DEO+ on STX #18

DEO+ on STX #18
4 December 2009 [Turkey Day plus Eight!]
(John of Damascus, Priest c.760)

Thanksgiving on Saint Croix
It was different for me to be down in the Caribbean with Babs back in Georgia!
Close friends included me in the traditional meal after Mass at St. Peter’s. Our Church attendance was at all time high numbers, with full choir! The attendance was the highest in last five years! I joined Cajun friends from Lake Charles, LA. We enjoyed Fried Turkey and Oyster casserole, spicy dressing, whipped sweet potatoes, rum cake and black-eyed pea salad. “Drop dead desserts” of chocolate and rum varieties, cakes and cookies decorated as “turkeys.” Uhmm! Full belly with the required walk & nap following; NO evening meal and a light breakfast next day!

Hurricane season is over!
On Monday, November 30th, (Saint Andrews Day) Hurricane season officially ended; however, we have been reminded “Mother Nature” has her own schedule. A few years ago, “Back-door Lennie” materialized in December, from the Gulf of Mexico and traveled Eastward. Hurricanes usually are born off the African coast and move Westward. In this tradition years ago, in previous Territorial administrations, on November 30th, a holiday known and declared as “Supplication Day.” For some there is rejoicing. A few folks take the day off from work unofficially.

ADVENT began on Sunday, November 29th
Happy New Year on liturgical church calendar! Begin Sunday Eucharistic Lectionary Cycle C and Daily Office Year Two

Penitential Office
We begin our Mass with the Penitential Order, using Form II for the Prayers of the People; embracing the “silence” and quiet responses. We sing an “Island Beat” Kyrie.

Dedication of New Advent WREATH.
We dedicated our new permanent Advent candelabra, a simple table model with three purple and one pink liquid candles. Green ferns surround the elevated Advent Wreath resting on a tall wooden pillar standing behind the Baptismal Font
in center aisle just before the altar rail. Very lovely. Folks are proud.

St. Peter’s sent TWO volunteers to the Dominican Republic
In partnership with St. John’s, Kissimmee, Florida we sent two faithful parishioners to Santo Domingo to work on a school painting project. They returned ever changed and grateful for their awareness extreme poverty in a neighboring Caribbean Island. I was invited but unable to travel because of Church scheduled obligations and responsibilities. St. Peter’s and St. John’s have
“partnered” on numerous joint visits and “exchanged” mission teams over the last three or four years.

White butter flies and Yellow flowers
Everywhere we see feeding pares of fluttering white butterflies moving from blossom to flower. The Territory Flower: yellow Ginger Thomas has exploded on hill sides with a lovely array of butter tinge. It’s hard to believe December arrived unless one looks at the calendar.

Rain most every night
The winds are shifting and the nights are cooler with a brief rain shower during the late hours. Sometimes there are puddles on our patios in the morning.

“Singsperation”
On Sunday afternoon (12/6) different choirs and song groups from neighboring Churches gathered for an ecumenical afternoon of praise on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. St. Peter’s ECM sponsored the sing event. There were horns, tambourines, maracas, bongo drums, steel pans, trumpets, electric key boards,
saxophone, electric guitars, organ and piano accompany the various denominational genres. The beat was Caribbean and scattered with African-American-negro spirituals. It was a wonderful afternoon; a little long but culturally identifiable.

Temporary “paper tags” on NEW CAR
The Church purchased a Nissan Rogue in March. The car dealer is in financial receivership, or “Chapter bankruptcy.” The bank holds the titles to autos purchased, even though the church paid “cash.” We still have “paper” tags and return every six weeks or so to renew tags. Not clear “when” we will receive metal license plates. The dealer and bank have yet to pay the road taxes, even though Church paid the dealer! It’s “the Island way.” It’s just a slight inconvenience and another trip or stop on the way to the grocery store.

Organist health scare
On Sunday, 12/6 our organist awoke during the night with what was perceived as “Chest pain.” Arriving an hour before Mass we knew we would sing without accompaniment. We sang really well! Makes me think how dependent we are with organs music. Our new assumptions might be to think outside the box or our established music patterns and embrace the culture. As it turns out, the physical condition was NOT serious and our organist played for the afternoon, “Singsperation.”


“Roseway” sailing ship
The two mast schooner teaching sailing ship has returned to St. Croix for winter after the summer educational term in Boston. I enjoyed an evening sun-set sail and renewed my relationship with the crew. I purchased a “tee-shirt.” So I am now an adopted “Roseway crew.”

Jump-Up
Four or five times each year the city of Christiansted becomes a party scene on Saturday night with music on street corners, food vendors, late stores open, sales, and street dancing by the Cultural preservations groups of Mocho Jumbies
and Quadrille groups. It’s similar to “Madri-gras” without parades. Families come out for the early hours, teens and young adults; the hard core party people remain late into the night.

Diocesan Clergy Day
Each quarter the Bishop brings in the clergy (active Priest and Deacons) for a day of fellowship, teaching, and Diocesan business. I flew to Saint Thomas on the early morning Sea Plane, returning mid-afternoon. It’s always good to get off the Island for a spell; three cruise ships were on St. Thomas, impacting the traffic and filling the sidewalks with tourists. It’s good to be with the Bishop and clerics of the Diocese.

