Please join us IN PERSON at Steven’s Chapel EVERY Sunday at 10 am!
or Join our service on Sunday at 10 am by following this link:
https://zoom.us/j/9407668736?pwd=STN5bVZXd21neEpmaUxTYW5ib0pWdz09
The UUSMV Zoom ID# is 940 766 8736, password is 735531
Or call: 1-646-558-8656, and when prompted give this ID# including the pound sign at the end: 9407668736# and the password 735531
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This Week's Service
Sunday, August 21 at 10 am: "Mayday in America" by Nathaniel Brooks Horwitz
 Nathaniel Brooks Horwitz is an Australian-American activist and healthcare entrepreneur. He is president and co-founder of the Massachusetts-based education nonprofit Mayday Health. He has co-founded four biotechnology startups developing new medicines and served on the board of directors for eleven companies. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic and other publications. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in molecular biology and scored a total of one touchdown as a running back at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
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Pastoral Support
If you are in need of support Rev. Vicky Hanjian has graciously agreed to be available to the congregation as on-call pastoral caregiver for the last two weeks of August. Please reach out to Rev. Vicky or to Mimi Davisson, our monthly caring coordinator, if you have any pastoral care needs.
Rev. Janet Newton begins her ministry with us on September 1.
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Tuesday, August 23, 9:30 am: Meditation Circle (meet on Zoom)
Save The Date
Monday, August 29, 4-5 pm: Pledge Campaign Brainstorming Session
Tuesday, August 30, 9:30 am: Meditation Circle (meet on Zoom)
Friday, September 2, 2 pm: Sewcial Action Knitwork (contact Laura Beebe for further information)
Sunday, September 18, after service: Potluck Picnic following Reverend Newton's Service
Monday, September 19, 10 am - 12 pm: Parish Committee
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Upcoming Services
Sunday, August 28 at 10 am: “Change - Transition - Transformation” by Rev. Vicky Hanjian
It has be en said that the only thing constant in life is change. We talk about change of jobs, change of venue, change of scenery - - all the physical ways that change happens. We don't talk much about transition, the psychological, spiritual and emotional process we go through that necessarily accompanies change. In his book Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes William Bridges wrote "Without transition, a change is just a rearrangement of furniture. Unless transition happens, the change won't work, because it doesn't take."
In preaching , Reverend Hanjian will help us explore the idea of transition and the ways in which it may lead to transformation as we face changes in our lives and in the life of the congregation.
Sunday, September 4 at 10 am: Rick Bausman
Sunday, September 11 at 10 am: Reverend Janet Newton
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A Thank You from Rev. Hardies
Dear UUSMV Community,
My heart is still brimming with love from Sunday’s worship service and goodbye celebration. Thank you so much for making my last Sunday such a rich and joyous affair—from the worship service to the lovely reception that followed. (That strawberry and cream cake was to die for!)
I woke up early on Monday and over coffee read through the book of goodbye letters that Karen Sankey compiled. Thank you for your heartfelt appreciations, and for the lovely gift of the framed photograph of the Vineyard.
This Tuesday I depart the island for Cambridge to begin my ministry at First Parish. As I go, I will carry each of you and this beautiful year that we shared in my heart.
With gratitude and love,
ROB
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Worship Survey
The Worship Committee and the Parish Committee would like to continue our 10:00 am worship service starting time through the end of October. Our hybrid tech team and musicians are on board, and Reverend Janet has expressed her support.
Continuing our 10 am starting time through October will allow us all to have the opportunity to catch our collective breath and experience the rhythm of life as we settle into fall on the Vineyard. In mid-October, we will re-engage the entire congregation to decide if we will keep the 10 am service going forward or return to an 11am service.
To date, we have heard much support from members of all ages as well as some feedback from people for whom the earlier starting time presents challenges. Before continuing the 10 am starting time beyond October or into the winter, we would like to give everyone the opportunity to weigh in.
If you would like your voice to be heard please click on the link to fill out the very short survey below or send an email or voicemail to Ann @uu.society.mv@gmail.com.
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In Our CommUUnity
Caring News
Good wishes for a grand adventure go out to Tenley Brooks and Calvin Brooks, who will be heading off to college next week for freshman year. Tenley will be going to Emerson College and Calvin will be attending Connecticut College. Fortunately for the Brooks family, Tenley and Calvin are not due to arrive at college on the same day.
Healing thoughts are making their way to the west coast where Bill Engler and his family are dealing with the impacts of Bill’s recent health issue. The monthly Caring Coordinator will have information about the Englers as it’s available.
