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 14 at 10 am: “Illuminated” by Rev. Rob Hardies
On the occasion of my final sermon as your minister, and on the Sunday before Grand Illumination, I will reflect on what it means to see the world as “illuminated.” This is the greatest gift our UU faith has given me: to experience the world as luminous, as shot through with the Holy. This Sunday I want to share that gift with all of you.
In addition to our own Jeremy Berlin, we are grateful to be joined this Sunday by two special musical guests from DC, Rochelle Rice and Jennifer Hayman.
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A Goodbye From Rev. Rob
Dear UUSMV Friends,
It is hard to believe that our year together is coming to an end; Sunday will be my last day as your minister.
Someone once said that if the only prayer we ever say is “thank you,” that is enough. So let me say to all of you: Thank You. Thank you for so warmly welcoming me into your community this year. Thank you for sharing your lives with me, and for trusting my leadership. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes, and for making it possible for me and my family to be here on island for the summer. Thank you for these things, and so much more!
This Sunday at 10:00 am I will share my final sermon as your consulting minister, “Illuminated.” One of the greatest gifts our Unitarian Universalist faith has given me is the ability to experience the world as luminous, brilliantly shining, shot through with the Holy. This Sunday I want to share some of that vision with all of you.
The music this Sunday will be a special treat! In addition to our own Jeremy Berlin (piano), Andy Herr (bass), and Chris Seidel (drums), we are delighted to be joined by two dear friends and special musical guests from All Souls Church in Washington: Rochelle Rice and Jennifer Hayman. I hope you’ll join us! (The order of service for Sunday is attached.)
After Sunday, 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 you on September 1. I have great faith that Rev. Janet’s ministry among you will be a blessing, and an opportunity for the congregation and its ministry to flourish. I wish her and you all the best!
As for me, some of you have already heard the news that I have a new job! I will immediately begin serving as Contract Senior Minister of the First Parish in Cambridge, MA, right in Harvard Square! This is anticipated to be a one-year transitional ministry, much like my role with UUSMV. I’m excited about the opportunity to serve First Parish!
In keeping with best practice and ministerial ethics, after Sunday I will be stepping back for a period of time from my relationship with UUSMV. This practice allows you to focus on forming a strong relationship with Rev. Janet, and allows me to focus my pastoral attention on the Cambridge congregation. Please know that, though you won’t be hearing from me for a while, you will continue to hold a special place in my heart.
But before we say a final “goodbye,” we have one last opportunity to worship and celebrate with one another. So I hope you will join us at 10 am this Sunday for my final service, followed by a celebratory goodbye lunch in the church yard!
Friends, it has been a great blessing to know and serve you this year. May we all be blessed on the road ahead.
Much love,
Rev. Rob
The Rev. Rob Hardies
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Tuesday, August 16, 9:30 am: Meditation Circle (meet on Zoom)
Save The Date
Tuesday, August 23, 9:30 am: Meditation Circle (meet on Zoom)
Friday, September 2, 2 pm: Sewcial Action Knitwork (contact Laura Beebe for further information)
Monday, September 19, 10 am - 12 pm: Parish Committee
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Upcoming Services
Sunday, August 21 at 10 am: " Mayday in America" by Nathaniel 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.
Sunday, August 28 at 10 am: “Change - Transition - Transformation” by Rev. Vicky Hanjian
It has been 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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In Our CommUUnity
Caring News
We have learned that Al DeVito passed away in June 2022. Al and his late wife Catherine were pillars of the UUSMV community in the early 2000s. After Catherine’s death in 2010 Al moved to CT where he was an active volunteer and a prodigious blogger.
Ann Hollister’s surgery went well and she’s recuperating nicely. She’s enjoying cards and texts, but no phone calls for now please. If you want to visit Ann, please talk with Christina Brown first.
Dianne Holt is recovering from COVID at a Haverhill hospital. She will be leaving there soon to spend several weeks with family in CT. Please contact August Caring Coordinator Mimi Davisson for Dianne’s address in CT.
Dorie Godfrey’s recuperation from June surgery has been so robust that she’ll be starting chemo in early September.
A Farwell  to Rev. Rob Hardies
Join us to say thank you and farewell to Rev. Rob Hardies after his last preaching for a Sunday service August 14.
We will serve a light lunch after the 10 am service!
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)
August Birthdays
Donna McElroy 15th
Leigh Smith 15th
Sue Streeter 15th
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
Our own Stephanie Michalczyck helps the Food Pantry and islanders with food insecurity. Th e Vineyard Gazette states that 652 residents visit the pantry per week, a 52% increase from last year.
We can help by volunteering like Stephanie or by donating food or money.
https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2022/08/04/food-insecurity-sees-dramatic-rise
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... fost ering community action, racial equity, and universal justice
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UUSMV Universal Justice in 2022
T-Shirt Event
 On July 28 and 30 individuals gathered at Stevens Chapel to make a public statement about their stance on abortion. The MV Times covered the event and interviewed Rev. Rob Hardies and Rita Brown. Below is a quote from Rev. Rob Hardies,
“As Unitarian Universalists, we are committed to the inherent worth and dignity of every person … to deny women access to abortion and reproductive health services is to deprive them of the inherent reproductive healthcare that they need.”
To read the MV Times full article and learn more about this important event follow this link: https://www.mvtimes.com/2022/08/08/church-hang-ups-roe-decision/
Climate  resolution for 2022
Be energy-smart at home. When you buy new appliances, look for the Energy Star label. Run your dishwasher, washer and dryer only when they are full. Wash your clothes on cold (they’ll get just as clean). And do you know how good clothes smell when they dry on the clothesline, in the sunshine, instead of in the dryer?
A New Opportunity for Making Good Trouble in August!
 You and your friends are invited to join us in making some good trouble and impacting voting in the midterm elections. You can sign up to complete letters that have been developed by Vote Forward to get out the vote in underrepresented populations. We’ve selected 3 states that are currently deemed “toss up” – so we can make a difference – Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin.
It’s so easy. You’ll receive 20, 40, or 60 letters – your choice. You simply complete the letter by writing the provided name and 2 or 3 sentences on why you vote. All the other information on the relevant election is already prepared. Then sign the letter with your first name, address the envelope, and return the letters to me by the end of August! I collect all the letters and mail them in October as instructed by Vote Forward.
Let’s Do This! If you prefer a state, just let me know!
Dorie
Dorie.godfrey@gmail.com
Good Trouble Goal Reached
Thanks to 17 UUSMV volunteers and 24 (at least) volunteers from the Hebrew Center, NAACP, LWV-MV, BLM, and other groups we've met our Good Trouble goal of sending 1,500 postcards to voters. Thanks to everybody who helped either by writing or cheerleading.
The Good Trouble Team (Rita Brown, Barb Caseau, Ann Charnley, Mimi Davisson, Dorie Godfrey, and Peter Meleney)
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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 (8/18) 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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