Roads re-surfaced in complex
New “Black-top” asphalt is being laid in our Condo complex. This is an inconvenience and a challenge where we park our cars. Too bad the project was not accomplished during the “slow-sleepy-summer months.” Go figure, we say its all on “Island–time.” Better now than after Christmas in the “high winter season.”

Taking up Golf
Not in twenty years have I played golf. Living on course I now have taken up the game! I purchase some used clubs and play on Friday afternoon in the four-ball scrambler. After the game of nine holes all residents are invited to the community pool for a reception, meet & greet bring your own snacks and finger foods; BYO. I’m a real duffer BUT enjoying the experience of playing golf again.
I held my own!

Looking for a sail boat need crew
I am still looking to sail on one of the many yachts based here on Saint Croix. Haven’t found a Captain needing an extra crew but have been told there are boats needing extra hands; hope to get hooked up by the regatta in February.

Getting DARK earlier
We are in winter by the solar system, but one can’t read the season in the Islands by temperatures! The sun has moved on the arc of rotation and the days are shorter, nights longer. I look forward to the longest day of the year on the winter equinox for then it’s toward the short side of nights ahead!

Minor trade winds begun
Waiting for the Christmas Winds and major trade winds; the wind directions have not changed just the intensity. One knows the winds have changed when the ceiling cans are turned off or reduced in length and time of rotation.
Come, O come thou Christmas winds!

Flowered hedge planted inside wall/fence
Saint Peter’s spruced up the inner space along the inside of the wall-perimeter. We planted white flowered bushes that will eventually grow into a hedge. Our Church property is reflecting a new caring and over due attention. There is an increased pride of maintained order. Our desert yard is becoming a garden.

Canned goods to shut-ins
Southgate Baptist Church outreach mission to “inner-city” is called The Light House Ministry, where a soup kitchen, daily breakfast and street ministry to the down and out. Those economically disadvantaged are ministered to, feed, prayed with and counseled.The Lockhart School, a private “Christian school” collected canned goods in each class room. Historically the school was the Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal private school that closed for economic reasons years back, then leased by the Diocese to a family of educators. St. Peter’s was asked to distribute the food; we divided the abundance among shut-ins and delivered the bulk to “the Time Square” inner-city-ministry. I took a car load of canned goods to the soup kitchen; numerous clients and “street people” spotted my simple wooden cross; many positive comments of recognition. Tooth-less grins of appreciation was a heart warming feeling of shared abundance.

Babs back in Cumming
We have decided to put our Cumming home on the market for sale after fourteen years in Forsyth County, Georgia. She is managing the final renovations and de-clutter, storing excess “stuff” and making our home presentable to sell. Our intentions is to seek property in Clarkesville so to be near precious grand-daughter, Phoebe and our loving daughter, Robin and faithful son-in-law, Wally.
Babs returns to STX on December 12th, just time for the holiday “Boat Parade.”
More later!

“Snow Birds” slowing drifting back!
The season has begun for winter residents returning. Our Condo community is beginning to re-fill with the early bird holiday residents. More and more will arrive into January and February. Old familiar faces are re-appearing and we again begin to reacquaint with folks for all over the cold parts of the U.S., escaping snow and ice for life in the tropics. Take the hint and book a bed with us or let us know when you might want/think about a visit while we are here.

Hospital ID badge
It took four trips to the local hospital before I was issued an official “Clergy Visitor ID badge.” The photo machine was down each time I appeared for processing. I am now “identified” for the hospital entrance and visitations are smoother. Another exercise in patience with the administrative “Island-time-
Efficiency” or lack of such!

V.I. identification
On the same day, I obtained an “official V.I. identification I.D. card.” It’s not government issued, but works as a local I.D. at the grocery store for senior discount and proof of residency. I am not sure the TSA will accept it at the airport but it looks good for local stores and check cashing proof.

ARRL “veep” on Island
Harold Crammer, Vice President of American Radio Relay League will visit the V.I. this weekend. Our local Ham Radio club will host a lunch for conversation and dialog on Saturday, December 5th, our normal “first Saturday Ham lunch.”

The DAILY OFFICE my “link” with Church friends
A friend recently asked me, how I am staying in touch with folks in the States.
I responded, by prayer and reading of the Daily Office worship. During the time of Psalter readings and daily scripture readings I remember in prayers those I love and care for, miss and yearn to be in contact. Please know of my prayers from the Islands. We are united in our prayers.

Advent/CHRISTMAS letter in the mail!
For years we have mailed a form letter to friends and family instead of expensive
“Christmas Cards.” Our letter went in the mail on Friday, Dec. 27th; if you did not receive such and would like another version of our yearly “news,” send an e-mail to dwightogier@bellsouth.net. The letter is a mini edition of much the same as this series of “Blogs.” This issue is my 18th edition of DEO+ on STX.

Diocese of Atlanta Convention “on-line”The live broadcast of the P.B. and Bishop’s speeches was a connection from a great distance. What a miracle of instant communications. I haven’t completely left the Diocese of Atlanta and need/want to remain connected!

Be Quiet, Be still, wait and clean up your act
“Hush” a Baby is coming, “Soon, very Soon.” Have you straighten up your heart nursery? Have you unpacked the baby bed in your heart space? We are pregnant with anticipation. Get ready for the delivery. Usually it’s a pain-free birth. Come Lord Jesus!

COME SEE US MON!
La Paz y Buen Camino!

DWIGHT OGIER+