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, September 4 at 10 am: "The Turtle Sees Both Sides of the Pond" by Rick Bausman
 Rick Bausman, friend of UUSMV and Gweto/ Cultural Ambassador to KNVA Haitian National Confederation of Vodouisant, shares personal reflections on balancing a hyper active spiritual life with balancing his check book. And he’ll tell some good Haiti stories.
Rick Bausman is a longtime friend of UUSMV and a former RE director. He is the Gweto/ Cultural Ambassador to KNVA Haitian National Confederation of Vodouisant. He also plays the drums.
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Pastoral Support
If you are in need of support Rev. Janet Newton is available to the congregation as our pastoral caregiver. Please reach out to Rev. Janet if you have any pastoral care needs.
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Friday, September 2, 2 pm: Sewcial Action Knitwork (meeting will take place at Mimi Davisson's house)
Friday, September 2, 5 pm: Share the Plate committee (meeting will take place on Zoom)
Tuesday, September 13, 9:30 am: Meditation Circle (meeting will take place on Zoom)
Save The Date
Sunday, September 18, after service: Congregation potluck picnic to welcome Rev. Janet and her family, following the service. (See more details below)
Monday, September 19, 10 am - 12 pm: Parish Committee
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Upcoming Services
Sunday, September 11 at 10 am: "Reclaiming What We Will Become: Community, Notre Dame and the  Lessons of Fire" with Reverend Janet Newton
Cast your minds back to April 15, 2019. That was the day that images of a devastating fire consuming the iconic and ancient cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris filled our television screens and news feeds. Many felt we were witnessing the loss of something absolutely irreplaceable — that this represented the high-water mark of cultural devastation after years of loss and uncertainty and calculated civic division. And then less than a year later we were forced to reckon with just how much more we stood to lose.
As we start our new ministry together, it’s a great time to consider the paradox of reclaiming something that has not yet existed. How it might be possible to rebuild something new, something that has never been despite having always been in our historical memory. To ask whether who we were is who we want to be, and how devastation and loss offer profound opportunities to better understand ourselves, our values, and our visions for belonging in Beloved Community.
Sunday, September 18 at 10 am: "Baseball, Barbecues and Belonging: Deepening our Connections in a Secular World" with Reverend Janet Newton
As Western culture has become increasingly secular, the institutions we’d previously relied on to help us connect and deepen our ties to both our inner selves and our communities at large have either struggled to maintain their relevance or have actively pushed us away by offering judgmental or narrow-minded perspectives. As a result, many of us have found ourselves in a place of searching…for…something? Something that, because we’ve gone so long without it in our daily lives, we might struggle to put into words.
This Sunday we’ll explore what it means to notice spiritual longing in ourselves, to understand that we are not alone in that feeling, and ultimately ask: what surprising soul-feeding opportunities are available to us when we start to seek out the power and beauty that our hurried and harried lives too easily encourage us to forget?
We’re planning a potluck on this Sunday after the service (weather dependent — we’ll schedule a rain date for 9/25 if the Island would like us to enjoy some much needed rain instead). In the spirit of our month’s theme of Belonging, you’re invited to bring something that helps you remember a time or place or way in which you experienced belonging to something bigger than yourself — anything from a beloved family recipe with a secret ingredient only available to those in the know, to a favorite Island treat that makes you feel at home here. It doesn’t have to be complicated — sometimes belonging means knowing that if all you can muster is showing up with a bag of tortilla chips, you will be welcomed in all the same!
Sunday, September 11 at 10 am: "The Waters that Belong to Us, and the Waters to Which We Belong" with Reverend Janet Newton
This Sunday we will engage in a beloved ritual for many Unitarian Universalist congregations: mixing and mingling the waters that give us life and blessing those waters through our attention and intention. While this ritual is common across the UU-sphere, just like a river it’s rarely done the same way everywhere. Here at UUSMV, we will have waters from a variety of different sources — from rain to pond to ocean to river to sink — present in our sanctuary.
First we will explore what each of those sources might represent to us metaphorically and physically, and then we will be invited to swirl together whichever waters are most meaningful to us in our own lives into a collective bowl. The waters and blessings mingled in that common bowl will become the source for further blessings in our congregation — child dedications and rituals of lamentation or cleansing.
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Pledge Reminder
Dear Frien ds, as we enter the last quarter of 2022, I would like to ask each of us to see where we are in paying our 2022 pledge to our church. You may be making regular monthly or quarterly payments (Thank you!), or perhaps you have not gotten to paying your pledge with the crush of summer family and friends we have all experienced.
You can go to our website uusmv.org and pay through the DONATE button, send a check, or authorize your banking institution to send your pledge. Many thanks to all!
Rita Brown, President
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In Our CommUUnity
Caring News
Healing wishes go out to our friends
Dorie Godfrey who went through her first round of chemo in Boston yesterday.
Tad and Judy Crawford who are coping with covid. Judy seems to have snagged the most onerous symptoms for herself, leaving Tad with less troublesome symptoms (hopefully).
Steve Engh whose trip home from Indiana has been delayed by a stay in the hospital fighting pneumonia.
Bill Engler as he continues recovery from his recent health emergency.
In other news
Ann Hollister is thrilled with the results of her recent surgery and will be moving back into her house in early September.
Sarah Shepard has been enjoying her new granddaughter-in-law’s parents who are visiting from CA.
