Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St Croix

On Sunday, April 28, 2019 the UU Fellowship of St. Croix welcomes, teacher, author, and poet, Winifred “Oyoko” Loving as our speaker.  Join us at 10 AM at the Jewish Community Center.

Born in Boston to the Rev. and Mrs. James Loving, Winifred Loving, was educated in the Boston Public Schools, received a BA from Newton College of the Sacred Heart and a MS in Education from Wheelock College.  In her early travel to Ghana, she received the pen name “Oyoko, which means member of a royal clan.  After traveling the world, she moved to St. Croix where she taught elementary school for over 30 years.  During this time she published two books of poetry, Remember When and Spontaneous.  In 1984 she taught in London with the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program.  Poetic note:  She even had lunch with Princess Diana.

Oyoko is married to a sailor/boatbuilder Inglore Westerman, and has two adult children, Khema and Jonathan.  Known locally for her live poetry readings, she performs her poetry on WSTX radio 970 AM on Friday mornings as a guest of Doc Peterson.  Her works have appeared in numerous publications including the St. Croix Avis, the Daily News, THE VOICE, The Caribbean Writer and Cosmopolitan Magazine.

In 2008 she represented the Virgin Islands as Ms. Senior America in Atlantic City.  Her poem, “SMITTEN,” that she enacted there, has become synonymous with her feelings about the island she chose as her home, St. Croix.

After retiring, Ms. Loving published two illustrated children’s books that show her soft, tender love for her 3 granddaughters.  My Name is Freedom and My Grandma Loves to Play are available, as are all her works,  at http://www.amazon.com or from the author: oyoko_vi@yahoo.com.

All are welcome.  Come grow with us.

Join us for UU Service on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 10 A.M.

at the Jewish Community Center

Attorney Will Franks will speak about his volunteer work on the Southern border providing representation to women and children seeking asylum.

All are welcome.

We welcome Dewey Hollister, Executive Director of the St. George Village Botanical Gardens of the Virgin Islands, as our speaker.
His topic is Changing Landscapes.

Dewey Hollister was a professional landscape designer & horticultural lecturer for over 30 years in Cincinnati Ohio. He has traveled extensively all over the world and worked on projects from Florida to China and Texas to Africa. In 2001 he co-founded the Ohio Heritage Garden on the grounds of the Ohio Governor’s residence with then First Lady, Hope Taft. He became the Executive Director of St George Village Botanical Garden in St Croix in November, 2015.

Invite your family and friends to attend, too. Come grow with us.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Thank you Linda for an informative and entertaining presentation.  You are a committed and dedicated volunteer here on our Island  – your tips and experiences spoke to  why volunteers are integral to our society (local, national, international) and the importance of the choices/decisions one makes when offering their services.  There’s much more to being a volunteer than giving back. … Not only is volunteering important because it helps to better your community, it also helps to better you as an individual. 

And thanks as well to this Sunday’s Sister Act Choir: Sandra and Shirley & Susan and Cat!

February 24, 2019

Guest Speaker: Janis Morariu, PhD

Music: Mama’s Black Sheep

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uufstx@gmail.com

Welcome

Chalice Lighting

Music/Singing

Affirmation of Faith

Joys and Concerns

Announcements

Music/Singing

Responsive Reading

Speaker

Moment of Silent Reflection, Prayer and Meditation

Offering

Closing Music/Singing

Extinguishing the Flame

Choral Response: “Go Now in Peace”

Please join us for light refreshments following the Service

UU Fellowship of St Croix, USVI

Jewish Community Center 105a

Herman Hill

Christiansted, VI 00840

UU Fellowship at Jewish Community Center

Charlottesville, VA has in retrospect caused a great deal of painful reflections, emotions and reactions ranging from the shedding of tears from the brokenhearted, hand wringing from the helpless and bewildered, rage from the oppressed and enraged. It has also produced a drawing together among those that know we have come too far to give in to feelings of disappointment and helplessness. Many Americans were surprised and caught off guard at this nightmare. Has someone pushed the repeat button unknowingly? It seems like we are doomed to revisit such scenarios over and over again. Until we are willing to listen to those that were not shocked by the scenarios that unfolded at Charlottesville. Some individuals and groups in America have long experienced the disrespectful and denigrating behavior that was so blatantly displayed at Charlottesville. The hatred is not new to Blacks, immigrants, Jews, LGBTQ’s, just to name a few.

But, a long treatise is not necessary, nor is it helpful and actually it would be, “too little too late.” So let me simply say in these difficult times – do not give up hope. Do not buy into the cynicism that grips so many. This is not the time to withdraw and surely silence is not an option. This the time to hunker down, be aware and answer the call of justice – to claim the highest and best of ourselves and humanity. In the face of the violence…in the face of the hateful rhetoric let us stand on the side of love. Let us continue weeding our beautiful garden of Unitarian Universalism – pulling up the weeds of racism and white supremacy now that we have been reminded of how destructive and devastating this behavior is to the human spirit – to those that are the recipients and those that practice such beliefs. In the words of the Black National Anthem. “Let us march on till victory is won.”

Blessings – Rev. Qiyamah

All are welcomed. We meet 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month between September through May. We hope you join us. We have great speakers!

UU Fellowship of St Croix