Ann Hollister will be released from MV Hospital next week to continue her recuperation at a friend’s home. She appreciates cards, texts, and calls. As for visits, please call Christina Brown first, but it’s best to plan for a visit after Ann has left the hospital.
This Month's Wayside Pulpit
Share the Plate - What? You want my lobster roll?!
As we all take steps to return to ‘normal’ pre-COVID days, UUSMV is once again planning to “Share the Plate” 1 to 4 times each year. Don’t worry, we’re not expecting you to share your lobster roll and coleslaw. Rather, “Share the Plate” is a way for UUSMV to share our offertory plate with a non-profit nominated by you. Ideally, this would be an organization that supports/promotes UU values and principles.
Our next Share the Plate (STP) offertory will be Sunday October 16, 2022. Anyone can
nominate an STP recipient organization(s) until September 15th by either filling out a paper nomination form that’s available at the chapel or online. From the nominations submitted, the STP committee will select one organization to receive the donations from the Oct. 16th offertory. Several weeks prior to October 16, we’ll announce who the receiving organization will be and explain how donations can be made to Share the Plate.
Some past recipients of STP include: Houses of Grace, MA Coalition to End Gun Violence, Coast Guard Spouses Association. On behalf of the STP committee, we thank you for your time & ideas for Share the Plate.
- Chris Seidel (other Committee members: Betsy Young Buck, Bill Bridwell, & Lucia Hayman)
Attention All Singers
Greg Colossale will be working with the UUSMV Singers for the 8/21 and 8/28 services and we’d love to have you join us.
For 8/21 service: 9 am rehearsal in the chapel prior to 10 am service
For 8/28 service: 6 pm rehearsal at the Crawford’s on Tuesday 8/23 and 9 am on 8/28 in the chapel prior to 10 am service.
Call/text or email Jennifer Knight at 508-221-2615 or jennifer@mamasignite.com for music selections and rehearsal locations or with any questions.
If you love to sing, we’d love to have you join us!!
August Care Coordinator
 Mimi Davisson
For Care Coordinator contact information and quick reference go to the UUSMV member page: www.uusmv.org
Welcome Reverend Janet Newton We have uploaded Reverend Janet's video and our letter to the UUSMV community. Visit our member page to view and see updates from the Minister Search Team. www.uusmv.org
Reverend Janet's first service with us will be on September 11, 2022.
Our Island Community
Friday Night Concert benefiting the Miloakan project
 On Friday, August 19 from 6-8 pm at The Milokan Community Center at The Native Earth Teaching Farm, 94 North Road, Chilmark there will be a concert benefiting the Miloakan project . The weather looks perfect for a picnic and an outdoor concert. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes!
For more information about the Miloakan Project click here.
Community Sing
 There will be a community Sing at the Tisbury Amphitheater Sunday, August 28 from 5 - 6 pm. All ages welcome. For more information contact Roberta Kirn at roberta@bewellsing.com.
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... fost ering community action, racial equity, and universal justice
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UUSMV Universal Justice in 2022
Sheriff Candidate Forum - Tuesday, August 30, 7:30 - 9 pm at the Oak Bluffs Library
The League of Women Voters MV invites the public to its Sheriff Candidate Forum to hear from each candidate running for office. The forum will be in-person at the Oak Bluffs Public Library and later available on MVTV.
SHERIFFS: A BRIEF GUIDE
WHAT IS A SHERIFF?
Sheriffs are elected law enforcement officials. There are 14 sheriffs in Massachusetts—one for every county. They serve terms of six years, which is the longest term that state officials can serve in Massachusetts.
WHAT DO SHERIFFS DO?
Sheriffs play an important role in the criminal legal system. They have several key responsibilities that have profound effects on community safety:
• Overseeing county jails and houses of correction, where over 6,000 people were housed in March 2022—more than half of the state’s incarcerated population. This includes people held on bail, and those serving sentences of up to two-and-a-half years. Sheriffs can also decide to hold immigration detainees for the federal government.
• Providing necessary services for incarcerated people, such as physical and mental health programs, drug addiction treatment and emotional support; skills, education and vocational training; and reentry services.
• Controlling multi-million-dollar budgets allocated by the state legislature.
HOW CAN SHERIFFS HELP WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS AND PUBLIC HEALTH?
Disproportionate numbers of incarcerated people live with substance use disorder. While incarcerated, they face significant risks of overdose and death. Sheriffs oversee the implementation of programs to help people get the addiction treatment they need. Sheriffs can also help to limit outbreaks of infectious diseases like COVID by following the guidance of the CDC and other public health experts, and providing easy access to both preventative care and medical treatment.
