Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Croix

 Newsletter May, 2013

 (The Fellowship meets at the Jewish Community Center in Hermon Hill the second and fourth Sundays October-May. Services and Sunday School are held at 10 AM.  Refreshments and conversation follow.)

MAY SCHEDULE:

 May 5 (Sunday) NO COVENANT GROUP. Roads are closed due to Triathlon.

May 6 (Monday) 3 PM: Board of Directors meeting at home of Emy Thomas.

May 12 (Sunday) 10 AM: Service & Sunday School & FLOWER COMMUNION. Marsha Shuman will speak on “Two Unitarian Women – One Created Mother’s Day, the Other Brought Americans the Flower Communion”. Everyone is asked to bring at least one flower; you will go home with another. For the social hour following the service you are invited (but not obliged) to “bring your mother’s favorite snack.”

May 19 (Sunday) 10 AM: Covenant Group (last one of the year) meets at home of Emy Thomas

May 26 (Sunday) 10 AM: Service & Sunday School & ANNUAL MEETING Outgoing President Gail Nealon will speak on “The Sacred Call: Personal Answers to Ultimate Questions.” The annual meeting follows the service. Everyone is urged to attend. All members may vote on new officers and other matters. Non-members are welcome to participate but may not vote.

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR TREASURER, Jim Nealon: Thank you for your continued support. We are currently slightly ahead of the budget. Good news! The 2013-14 fiscal year budget is being prepared for membership approval at the annual meeting in May. Appreciate early input for board consideration.

For fiscal year to date, June 1, 2012 to Apr 26, 2013:
Income = $ 17,900 ( budget $ 16,600 )
Expenses = $16,398 ( budget $16,827 )

QIYAMAH’S COLUMN

{Please see attachments for photos of Qiyamah’s preemie granddaughter she wants to share with us.}

I cannot believe that we are coming up on our one year anniversary, having hired me as your first paid minister in 26 years and that I will also be celebrating my first full year and new life here in St. Croix. It has been a good year for me personally and for the Fellowship. But come out and judge for yourself as you hear about our accomplishments and hopes and vision for the future at the Annual Meeting on May 26.  The Annual Meeting follows the worship service and social hour.  Gail Nealon, our outgoing President of the Board, will deliver the sermon talk titled The Sacred Call: Personal Answers to Ultimate Questions. Because the Annual Meeting marks the conclusion of our formal worship and church year, until we formally resume in September, 2013, I invite all of you to make a special effort to attend the May 26^th service. At the Annual Meeting we will vote on and welcome our new slate of Board Officers, and hear annual reports and overviews from officers and committees. We will also have a special art and photo display of our children and youth’s arts and crafts depicting some of their Sunday School projects in the overflow room. Come out and support them.

May is a richly significant month in other ways:

May 12 is Mother’s Day and along with honoring mothers and those that have mothered, we will observe Flower Communion. Please bring some flowers to contribute to this uniquely colorful Unitarian Universalist ceremony. Flower Communion is a ritual service common in Unitarian Universalism, though the specific practices vary from one congregation to another. It is usually held before summer, when some of our congregations recess from holding services. Each member is invited to bring a flower to the Fellowship and place the flower(s) in a large central vase. At the end of the service, each member will take home a different flower. This symbolizes the uniqueness of each individual, and the coming together in communion to share this uniqueness. This tradition was begun by Norbert Capek on June 4, 1923, a founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia , and then brought to the United States by his wife, Maja Capek, in 1940.

The May 12^th service will also feature our own Marsha Shuman delivering the sermon talk and featuring her wonderful musical talents that we have been privy to over the years. Unfortunately, this service marks the end of Marsha’s tenure as our Music Director. Her resignation means we will no longer have benefit of her considerable musical talents. Still another reason to be present on May 12.

May holds many other points of interest: Cinco De Mayo – May 5 – originated with Mexican American communities as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Our Jewish neighbors and friends will celebrate Shavuot on May 15 and 16. This holiday commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mt. Sinai.

Other observances include: May Day – May 1; National Day of Prayer – May 2; National Teacher Day May 7; and Memorial Day May 27. May is also the month of observance for the following: National Bike Month; Physical Fitness and Sports; Mental Health Awareness; Healthy Vision and Arthritis Awareness Month!

See you in Church! Rev. Qiyamah

P.O. Box 3034, Kingshill, VI 00851 * http://www.uustcroix.org *

 340-277-8354.

Rev. Qiyamah: 340-513-3628 * revdocrok@gmail.com