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.

2026 Lenten Dinners at CLC!!!

During Lent, you are invited to join in Lenten dinners at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at CLC, before each 7:00 p.m. evening service. Please sign up for each meal in advance in the East Link so that the cooks know how many to expect, and consider bringing a dessert to share. A free-will offering will be collected at each meal. Come and join in the fellowship!

Dinner schedule:

February 18 ~ Denise Maragos (Something Delicious)

February 25 ~ Hospitality and Outreach (Taco Bar)

March 4 ~ Stephen Ministry (Soups and Surprises)

March 11 ~ CLC Book Club (Potato Bar)

March 18 ~ CLC Choir (Sloppy Joes)

March 25 ~ Anna Zervos/Kathy Rowberg (Ham and Potatoes)

Service Opportunity February 16 for willing (but not necessarily skilled!) hands!  Meet me there - bring work gloves, and if you've got a toolbelt that's welcome as well - if you are unskilled like I am, I've been assured that we are welcome and needed! — Pr. Erica

Our mission partner Project Neighbors is in the midst of work on The Crossing,             a 23-unit studio apartment complex for veterans and others in need of housing in our community. The next volunteer day will be MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, from 8-11am. It’s President’s Day, so it is the perfect day to give back to our community.

We will be installing insulation and drywall, so there will be work for all skill levels, with all tools provided for you. All we need is you! Plus, we now have a humongous heater to keep us warm while we work.

The Crossing

850 Axe Avenue

Valparaiso, IN 46383

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.  

February Altar Gifts

Holy Communion       Safrin Family ~ In Celebration of Cam Kozloski’s birthday

Altar Candles              Vickie and Gregg Copeland ~ In Honor of Family

Eternal Lamp             Given to the Glory of God

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 February 25; March 11 and 25; 

April  8 and 22.

CLC Social Ministry and Mission

February 2026

Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.  Protect the rights of all who are helpless.  (Proverbs 31:8)

Social Ministry Emphasis for February is Hilltop House www.hilltophouse.org and Refugee Family Support Fund.

February’s emphasis is to provide monetary and volunteer support for Hilltop House, Hilltop Food Pantry, and CLC’s/Valpo’s Refugee Family Support Fund.  HH is located “on a hill” in a neighborhood west of Valparaiso U. where social service needs are real for the families and children living there.    HH can provide as a health care provider Medicare and Hoosier Healthwise benefits to those in Porter County living below the poverty level (estimated to be 9000 children and 4000 women in Porter County).  A gift of $50 permits Hilltop to provide childcare, health care, and community improvement activities within a child’s own family setting (also contributions may qualify for Indiana’s Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit). 

Also, plan to the Hilltop Soup dinner fundraiser Tuesday, March 3, 4-7pm at Porter County Expo Center. And, the Hilltop Food Pantry Hilltop | Food Pantry (hilltophouse.org) welcomes food donations at 606 Union Street, Valpo,

CLC’s/Valpo’s Refugee Family Support Fund has been a wonderful help to our local Refugee Family over the couple of years.  Our family has found housing, employment, a means of transportation, English language training, schools and music opportunities for the kids, faith communities, and more.  As the family continues to transition to life in Valpo and Northwest Indiana, this Support Fund continues to help the family move towards independence and sustainability.  Also, look for volunteer opportunities throughout the year to assist members of the family and to get to know the family better.

Help achieve our goal of $2500 in February (over and above giving combined with CLC’s budgeted amount of $1200).  By achieving our goal CLC will help Hilltop and our Refugee Family continue to thrive.  Use your weekly worship giving envelope with check to CLC and indicate “Hilltop/Refugee” or contribute through Subsplash on the CLC website clcvalpo.org via the “Give” button, choosing “Social Ministry Emphasis” from the pull-down menu.  Thank you to members for supporting monthly social ministry 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).

We are once again invited to provide delicious desserts for the Hilltop House Soups.  The event is located at the Porter County Expo Center on Tuesday, March 3 from          4-7pm.  Would you be willing to provide a dessert?

Please call the CLC office (219-462-6660) before February 24 if you have any questions.

The desserts should be delivered to CLC on Monday, March 2 - please put in the kitchen with a label and the desserts should be pre-cut. 

Another way to help would be to deliver soups from the restaurants to the Expo Center on March 3rd.  Contact Irene Adams (219-801-1585) if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance!

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.