The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of the movement. Throughout our history, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning to educate students and form leaders to make a difference in the world. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education. Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps support the education of thousands of students at our fifteen colleges and universities as well as our seven seminaries and divinity houses.
Isaiah 58 Ministries provides a list of food, pantry essentials, personal care items and cleaning supplies each month. You are invited to bring any of these items to place in the Isaiah 58 Offering Basket on Sunday morning or you can drop off donations at Isaiah 58 Ministries’ entrance off the alley behind the building. The alley can be accessed from Flora Place. Donations are received M-F, 10am-1pm.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5: 22-23.
You are invited to join our Compton Heights Community in sharing the joy of belonging to what will soon be 130 years of ministry in the City of St. Louis!
Our ministry is one of extravagant welcome to all people and fostering spiritual growth throughout all stages of life. From the beginning, we have not let tornadoes, or the Great Depression, or not having our own building for years deter us from our mission.
We have relied on faith and God’s purpose for us. We have grown in the Spirit of generosity. We are generous with our time, our talents, our prayers, and yes, our money. And we have experienced joy in knowing that we are helping to fulfill God’s purpose for the world.
We are part of a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. We welcome all to the Lord’s table as God has welcomed us.
Embracing ministry in the city, we are a people called by God to be a community of mercy and grace in the Spirit of Jesus the Christ.
As you individually, or with your family, consider your intention to participate in this congregation during the coming year, prayerfully think about what Compton Heights Christian Church means to you, and about how you want to keep growing in the Spirit of Christ.
In worship on Sunday, November 5, we will offer our intentions for financial giving in 2024. At the same time we will remember and celebrate the faithfulness of all of the saints before us who answered the call to proclaim God’s love and care for the needs of our neighbors.
Please fill out the RSVP card below, and bring it with you on November 5, or mail it to the church to the attention of Marty Renner-Hughes, financial secretary.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! ——————————————————————————————————————————
RSVP to Compton Heights Christian Church
I/We intend to give the following amount from our resources for the ministry in 2024:
$______weekly or $ ______monthly. I/We will give electronically _____ Need envelopes ____
Isaiah 58 Ministries provides a list of food, pantry essentials, personal care items and cleaning supplies each month. You are invited to bring any of these items to place in the Isaiah 58 Offering Basket on Sunday morning or you can drop off donations at Isaiah 58 Ministries’ entrance off the alley behind the building. The alley can be accessed from Flora Place. Donations are received M-F, 10am-1pm.
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.” Psalm 125:1
Dear Church: As you all know by now, at year’s end, I will complete my work and partnership with you in our interim journey.
From the start, (November 1, 2021) our mutual intention as congregation and Interim Minister was to work together until Compton called a Settled Minister.
But, alas, the financial resources of the congregation at this time cannot ethically justify the continued high overall percentage investment you have placed in an Intentional Interim Minister over these last two years, which you have made in great good faith!
This reality and circumstance is the fault of no one! The Cabinet/Board will be working to outline a plan for the new interim phase in the New Year. Stay tuned.
The structural foundation to support and sustain the entire interim journey has been formed. Through Compton Oneing and the Vision Action Team, every idea, project, process, and initiative for all ages is being “tracked” and nurtured in Four Ministry Areas:
Worship & Faith Formation Congregational Fellowship Community Engagement Care/Use of the Building & Relationship with Isaiah 58 Ministries.
Much of the fruit of this work is being realized this fall. Knitting Group, September 7, October 5 Disciples 101 Sunday School, September 10, 17, 24 Compton Oneing, October 1, Work on challenges with inter-generational ministry Creative Worship, October 1, African-American Spirituals & Reconciliation Sunday Trivia Night, November 17
Final round of grant proposal for shared youth minister with Oak Hill & St. Johns Formulation of “capital campaign/fundraising” team for outstanding building debt Advent Congregational Fellowship, TBA
In 2024, Compton Heights Christian Church will continue this interim work and journey.
In the meantime, we continue to do as much as we can together. All of us have placed our trust in God’s goodness and grace for a very long time. We do everything that’s within our power to do, and then, we trust God to ever show us the way in all circumstances.
That’s who we are as congregation. That’s who we are as clergy. That’s why we call it our FAITH journey!
