Looking to the Future God Has in Store for Us

Dear CHCC,

You are a light! You are inspiring! How your community of faith and your ministries of inclusivity and justice are so very needful in St. Louis and in our world today! How great has been the depth of your passion and commitment, especially in these months since bidding farewell to Pastor Jacque and Dave Boger! You have simply done church exceedingly well!

And so now, how shall we build up and strengthen CHCC for the future that God has in store for you? This is the “big-picture” call for this blessed time that we call interim ministry in the life of congregations.

The Center for Congregational Health outlines Five Focus Points for congregations to engage during the interim period. I shared these with the Board at our December meeting. The Board agreed that there is value in spending time engaging these Five Focus Points.

How we will do this has not been pre-determined by the Board or by me. There is no “point A to point B”
roadmap to follow. I will simply bring the Board, and you, ideas and possibilities for engaging these Five
Focus Points as we journey along. We may determine that some Focus Points need more or less attention
than others. The methods for engaging the Focus Points may include one-on-one, small group, large group and congregation-wide activities, conversations or events.

In addition to the Five Focus Points, we will also be attentive to the interim work that the Board outlined
last year to do: support CHCC’s on-going ministries of inclusivity and justice; work through challenges of
intergenerational ministry; work through grief on Pastor Jacque’s retirement; discern CHCC’s call as a
community of faith as it calls a settled minister. In fact, we feel that much of this work is connected to
the Five Focus Points and will, therefore, be tended.

As you know, CHCC is my first call to Intentional Interim Ministry. I could not ask for a better congregation in which to begin this new chapter of my ministry. I am learning and growing alongside you. I welcome and covet your straight-forward, honest feedback and suggestions. Though my focus is on building up and strengthening you for the future, I am also here to care for you (and with you) in this interim time. Please don’t hesitate to call on me if I can help pastorally. I respond to phone calls, texts and emails.

Both Kim and I thank you for your great welcome and hospitality to us these first two months! We wish
you and your families a very blessed New Year! May God’s goodness and grace energize and inspire our
interim work together!

Grace & Peace,

Steve

The Work of the Congregation During the Interim Period: Focus Points
Steve Westbrook, Intentional Interim Pastor

In order to successfully navigate the transition period, a congregation pays attention to these Five Focus
Points developed by the Center for Congregational Health: Heritage, Leadership, Mission, Connections, Future.

Heritage: reviewing how the congregation has been shaped and formed. The congregation’s heritage,
both corporate and individual, is the foundation upon which the present rests. Paying attention to
heritage means encouraging and hearing all of the stories about the congregation’s past, and embracing
the rich variety that makes up this particular congregation.
Leadership: reviewing the membership needs and its ways of organizing and developing new and
effective leadership. Transition time provides opportunity for individuals and the congregational
organizations to examine the types of leadership needed. New leaders will emerge, while some seasoned
leaders may re-commit or may decide to refocus their gifts.
Mission: defining and redefining sense of purpose and direction. The primary work in this area involves
clarifying the faith community’s identity and core values, working to develop mission and vision
statements, and perhaps even working out short-term tactical plans.
Connections: discovering all the relationships a faith community builds outside of itself. Sometimes
congregational life is so busy that congregations and their leadership forget to attend to their connections both to their denomination and to the network of communities around them. Transition is an appropriate time to re-asses old links and to consider new ones.
Future: developing congregational and pastoral profiles. Focusing on the future requires a healthy and
honest assessment of the other focus points so that the congregation can turn its energy toward proactive decision-making for the future.

The Interim Period offers the congregation a variety of possibilities to engage the Five Focus Points.
Knowing that each situation is unique, the Interim Minister strives to discern the tools that are most
appropriate for the specific situation.
Reflecting upon these five Focus Points helps a congregation to answer the questions,
“Who are we?”
“Who are our neighbors?”
and
“What is God calling us to do?”

Worship Schedule

NOTE! Starting on January 9, Worship will be on ZOOM and not In Person. The Board made this decision on January 5. Transmission of COVID-19 is very high right now and all hospitals are overwhelmed with infected patients. The Board will revisit this decision as the month progresses.

Calling all who worship with us! There are several volunteer opportunities to participate in worship each week. Click here for SignUp Genius

If you want to server but need help with the online signup, contact Kathy Mead.

January Home Communion: Elder: Leslie Latham; Alternate: Nancy Obermiller; Deacon: Tom Litton
January 9: EPIPHANY SUNDAY – Communion: Carolyn Harry; Stewardship: Diane Richardson
January 16: Stewardship Emphasis: Forward in Ministry – Communion: Judi Linville; Stewardship: Leslie Latham
January 23: Stewardship Emphasis: Forward in Ministry – Communion: Becky Kelmme-Elicieri; Stewardship: Nancy Obermiller
January 30: Dedication of Annual Stewardship Commitments – Communion: Leslie Latham; Stewardship: Marsha McGuire;

February Home Communion: Elder: Becky Klemme-Elicieri; Alternate: Diane Richardson; Deacon: Kim Litton
February 6: Communion: Diane Richardson; Stewardship: Carolyn Harry

Prayers of the Community

Please hold in prayer: Audrey and Walt T., Karen P., Howard M., Bud and Nancy O., Katherine K., Cathy H.

