Posts from the ‘News’ Category

February/Lent/March 2024 News Volume 72, No. 2

I’m really enjoying getting to know you. I look forward to Sunday mornings when we can be together, and I can tell how much being with your church family means to you.

The Season of Lent is upon us. Do you have a spiritual practice for Lent? This year, as in some years past, I will be giving up (at least) one of my possessions each day during Lent. Each item will be something that may be of use to someone else. Books, clothes, household items, furniture–whatever I notice that is taking up unnecessary space in my life. They will all find their way to a donation center. I will give up at least 40 items total by Easter. And with each thing that I designate to be removed, I will remember that God has blessed me with more than enough, and that new possessions don’t need to be brought in to re-fill that space. In other words, I don’t use this practice as an excuse to buy new things.

But what I will replace them with is moments of awe. Awe is a necessary emotion of life. It stops us in our tracks and causes us to feel a part of something bigger than ourselves. It causes us to appreciate relationships. Awe is good for mental and physical health, and is the very basis of spirituality and religion.

Awe will be the subject of my Lenten sermons. In addition to the biblical texts, I will be gleaning insights from the book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dascher Keltner. Keltner is Professor of Psychology at Berkeley and has done extensive research into the subject of awe. He is also a deeply spiritual person. I invite you to read along with me if you like.

May God surprise us with daily moments of wonder! “Come and see the works of God! God’s deeds on our behalf are wondrous!” –Psalm 66:5.

Rebecca

Super MardiGras Lunch and Sharing

Please stay after worship on Feb 11 for a festive Mardi Gras party followed by a short planning meeting as we develop a calendar list and possible topics for the next several months.

Bring brunch type / Mardi Gras food to share. The church will provide juice, coffee, tea, and water. We will host this in the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship. We will have some decorations, beads and will have a game for adults and youth.

Then we will break into a short joint planning session to decide on upcoming events or activities. There will be informational sharing of some things underway. Do we want to plan for youth involvement on Palm Sunday? Do we want a special Easter celebration? Learn about our Week of Compassion Emphasis and our special speaker and video. Is there anything special that we would like to consider as part of outreach? Can we show up at Howard’s retirement facility and have a party? Can we target a yard cleanup for this Spring? Project some dates for our open mic nights? Can we increase attendance at these evening events? How can we get the word out to more people? Can we coordinate with upcoming Isaiah 58 ministry events and their on-going needs?

We do not have to have complete answers to any of these, and we do have to realize our limitations. We’d like to create a template of things we’d like to do.

Come join us and remember that this is Super Bowl Sunday and we do not want this to compete with our chance to watch the game in the late afternoon.

Darrell Hughes, Moderator

Special Guest Speaker and Special Music on February 18

Our Guest Speaker on Sunday, February 18, is DeMarco K. Davidson, executive director of Metropolitan Congregations United. After graduating from Hazelwood Central HS in 1999, he attended the Univ. of MO-Rolla where he earned a BS in Engineering Management and minors in Chemistry & I/O Psychology in 2006. While in college, he served as the Regional Vice President for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., started several businesses, and co-founded the Black Man’s Think Tank of UMR. In 2008-09, he worked on several winning political campaigns.

DeMarco earned a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary in 2018 with an emphasis in Liberation Theology & Faith Based Community Organizing. He has spent most of his adult life in education, engineering, youth development, and community organizing. He has worked as a teacher in the Hazelwood School District, an After-School Director with Providence Counseling, a Youth Advisor for Kappa League, a Project Manager for the City of Chicago, a Field Organizer for political campaigns, and a mentor to many youth. After founding the Michael Brown Jr. Memorial Fund in August 2014, he volunteered for the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen For Change Foundation as the Executive Director from 2015 until 2022.

After running for US Congress, he worked on several political campaigns, the CLEAN Initiative, Raise Up Minimum Wage, & Medicaid Expansion. As the Executive Director & Voter Program Lead for Metropolitan Congregations United, DeMarco’s goal is to organize people of faith & voters in St. Louis to develop policy towards breaking the school-to-prison pipeline and unifying the Urban & Rural citizens of Missouri. He believes that congregations can & should be a galvanizing force to building powerful, self-sustaining communities.

