DEO+ on STX #16
28 October 2009
(Saint Simon and Saint Jude)

Babs returned today!
She flew Delta from Atlanta to San Juan. I took the Cape Air commuter flight to Puerto Rico and surprised Babs in the terminal! We then flew back together to Saint Croix on the Cape Air small plane. It was, of course, a Great re-union. Not cheap, but a wonderful surprise. The “surprise” was good for both of us!

I missed my 45th Class reunion at Sewanee!
Since Graduating in 1964 from The University of the South, I have been involved
with Sewanee, serving as Trustee three times and 25th class reunion Chairman. The great distance and money for a long weekend “on the mountain,” was not possible during this Interim ministry on Saint Croix. My heart was at Sewanee on October 9-11but my full attention was at Saint Peter’s, Christiansted! Maybe I will make the
50th Class reunion!

Atlantic Standard Time does NOT Change
When “the mainland” changes time this week; the Virgin Islands remain the same time! Beginning Saturday night/Sunday morning Atlantic Standard Time will be One Hour ahead of Eastern Standard zone. This Sun rises earlier and sets earlier than the Continental U.S. The Virgin Islands, a Territory of the U.S.

Bible study with Blessed JAMES a success
For six weeks a faithful group as met on Wednesday evening for ONE HOUR as we follow the African Bible Study Method working our way thru the Book of James. Our numbers have varied from 25 to 10 persons. We begin at 6:30pm, sing a few hymn/gospel choruses, examine The Word, sing a few song-elections, pray brief Evening Prayers or abbreviated Compline; then finish “on time” at 7:30pm sharp.

New Paschal Candle and Altar Lights
When I arrived, the Paschal Candle was almost finished, burned to a short six to eight inches; the “follower riding on the red nails of the Easter liturgy.” We have had six funerals and two services of the Holy Baptism. We ordered a lovely tall Paschal Candle with liquid wax. We paid three times the amount than a bees wax candle, but in three years we will be ahead. The same goes for our new Altar Candles. The neat thing is the Paschal Candle flame remains lit in the breeze. The flame on the previous model always blew out!

Hurricane Season is “officially” OVER!
We have been blessed and preserved this season; we have had NO Hurricanes. “Our Island home” has been spared. We have been lucky this year!

Advent Wreath
We have NO Advent Wreath. No one can locate one used the last two years. The Altar Guild think stored someplace there may be a home-made, four drip candles with green leaf/branches table model Advent Wreath. By showing the Almy Catalogue a donor stepped forward. Yesterday we received our new Brass Advent Candle wreath with liquid three purple and one pink candles and a large Christ candle for the center. We are ready for Advent! Now we need “locate” the stand. Some say it’s stored in the outside trailer-storage unit. Look and see. Listen to the history. Take the Church where she is. Next we wait for, a new Church year, new way of doing things, a new way of worship, a new approach to liturgy. “Come Lord Jesus!”

Six Month Evaluation
On Saturday, October 17th; the Canon to the Ordinary flew over from Tortolla. Our purpose, meet with a special called Vestry for purpose of evaluation of Priest and Vestry after six month of ministry together. The evaluation was positive and complementary to my position as Interim-Priest-in-Charge. We examined ministry/administration/teaching/liturgy/pastoral care and presence with the folks of St. Peter’s. The affirmations were positive. We have accomplished much together. Much, much more left to do and more goals to achieve/strive toward.

The Sailing Ship Tall Mast Bark-Schooner returned“Rosewood” has returned from Boston-Nova Scotia-Cape Cod-Bermuda. I was temptation to sign on for the south-bound sail to Saint Croix as crew and deck hand. Maybe when she goes North-bound in late spring-early summer????
Just a dream; but who knows? The captain also named DWIGHT! Babs and I will take a Sun-set sail aboard. We have supported the ministry-mission of this teaching ship, functioning as outreach into the educational community on Saint Croix, Boston and in Nova Scotia She targets troubled and marginal socially at-risk youth. No electric winches; think deck hands hauling all lines. Its hard work. Old fashioned “sailing-ship methods.” Anybody interested for the north-bound voyage in 2010?

“Snow Birds” are drifting back
Slowly the temporary “winter residents” are drifting back to our Condo complex.
Some of the “snow birds” live here from end October thru end of April. By January and February THE REEF will be 90% occupied. Folks return from all over the mid-west and North East.

