Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Croix
Newsletter September/October 2012

Welcome back to the UU 2012/2013 season. We hope you’ve enjoyed your summer. Our services will resume at the Jewish Community Center in October, with our new Consulting Minister, the Rev. Dr. Qiyamah Rahman, at the helm. But first we have two back-to-back parties to kick off this special season.

Saturday, September 29, 10 AM- 2 PM:

The annual start-of-the-season Potluck Picnic at the home of Gail and Jim Nealon and a welcoming reception for the Rev. Qiyamah. There will be a short program in the morning, with lunch at noon. Please bring a dish to share and your own
place settings—plate, cup, cutlery, napkin.
Directions: The Nealons live in the rainforest, on the road next to Mount Victory Camp. From Frederiksted take the road north along the shore and turn right at Creque Dam Road (Route 58) Follow that until you come to Mount Victory Camp on your left and turn left immediately after its parking lot. Continue on that road until you see the Nealons’ gate on your right. If
you have a really low-slung car you might want to carpool with someone with a higher car. These roads can be rough.

Sunday, September 30, 2-4 PM. The Rev. Qiyamah’s housewarming party.
Details in her update that follows:

I trust each of you has had a fantastic summer! Since arriving on St.
Croix on August 1 my days have been filled with job hunting and learning
my way around the Island. Due to Will and Cat Franks’ generous offer of
accommodations I did not have to worry about a place to stay while juggling
all the logistics of settling into life on STX.
I am happy to announce that as of September 5 I am the newest staff
member at the Caribbean Kidney Center in Gallows Bay. As their full time
medical social worker I provide services to the patients and their families. I
anticipate a long and productive relationship with them. While my commute
by STX standards is a long one I will only have to do it until they build their
new facility near the Kingshill Post Office next year. Meanwhile, I plan to
purchase some Spanish tapes to listen to during my commute. Anyone that
has any they are not using please let me know so that I might borrow them.
I also have a place to live in Frederiksted. I will be having a House
Warming/Blessing on Sunday, September 30, from 2-4 PM. Members and

friends of the UU Fellowship of St. Croix are invited. Admission is a plant/
flower cutting for either the house or yard (both of which are bereft of
flowers. (This is another potluck, so please bring a dish to share and your
own place setting—plate, cup, cutlery, napkin.)
From Christiansted: Take Melvin Evans Highway to Frederiksted
and turn right at the end of the Highway. Travel down Hannah’s Rest
which becomes Emancipation Drive across the intersection of Queen Mary
Highway. Once you see the Claude O. Markoe School on the right prepare
to make the next left where there is a pedestrian crossing marked with white
stripes. After that turn the second stop sign is right at the corner of my house
(171 Two Brothers Estate). It is a duplex and my place is the one nearest the
corner. You can park along the road and in the yard.
From Frederiksted: Come up the Beach road as if you are going to
Sandcastle. The water should be on your right. You will pass Bob Marley
Housing Project. When you get to the church on the left make a left turn and
come down two blocks to the stop sign on your right. My place is the duplex
on the corner and I am the one nearest the corner. You can park along the
road.

Sunday, October 14, 10 AM: Water Communion Service led by Rev.
Qiyamah – a traditional UU ceremony marking the end of summer (and
travel). Members and friends bring water actually collected during a trip
or local water symbolizing water from somewhere else. The water will be
collected and participants will give a very brief account of where the water
comes from.
Sunday, October 21, 10 AM: Covenant Group led by Gail Nealon at the
home of Emy Thomas.
Sunday, October 28: 10 AM: Service led by Rev. Qiyamah. Guest
Speaker: Carolyn Keys, coordinator of the Alternatives to Violence
Project, on “Peace in Action.”

More on Peace: On September 21 and 22 St. Croix will celebrate the
International Day of Peace. On Friday the 21st from 6-10 PM at the Pickled
Greek Restaurant east of Christiansted there will be a free family event—
Peace and a Picnic—sponsored by All Ah We. Bring potluck food and
drinks to share, along with your own utensils, etc., or buy food and drinks
there. The program includes drumming, Unit Band, poetry, open mike,
peace wall and raffle. On Sunday the 22nd there will be a March for Peace in
Frederiksted, from the Domino Club in Mount Pellier to Fort Frederik. Meet
at 6 AM, breakfast will be available for purchase, and walk starts at 7 AM.