Getting Ready for Palm Sunday and Easter

Saturday before Palm Sunday--Time to clean up inside and out to prepare the Sanctuary and grounds for Holy Week and Easter. A hardy group arrived at 9 a.m. to rake leaves, spread mulch, and tidy the garden area.

Update: Jacque notes in her comment that 20 adults and 2 babies were present for the cleanup project!

Madeline, Guang and Bryan said they couldn't believe how many leaves had persisted over the winter --since they had been raked twice last fall.

Jan says you have to trim and take out the old before you can plant the new, so she attacked the bulb bed.










It was a great day to air the babies while their parents worked. Jenn and Sarah take a break to watch the playpen. Marty just takes time to admire our youngest members.

Elizabeth and Peter shared the space well, even holding hands at one point. After Peter kicked Elizabeth, she let him gnaw on her fingers. A fast friendship.

Inside a smaller crew attacked the pews and floors, scrubbing and running the vacuum. Walt is cleaning pew cushions. Who knew we had so many?

Arlene and Norm scrub the pews and arrange the song books and Bibles. Every time Norm or I started to wipe down some thing, Arlene said, "I've already done that."

Cindy scrubbed the "gunk" that accumu- lates under the pews and generally kept us going. She also cooked the frozen pizzas that Jan brought for us to eat for lunch. Yes we did all eat pizza. The inside work was finished by lunch, but the grounds crew kept on working into the afternoon.

One outdoor chore remains to be done later. Marty had brought blooming annuals and ferns but they are too tender to survive the freeze predicted for Monday and Tuesday nights of next week. So they will stay in a corner of the narthex for now.

Spring Cleaning and Lent Activities

This blog has undergone a little spring cleaning: it has a new title and some page elements have been rearranged. We still follow the Compton Cares Campaign (note the fundraising updates as of today) in the sidebar at right, but from now on, the blog itself will highlight various missions and activities at Compton Heights.

Lenten Activities Continue

• Tuesday, March 24: Soul Care at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, March 26: Isaiah 58 Ministries Annual Meeting and Dinner--7 p.m. at Fiver Star Older Adult Center
• Friday, March 27: Happy Friday from 6:45-8 a.m.
• Sunday, March 29: Worship at 10:45 a.m.; Church School 9:45-10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 1: Board of Ministry Meeting at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, April 2: Shawl Knitting Ministry at 7 p.m. at the Linville's
• Friday, April 3: Happy Friday from 6:45-8 a.m.
• Saturday, April 4: Spring yard cleanup and Sanctuary spruceup 9 a.m. to noon.
• Sunday, April 5: Palm Sunday! Worship at 10:45 a.m.; Church School 9:45-10:30 a.m.

Lent at Compton

Some upcoming events during Lent at Compton Heights.

• Thursday, March 5: Shawl Ministry Group at Jenn Taylor's.
• Saturday, March 7: Spring forward for Daylight Saving Time before going to bed!
• Sunday, March 8: Worship at 10:45 a.m. Sunday school at 9:45.
• Tuesday, March 10: Soul Care at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 11: Elders' Circle at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 15: Worship at 10:45 a.m. Sunday School at 9:45
• Thursday, March 19: Lenten Event on "Living Faith." Supper included at 6:30 p.m. Make RSVP for childcare by March 8, please.
• Saturday, March 21: Reading Circle 10 a.m.-Noon at 6 North Coffee
  
• Sunday, March 22: Worship at 10:45 a.m. Sunday School at 9:45
• Tuesday, March 24: Soul Care at 7 p.m.

Every Friday from 6:45 to 8 a.m.: Happy Friday
For more information about services or events, please call the church at 314-771-5071.

Annabelle Christine is Here

Annabelle Christine was born on Feb. 21. Parents DebE and Dave, as well as grandpa Bob and aunt Kim, are all exceedingly happy. Welcome to Compton's 4th baby in the past year!

Compton Anticipates Another Baby

A table full of gifts and another table full of delicious food greeted guests and the guests of honor on Saturday, Feb. 7 at a shower held in Fellowship Hall for DebE and her husband, David, who are expecting a little girl to be born at the end of this month. Members of the church joined friends of the couple in this anticipation celebration.