Also: Those who have been affected by recent tornadoes. Those who are struggling with loneliness, depression and isolation this time of year.

Those who have lost lives and family to COVID. Medical workers who are facing increasing cases in the latest outbreak.

All who experience pain and alienation that they may know that God loves all of us, and we may choose and build healthy relationship with ourselves and others.

January Birthdays

1 – Kim L and Xavier L

6 – Ron H

9 – Susan P

19 – Jan K

21 – Judi L

23 – Raymond S

28 – Shannon W

February Birthdays

5 – Deanna S

14 – Maddie K-E

18 – Matthew C and Lynda G

20 – Hugh R.

21 – Annabelle M

23 – Celia P

28 – Nancy O

Book Club News

Thanks to Madeline, we will have the pleasure Vivian Gibson’s company for our discussion of her book, “The Last Children of Mill Creek”. Ms. Gibson will meet with us at our usual meeting time on Saturday, January 8 at 1:00 p.m.
An email explaining this opportunity for discussion, with the Zoom link, will be going out to the entire congregation. Thanks everyone for helping to choose a great book. Thanks, especially, to Madeline
for arranging to have Ms. Gibson join us.
—Liz Vollmar

• Wednesday, January 5, Board of Ministry Meeting
• Saturday, January 8, Book Club, 1 pm
• Sunday, January 9, Epiphany Sunday Worship on Zoom 11 am
• Monday, January 10, Spirit Bloom on Zoom 7 pm
• Sunday, January 16, Worship on Zoom 11 am
• Monday, January 17, Spirit Bloom on Zoom 7 pm
• Wednesday, January 19, Elders Meeting Zoom 7pm
• Sunday, January 23, Worship on Zoom 11 am
• Sunday, January 23, Annual Congregational Meeting on Zoom, immediately following worship service.
• Monday, January 24, Spirit Bloom on Zoom 7 pm
• Sunday, January 30, Annual Stewardship Commitment Sunday, Worship on Zoom 11 am

Ministry and Mission Notes

We plan on telling some Worship & Wonder stories in the nursery in the new year when in-person worship resumes. Watch for a schedule. Several members have expressed an interest in volunteering to help with Worship and Wonder. Please contact Leslie Latham or Kathy Mead and we will arrange for Safe Church boundary training and Storytelling training.

Kitchen Remodeling

The kitchen renovation is proceeding with the first stage was completed during Christmas holidays. A new epoxy floor is the first step, followed by installation of a new stove. Other projects in 2022 will include a vent hood, new movable tables, installation of a donated dishwasher and two refrigerators. New painting and lighting will complete the work, which is funded in part by donations in memory of Judy Hunter.

Winter Weather

When we resume in person worship this winter: If snow, ice, or other hazardous conditions happen on a Sunday, we will
switch to worship on Zoom. Everyone will be notified by a telephone call from your care elder or phone tree member. Please make sure that the church has your current phone number(s). Notify Madeline Haraway of any changes to your contact information, please.

Isaiah 58 Ministries

Isaiah 58 is remodeling to transition to a Choice Pantry to serve their guests. A fundraising project is underway and you can find ways to help by checking their website. Click here for I58 website Also, Isaiah 58 Executive Director, Rev. Brenda Booth, is posting every day on the Isaiah 58 Ministries FaceBook page about the ministry. Check it out!

Stewardship and Outreach

Our annual Stewardship Commitment emphasis will take place January 16-30. Please watch for a personal letter and estimate of giving form in your mailbox and/or e-mail inbox soon!
As 2021 came to a close, it was clear that the Overflowing Generosity of our congregation had not only continued our historic ministry at Compton Heights Christian Church through a pandemic, but also had some distinct highlights. A full list of those will be included with your letter. Please read it and recall
how much we managed to do for ministry despite many obstacles and restrictions!
Now it is time to consider how we can continue to support and grow this ministry that embraces
ministry in the city. In 2022, as we move Forward in Ministry, we will begin the work of discernment of
our strengths, our areas that need attention, and our future mission as we are led by our intentional
interim pastor to involve everyone in the process of discovering our call and ministry priorities.
Please prayerfully consider your time, talents and treasure as we gather estimates of giving and
plan to dedicate them on January 30 in Worship. Remember that these statements from you are handled
in confidence by our Financial Secretary, Marty Renner-Hughes.