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 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.   

Summer Family Faith Activities

Mark your calendars for this year’s Family Faith Activities right after Sunday Morning Worship - June 14, June 28, and July 12. On June 14, we’ll stay at CLC for a potluck, Bible Story and Art Project. Stay tuned for details on June 28 and July 12 - field trips and service projects in the works!

Sheltered in Grace: The Congregation Has Spoken

It was just 2 weeks ago we launched our “Sheltered in Grace” campaign, and already:

$85,705 committed. In fourteen days. Nearly 70% of our Foundation Goal — and we are just getting started.

When we launched Sheltered in Grace, we believed this community would show up. You always have. The roof that needs replacing has become the occasion for something bigger: a congregation deciding, together, that our sanctuary is worth investing in — and that our financial future is worth fighting for.

We are not stopping at the Foundation Goal. We are going for the Hallelujah Goal: $250,000+. Every dollar beyond the roof cost goes straight to our mortgage principal. Reduce the principal, request a reamortization, and we unlock lower payments for years to come — real money freed for real ministry. That is what this moment can be.

If you haven't made your commitment yet — now is the time. Join the 70% already on their way.

Our goals:

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

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

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

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

We built this place together. Let's protect it — and then some.

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. 

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             Tammy Basich ~ Celebrating Jeremy’s April Birthday

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.)

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