Nov. 3, 2007 – The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Croix celebrated its 20th anniversary Sunday, Oct. 28, with a return to an earlier place of worship–the St. George Village Botanical Garden. Founding members Marsha and Phil Shuman presented the fellowship's history.
Small groups of religious liberals known as UUs have met on and off on St. Croix since the 60s, but the group, founded in 1986, incorporated in 1987 and admitted to membership in the national Unitarian Universalist Association that same year, has met continuously for 20 years.
Former residents Milton and Marcia Forbes organized the fellowship, which met for a few years in the early 90s at the Botanical Garden. It has returned there and is now meeting in the Garden's new Bodine Visitors Center.
The UU Fellowship of St. Croix currently has about 20 members and another 20 or so more or less regular attendees. It meets the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 10 a.m., from October through May. Services are led by members, friends, guest speakers and, whenever possible, visiting ministers. New visitors are always welcome.
Between services the fellowship holds regular small discussion group meetings and occasional workshops on subjects such as being a welcoming community and encouraging diversity.
The UU Aims and Purposes are: (1) To provide a fellowship for persons desiring freedom of religious thought (2) To strengthen one another in searching for truth and striving for a growing philosophy (3) To promote individual freedoms including thought, expression, the pursuit of happiness and social ministry (4) To further the democratic process in human relations and to serve the universal human family (5) To strive for a world fellowship of peace.
The next service, on November 11, Veterans Day, will be "Honoring the Peacemakers," led by Paul Chakroff and others. Services are followed by a coffee hour. More information is available at www.uustcroix.org or 719-5735.
