Author Archives: stxrevrod
Church Donates Copier
“Not for Profit: ‘God’s Gift’ Becomes Community’s Gain”
Renewable-energy advocates often say we must use the gift of natural resources – wind and sun. St. Croix Reformed Church took the gift idea to the ultimate, using the wind to give a gift to local students.
Pictured right: Alfredo Andres assistant principal Anna Marie Gordon, left, and secretary Sherika Milligan, with the donated copier. (Photo provided by the Rev. Rod Koopmans)
When in 2012 the church installed a wind turbine with funding from the V.I. Energy Office, it made a commitment to use the savings for the island’s benefit. After a year of operation and accumulation of savings, the church reached out this fall to the nearby Alfredo Andrews Elementary School to determine its needs and how the church could assist.
Principal Joan A. Claxton responded that the school copy machine had recently failed and a replacement was needed. The church purchased, with savings from its Water and Power bill, a used machine and had it serviced by Adan Business Machines, then delivered it to the school.
“Ms. Claxton and I are so thrilled and grateful for the donation of the copier,” Gordon says. “This was truly a need that the Reformed Church responded to.”
The church’s 10-kilowatt turbine is hooked into WAPA through the net metering program designed by the Energy Office.
So far, the Reformed Church is the only institution that has turned its savings into a method of giving directly back to the community. Several organizations that net meter have expressed an interest in giving the excess energy they produce to non-profits. However the logistics and the economics do not appear to work for the power company.
For more information about the Turbine and its current output, go to https://stcroixreformed.org/our-wind-turbine/
Energy Office spokesperson Don Buchanan said the American Recovery and Reinvestment grant for the turbine was $50,000 and the church contributed $16,500 to the project. He said the turbine will pay for itself in eight years.
“The church is not waiting for the turbine to pay for itself,” Buchanan said. “It’s putting the savings back into the community right now. The church is doing exactly what it said it would do in its grant application and we are very happy about that.”
“We will, from time to time, be making additional donations,” Koopmans said.
A Few Recent Photos!
Here are some photos from recent events at the church…
Xmas Eve 2013
Live Nativity 2013
Wow…what a special concert we had on January 12th!
Be sure to rent the movie “The Red Violin” to see the story behind Elizabeth’s Stradivarius
Claire and Jeff Cabrera tied the knot in Texas and send their best.
Donate Online to the Church
At the request of the Consistory, we’ve added an option to Donate Online to the St Croix Reformed Church budget and special appeals. This should be a great help to snowbirds, those of you who travel, and our many friends and supporters living off-island.
You can make a general donation, or add a note donating to a specific need.
The process is simple and straight forward. Clicking the “Donate Now” button will take you to NetworkForGood.org, -a mission-minded organization that provides online donation services to non-profits in exchange for a share of the creditcard transaction fee. Below are some of the screens you’ll see.
During the online donation process, you’ll have the option to pay with a CC or Paypal.
You can make a one-time or reoccurring donation. You’ll also have the option to pay the 5% transaction fee yourself, instead of having it deducted from the donation. After you’ve made a donation, you might email Reverend Rod the details of your gift so he can be looking for it.
Please see the following screens and read the following notes for more details. Better yet, why not MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION NOW to see how easy it is:
Screen Details for making an online donation via NetworkForGood.org
to St Croix Reformed Church
Holy Week & Easter Schedule and beyond!
Here’s the upcoming schedule of services at St Croix Reformed Church:
April 5th
Maundy Thursday Service at 5:30 p.m. Join us for Holy Communion.
April 6th
Good Friday Service at Noon.
Apr 8th
Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. at the cross, followed by breakfast.
9:30 a.m. Service including Blooming the Cross.
April 22nd
Congregational Meeting at end of 9:30 service to elect officers.
May 5th
Because of the Triathalon on Sunday, we will worship Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Thanksgiving and Advent Announcements
Thanksgiving & Advent Announcements!
Join us Thursday November 25, 2010 for Thanksgiving Dinner!
