brings God's living words of love to us. Our Bible Basics class for 3rd graders and families will be on 5/3.

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 May 6, 20, June 3, 17.

Christ Lutheran Church Endowment Fund Applications Are Now Available!

Since January of 2025, CLC’s Endowment fund has grown!  Thanks to the generosity of our congregational members through thoughtful living gifts, as well as planned gifts from estates and wills as their faithful stewardship of life assets. 

Now the interest accrued on the principle of these tithes of perpetuity has also increased each quarter, thanks be to God! These designated funds (Interest earnings only) are now available for ministry projects to support mission work by CLC members.

The CLC Endowment committee is (for the first time) extending the invitation to our congregation to apply for funds for local, regional or national projects that extend the ministry of Christ Lutheran Church beyond the scope of the annual operating budget. The TIMELINE for APPLICATION is May 1^st through July 1^st, 2026.

Click here for information on the grants and directions how to apply for endowment funding. It is exciting to see the generosity of our congregation multiply!

May The Lord continue to Bless CLC and our work, Amen.

Grace Safrin – CLC Endowment chair for 2026.

Questions after reviewing the attached info? Please contact me or Pastor Tim 

CLC Endowment Fund Corner 

Endowment Funds ending balance as of 3/31/2026 = $165,347.55.

The account balance is reflective of the market value as of 3/31/2026. The balance remains invested and is subject to market fluctuations.

Initial investment as of 1/25/2025 = $135,034.53.

Additional deposit made in November 2025 of $10,000.

Thank you.

The Endowment Committee

We Make Indiana Training: one-on-one relationship building

Join others from Christ Lutheran Church and our other We Make Indiana congregations as we work on building relationships based on empowerment and community activism which is the power that creates real change.  

In this training, you’ll learn: 

· How to lead effective 1:1 conversations

· Tools for listen deeply to others, especially across differences

· How to share your own story in a way that connects values to action

Saturday, May 9
10:00 - 12:00 CT
Christ Lutheran Church

Church Hall
 

SIGN UP with QR Code.  Questions?  Please reach out to Jennie Brock [email protected]

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

May 2026

• Each month the Social Ministry Committee highlights a special giving opportunity.  May’s emphasis is providing support for Reconciling in Christ  www.reconcilingworks.org/ric and LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County  www.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.  LGBTQ Outreach is participating in/helping sponsor a NWI PrideFest the weekend of June 6-7 at Sunset Hill Farm.
• Help achieve our goal of $2500 in May (over and above giving combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200).  Use your weekly worship giving envelope mailed with check to CLC and indicate “RIC/LGBTQ Outreach” 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 monthly social ministry emphases.

Senior Outing

May 28, 2026

11:00 a.m. 

The American Factory by Journeyman Distillery, Valparaiso

Tour

Lunch TBD

$15.00 per person

More information contact 

Cheryl Watson at 

[email protected]

219-929-4253