Dianne Holt is out of the hospital and her current mailing address is:
Evergreen Crossing
900 Hemlock Ave
PO Box 146
South Windsor CT 06074
Looking for Help
As you may know, Bill had a bad stroke in mid August while in Seattle visiting his family; he remains in rehab there. Sharon and Lulu and Jack are returning to MV. Bill did a great deal of Lu’s care. She has to be lifted and carried due to her multiple disabilities. Needless to say Sharon needs help, as they are without Bill’s income as well.
Friends of the Bill and Sharon Engler’s have started a “Go Fund Me” on Islanders Talk on Facebook. These donation opportunities are often for a person or family who have had unfortunate life experiences that need financial help from others. Often sympathetic donors reach out to those in need whether or not they know the person(s). If you would like to contribute directly to the family but are not on Facebook, please send a personal check to Sharon Engler. Her address is in the UUSMV member directly. You can also access the GoFundMe page here. Thank you!
Rita Brown for the Caring Network.
Wonderful Article
Blue Do t Living recently published this article about our own Solorazza family. Follow the link and enjoy. Right at Home: The Sun People of Martha's Vineyard
September Birthdays
 Rob Hardies 4th
Maddie Maccaferri 7th
Lori Shaller 7th
Chris Seidel 14
Ewell Hopkins 16th
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)
September Care Coordinators
Bill Bridwell and Betsy Young Buck are the care coordinators for September.
There’s Going To Be A Celebration!
 Please join us after the service on Sunday, September 18th for a semi-potluck luncheon to welcome Reverend Janet Newton as our new Minister!
We’ll provide sandwiches, drinks, plates, napkins and utensils. If you would provide summer salads and desserts (enough for 8-10 people) that will be terrific!
With a little luck it will all work out!
Bring your dish on a sturdy plate or in a bowl and make sure to bring the serving utensils. It helps to write a description card for your dish which includes the name of the dish, whether nut or gluten free, etc. and add your name if you like.
We could use a couple of helpers for setting up and cleaning up and taking trash away. Please call me if that’s something you’d like to do.
We’re all looking forward to welcoming Reverend Janet and her family on the 18th!
Many thanks - Jenifer Parkinson 508-524-17459
Our Island Community
Join Us for Seeing White on MV
 Join members of our Island Community for a free interactive program built around Scene on Radio's Seeing White podcast.
A series of daily emails and group discussions prompts will guide us through Seeing White's 14 episodes, drawing on Island history and current events to bring their lessons home to Martha's Vineyard and our own lives.
This eight-week program will run September 10 - October 29, 2022. Optional in-person meetings will be offered with generous support from the Martha's Vineyard Museum.
Sign up or find out more email: seeingwhiteonmv@gmail.com
Additional Opportunity to Experience Rick Bausman
 For an embodied experience and deeper understanding of Rick Bausman’s upcoming service this Sunday, you are invited to this Saturday evening’s event at The Milokan Cultural Center at Native Earth Teaching Farm on North Road :
5 pm Gallery opens
6 pm Bat Tanbou movie about Milokan Project in Haiti
8 pm The Turtle Sees Both Sides of the Pond immersive experience
Support for Tavaris and Tavaughn Bulgin's family
As mentioned in our service this past Sunday our hearts go out to the family of the two Jamaican men who died in the accident off Jaws Bridge, Tavaris Bulgin & Tavaughn Bulgin, sons of Rev. Keith & Jackie Bulgin, pastors at the Palmer’s Cross New Testament Church of God in Clarendon, Jamaica.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help the families and you can donate to the GoFundMe account if you want to help by going to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tavaris-and-tavaughn-bulgin
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... fost ering community action, racial equity, and universal justice
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UUSMV Universal Justice in 2022
Climate  resolution for 2022
PLEASE DO COMPOST 👍
Fruits and Veggies (whole, peels, trimmings)
Coffee Grounds
Tea Bags
Grass Clippings and Leaves
Fireplace Ashes
Crushed Egg Shells
PLEASE DO NOT COMPOST 👎
Meat, Fish, Chicken, Bones
Dairy (cheese, milk products)
Fats, Grease
Whole Eggs
Need More Information on the Candidates in the Primary Election on 9/6?
 Vote411.org by the Massachusetts League of Women Voters is your nonpartisan, online guide to all the candidates at the State and county levels! Enter your voting address and you’ll see the information for all candidates on your ballot!
Dorie Godfrey for Protecting Democracy Team
Vote i n the Massachusetts Primary
Vote in the Massachusetts Primary election on Tuesday, September 6 or by mail in ballot which you can drop off anytime!
Volunteers Welcomed for the Neighbor2Neighbor Program
 We in Massachusetts are helping pilot the Neighbor2Neighbor program that is designed for volunteers of all skill levels – from first-time action takers to group leaders. These simple reminders to your neighbors can make a big impact, and ensure we elect progressive leaders who will fight for our community by protecting abortion rights, passing common sense gun laws, and defending our democracy from insurrectionists.
Once you sign up, you'll be directed to a map of the likely progressives near you who might need a reminder to vote. Then, you just knock on your neighbors' doors and remind them to vote.
We are confident that together we can make a difference for all Americans.
Join us, and together we will win!
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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 Janet, Jan Casey, or Kristy Brooks. UUSMV cares about you!
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Hi eve ryone,
I will be in the office Thursday from 12 - 2 pm and before and after service on the 11th. I am also 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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