In continued gratitude, faith and trust,
Steve
Prayers of the Community
Image credit: Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
Please hold in prayer: Walt T., Penny and Howard M.,Nancy O. for her mother, George H., Joan J. for her aunt Adeline in hospice care, Diane R.’s mother and her cousin Mona, DebE M.’s friend Sheila, Leslie L.’s parents, Carolyn H.’s sister. We Also pray for: An end to fighting in Ukraine; an end to gun violence in the USA; all who have been killed, injured and driven from their homes to refuge in other countries and those affected by extreme weather events. Everyone struggling with loneliness, depression and isolation. All who grieve the loss of loved ones. All of our LGBTQ family and friends. Anyone experiencing pain and alienation:may you know that God loves ALL of us.
Weekly Worship Notes
CHCC continues worshiping in person on Sundays at 11 a.m.Masks are optional; do what works for you. We now circulate during Passing of the Peace; if you prefer to keep a distance, feel free to remain in your pew and wave. Continue to sign the Greeter’s register as you enter, and pick up a bulletin and communion elements.
SIGN UP to participate in worship: Streaming Tech, Greeter, Elder, Deacons, Liturgist and Nursery Volunteer. PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME! Click here to sign up.
New Study On Sunday Morning: Disciples of Christ 101
Have you ever wondered where the name “Christian Church Disciples of Christ” came from? Or why we have regions and a general minister and president? Why we take communion every Sunday and who is welcome at the table? What it takes to become a member?
Answers to these and more will be shared in a new Sunday morning adult short study for everyone—new and longtime members and guests. The Rev. Brenda Booth will lead these sessions for 3 weeks beginning Sept. 10 at 10:00 a.m. in the library. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join a lively half hour of discovery!
Erasers Are Still Needed
We are still collecting pink erasers for the school backpacks that Isaiah 58 ministries will distribute in 2024. Our goal is 200, and at last count we had 140; shop those sales!
September
2nd Talya P.
2nd Ethan B
9th Madeline H.
9th Becky K.-E.
18th Walt T.
26th Carolyn H.
October
5th Bud O.
9th Penny M.
15th Monte A.
17th Cassie S.
23rd Marsha M.
28th Liz V.
Upcoming Events
Sunday Worship is at 11 a.m. in person and live stream on Facebook
Choir Rehearsal at 10 a.m. on Sundays
Disciples 101 beginning Sunday, Sept. 10 at 10:00 a.m., Library Spirit Bloom on Zoom Mondays at 7 p.m.
Board of Ministry: Wednesday, September 6, on Zoom
Book Circle: Saturday, September 16 at 1 p.m. on Zoom
Elders Circle: Wednesday, September 20, on Zoom
Tower Grove PrideFest: September 23-24, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Pastor’s Cabinet: Wednesday, September 27 on Zoom
Open Mic Night: Friday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
World Communion Sunday Celebration, October 1
Oneing Event & Lunch re Ministry with Children and Youth: October 1 after Worship
Ministry Groups: Wednesday, October 4, 7 p.m. on Zoom
Yarn Craft Circle: Thursday, October 5, 7 p.m. at Judi Linville’s home.
Festival of Sharing ShareFest: Saturday, October 7 at LifeWise
Tower Grove Pride September 23-24
Once again, Compton Heights will have a presence at Tower Grove PrideFest the last weekend in September. Our booth offers us a chance to bear witness to God’s love and a chance to connect LGBTQ+ people, hear their faith stories and possibly find a welcoming church home.
Our booth is located in the Orange Zone on the above map, we will be on south side of Humboldt Circle – booth O-SIC-3 – which means Orange, South Inner Circle 3. Our booth is staffed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Click here to sign up to help staff our booth.
Open Mic Night – September 29th
Bring yourself and a friend or two to our next Open MIC Night on Friday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Sing, Play, Speak! Light snacks are provided. Make a new friend or two as well. Advance registration is appreciated but not required. Contact Diane R. to sign up to share your talent.
Special Oneing Event October 1
Join us for lunch and discussion immediately following worship – Dale Kuhn, LCSW, former Executive Director of Care & Counseling will lead us in a conversation to name our challenges and identify next steps to bring greater unity of mind and purpose in caring for and partnering with children, youth and families. Lunch will be provided.
What/Who is Compton’s Community?