HOW CAN SHERIFFS HELP LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES?
Sheriffs decide whether they focus on punishing incarcerated people or trying to assist them through education, substance use programs, and mental health services. As studies show, the latter approach helps people reenter society and stay out of jails, houses of correction, and prisons.
Learn more at aclum.org/KnowYourSheriff
ARE SHERIFFS INVOLVED IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT?
Sheriffs generally play no role in federal immigration enforcement. Some sheriffs in Massachusetts have voluntarily used their resources to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforce federal immigration laws, despite not being required to do so. This has split families apart and makes undocumented immigrants and their families afraid to report crimes or abuse.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SHERIFFS’ ACTIONS ARE LEFT UNCHECKED?
Despite being state employees, sheriffs have no day-to-day supervision. As a result, some sheriffs have mistreated people in their care, including one instance in which a sheriff used brutal tactics like dogs and pepper spray to subdue people in his custody. There are very few ways to hold sheriffs accountable if they abuse their power or resources—aside from elections.
WHO DO SHERIFFS ANSWER TO?
Like all elected officials, sheriffs answer to their voters. However, most voters are unfamiliar with sheriffs and their responsibilities. A recent poll shows that only 17% of voters can correctly name their local sheriff, 90% of voters do not know that sheriffs serve a six-year term, and 41% do not know that sheriffs are elected at all. In 2016, not a single incumbent sheriff lost his seat, and only four out of 14 faced any challengers at all.
HOW CAN WE HOLD SHERIFFS ACCOUNTABLE?
Voters can move sheriffs to adopt and implement policies that make our communities safer and more just for all. We have the power to elect sheriffs who are committed to transformation and healing—not punishment, retribution, or cruelty.
WHEN IS MY SHERIFF UP FOR RE-ELECTION?
All 14 sheriff seats in Massachusetts will be on the ballot in 2022. Here are the important dates:
• Primary election: September 6, 2022
• General election: November 8, 2022
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
Help us spread the word! Know Your Sheriff is a public education campaign by the ACLU of Massachusetts to build voter awareness about the life-changing decisions that sheriffs make.
Learn more at aclum.org/KnowYourSheriff
Climate  resolution for 2022
Seize the power at the poll. Make sure you are registered to vote. Your future is at stake, so make sure you exercise your rights and make your voice heard.
Become A Poll Worker and Make Some Good Trouble!
One of U USMV’s goals for becoming a Good Trouble Congregation is to have at least 2 members work as a poll worker this year! As a poll worker, you might help set up and organize materials, provide voters with a ballot, help voters with their ballot, hand out “I voted” stickers!
If you are interested, contact the Town Clerk in your town.
· Edgartown: Karen Madeiros has enough poll workers for the upcoming election, but contact her if you are interested in being place on a list for future elections.
kmedeiros@edgartown-ma.us
· Chilmark: You must be a registered voter in Massachusetts, 18 years or older, and not a candidate. Contact Jennifer Christy, Town Clerk. townclerk@chilmarkma.gov
· West Tisbury: Tara Whiting-Wells, Town Clerk, may have enough poll workers for the upcoming election. However, if you are interested, contact Tara. You may be able to observe the upcoming election to be ready for the next! You must be vaccinated for COVID19. townclerk@westtisbury-ma.gov
· Aquinnah: Contact Gavriella Camilleri, Town Clerk if you are interested. townclerk@aquinnal-ma.gov
· Vineyard Haven: Contact J. Hillary Conklin, Town Clerk if you are interested. hconklin@tisburyma.gov
· Oak Bluffs: Contact Colleen Morris, Town Clerk if you are interested. cmorris@oakbluffsma.gov
Willing to travel off Island? There is a shortage of poll workers in some Massachusetts locations. Go to Power the Polls at powerthepolls.com to sign up.
Please let me know if you become a poll worker!
- Dorie Godfrey for the Good Trouble Team
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Minister’s Fund - Caring Fund
Caring funds are available for Members & Friends who need a helping hand this winter with food, medicine, utilities, heating, mortgage/rent payments or other essentials. Your request for assistance will be kept confidential. Please reach out to Rev Rob, Rev Vicky, Jan Casey, or Kristy Brooks. UUSMV cares about you!
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Hi eve ryone,
I will be in the office Thursday (8/25) and Sunday (8/21) and am available by email and appointment as needed. I am happy to schedule other times to meet, simply send me an email or leave a message on the Chapel phone (508-693-8982). Please send anything for the Weekly Vineyard UU Voice by Thursdays at 10 am and any calendar submissions they come up. The best way to contact me is the UUSMV email: uu.society.mv@gmail.com .
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