June/July 2024 NewsVolume 72, No. 5

Summer has arrived, and I’m impressed with your faithfulness each Sunday. I know that you may have some special plans that take you away occasionally, but I do hope you’ll be present every week that you possibly can. Worshipping and fellowshipping regularly together is helpful to the plans that we are making together as a church family.

Most of you have heard that my last Sunday with you will be August 11. You all know my passion for nature. I will be entering the Master Naturalist program of the Department of Conservation. I’ll be in classes and field activities, learning about geology, ecology, forest ecosystems and management, native plants, birds, caves, and much more. Once complete, I’ll be volunteering with the Department in educational and conservation activities at state parks. It’s a whole new direction for me, and yet something that’s been close to my heart since I was a child.

I’m excited, because I am moving TOWARD something in this next stage of my life. In the same way, I hope that very soon, Compton begins to get excited about what you are moving TOWARD in your next stage of life. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “I have a purpose for you, says YHWH, my purpose for your prosperity and my purpose not to harm you, my purpose to give you hope with a future in it.” May God open us all to an exciting future!

Rebecca

Please Note: CHCC will Worship with Union Ave. Christian Church – Sunday, June 30th – 11 am. – Sharing church facilities with another congregation is one of the possibilities identified in our congregational meetings. We will have an opportunity to tour the building and spaces available for rental after worship.

Address: 733 Union Blvd., one block North of Delmar at Union and Enright Ave. Ample parking is available behind the church; access it from Enright off of Union. The entrance is off the parking lot.

Life of Compton Community

Prayer Requests

Please hold in prayer: Walt T, Howard M, Celia P’s sister; Nancy O’s mother and her neighbor Stacy; George H, Joan J’s aunt Adeline in hospice care; Diane R’s mother, her cousin Mona, and her uncle Jimmy; DebE M’s friend Sheila. We send our sympathy and send prayers to former members, Larry and Jan K. on the death of their son Duane. Duane’s celebration of Life was June 19.

We Also pray for: An end to fighting and human suffering in Ukraine, Gaza and Israel; an end to gun violence in the USA; all who are refuges from war, violence, or economic injustice; everyone affected by extreme weather events. All people experiencing loneliness, depression, isolation and grief. All of our LGBTQ family and friends. Anyone experiencing pain and alienation:may you know that God loves ALL of us.

NOTE: Howard M. has moved to Clarendon Clayton Sr. Living, 7651 Clayton Road, #1007, Clayton, MO 63117. Welcome Back to Rev. Bob M, who transferred his membership back to CHCC on June 16, after retiring from active ministry .

Weekly Worship Notes

• We worship in person on Sundays at 11 a.m. and service is also LiveStreamed on Facebook and recorded
• Masks are optional; if you need one, they are available as you enter the Sanctuary.
• We circulate during Passing of the Peace; if you prefer to keep a distance, feel free to remain in your pew and wave.
• Please sign the Greeter’s register as you enter, and pick up a bulletin.
• We offer Communion by intinction. You are invited to come forward to receive the bread and dip it into the cup.
• If you prefer to take communion in your seat, the individual cups are still available to pick up as you enter the Sanctuary.

Calendar of Events

• Sundays at 11 a.m. – Worship in person and live stream on Facebook
• Mondays at 7 p.m. – Spirit Bloom on Zoom: Mondays at 7 p.m.
• Prayer Shawl Circle: Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m. at Nancy O’s home
• Book Club: Saturday, July 13 at 1p.m. on Zoom
• Elders meeting: Wednesday, July 17, 7 p.m. on Zoom
• Congregational Meeting #5: Sunday, July 21, after worship in Fellowship Hall and on Zoom
• Open Mic Night: Friday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

Be A Genius!

Let our Pastor and Worship Team know That You can help on Sunday mornings! Liturgists , Elders and Deacons have been scheduled. If you cannot serve, please trade with someone!

SIGN UP to participate as: Streaming Tech, Greeter, Liturgist, Elder, Deacon, Nursery, Coffee Hour. Use Sign Up Genius

Opportunities to Connect

Coffee/Fellowship Hour is a Vital Ministry! Fellowship Hour after worship is a great time to connect, and also to get to know our transitional pastor, Rebecca Turner, better! Please volunteer to host or help with refreshments; see the sign up sheet on the library doors. You can simply bring a few snacks, or set out juice and make coffee, or both. Napkins, plates and cups are provided. Coffee Fellowship Hour signup is also available on SignUp Genius.

Spirit Bloom on Zoom is open to anyone with questions about spiritual development, or who would like to study scripture or spiritual questions for an hour and reflect with others. Feel free to join us, even if you live out of town, at 7 p.m. on Mondays.

Calling All Readers: Compton Heights Book Club

CHCC Book Club is open to all readers, and we meet every other month on Zoom. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, July 13 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will discuss “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride.

Pridefest – Saturday and Sunday – June 29th and 30th – Compton is joining with area Disciples of Christ congregations to sponsor a booth at St. Louis Pridefest downtown. We will also be at Tower Grove Pride on September 28-29 so mark you calendars now!

Open Mic Night Friday, July 26th

If you have been planning to come “Sometime,” why not come this month? Do you sing, play, recite poetry? Whatever your talent, we invite you to participate in our Open Mic event for all ages. Advanced registration is appreciated, but not required. Contact Diane Richardson to sign up to share your talent.

Birthdays!