This was the topic for reflection at the Sept. Board of Ministry meeting. One person’s notes included the following ideas:
A community that supports people, heals wounds, encourages faith. A safe place to question and explore questions of faith. An authentic welcome and radical hospitality. The Good News is that You Are Loved just as you are. A place of nurture, of striving for Wholeness in a Fragmented World. A place that tries to Walk the Walk…Black Lives Matter, PrideFest, All Means All, Differing Abilities. We are all flawed and sometimes fail, but we try to do the best we can; we try to take away barriers. A place where people of all faiths and of no faith can experience the love of God.
What would you add? If our Church closed its doors tomorrow, who would miss us?
Special Offering for Reconciliation Ministry
The Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering is received each year in congregations on the last Sunday in September and the first Sunday in October (in solidarity with World Communion Sunday). Funds generated by this special emphasis are used throughout the year to provide grants to ministries and congregations actively developing and implementing programs that promote our Church’s Pro- Reconciliation and Anti-Racist identity. These programs and efforts seek to reveal, re-educate, and remove systemic and structural barriers in our communities that serve to deny the image of God and human thriving based on race.
This past summer a grant from Reconciliation Ministry helped our partner, Isaiah 58 Ministries, create a special program for their highly successful Juneteenth Celebration on June 17 that was attended by more than 150 folks from the community.
Our gifts to Reconciliation Ministry strengthen our Church’s witness to God’s unending love for all of humanity. With our generosity, leaders, communities, and our congregations are being equipped to witness to God’s love and justice in all times and in every season. The time is always ripe to stand up for justice to ensure that all of God’s children are treated equitably.
Stewardship: Every Gift Matters
Beginning on October 15, we will be hearing from some of our members about what Stewardship—of time, talent, money—means to them. Also we will think about what Stewardship of creation, of our building, and of our relationships and personal health mean. All of this will be leading up to a time of personal commitment for our giving in 2024 that will be held on Sunday, November 5.
We don’t yet have a theme. Maybe you can suggest one: contact Judi L., Marty H., or Kathy M. Some of our past themes have included: Forward in Ministry Forward in Faith Generous Living, Generous Giving More than Enough
Remember
Please volunteer for Coffee Hour; see the sign up sheets on the library doors. October needs you!
Your gifts support pro-reconciliation / anti-racism programs through education, camp and conference, and relationship-building in each expression of our Church. Our Reconciliation Ministry strengthens our Church’s witness to God’s unending love for all of humanity.
With your generosity, leaders, communities, and our congregations are being equipped to witness to God’s love and justice in all times and in every season. The time is always ripe to stand up for justice to ensure that all of God’s children are treated equitably.
We will receive the Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering on September 24th and October 1st (in solidarity with World Communion Sunday). Funds generated are used throughout the year to provide grants to ministries and congregations actively developing and implementing programs that promote our Church’s Pro-Reconciliation and Anti-Racist identity. These programs and efforts seek to reveal, re-educate, and remove systemic and structural barriers in our communities that serve to deny the image of God and human thriving based on race.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through your generosity.
As part of our “Month of Mission”, we are collecting items for Church World Service (CWS) hygiene kits. When people are forced to abruptly leave their homes because of emergencies, they may not have time to pack the things they use on a daily basis like toothbrushes or soap. But after a few days without these items, they definitely miss them. Your hygiene kits offer a refreshing daily boost for someone when supplies are hard to come by.
Here is what we need:
One hand towel measuring approximately 15″ x 28″ to 16″ x 32″ (no fingertip, bath, dish towel or micro-fiber)
One washcloth
One wide-tooth comb removed from the package
Must be sturdy with at least 6 inches of teeth
No pocket combs or picks
Rattail and combs without handles are acceptable
One fingernail or toenail clipper removed from the package (either one is acceptable)
One bath-size bar of soap in the original package
One toothbrush in the original package
Ten standard size Band-Aids
Toothpaste is not needed. A tube of extended expiration date toothpaste will be added to each hygiene kit just prior to its final journey.
There are collection baskets in the hallway outside of the sanctuary.
Isaiah 58 Ministries provides a list of food, pantry essentials, personal care items and cleaning supplies each month. You are invited to bring any of these items to place in the Isaiah 58 Offering Basket on Sunday morning or you can drop off donations at Isaiah 58 Ministries’ entrance off the alley behind the building. The alley can be accessed from Flora Place. Donations are received M-F, 10am-1pm.
June is PRIDE month. As Disciples of Christ, we describe ourselves as “a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world”; as an Open and Affirming congregation we have stated that “…we strive to create a safe and supportive community in which all Christians may worship, study, serve and seek the guidance of God’s Spirit as we face the decisions of life and faith.”
