ST. ANDREW CHURCH SPONSORS HOME TOUR SUNDAY

Four Cape Girardeau homes are featured on the first St. Andrew Lutheran Church Christmas Home Tour Sunday.

The tour is a fund raiser for the High School Youth group at the church. The group is raising money to attend the 1992 National Lutheran Youth Gathering in New Orleans.

Homes on the tour are Dr. Tom and Carol Sparkman, 2 Starwood; Dr. Jeffrey and Vickie Patton, 659 Sylvan Lane; Stanley and Jane Grimm, 1251 Normal; and David and Jerrie Gerlach, 2317 Earleen.

A $5 ticket includes tours of each home. Tickets can be purchased at any of the homes on the day of the tour or in advance from the church office.

Betty Weber and Nancy Doza are chairmen of the tour.

Doza said, "Youth members will be working at all the homes, selling tickets at the door and as hosts and hostesses."

Weber said, "Weather permitting, we will have caroling outside the homes."

She said the group needs to raise $8,000 altogether. Other fund-raising activities are planned.

She said each of the four homes features a different holiday theme and decorating style.

The Sparkman home features a collection of hundreds of angels and Santa Clauses.

Clothtique and porcelain angels decorate the 10-foot Christmas tree. A stained glass nativity scene is displayed. Green, burgundy and gold ribbon, intertwined with garland and more angels, decorate the stairwell. The dining room, family room and kitchen are decorated with Santas of all sizes.

The Patton home is decorated with silver, gold, pearls and lace. The theme is accented with pink poinsettias and hues of seafoam green, blue and rose. Christmas trees are decorated in the living room and the dining room and a holiday wreath is displayed in the kitchen.

The Grimm home features a huge collection of antique Christmas decorations. Two antique feather trees and one reproduction feather tree will be decorated with the antique ornaments and bubble lights. The traditional theme includes many red poinsettias.

The Gerlach home is decorated in traditional style with touches of country. Garlands, Santas, collectibles and red poinsettias are used throughout the house.

For more information, call the church at 334-3200.