Category Archives: Mission
Important News
Dear sisters & brothers of St. Croix Reformed,
There is some good news to report and there is…more good news to report.
First, many of you know that we have been praying for Tez Waters as she awaits relief from her pain following a hit-and-run accident. Pain medication is taking a toll on her body. Unfortunately, the procedure that could offer an alternative option for relief is over $170,000. It’s considered elective, so insurance is not going to cover it.
For some time now Tez and her friends and family have been campaigning to raise the money so for the procedure. There is now around $35,000 remaining. At our most recent Consistory meeting, the Elders and Deacons of SCRC decided to offer a $15,000 matching grant to the congregation and community. We will be receiving pledges and donations from the congregation. We will also be receiving donations from the community as well. So, if you haven’t had the opportunity to donate to Tez yet or if you felt that the goal was too far off, then now is the time to make a contribution!
From now until November 1st, SCRC will use reserve funds to match your donations. Please indicate on the memo line that you are making a “Donation for Tez.” The good news is that there are already people expressing interest in contributing to Tez’s campaign. The goal is well within reach. We have the goodness of God and the generosity of God’s people to thank for this opportunity. It’s good news!
Second, many of you also know that the wind turbine was damaged in the hurricane. Despite our efforts to raise it again, it is still lying down on the ground. But, wait! There is good news. SCRC has received a $50,000 grant from the Reformed Church in America so that we can install solar panels and a battery wall that may allow us to go entirely off grid. It would also allow us to provide communication, refrigeration, and power in the event hurricane and extended period without power. We feel that God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing. But, that’s not all!
A local organization, St. Croix Aviary, would like to have the wind turbine. They have the tools and resources to remove it from our property and would benefit from the power supply it provides. Call it coincidence or serendipity or providence. Whatever the case, it’s good news! If you have any questions about this, please feel free to call Pastor Peter or speak with one of your Elders or Deacons.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
August Announcements
Preaching to the choir:
Choir practice will begin on Sunday, August 26th, at 8:30am. Everyone is invited to participate.
Let the People Lead:
On Sunday, August 26th, we will be having a lay lead worship service while Pastor Peter is off island. If you are willing and able to help with the liturgy, please speck with Pastor Peter.
Blessing of the Backpacks:
On Sunday, August 26th, we will have our annual Blessing of the Backpacks (or Briefcases) during our worship service.
September Reminders:
The 1st Saturday of every month (9/1/2018), we volunteer at the St Croix Animal & Welfare Center. We meet at the new Pet Place (next to FoodTown) around 8:00am and help walk the dogs.
The 2nd Saturday of every month (9/8/2018), we have a Fellowship BBQ. The grill is ready to go at 5:30pm. Bring the items you would like to grill and a dish to share.
Upcoming Events in August
Join us Saturday, August 11th @ 5:30pm for our monthly BBQ. The grill be hot and ready. Please bring the items that you would like to grill for yourself and a dish to share.
Join us Sunday, August 12th @ 11:00 am for a Jazz Vespers Planning Meeting. We would like to restart our monthly Jazz Vespers Program and need volunteers to help plan and coordinate.
Join us Sunday, August 26th for the Annual Blessing of the Backpacks during our worship service. All children (and adults) are invited to bring their backpacks.
Reminders for this week
April 18th:
The Enneagram- A Small Group Study
Who am I? Why do I get along with some people and not others? Why do my spouse and I keep having the same arguments? How can I love my kids and get so frustrated at the same time? How do I draw closer to God? Pastor Peter and Julie have found the Enneagram to be a very helpful tool in answering these questions. They invite everyone to join them for a conversation in the Sanctuary on Wednesday evenings at 5:30pm beginning April 18th. The conversation will be based on the book The Sacred Enneagram: Finding your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth by Christopher Heuretz.
April 19th:
The Long Term Recovery Group
The following sub-committees have formed: Finance, Case Management, Unmet needs, Communication & Advocacy, Youth, Spiritual/Emotional Care, Construction, and Volunteer Management. If you’d like more information please see Pastor Peter. The next LTRG meeting will be Thursday, April 19th, 3pm, at the St. Croix Christian Church.
April 22nd:
What does it mean to be Reformed?
Inquiring minds want to know and there are a lot of them based on the number of times Pastor Peter has been asked. It’s time to start working on an answer. On APRIL 22nd, we’ll meet after worship to begin a discussion on Reformed history, theology, polity, and practice. Our second question will be: what were the main points of theology in the Reformation?
Angel Tree
Don’t forget to pick your angel from the angel tree. Each angel represents a child in need. Please bring your unwrapped gifts with the angel tag to the Church by Sunday, December 17th.
Many thanks to the ASPCA for all of their work on St Croix.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
(2 Corinthians 9:11)
Join us for worship service at 11:00am on Sunday, October 8th!
Our doors are open and we are waiting for you!
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria Update
God’s house and people up the hill withstood Maria’s fierce winds. The building sustained some minor damage. The wooden cross was knocked down. The Church signs were damaged. We had flooding in the classrooms and the sanctuary. Some of the Sunday School curriculum was destroyed by the flooding. We had a couple of broken windows and plenty of trees are down. The wind turbine was lowered and should be up again when the island’s grid comes back. In additional to helping members and island family, we’ve also been reaching out to St. Thomas and St. John through the St Thomas Reformed Church.
Did you know that you can make an online donation to the St Croix Reformed Church!
Support Our Ministry! Contribute Online Now via NetworkForGood.org. This handy link is being used by members, and far-flung friends of the congregation to support our ministry.
Click the donate now online button as seen above. It will take you to the Network for Good page. You can then donate online to The St Croix Reformed Church. You can designate a specific purpose for your donation if you’d like.
The church suffered some damage during Hurricane Maria. We will use these donations to fix the Church, fix the generator, and to contribute to local missions such as My Brother’s Table.
Thank you for your support.
Update from St Thomas Reformed Church 9/19/2017
This might be my last post for a while. Looks like Maria is still coming our way. I wanted to write about all of the wonderful things that happened yesterday as countless volunteers continued to give and serve. I’ll send pictures of the wood donations being handed out, the meals being served at MBW, and the groceries and supplies being distributed at our church. I know over 200 families were given supplies enough for a couple of days. Bright spots of course are the children and yesterday we were serenaded by two of our younger volunteers. UPS even got in on the action donating one of their trucks for us to move supplies. Thank you UPS and the Salvation Army for working out those details. The most wonderful blessing was opening a pallet in that big 40 foot container and finding boxes of supplies from Ponce Puerto Rico all decorated and hand signed with prayers and blessings. Many of the cans were labeled with a heart sending their love. For those of you who don’t know Ponce is where our XYG youth group served on their mission trip last year. The blessings have now come full circle. “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back to you.” -Ecclesiastes 11:1
We truly appreciate all the prayers and support that you have been sending our way. We are now keeping our brothers and sisters on St. Croix and Puerto Rico and all the neighboring islands in our prayers as Maria moves through in the next couple of days. I am optimistic because I have faith in God and in the ability of God’s faithful people to endure trials and tribulations. I wish I could say things were great here but they are not and so many people are suffering. We will continue to do what we can to get relief supplies into the hands of those who need it the most. (As a reminder you can give financial donations on our website and through our app or by sending a check which will all go into our Irma relief fund. Financial supplies will help the most long term. Please do not send us clothes!!!)
I thank everyone on the outside who has been working diligently to assist us in this time of great need.
Keep praying…
Peace,
Jeff
St Croix Reformed Church 
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