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Over the past two weeks, we haven't had much additional construction progress, but many new things are happening at Compton, just the same.
We pored over choices for counter tops in the bathrooms, as well as divider materials and floor tile. A sample of the cabinet doors for the kitchenette and counter top for the kitchenette, both of which have been donated by a member, allowed us to pick the floor color for that room, too.
Shortly after the photo at right was taken, we had a change in contractors for the carpentry work. So progress in putting up walls has slowed, but should pick up again when the new carpenter arrives in another week.
Donations and fund raising continue to be amazing. Please check the updated figures in the far right column.
In worship this morning, Nov. 11, we cele- brated the licensing of our student pastor, Jenn Simmons, witnessed by all present, including pastor Jacque Foster and area minister Penny Ross-Corona. Jenn gave the sermon today and celebrated communion. She also played guitar and led the congregation in singing an upbeat version of Be Thou My Vision. Thanks, Jenn!
On Sunday evening, Compton folks held a chili supper and costume party in Fellowship Hall. (Note: once the new kitchenette is finished and the accessible entrance is built, we can have such events on a level where everyone can easily take part.)
Marsha and Shannon came as the dirty laundry and the detergent.
Mary, our mistress of costume changes, came as Little Bo Peep this year. We still remember the Halloween Happy Friday when she came as a pumpkin!
Jacque and Dave had the most literary disguise. Can you guess what they are? (Hint: if you are from the South, you put them on your New Years Day menu.)
Jenn came as a bee, much to the delight of the youngsters present. About two dozen Compton folk of all ages, plus some friends from Isaiah 58, took part in the games, cakewalk, food and fun.
The accessibility project continues to make progress. As of last week, we were waiting for a second inspection of the electrical work. Once that passes, the framing can be inspected, and after that passes, we can have drywall! The plumbing has already passed inspection.
The top photo shows the framing and some of the electrical behind the door that leads into the new restroom space. At right is the plumbing and framing along the wall that will divide the men's and women's restrooms. A window in this former classroom straddles the new wall and will be bricked over.
Down the hall in the kitchen- ette, all is ready for the next phase. Pipes are ready for the sink, electrical outlets are in place for the stove and new refrigerator. All that is needed for carpentry and installation of the cabinets are those inspections!
An unexpected glitch was the need to install a new cutoff valve for the main water supply. As you can see, that ditch from a few weeks back has now been replaced with this clearly marked valve by the education building door.
We expect the contractor who will do the front entrance work to be available near the end of October. We are all hoping for a mild winter!
Please visit the sidebar articles about our financial progress, both from pledges and contributions as well as from fundraising. GoodShop is really taking off! You can painlessly donate $1.00 to Compton Cares by making 100 web searches on GoodSearch. Or, you can go through GoodShop for an online purchase and spend $100 with a merchant that donates 1%, or $34 with a merchant that donates 3%, or $20 with a merchant that donates 5%. Your cost is the same, but that $1.00 comes to Compton Cares. Just a thought as the holiday shopping season draws near. Thank you, everyone, for your support, your interest, your prayers for this project. We will publish updates here weekly, or when new developments take place.
Another week of electrical and plumbing work that doesn't really yield itself to being photogenic. Instead, this photo of Caroline Chueh, with her husband, daughter and relatives in Taiwan, serves as a reminder of what God's radical hospitality is all about. Last fall, three nurses from Taiwan who were studying for their doctorates traveled all the way to St. Louis to take courses at St. Louis University's School of Nursing. Caroline, Nissa and Catherine, as well as a fourth student, Pateree from Thailand, found Compton and worshipped with us until the semester ended. Although homesick and missing their children, they found a spiritual home with us and returned to look for new connections with Christian communities in their hometowns. This photo was taken Oct. 3 as the family was on holiday. On Oct. 6 and 7, Typhoon Krosa battered Taiwan before moving on to southern China. We pray that all of our friends and their families are safe. Thanks to the Internet, once they have electricity restored we can look forward to hearing from them again.
