This morning we took the latest change bank collection to the bank. After all was counted, we have a contribution of $75.63, from the accumulated pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters of Compton folk. Since the beginning of Compton Cares in the fall of 2006, the change bank has raised $613.54. Thank you, everyone. It's not too late to start saving change. The bank will be at coffee hour after church on Sunday. Every Sunday!
This photo of the Happy Friday crew from Compton Heights was featured on St. Louis station KMOV-TV, Channel 4, on Thursday, Oct. 23, during a local community talk show. It was taken the preceding Friday, Oct. 17, when there was a fall chill in the morning air. Seen, from left, are Roger, Madeline, Larry, Arlene, Kathy, Jan, and Brenda. (Hint: if you click on the photo, it will enlarge and you can see everyone clearly! )
Great job, everyone! Happy Friday celebrated its 4th anniversary in September. The crew offers free coffee and hot chocolate to people commuting to school or work on South Grand from 6:45 to 8 a.m. For more about Happy Friday, visit this link on Compton's web site. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Simmons, KMOV.)
Saturday, Oct. 18, was a cleanup day at Compton Heights, followed by a fellowship supper, campfire and sing-along at the Kreuger's new condo one block south. The front of the church facing Grand Blvd. is now fully landscaped with hardy roses, perennial grass, and seasonal sweet potato vines and blooming pansies. It's a truly welcoming entrance.
Fall plantings and some fresh (and free!) compost enhances the peace pole that is a focal point of the entrance to the education and office wing. The pole is decorated with "Peace" in multiple languages, including Hebrew and Chinese.
All of the garden beds got fresh mulch. Here Norm, Leslie and John wait for the next load of mulch to arrive in Dave's little red truck. We learned that homeless people sometimes sleep on our three park benches at night, and they have taken to policing any trash that shows up in the garden.
At last, another load of mulch. Liz, Darrell and Madeline get to work transferring it to wheelbarrows. By 5 p.m., all the plant beds were tucked in for cold weather and the tools were stowed away.
This is the second floor unisex bath room that Leslie and Dave have renovated. New or re-set fixtures, a fresh coat of pale mauve paint and some pictures on the wall make this former cramped and somewhat scary space inviting and functional. Some ladies will be taking sewing lessons in a room on our second floor in a training program sponsored by the Islamic Foundation of St. Louis. Now they also have a functional restroom to use. Thanks Dave and Leslie!
After some overgrown bushes were removed during the clean up day, the Compton Sign is now clearly visible from the street. In addition, a new sign is coming before long to further increase our visibility on the corner.
Jan and Larry invited everyone to Compton Gate patio for a picnic supper followed by a marshmallow roast and sing along, with two fire pits to keep us all mostly warm in the low 50-degree evening. It was a great ending to a fine fall day.
On Saturday, some 20 people and 10 dogs gathered in the garden at Compton for a blessing of pets. Items representing absent pets were also brought--we aren't sure how many. The renovation of the lawn next to the church has made such gatherings possible. Upcoming, on Saturday, Oct. 18, we'll have a lawn cleanup and garden winterizing day starting at 2 p.m., to be followed by a cookout, marshmallow roast and folk singing around a fire pit, all at the Kreuger's new condo community.
September 12, 2008--Tower Grove Park was the lovely setting for the evening wedding of Shannon McGuire and Matt Walton. The outdoor ceremony was held on the patio of the Piper Palm House, overlooking the lily ponds. Guests were treated to a memorable reception inside the Palm House, the oldest greenhouse west of the Mississippi River, now meticulously renovated and restored. Shannon and Matt graciously set up a web site where guests could, if they wished, purchase gifts that would return a portion of the cost as a donation to Compton Heights. The organization is the I Do Foundation, and it's a great idea. Congratulations and best wishes to the couple, who are now home from their honeymoon cruise and back at work.
Gifts in memory of Norma Santhoff have been received from the following donors. The list may be incomplete but additional donor information will be published as it is received. We are grateful for Norma's family and friends who chose to honor her life in this way.
Joseph Santhoff Melva McDaniel Glenydon and Marjorie Smith Pernelle Zeller Stephanie Maupin Marc Zeller Phyllis Benson Millie Slack Deborah and Edward McCrumb, Jr. Robert F. Zeller Fred K. Zeller Donna and Jerry Stockglausner Joseph and Patricia Santhuff Marcella and Andrew Depka Doug Hughes Jean Schloemer Enright The Rev. Hugh and Barbara Wilson Jan and Larry Kreuger Nancy, Don and Julie Keller Marjorie Skotvold Anonymous
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.
This photo of the Happy Friday crew from Compton Heights was featured on St. Louis station KMOV-TV, Channel 4, on Thursday, Oct. 23, during a local community talk show. It was taken the preceding Friday, Oct. 17, when there was a fall chill in the morning air. Seen, from left, are Roger, Madeline, Larry, Arlene, Kathy, Jan, and Brenda. (Hint: if you click on the photo, it will enlarge and you can see everyone clearly! )
Saturday, Oct. 18, was a cleanup day at Compton Heights, followed by a fellowship supper, campfire and sing-along at the Kreuger's new condo one block south. The front of the church facing Grand Blvd. is now fully landscaped with hardy roses, perennial grass, and seasonal sweet potato vines and blooming pansies. It's a truly welcoming entrance.
Fall plantings and some fresh (and free!) compost enhances the peace pole that is a focal point of the entrance to the education and office wing.
All of the garden beds got fresh mulch. Here Norm, Leslie and John wait for the next load of mulch to arrive in Dave's little red truck. We learned that homeless people sometimes sleep on our three park benches at night, and they have taken to policing any trash that shows up in the garden.
At last, another load of mulch. Liz, Darrell and Madeline get to work transferring it to wheelbarrows. By 5 p.m., all the plant beds were tucked in for cold weather and the tools were stowed away.
After some overgrown bushes were removed during the clean up day, the Compton Sign is now clearly visible from the street. In addition, a new sign is coming before long to further increase our visibility on the corner.
On Saturday, some 20 people and 10 dogs gathered in the garden at Compton for a blessing of pets. Items representing absent pets were also brought--we aren't sure how many. The renovation of the lawn next to the church has made such gatherings possible. Upcoming, on Saturday, Oct. 18, we'll have a lawn cleanup and garden winterizing day starting at 2 p.m., to be followed by a cookout, marshmallow roast and folk singing around a fire pit, all at the Kreuger's new condo community.