The Koopmans are hosting their annual Thanksgiving dinner at their home on Longpoint Road. (Rt 667 South and right at fork to the end). Come at 3:00 pm and bring a dish to share. Call 772-0201 to let Rod or Janie know you are coming and if you need directions. All friends of the church, and friends of friends are welcome!
Sunday November 28 is our annual “Hanging of the Greens” & Soup Lunch.
Help us decorate the Sanctuary for Advent after worship, then join us for soup and salad. Please call the church office if you plan to participate. 778-0520
Attention Book Readers!
This week we have approximately 1,000 free books at the church for your reading pleasure! Come get some great winter reading . First come basis, after 2:00 pm starting today thru this Friday.
Drop ‘n Shop Babysitting Fundraiser
What: Babysitting for the Holidays to make your shopping easier
When: Nov. 20, 27, Dec 4, 11, 18 From 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Where: The Kingshill School
Who: will babysit children potty trained and up
Cost: $5 per hour for first child, $3 per hour for each additional child.
Sign up in advance by call The Kingshill School office: 778-6564
Children should bring a snack and a change of clothes
SING THE MESSIAH!
This Sunday afternoon the 21st you will have a chance to sing or listen to “The Messiah,” Handel’s famous oratorio, at 3 o’clock at the Friedensfeld Moravian Church on Midland Road in Glynn. The UU Fellowship is hosting the Community Sing but it is open to everyone. If you want to sing you need to bring your own music. Choruses only. David Sweeney of the Seventh Day Adventist Church will direct and Barbara Jean Brown will accompany on piano. The Santa Cruz Brass will also play. For more information call Marilyn Chakroff at 514-9275 or Paul Chakroff at 626-0983.
June Announcements
ANNOUNCEMENTS from ST CROIX REFORMED CHURCH
Dick Smith Passes
We are saddened to learn of the death of Dick Smith on June 3rd. He passed away due to complications from surgery. We will greatly miss him.
His wife, Blanche’s address is
203 Dove Lane
Marmora, N.J. 08223
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
With school summer vacation here My Brothers’ Table needs volunteers. This church-sponsored feeding ministry serves up nutritious lunches Monday through Friday. It is located on Queen Street in Frederiksted one block north of the post office. Volunteers help serve drinks and meals from 11:45 to 12:45.
Elizabeth Peacock is the Volunteer Coordinator. Her number is 778-8226. Rides are available if needed.
Do you have some time this summer to donate to cleaning or painting? We have some small projects around the building in need of attention. Contact Pastor Rod.
Visit our website for photos and more announcements. http://stcroixreformed.org
Please forward this announcement to other friends in the church and invite them to SUBSCRIBE to our website’s email newsletter feature.
Upcoming Events
Jazz Vespers’ Las’ Lap for the Season is Sunday, June 6th at 5:30.
Take a musical journey of original compositions and other great music with Elvis Pedro, He’s joined by Marsvyn David, Loren Hughes, and Toby Derima. Refreshing vocals by Khema Loving June 6th 5:30-6:30 at the St Croix Reformed Church. Please bring friends and free will offering!
In other news: HALLELUJAH! ….the potholes on the road leading up to the church have been filled. Please show your appreciation by repeatedly driving over them to join us for worship and upcoming events.
March Announcements
Several important announcements….
The Consistory Nominating Committee is beginning the work of identifying new elders and deacons. The committee members are: Ethel Ritch, Carole Wells, Dulce Crowther , Julie Hansen-Hodge, Harold Jenkins, and the pastor. If you feel they should consider someone –please suggest that name to one of them.
The consistory would like to establish a Long Range Planning Committee. If you would like to be part of that committee please raise your hand or talk to the pastor.
Palm Sunday Volunteer Decorator Needed:
In previous years Dick Smith has decorated our church for Palm Sunday. This year he has to pass this opportunity to someone else. Please talk to the pastor or Dick Smith if you can handle this opportunity.