Throughout this month, let’s celebrate Pride at church! Let’s continue to bear witness to God’s love for all God’s children. Let’s deepen Compton’s mission and commitment as an Open and Affirming congregation. On June 24th and 25th, we will participate in St. Louis PrideFest by joining with other Disciple congregations to sponsor a booth to celebrate and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. If you would like to help staff our booth, a sign-up link is available now.
To begin the celebration, I offer this prayer from Rev. Mak Kneebone, pastor of Plymouth United Church in Spring, TX and the first transgender president of the UCC Open and Affirming Coalition.
****************************************** Holy One Of Blessing, eternally we co-create ourselves in your love. All companionship orientations; All gender identities and expressions; All ways of having family. We celebrate this Pride month for LGBTQ+ peoples everywhere Knowing that many are still not safe to come out; To be free; To live life abundantly. Heal all who are ill in body, mind, heart or spirit. Bind up all wounds and provide adequate care. Extinguish any stigma people are enduring. This month, we celebrate because everyone should be celebrated. We are your body on earth. May our love and hope be sent on the wings of this prayer To all who need refreshing, affirmation, and love’s embrace.
Steve – May it be so.
Our Interim Journey: Notes from Steve
Thank you, Church, for your on-going engagement with our interim journey. Also, a special ‘thank you’ to each of the members of the Vision Action Team (VAT) who have been providing leadership since last Fall!
Kathy Mead, from the VAT, provides this great summary of the interim journey thus far:
Compton started our interim journey in August 2021 when we celebrated with Jacque on her 25 years of ministry. Since that time, we have met in [3] Oneing Events where we named our core values, our spiritual gifts, our dreams for ministry and for the future of Compton.
The VAT took the information from our Oneing Events, from conversations in Board meetings and Elders meetings and identified areas of ministry that we as a congregation have stated are important to us as we move forward.
Building community
Providing Opportunities for Spiritual Growth
Creative Worship
Strengthening community
Engaging the Arts to enrich our ministries
Desire to be in relationship with Isaiah 58 Ministries
Care and Use of our building as a resource for Compton’s ministry and the Ministry of Isaiah 58
The congregation and VAT have created projects and plans based on those ministry areas:
We’ve started regular Open Mic Night.
We formed a community action group.
We revised our by-laws to reflect the size of our congregation.
We are moving toward a more project focused way of doing ministry.
We completed evaluations on our building and have formed a building use committee to work with I58 ministries – to look at, not just maintenance or structural issues – but to look at how we use the building.
There are two lunch and learn events in planning stages.
Education event around Transgender issues
Education event around autism.
We are planning a Radical Hospitality Event that will be a safe space for honest conversation around the challenges of intergenerational ministry.
At our Oneing Event on April 30th, we asked for additional ideas, projects and plans in four areas:
Worship/Faith Formation/Spiritual Growth
Care for and use of our building/Relationship with Isaiah 58
Fellowship/Community building
Outreach/Community engagement
Here are the ideas, projects and plans lifted up in these four areas at the Oneing Event on April 30th:
Worship/Faith Formation/Spiritual Growth
Bringing back Sunday School in some form (ideas mentioned: discussions during coffee hour, short term studies, restoring a regular education time on Sunday or some other time)
More diversity in music, more live music, guest singers, solos, special music
More multi-cultural influences in worship, more creativity in worship
Compassionate Listening
Classes for those coming out of fundamentalist backgrounds
Moments in worship that incorporate radical inclusivity
Disciples history
Care for and use of our building/Relationship with Isaiah 58 Ministries
Create a space for Think, Pray, Act (T+P+A) and others
Institute a new capital campaign
To pay down the mortgage
To fund needed improvements
Reconfigure the sanctuary space
Fellowship/Community Building
Trivia Night/Silent Auction
Game night – board/card/party – invite Cornerstone, I-58
Ice Cream Social and/or Campfire
Movie and discussion Night
December fellowship/open house
Knitting group/craft night return
Bingo night
All church garage sale
Outreach/Community Engagement
Deepen I-58 relationship – create “community” space for clients – offer workshops
Weekly office hours regarding “God’s call”
New kitchen facilities “open up” event – opportunities – boy/girl scout, 12-step groups
Mini concerts – folk engagement, college groups
Continue attending neighborhood meetings
Publish in monthly newsletters – TGENA, Shaw NA
Re-acquaint members in social ways to foster interest in leadership positions
Continue to work to strengthen partnership with Cornerstone
Interim Journey, Closing Thoughts
If you haven’t had the opportunity to express your interest in any of these ideas, projects and plans, you may do so at church by writing your name on sticky notes and placing them beside your items of interest on the newsprint sheets located in the office hallway just before the kitchenette.
