Missing Women’s Black Leather Coat

Has a collar, no belt, size medium

Tiny pin on front “PEO”

If you find this coat please let the office know.

Thank you!!

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

CLC SENIOR GROUP 2026 KICKOFF ACTIVITY

February 26 @ 9:30 a.m. @ Church

(All are welcome to attend)

Thrivent is funding this helping event.  We will assist in tying quilts (blankets) that are going to LWR.  Both male & female volunteers are appreciated.  You do not need any special talents, other that tying knots.  All materials will be         provided.  The tying can be done while sitting or standing.  Thrivent is also providing lunch at 11:30 a.m. and all are welcome to stay - please email or text Judy at mbboom@comcast.net or 309-368-9536 or notify the church office, if you will be eating with us, so we will have enough food.

We are planning an event for the morning of March 26th.  More information will follow.  

Message from 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 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. 

LLP Registration

2026-2027 Registration is now open for everyone! We have plenty of Beginner AM and PM classes left and some afternoon Young 5/PreK spots.

The classes that will be offered this coming fall are: 

• Beginners Tuesday/Thursday AM 8:45-11:15 ($225/month). 3 & 4 years old. Must be 3 by August 1, 2026
• Beginners 3 Session AM Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00-11:30 ($275/month). 3 & 4 years old.  Should be 3 by Feb. 1, 2026
• Beginners 3 Session PM Mon/Wed/Fri 12:30-3:00 ($275/month). 3 & 4 years old.  Should be 3 by Feb. 1, 2026
• Pre-K AM Mon/Wed/Fri 8:45-11:15 ($250/month) 4 & 5 years old. Must be 4 by August 1, 2026
• Pre-K PM Mon/Wed/Fri 12:15-2:45 ($250/month) 4 & 5 years old. Must be 4 by August 1, 2026*
• Young 5’s AM Mon-Fri 9:00-11:30 ($357/month) 4 &5 years old. Should be 4 by June 1, 2026
• Young 5's PM Mon-Fri 12:30-3:00 ($357/month) 4 & 5 years old. Should be 4 by June 1, 2026*

*Enrollment of up to 16 students in these classes will combine for a split class of    PreK/Young 5.

An Extended Day Program will be available for Registration in Fall of 2026 for Spring Semester. Pre-K and Young 5 AM students, who will be attending Kindergarten the following school year, are eligible to enroll.

LLP reserves the right to cancel classes if enrollment is insufficient. A non-refundable registration fee of $175.00 is due at the time of confirmation of registration. Additional siblings registering for the same school year may pay a reduced registration fee of $119.00. Once you receive confirmation of registration from LLP you may pay for registration online via a link provided. The registration fee is not due until you receive confirmation that your child has secured a spot for the 2026-2027 school year.

Please contact Jen Gottlieb at 219-462-6660 #14 or LLP@CLCValpo.org for more information.

Registration is online at www.clcvalpo.org (click through to the LLP page).

Attention All Thrivent Financial Members! 

Do you have any Thrivent Choice Dollars that have not been directed to the charity of our choice? 

Minimum and maximum Choice Dollars Designations 

Eligible clients will be designated a minimum of 25 Choice Dollars and a maximum of 5,000 Choice Dollars per eligibility period (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). 

Choice Dollars designated during the calendar year can be directed until 

March 31, 2026. 

There are two ways of directing Choice Dollars to Christ Lutheran Church: 

Computer: Go to the Thrivent Financial web site (www.Thrivent.com) and direct the Choice Dollars on-line. 

Phone: Call Thrivent Financial at 1-800-847-4836. When prompted by the electronic answering system, say “Thrivent Choice.” Follow the remaining prompts, and a representative will come on the line to assist you. You will need your Thrivent membership ID number and will need to answer some other personal questions to verify that you are the Thrivent member who is on the line.