In the last few weeks, Compton outreach has resulted in some 29 hygiene kits being gathered and sent to the Festival of Sharing for women in Missouri prisons. Our Book Circle was featured in the "Find a Book club" booth at the Big Read in Clayton this past Saturday. And our special offering for Reconciliation Ministries is nearly $500, on its way to help transform the larger church and society to eradicate racism.
And giving to Compton Cares continues to grow. Use of GoodSearch is increasing, and we are thankful to all who use this means to contribute. If you have not tried GoodShop, please note that one modest online purchase through this site can equal 100 searches or more in contribution. Case in point: recently a relative was hospitalized in another state and I wanted to send flowers to her. Instead of looking for 800 numbers to call, I clicked on GoodShop, picked flowers and gifts, browsed the selections of some 4 different florists. I made my selection and my purchase. My relative had the flowers I ordered early the next day. The transaction was on secure sites and appeared correctly on my credit card. And just yesterday, 5% of the purchase price of $42, a total of $2.10 was added to Compton's credits on GoodSearch. It's a great way to do good while doing something for yourself or others, so feel free to check it out.
Hopefully by next week there will be more construction progress, and pictures, to show. Meanwhile, thanks for your support and prayers for Compton Cares.
No new photos this week. Most of the progress has involved wiring and plumbing pipes, being laid along ceilings, under floors, through various holes in walls, ceilings and floors. Lots of drilling and noise in the building, according to those who are there during the week. And a new cutoff valve for the main water line has been completed; that hole in the ground in last week's post is filled in.
In addition, Dave has been working with Zach (the supervising contractor) to figure out how best to use a gift we received from Jan--base and wall cabinets and a counter top that can be adapted to fit the new kitchenette! Additional cabinet doors, inside fittings and maybe another cabinet or two have been found on closeout from the manufacturer, so the new cabinets and counter top will be not only functional, but lovely. And quite a bit of expense saved there, thanks to Jan's generosity and Dave's ingenuity.
As soon as something new and photogenic arrives, we'll post more pictures!
This week found some of the Compton Heights women at the Southeast Gateway Area retreat at Orchard Crest Camp. The retreat keynoter was our own pastor Jacque Foster.
Jacque, Eva, Janice, Norma and Judi repre- sented Compton at this gathering of about 35 women. The rustic accommodations at the camp are both charming and something we are more aware of as we think about accessibility. Very little of the camp ground is easy access if a person has issues with arthritis or other mobility limits. But we had fun, anyway, and Jacque was a great leader. It was great to share Compton's mission with others from the area--note those Compton T-shirts!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, or church, most of the past week in construction has been about water, how to route it, how to drain it, and how to turn it on and off. Or so it seems. At right, new pipes are roughed in to serve a new sink in the kitchenette.
Both waste and supply pipes that once inhabited the space between the old kitchen- ette and old bath rooms have now been completely rerouted through the floor, up the walls and criss crossing the ceiling to gain access to the upper floor. A marvel of cast iron, copper and pvc.
As they have worked, the plumbers have been frustrated by the lack of working shut off valves in our building. Most of them appear to be frozen open, not a good thing. New this week is this excavation just outside the education building entrance to uncover a supply line that enters the kitchen on the ground level. Yes, it has a valve. The valve is open. It needs to be replaced. Stay tuned.
Over the past two weeks, we haven't had much additional construction progress, but many new things are happening at Compton, just the same.
Shortly after the photo at right was taken, we had a change in contractors for the carpentry work. So progress in putting up walls has slowed, but should pick up again when the new carpenter arrives in another week.
In worship this morning, Nov. 11, we cele- brated the licensing of our student pastor, Jenn Simmons, witnessed by all present, including pastor Jacque Foster and area minister Penny Ross-Corona. Jenn gave the sermon today and celebrated communion. She also played guitar and led the congregation in singing an upbeat version of Be Thou My Vision. Thanks, Jenn!