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We also will have a guest soloist in worship on Feb.18: Kim Lawson, who is Rev. Turner’s daughter.

• Deanna S. – 2/5
• Maddie K.E. – 2/14
• Matthew C. – 2/18
• Lynda G. - 2/18
• Hugh R. – 2/20
• Anderson M – 2/21
• Celia P. – 2/23
• Nancy O. – 2/28
• John C. – 3/7
• David F. – 3/16
• Robert M. – 3/19

Weekly Worship Notes

CHCC continues worshiping in person on Sundays at 11 a.m. 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 continue to sign the Greeter’s register as you enter, and pick up a bulletin.

Communion Changes

We are now offering Communion by intinction, where 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 available to pick up as you enter the Sanctuary.

Be a Genius!

Let our Pastor and Worship Team know That You can help on Sunday mornings! Liturgists are Needed SIGN UP to participate in worship: Streaming Tech, Greeter, Elder, Deacons, Liturgist, Worship and Wonder. Use Sign Up Genius Click here to sign up

Prayer Requests

Please hold in prayer: Rev. Rebecca T. as she begins ministry with us; Madison and Orion P. in thanksgiving for the birth of Campbell Jeffrey on January 31; Walt T., Howard M., Carolyn H. as she recovers from an auto accident; Dennis J.; Celia P.’s sister; Nancy O.’s mother; 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, and Leslie L.’s parents.

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 have been killed, injured and driven from their homes to refuge in other countries; everyone affected by extreme weather events. All people 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.

Opportunities to Connect

Coffee Hour is a Hit, Hosts Are Needed

Coffee Hour is a great time to connect, and also to get to know our transitional pastor, Rebecca Turner, better! Please volunteer to host Coffee Hour; see the sign up sheets 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 Hour signup is also available on SignUp Genius.

Open Mic Night

Plan to join an informal gathering of musicians and other community talent on Friday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

This gathering is for anyone who wants to volunteer to sing, speak, play an instrument (or yodel), or be part of the audience at this regular celebration of creativity. Newcomers are welcome. Advanced registration to share a talent is appreciated, but not required.

Please contact Diane Richardson to sign up.

Book Club Meets on March 9

Compton Heights CC Book Club 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! The group will read Democracy Awakening:Notes on the State of America, by Heather Cox Richardson. Dr. Richardson is an academic historian, author of the newsletter “Letters from an American” and professor of history at Boston College. Click here for more information or to get the zoom link.

Spirit Bloom Lenten Study

Spirit Bloom will be using the book “Pause: Spending Lent with the Psalms,” by Elizabeth J. Caldwell starting on February 19. Everyone is welcome to join us for this time of reflection during Lent.

Opportunities to Serve

Special Offering: Week of Compassion

Compton Heights CC will collect a special offering to support Week of Compassion February 18-25. Gifts to this offering enable Week of Compassion to respond to disasters, support global development projects, and bring hope to refugees and displaced people around the world. Be sure to pick up a giving calendar on February 11, and a coin box if you want one. Flyers and envelopes will be available in worship throughout the month as well.

The Rev. Vy Nguyen, Executive Director of Week of Compassion writes:

“This year, we mark the 80th anniversary of the very first Week of Compassion offering. Recent months have seen increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters in the United States, even as the world witnesses ongoing war in Ukraine and the Middle East, earthquakes in Morocco, drought in the Horn of Africa, and flooding in Libya, impacting those regions for years to come. Communities are gaining traction in long-term recovery after devastating tornadoes in Kentucky, repeated hurricanes in Florida, and catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii. Such natural, political and climate crises continue to increase the numbers of displaced persons worldwide. Over the past 80 years through Week of Compassion, Disciples have responded to needs around the world, constantly evolving to meet new challenges.”

Week of Compassion is more than a week. Week of Compassion is a ministry of the whole Church, serving vulnerable communities throughout the world.

Bag of Blessings for Isaiah 58 Ministries

Please bring these items 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.