Hosts for the party were DebE's father Bob, back for a few days from Iowa, where he is a pastor, and her sister Kim, who decorated the room according to a Dr. Seuss theme, right down to the green eggs (avocado salad) and ham on the buffet table.

Guests got to play a Dr. Seuss trivia game but cheating was allowed, since most of the Seuss books were decorating the tables. And despite a last-minute "Save Horton" protest, everyone enjoyed the creative cake baked and decorated by the expectant mom's multi-talented dad. We eagerly await our chance to meet the fourth baby to be born to a Compton couple in less than a year.

Stewardship: Share The Gifts

Gifts Given and Gifts Received
at Compton Heights Christian Church in 2008

Worship, every Sunday of the year, plus many other opportunities.
Lively adult study and reflection every Sunday.
Soul Care group twice monthly
An Advent devotional created with Affton CC
Education and care for Eden seminary students JENN SIMMONS and LORRIE KOVELL
A new class for children!
A “Time of Wonder” became part of worship for young and young in heart
Ministry of our pastor, Jacque Foster: challenging sermons, spiritual care when we are hurting and challenges when we’re sitting back, leading us in celebrations.
Six new members and many visitors interested in membership. In 2008 we welcomed Michelle McConville, Leslie Latham, Talya Perry, Bob Miner, Kim Miner, and DebE Miner-Martin

Celebrations

The lives of Mildred Kuhn and Norma Santhoff
The marriage of Shannon McGuire and Matt Walton
The births of Elizabeth Taylor Witten, Owin Henderson, and Peter Eliot Richardson, and the anticipation of welcoming baby Miner-Martin in February 2009.
Dedication of the Compton Cares Accessibility project

Outreach and Service

112 pairs of SHOES given on Barefoot Sunday (Soles for Souls) for those in need.
Pro-Reconciliation/Anti Racism study
Ministry of hospitality to community by Happy Friday
Participation in Hike Against Hunger
Support for our new missionaries in Haiti, Kim and Patrick Bentrott
Continued support of Isaiah 58 Ministries
Participation in Disciples of Christ Coffee Project (fair trade!)
Reduced the use of paper and Styrofoam
Recycling more cans, paper and cardboard
The ministry of hospitality at PrideFest
A new Prayer Shawl Ministry!
Increased giving to 6 special offerings
Participated in the St Louis Gypsy Caravan
Additions to the Church Garden and Pet Blessing
Hosted Thanksgivng Worship and Dinner with Tyler Place and others

Congregational Life

Upstairs restroom painted and refurbished
New children’s classroom was created
New church sign in progress for front of church and new banner sign on south side of building
All-church Cookout and Game night in July
Yard day and Hootenanny fellowship in October
Choir gains 3 new members
Mini-retreat in September “At Table—Becoming Disciples Together”
Elder-Deacon Event for experienced and new elders and deacons; elders’ reflection with Affton CC Elders
Advent Event: Budding architects and builders build gingerbread houses
Compton Rising Reading Circle begins 4th year

Stewardship
2008 offerings totaled $81,604, surpassing the budget goal of $79,000. (Our 2009 budget goal is $83,300.)
Met our goal of reducing dependence on Bequest Funds by $10,000

Midwinter Ministry Opportunities

Several special events are on the schedule at Compton Heights this month. Here are some of them:

• Soul Care, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m.
• Elders' Circle, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m.
• Happy Friday, Friday, Jan. 16, 6:45-8 a.m.
• Worship, Sunday, Jan. 18, 10:45 a.m.
• In the Bleak Midwinter Service of Healing and Light, Thursday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m.
• Happy Friday, Friday, Jan. 23, 6:45-8 a.m.
• Reading Circle, Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m.-noon at 6 North Coffee (The book is The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Cohelo.)
  
• Commissioning of New Elders and Deacons, Sunday, Jan. 25 in worship (10:45 a.m.)
• Congregational dinner to celebrate God's gifts. Sunday, Jan. 25 after worship (bring a dish to share)
• Soul Care, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m.
• Happy Friday, Friday, Jan. 30, 6:45-8 a.m.
  
• Stewardship Commitment Sunday, Feb. 1

Note: all of our ministry groups are eager to welcome new participants, whether for one event or the whole year. Contact the pastor or Kathy Mead, moderator, for more information.