Now, the VAT is in the process of compiling and organizing all of these ideas and interests in order to incorporate them into future action plans… beyond the action plans that are already underway!
One last thing to highlight… While you have fully engaged the interim journey in order to plan for the future, the life and ministry of the church right now continues! Please check the upcoming events in this Newsletter. I look forward to sharing this summer’s ministry with you and give thanks to God for each of you and all of you together!
Grace and Peace, Steve
June
14 – Dennis J.
19 – Theresa M.
26 – Lucy M.
July
15 – Sarah R.
17 – Steve W.
22 – Janet U.
28 – Marcia H.
21 – Steve S.
(Image Credit: Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay)
Please hold in prayer: Walt T, Penny and Howard M,Courtney H, Nancy O for her mother; George H, Leslie L, Joan J for her aunt Adeline in hospice care; Diane R’s mother and her cousin Mona, DebE M’s friend Sheila; Leslie L’s parents; Carolyn H’s sister.
We Also pray for: An end to fighting in Ukraine; an end to gun violence in the USA; all who have been killed, injured and driven from their homes to refuge in other countries. Those affected by extreme weather events. Everyone struggling with loneliness, depression and isolation. All who grieve the loss of loved ones. All of our LGBTQ family and friends. Anyone experiencing pain and alienation:may you know that God loves ALL of us.
Around Compton Heights
Search committee: Five members have been named to the Search Committee for our settled minister. They are Leslie Latham, Marcia Hendrix, Darrell Hughes, Rev. Becky Klemme-Elicieri, and Orion Peterson.They have met once with Regional Associate Minister David Woodard. Keep them in prayer!
Book Circle News: Compton Heights CC Book Circle usually meets the second Saturday of every other month on Zoom at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join the discussion, even if you haven’t finished (or read) the book! However, we will be discussing Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus on July 15.
Coffee Hour News : Volunteers Needed! Coffee time following worship service is a time for us to have conversation, reconnect with one another, and fellowship with each other. Please check the signup sheets on the Library doors and volunteer to make coffee and set up for coffee time or to provide snacks, or both.
Upcoming Events
All Sunday Worship is at 11 a.m. in person and live stream on Facebook (Sunday bulletin PDF is emailed on Saturdays) Spirit Bloom on Zoom meets on Mondays at 7 p.m. Ministry Groups, Wednesday, June 14, 7 p.m. on Zoom Isaiah 58 Ministries Juneteenth Celebration, 11a.m.-2 p.m. Elders Circle, Wednesday, June 21, on Zoom Retirement Party for Marsha McGuire, June 24, 1-4 p.m. St. Louis Pride Fest, June 24-25 Pastor’s Cabinet, Wednesday, July 5 on Zoom Youth Mission Event: Wednesday, July 12th 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Book Circle: Saturday, July 15 at 1 p.m. on Zoom Board of Ministry: Wednesday, July 12, 7 p.m. on Zoom Elders Circle: Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. on Zoom Isaiah 58 Ministries Back to School Fair, July 22
Bag of Blessings for Isaiah 58 Ministries
Please bring these to the baskets at back of the Sanctuary on Sundays. All fruit and vegetable suggestions are to be canned and, if possible, low sodium and/or in their own juice.
Isaiah 58 Ministries provides a list of food, pantry essentials, personal care items and cleaning supplies each month. You are invited to bring any of these items to place in the Isaiah 58 Offering Basket on Sunday morning or you can drop off donations in the alley behind the building, which is where Isaiah 58 Ministries’ entrance is. The alley can be accessed from Flora Place. Donations are received M-F, 10am-1pm.
A ministry that celebrates the gifts, the faith journey, and the love and mission of God’s people of every race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability. We worship the God of all creation who gifts us with life. We worship God who is Love, who is revealed in the life of Jesus the Christ.
The God of Jesus is the God of:
Hope
Peace
Joy
Love
Compassion
Forgiveness
Grace
Mercy
Come, join us in becoming a
community of Jesus the Christ!
Compton Heights Christian Church 