Also, we need a volunteer to teach the Middle Sunday School on Mar 21 and 27. Please talk to the pastor if you are willing to do this.
Thanks,
Rod
http://www.stcroixreformed.org
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Just Added:
I have just received this prayer request from World Vision, and organization that many of us support.
Dear Pastor,
It is with a sad heart that I write to you about a terrible loss to the World Vision family. Six staff members were killed in a brutal and senseless attack on our offices in the Mansehra District of Pakistan. Additionally, eight employees are hospitalized with injuries after the unprovoked assault by gunmen. Four of the staff have been released from the hospital.
World Vision has temporarily suspended our operations in Pakistan, but we remain committed to helping children, families, and communities in this country.
As World Vision mourns our colleagues we ask you to join us in praying for the families of our staff members and the people they serve in Pakistan, including those who respond to kindness with violence.
President, World Vision
Rick Stearns, President
www.worldvision.org
Synod of NY Exec reports on our church
Jon Norton, Executive Pastor of The Synod of New York, to which our church belongs, recently visited St Croix and posted some notes about our church and the St. Thomas church in his newsletter to the Synod.
I’ve excerpted some of his comments here:
REGIONAL SYNOD OF NEW YORK
SECOND WEDNESDAY NEWS
February 2010
REGIONAL SYNOD WEBSITE IS UP and RUNNING…The address is http://www.nysynod.com. It contains the latest news and events, columns, prayer chapel, picture gallery, media player, and even your local classis pages.
NOTES FROM the CARIBBEAN…
The churches of the Regional Synod have responded generously to the Haiti relief effort. In addition to monetary gifts, other churches have been working at uniting orphaned children with their families here in the States. Many are assembling cleaning kits, baby kits, school kits and personal hygiene kits. Thank You All for your generosity and your prayers!
I was supposed to have been in the delegation from the RCA that was in Port Au Prince when the earthquake struck. I would have been in the house with Rev. James Seawood, current General Synod President and pastor of Brighton Heights Reformed Church, Staten Island, when it collapsed. Because I went to St. Thomas for their 350th Anniversary celebrations, I missed the Haiti trip.
More than 350 people came for the 350th celebrations at St. Thomas. The church was packed and the balcony filled. There were 5 preachers, most of whom stayed within their 5 minute time limit. There was lots of music, lots of smiles and lots of happy remembrances. It was a day of rejoicing! In addition to the anniversary celebrations, the church family is excited about their call to the Rev. Jeffrey Neevel to be their new pastor. Jeff has been a very effective associate pastor for a while and is moving quickly into the hearts of the people and the many effective ministries of the church within the community.
Rev. Rodney Koopmans is the pastor of the church at St. Croix. They have a very lively Jazz vespers that meets on a regular basis. As a co-sponsor of an ecumenical feeding program, the needs of some of those in financial crisis on the island are met.
The St Croix church also houses a school for challenged children founded and run by Janie Koopmans. It is one of only a very few such schools in the whole Caribbean. They have a waiting list of children wanting to attend. As always finances are a challenge; contributions would be welcome.
We can be proud of our two churches in the Caribbean and their ministries. We can be proud of the work we are doing to help found the Reformed Church of the Dominican Republic. All these churches are growing in numbers as they minister in the name of Jesus Christ.
–Jon Norton, RSNY Executive Minister
OPENING DOORS TO DISCIPLESHIP…Online training program equips educators…
Go to the website: www.openingdoorstodiscipleship.com. You will need to register first, then log in. The RCA denominational code 59315 is needed to register. If you have questions or need help, please contact Kathy Dykhuis (kdykhuis@rca.org).
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01-29-10 Spaghetti Dinner and Auction
Our Spaghetti Dinner and Auction takes place this Friday, January 29, 2010 at 6 pm.
Tickets are on-sale at the door. Volunteers are needed for set-up, serving, and clean-up.
Thank-you
Pastor Rod
St Croix Reformed Church 
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