February – Oatmeal, Canned Fruit; Salt Free Seasoning; Bar Soap, Deodorant; Multi/All Purpose Cleaner

March – Sardines (preferred over tuna by some), Chili; Cooking Oil (48 oz or smaller); Shampoo, Razors, Shaving Cream; Dish Soap (smaller sizes)

November News – Volume 71, No. 8

Dear Church,

“We [Kim and I] always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.” I Thessalonians 1:2-3, 2:8

THANK YOU for calling us to share the interim journey with you! It seems fitting to me that the journey began, and draws to a close, in this Season of Thanksgiving.

Your “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” inspires and changes lives. I lift up these particular words to you as you prepare for the next chapter of your interim journey. In the year ahead, there will be continuation of things we have begun together, as well as new activities and processes. AND your “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope,” in all circumstances, undergirds and empowers everything.

Thank you for these gifts of faith, love and hope that you have exemplified and freely shared with Kim and me these last two years. We give them back to you, knowing that with you and through you, God has a mighty-in-spirit-church to be sanctuary in the city!

As I did last month, I also want to share another prayer by Ted Loder from Guerrillas of Grace. The prayer is entitled I Praise You for What Is Yet To Be. It reflects the faith, hope and love with which you have engaged the interim journey all the way along, and it serves as a prayer for the next chapter. I have pluralized and adapted it a bit.

Wondrous Worker of Wonders, we praise you, not alone for what has been, or for what is, but for what is yet to be, for you are gracious beyond all telling of it. We praise you that out of the [next chapter] of our life, a kin-dom is coming, is being shaped even now out of our slivers of loving, our bits of trusting, our sprigs of hoping, our tootles of laughing, our drips of crying, our smidgens of worshiping; that out of our songs and struggles, out of our griefs and triumphs, we are gathered up and saved, for you are gracious beyond all telling of it. We praise you that you turn us loose to go with you to the edge of now and maybe, to welcome the new, to see our possibilities, to accept our limits, and yet begin living to the limit of passion and compassion until, released by joy, we [continue uncurling] to other people and to your kin-dom coming, for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.

Thank you, Compton Heights Christian Church! And, thanks be to God, the Ground and Source of all of our life and being and gracious beyond all telling of it!

Steve (and Kim)

Prayers of the Community

Please hold in prayer: Walt T., Howard M. on the death of his beloved wife, Penny, Millie S., Celia P. in the loss of her brother-in-law, Warren; Nancy O. for her mother, George H., Joan J. for her aunt Adeline in hospice care, Diane R.’s mother, her cousin Mona, and her uncle Jimmy; DebE M.’s friend Sheila, Leslie L.’s parents, Carolyn H.’s sister. We Also pray for: An end to fighting in Ukraine, Gaza and Israel; 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.

Sunday Morning Study Continues

Why were the titles of Caesar Augustus — Divine, Son of God, God from God, Lord, Redeemer, Liberator, and Savior of the World — taken from a Roman emperor on the Palatine hill and given to a Jewish peasant on the Palestine plain? Was it low lampoon or high treason? Either way, the Romans were not laughing. What were the priorities of Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom? How was the status quo of Roman imperial theology subverted by this obscure Galilean whose message continues to indict empire today?

Rev. Steve will share short videos and lead discussion at 10 a.m. in the Church Library. It is titled, First Light: Jesus and the Kingdom of God. The series is a 12-session study of the historical Jesus and the Kingdom of God, featuring John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, two of the world’s leading Jesus scholars, recorded on location throughout Galilee and Jerusalem.

Looking Ahead to 2024

As our intentional interim period with Rev. Steve draws to an end, many of us may have questions about what the next phase of the interim/settled pastor search is going to look like. On Sunday, November 12, moderator Leslie Latham and other members of the board will facilitate an informational session after church during an extended coffee hour/light lunch in the library. Please plan to stay after worship and participate as we look ahead to 2024.

Book Circle November 11th, 1pm

For November, the group is reading the 2023 Pulitizer Prize Fiction winner, “Demon Copperhead, ” by Barbara Kingsolver. Everyone is welcome to join the discussion, even if you haven’t finished (or read) the book! Click here for more information.

Trivia Night November 17th to benefit Lift Fund