Searching for Sea Glass
For twenty years I have spotted and picked up “sea glass” treasures while walking on the beaches of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Alaska, California, Oregon, Turkey and Greece. Here, early morning walks along the numerous beaches of Saint Croix, I usually find a few “keepers” of ocean- ground-smooth-opaque sea glass. In order of rarity, the colors are red, purple, blue, yellow, orange, white, brown and green. Triangles are the most common shape. The author of Forward Day by Day on Thursday, October 29th writes: “Sea glass collecting becomes more difficult every day, thanks to the proliferation of plastic containers over glass ones and the increase in recycling. When jagged, clear glass pieces are found on the beach, seasoned collectors urge that they be returned to the water, as those pieces are “not finished yet.” … those jagged pieces of glass must go back into the deep, vast ocean of god. There the sharp edges become smooth. There, those pieces, once dangerous, become precious to us.” (page 91, Thursday, October 29, August/September/October 2009, Forward Day by Day, Forward Movement, Cincinnati)


Church Road Sign is UP!
My first observation in February when visiting St. Peter’s and subsequently mentioned in the interview exploring a possible Interim position was there was NO SIGN identifying the Church, name, denomination or tradition. I was told the “sign had been down since one of the hurricanes. How long the road sign has been stored, on the floor leaning against the sacristy wall, no one seemed to recall! “We have a sign it’s just Not Up!” God is so good. Last week the Church road Sign was re-installed; erected next to the center gate with clear visibility along Castle Coakley road. It’s been “island-time”, Mon. Another physical plant accomplishment! God is good, all the time; the hard part is waiting for action.

Come See us Mon!
La Paz y Buen Camino!
DWIGHT OGIER+mino!

Columbus Day

DEO on STX #15
12 October 2009
Saint Columbus Day!
(Federal Holiday )

It’s HOT, hot, HOT!
We have dodged (so far) the storms of destruction! There is still time for a serious storm, but so far the tropical depressions, weather waves, and hurricanes have missed us! The season is almost over…..but we still receiver in the Eastern winds the African dust from the Sahara dessert and ash from the Montserrat volcano. The haze is heavy restricting the horizon and noticeable; some folks feel the pollution in their eyes, nose and sinuses. Some days we see the northern Islands of St, Johns and Virgin Gorda, other days the haze is too thick for clear view. The last few days the sea has been very flat with few “white caps.”

More AUTO & Taxi windshield “names”Hot Item, Last trip, Forever, Scooze, Togetherness, Sook ie, LOX,
Sugar & Spices, Bread Winner, Deepest Memories, Look ‘n Wave,
Ultimate Pleasure, Simply Kool!, All Inspiration, How u like me now?
Be my Guest, Kleen Kity, Skoot It, IRITA, The Princess, & So Wa!
Small Shoes for Big Moves, C-3, Dodge Extreme, TATTOED, Still Shinning,
Forget Me Not, Virgo & Taurus, Near Angel, Sweet Deliverance,
The Juh Sunset, Praise Repent Ask Yield

Saint Coix Deanery
This is a small Diocese compared to the mainland US. Because of the small size in numbers, the church functions with strong partnership among local Churches, almost as ONE in program and ministry. Many events the five Churches of Saint Croix work together. The big deal is the local Patronal festival or name day at St. John’s, St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, Holy Cross, and St. Francis. Our choirs come with special music and the ECW, ECM and ECY wear their respective colored shirts or
“Uniforms” matching sport coats, shirts, ties, skirts, dresses and hats. There are educational events shared and common teaching seminars. We share the resources, teachers and facilities. The Dean of Saint Croix is Deacon Delores Gumbs (no relation to the Bishop Gumbs!). For the five parishes, there are three active priests on St. Croix, and two retired clerics, in declining health. We stay busy and seem always on the go.

Saint Peter’s BBQ a great success
We began at 8am; started the charcoal fire at 8:30am on Saturday, October 4th; by the end of the day we had cooked a 50 pound pig, 24 whole chickens, a 35 pound lamb, and stewed a goat. We barrowed a trailer-cooker we used for the roasting of “the beasts.” The giant “roaster” had tin sides and top that functioned as a large oven, with an electric spit. We served 100 people near 6pm; folks brought “sides” of salad, stuffing, macaroni & cheese, salt-fish, sliced fruit and cookies. We also served “local” fruit juices. The Bishop came! +E. Ambrose Gumbs, The Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of the Virgin Islands attended our celebration BBQ when we honored our “Wall construction workers.” The Bishop enjoyed eating a sample of our roasted meat. We presented ‘Certificates of award and accomplishment” to those who labored and cooked during the building of the perimeter wall boarding the busy street, now defining the Church property. It was a grand event and fun day for all ages. The roast pork seemed to receive the highest accolades! Great Day! :)

Sunrise at Point Udal
Periodically I drive out to the Eastern most point in the United States territories and watch the early sunrise, the first to see the light of the rising Sun, before anyone else in the US Mainland! What a wonderful experience. Inspirational and spirit observed! There, at Point Udal, I usually “check-in” with my Ham Radio friends on the morning weather net (146.643) [2 meters] at 6:40am reporting the wind direction, sea conditions, clouds, rain or precipitation (if any) and hear of the ‘local conditions’ with the other Island Ham radio operators.

Columbus landed here on his Second Voyage
At the Salt River Bay, Columbus came ashore with a small exploration party;
the year 1493. There was a small skirmish with the local Arawak people. Some were killed, some “captured,” and from then on The Isle of Saint Croix was “discovered.” This morning I stood on the historic site on ‘Columbus Day’.
I prayed for those who first lived here and in memory of those who ventured across the unknown, uncharted seas.

Come see us Mon!La Paz y Buen Camino!

DWIGHT OGIER+