Opportunities to Show Up and Serve Others

On Thursday, July 11 (a week later than usual) from 7-9 p.m. at Nancy O’s, join us to create shawls, blankets and more for our Prayer Shawl ministry. If you knit or crochet (or you would like to learn) come join us. If you would just like to enjoy a time for coffee/tea and fellowship, you are welcome too. If you need directions, send Nancy a message.

Bag of Blessings for Isaiah 58 Ministries

Please bring these items and place them in the bins or baskets at the rear of the Sanctuary.

June – Tuna, Canned Ravioli with Meat; Coffee, Tea; Diapers (sizes 5,6,4T, 5T) Baby Wipes; Multi-All Purpose Cleaner

July – Oatmeal, Canned Fruit (natural juices when possible); salt-free seasoning; toilet paper; dish soap (smaller containers are helpful.)

Isaiah 58 Ministries Back to School Fair Saturday, July 20

Click here for more information and how you can help.

Compton Heights CC is collecting items for the 2025 Back to School Fair!

That’s right, we’re preparing for 2025 backpacks. We encourage you to take advantage of tax-free weekends and other later-summer sales. CHCC is collecting packages of graph paper: look for packages of 80-100 sheets. We need 60 packages by Sunday, September 1. Available at Walmart, Staples, and on Amazon among other places.

Mid-America Regional Assembly August 8-10: Registration is Open

The Regional Assembly is part conference, part family reunion, part inspiration, and part business. The Assembly will be led by Compton’s own Madeline H who is serving her term as Regional Moderator. Thursday August 8 features a full day of workshops (including one about ministry beyond buildings) and an optional dinner. Friday offers more workshops and story telling and a dinner at the historic Pony Express Stables. Saturday features luncheons for Alliance Q and Disciples Women and the business session. Registration fee is $95 for all three days and includes box lunches and child care. Other options are available as well as hotel special prices on the regional website. Prices increase on July 1. July 1 is also the deadline to request child care.

Click here to sign up

Celebrate: Compton’s 130th Anniversary

April 2024 marked the 130th Anniversary of the founding of Compton Heights Christian Church. We will be celebrating throughout the year. If you would like to help plan celebration activities, please talk to Darrell H or Rev. Rebecca.

Here is the 2nd installment of CHCC History, from the book written by Agnes J Sierat-Taylor in 1994. (Limited copies are available to borrow for those interested.)

Recap: On April 1 1894, 162 people signed the charter document and dedicated a small chapel at the Corner of California and St Vincent Avenues near Lafayette Park. In the next two years, the new church grew rapidly, but tragedy struck on May 27, 1896 when a tornado devastated a large swath of South St. Louis and severely damaged the building. Although the congregation was barely able to pay the interest payments on its loan to build that first chapel, they managed to rebuild it and continue ministry with a consolidated loan from Board of Church Extension in 1900. By 1903, they had merged with Fifth Christian Church and dedicated a new, larger building on that site that served them for 30 more years.

For more than a decade, CHCC struggled to pay off the debt from this third building and succeeded in 1919, about the same time it celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Despite financial burdens, the congregation flourished, adding new members, reaching over 500 people through Sunday School. There was an active Christian Endeavor for young people, and both foreign missions and new local congregations were supported. One of them, Clifton Heights Mission, eventually became Watson Terrace Christian Church. Another congregation assisted was Overland Christian Church. An active Christian Women’s Board of Missions offered education and outreach, and CHCC was an early supporter of Open Membership. Women were first invited to serve on the church Board in 1919.

By the early 1920s, members began to feel a need to build a new and larger church at another, more central, location. A committee of charter members was commissioned and searched for a suitable location. In December of 1924, an option was taken on property at the corner of Grand Boulevard and Flora Place, where a 20-room mansion was located. In March 1925 the Commission on City Missions and Church Extension of the Metropolitan Church federation of St. Louis approved the relocation of Compton Heights CC. The property on St. Vincent and California was sold to the Lafayette Park Church of the Nazarene for $12,000. Proceeds from the sale and contributions by members, plus a mortgage, enabled CHCC to buy the property on Grand and Flora for $40,000. But there was one little problem.

In 1927, residents on Flora Place filed suit to prevent the church from razing the mansion to build a church, because that violated covenants restricting the property to residential homes that dated to 1897. It ended up in the courts which eventually decided that the Church could occupy the mansion, or build a church, but not on the lot closest to Flora Place. (That original lot is our Peace Garden today.) In 1929, while still in litigation, CHCC rented the formerJewish Synagogue at Flad and Spring streets. This temporary solution lasted for 13 years. By 1939, a study committee reported that the church seemed to have lost some of its vision and “aggressive spirit,” and CHCC joined a national program to revitalize church membership. In 1943 CHCC was asked to buy the synagogue, or vacate it within a year. The church was not in a position to buy. The question of what to do with the property on Grand and Flora became urgent. Should they ask renters of the mansion to leave? Or sell the property and look for a new location? After study, the Board recommended that since the property was free and clear (the mortgage had been burned in November 1943) that the congregation remodel the mansion and occupy it. The congregation moved in on February 28, 1944, and Compton Heights celebrated its 50th Anniversary on April 2.

Stay tuned for what happened in the next 25 years in the July-August newsletter. Meanwhile, members are currently being polled about whether to sell our building and explore other options for continuing CHCC’s 130-year ministry in the city. Congregational conversations are ongoing; next one is July 21.