Updates on Mission at Compton Heights Christian Church
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Construction for the Holidays
The Outdoor Phase of Compton Cares con- struction has begun! The concrete con- tractors began work on Wednesday, Dec. 26. When people drove by for Happy Friday and when they arrived for worship on Dec. 30, this lovely orange net greeted them. After 5 months when the work was mostly indoors, now all the world can see that we are "doing something" to the entrance of the church.
Access to the education building is temporarily blocked by the grading and forms that will become the new ramp to the sanctuary level, as well as a new sidewalk to the education building door. In these photos the grade of the new ramp is beginning to take shape.
This view is from the side of the sanctuary toward Grand Ave. The drains from the roof were discovered to be disconnected from the storm tile underneath, so they have to be repaired before work on this side can proceed.
This view of the South side of the sanctuary entrance shows how badly the steps and brickwork on the plaza have deteriorated. All of this will be replaced, and brick will be used to face the portion that faces the street. The city's Landmarks commission required that for our permit.
A bad section of the walk from Flora Place to the education building has been broken out and slated for replacement, too.
Guest preacher on Dec. 30 was the Rev. Norm Linville, filling in for Jacque as she took a well deserved break visiting her family.
The Tree of Warmth collected a second offering this year. It was cleared once, and donations given to Isaiah 58 ministries, but on the 23rd and 30th, new offerings appeared.
Progress inside the building is evident in the Gleaners' classroom. A few feet of the room was taken for the new accessible restrooms, and the utilities were routed across the ceiling. Here, the new ceiling lights and grid are in place that will hide the work when the room is completed.
Workers are using the Gleaners' classroom to store and stage their work, but the new wall is in place and primed for a new coat of paint.
I just love your Compton Cares Update! The pictures are great and remind us of the progress. Even though we see it on a regular basis, it can just seem like "mess" after a while. Yesterday we realized that the post office had stopped delivering mail due to that bright orange plastic fence! (Perhaps "in rain, or sleet, or snow" ... but not with construction!) In the midst of all this, you remind us of the direction and progress of it all! I hope others are enjoying the blog as I do!
Our new sign includes a mosaic from pottery and glass donated by members. Julia Krovicka, an artist who is a Friend of Compton, created our new sign. To visit our church web site, just click on the photo.
Compton Cares has made our building more accessible and welcoming for ministry by renovating the Grand Boulevard entrance to the sanctuary, and adding accessible restrooms and a functional kitchenette on the main floor. Construction started Aug. 29, 2007 and was completed in early May 2008. We celebrated and dedicated the new facilities on June 14, 2008.
Loans for construction did accrue interest, driving up the total cost. A campaign for renewed pledges and new gifts in order to retire the remaining debt of approximately $31,500 (at 3%) concluded in December 2009, with enough in pledges to retire that debt by Oct. 31, 2012. However, as of December 1, 2011, we have enough contributions on hand to retire this debt either by the end of this year or in the first month of 2012! Thanks be to God for this blessing!
Fund Raising
Our goal has been to retire our remaining debt on the Compton Cares project by Oct. 31, 2012, when the 3% loan rate expires. To hasten this process, we have held various fund raisers that everyone could take part in, regardless of their financial situation. Here are totals from these fundraisers to date:
GoodSearch/GoodShop $627.00 eScrip $450.78 (eScrip now benefits the CHCC budget) Change Bank $964.54 Aluminum cans and scrap $595.72+ Gypsy Caravan 2008: $1,133.00 Gypsy Caravan 2009: $969.00 Bazaar 2009: $1,362.65 Bazaar 2010 $1,748.10 Mini-Bazaar 2011 $102.00 Bridgeton Fund Grant: $6,500.00
GoodSearch , an Internet search engine, donates part of its ad revenue to the charity of your choice. Clicking the link in the list below will take you directly to the page for Compton Heights. This site also includes GoodShop, easy to use without registration. New businesses are added to GoodShop weekly so check to see if your favorites are there, or e-mail the GoodSearch folks and they will add one for you! Please check to make sure that Compton Heights Christian Church St. Louis is in the Who do You GoodSearch For? window! Thank you and please keep searching and shopping!
eScrip earns from 1% to 5% and more of purchases. Schnucks Markets is a St. Louis area participant, as is Macy's. Enrollment cards are available at church or at Schnuck's grocery stores. Simply give your eScrip card to the checker to scan every time you buy groceries! All income from eScrip now goes into the church operating budget!
A Change Bank brought in a significant contribution to Compton Cares for 4 years. In 2011 we redirected the change bank into a challenge to help fund a mission trip to India by 4 of our members.
Cans (aluminum only) can be deposited in a large container in the hall opposite the choir room. Please bring them rinsed. When we get 100 pounds collected, the price we receive doubles. At least $600 has been raised for Compton Cares. After the loan is paid off, the can collection will continue, and a new recipient for it will be indicated.
1 comment:
I just love your Compton Cares Update! The pictures are great and remind us of the progress. Even though we see it on a regular basis, it can just seem like "mess" after a while.
Yesterday we realized that the post office had stopped delivering mail due to that bright orange plastic fence! (Perhaps "in rain, or sleet, or snow" ... but not with construction!)
In the midst of all this, you remind us of the direction and progress of it all! I hope others are enjoying the blog as I do!
Many thanks!!
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