DEO on STX

DEO+ on STX #13
31 August 2009

Deanery Prayer Breakfast
On Saturday, August 22nd, the Saint Croix Deanery came together for a “Prayer Breakfast” in the lawn of St. Peter’s; all the active parish clergy sat on the riser and had a part; three presentation/speakers offered meditations; an assembled “choir” of singers lead us in worship; we then eat together from an array of Crusian local dishes. The “fund raiser” for The Diocese of the Virgin Islands toward the severe budget reductions during the recent economic downturn.

It’s HOT, Hot, hot!
Summer is here; The Sun is bright; clouds are scarce; rain storms last only a short time; 1pm to 5pm is the “baking afternoon,” when if one can go inside to escape the glare an afternoon nap comes easy if the breeze is favorable or the fans are pointed directly upon the prone body lightly clothed (if any). Afternoon showers are a given; a change of clothes automatic. We are talking in the 90’s.

Hurricanes dodged us so far
They came roaring by way off at a great distance and we escaped the hurricane “bullets” this time! First the tropical depressions and “waves of weather systems” later named: Anna, Claudette & Bill. Anna formed after she passed us by! Bill veered off to the north with no East Coast land fall! Claudette without a “name” missed us then built up force in the Gulf of Mexico; got her title and roared ashore into the Panhandle of Florida as a tropical storm. The next hurricane name is Danny; went away! So, we wait out the hurricane-storm season and pray. One never knows for sure; but there are adequate warnings for preparations. More later as further storms come our way from Africa.

Sun Set Jazz
On the fourth Friday of the month in Fredericksted at the peer, beside the sea a Jazz band plays a public concert at Sun Set. It’s a lovely time for friends to gather, purchase food and drinks from local vendors or bring your own picnic;
Sit on a blanket or haul beach chairs; and enjoy the harmonies as brother sun sinks into the ocean! We’ve been twice. Fredericksted is on the Western end of St. Croix, about 40 miles from where we live. Wonderful evening. Cool breezes.

BBQ off and running
The committee for the Celebration BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 5th has the day already in order; these men are well organized and dedicated; a friend from
Our residence, The Reef Condos has volunteered after my invitation; Robert
Is a retired Kentucky Fire Fighter, (Battalion Chief) who says he is used to putting our fires not building them! He is very familiar with “Southern Pig Pick’in”
BBQ roasting whole hogs; so we are in good hands!

More auto/taxi/truck wind shield “titles”:
Crusian Treasure, I’m Blended, Tek U Time Not U Life, The Truth Life Has No Substitute, Drive Like You own car not the road, Yahveh Roshee, TEASE,
Who Cares?, One & All, Thrive to Change, Big Al, Knock @ Midnight, No Strings Attached, Socor Warrior, I am Bless, Deep Soul, Empress, Journia, Life Spice, Leave Dem Clueless, Joy Ride, No Nonesense, Big Cat, Ori Oa, Whatever,
S.O.S. to the rescue, OO7, PIE, Who Run It II, Kiss Vee, Good to Go, Adoni, Playa Pimp, Divine Beauty, Lady in Red, I’ll take you There II, Just Like That,
Chevoleer, Masive, No Fear of the Storms, Big Stick, Guidance III, Stop & Save,
Nobody Loves Nobody, Creep Up, Boricua, Esteemly Lovable, Daly’s Daily Dash.

Hispanic Mission
San Francisco de Asia is the Hispanic congregation for Saint Croix; I serve as celebrant/preacher on the third Sunday of the month; thanks be to God for the experience at St. David’s, Roswell, GA, for a bi-lingual worship experience. My Spanish is haltingly weak; but I get by! They are wonderfully warm people. I usually prepare a “short sermon” easily translated and distribute the one page message in English to all present; the younger folks able to read the English; mature congregants only speak and understand Spanish. We enjoy the lively and enthusiastic worship music. Eight Honduras Mission trips exposed me to the liturgy and genre! My pigeon Spanish get me by.

Babs stayed home!
She has “had it” with the heat! I predict she will remain at our residence in Cumming, GA until October. We flew “home” on August 23rd thru Puerto Rico to Atlanta, then our neighbor, Nancy picked us up at Hartsfield Airport for a quick drive North to Cumming, arriving just before darkness set in; I took Babs out to a surprise dinner at Longhorn’s Steak House . I write this while attending the conference in Savannah, representing both Atlanta and V.I. Dioceses for the Episcopal Church Disaster Response Team from Wednesday evening until early Saturday morning (8/26 thru 8/29). I return to Saint Croix late on Saturday evening. Mass was usual on Sunday (8/30). Babs goes with me for the Church Pension Fund Conference in mid-September in Massachusetts. More next issue.

La Paz y Buen Camino!
Come see us Mon!
Dwight Ogier+