This Week's Service

Tuesday, September 27, 9:30 am: Meditation Circle - Join on Zoom (Meeting ID: 864 3352 3334 Passcode: 737316) or Contact Ed Merck ejm646@gmail.com
Save The Date
Tuesday, October 4, 9:30 am:  Meditation Circle
Friday, October 7, 2 pm: Sewcial Action Knitwork (contact Laura Beebe for further information)
Monday, October 17, 10 am - 12:15 pm:  Parish Committee (meeting takes place on Zoom)

In Our CommUUnity
Caring News - Healing wishes go out to our friends
Bill Engler is back on Island! But Sharon and the kids are going to need some help. Below you will find a link to “Meal Train” which helps to organize a schedule for people to prepare meals for the family. If you can, please sign up. We also wish to continue with the GoFundMe page to help pay for the home health aides that will be needed to help with Bill’s continuing care.
You can also access their  GoFundMe page here and sign up to provide a meal at www.mealtrain.com .

Peter Palches has gotten Covid. Unfortunately he and Annie are on a river cruise in Europe so they are having to quarantine in their cabin.

Dorie Godfrey had another chemotherapy treatment this past Wednesday. She is doing well. You can send her a text message of support.

Nancy Wood has been suffering from bronchitis. She is feeling a little better, but it’s not physically able to make it to church.  She will be joining on Zoom.  She would love visitors.

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

Share the Plate
The Share the Plate committee narrowed the nominated organizations down to five. We have put together a bit of information on each of our nominees to help in your decision on which organization to vote for. Thanks to everyone for their nominations and for your upcoming vote. Remember, all votes must be submitted by September 30th. You may vote online or by paper ballot (available in the chapel). You may also call Bill Bridwell (774-563-8542) and tell him your choice.
The Equal Justice Initiative: Founded in 1994 when the Southern Center for Human Rights lost federal funding, The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) was designed to provide legal defense for death row prisoners.
The Abortion Freedom Fund: Abortion Freedom Fund is a national abortion fund supporting accessible, affordable, evidence-based telehealth abortion care for all. Our mission is to help pregnant people take control of their healthcare and futures by dismantling medicalized control of abortion and encouraging a world where abortion pills are over the counter.
The Island Housing Trust: The Island Housing Trust is a non-profit Community Land Trust organization that supports a diverse and vital community on the island of Martha’s Vineyard by creating and sustaining permanently affordable housing, both rental and ownership.
The US Slave Song Project: The U.S. Slave Song Project (USSSP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about authentic U.S. slave songs. U.S. slave songs, also known as Negro spirituals, are true American folk music. They were sung by slaves between 1619 and 1865, when the last slaves were freed.
Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard: Since 1981, Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV) has been providing end-of-life care for our patients and their loved ones.
The winner will receive 100% of the plate collection on Sunday, October 16th. 

Message from the Wayside Pulpit






Sharing the Abundance of Our Lives
 The UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) is our proxy for advancing human rights all over the globe.  The UUSC supports programs such as Crisis Response, Migrant Justice, and Climate Justice. 
Every year UUSMVers symbolically invite guests to our tables during September and October by collecting loose change and paper money in temporary banks.  Banks can be any containers that will hold donations.   At the end of October we collect the proceeds for the UU Service Committee’s Guest at Your Table campaign.
Thank you in advance for sharing the abundance of your lives with those who face terrifying tragedies that we can’t even imagine.
The UUSMV Universal Justice Network

Go UUSMV!
Hi Rev. Janet and Rita –
I am writing to thank you and the congregation for the part you played in working with area congregations and others to welcome and support the Venezuelan migrants  last week -- offering them not only physical sanctuary but also acknowledgement of their inherent worth and dignity and of the fact of our interconnection.
I appreciated some of your quotes, Rev. Janet, from this article in Religious News Service – particularly “Ironically, we were prepared, even though we had no warning.” Great articulation of an important truth.
Please let folks know that the New England Region staff team is proud and deeply grateful to know of your involvement.
In faith,
Meck Groot :: she/her
Congregational Consultant
New England Region Unitarian Universalist Association

September Care Coordinators
Bill Bridwell and Betsy Young Buck are the care coordinators for September.

Climate resolution for 2022
The autumnal equinox is here—shorter daylight hours, get ready for those early sunsets!
As you do your outside yard cleanup, remember to leave those leaves around edges for little animals, insects and such, to have a warm hiding place.  And consider having a wild yard, with native plants to attract bees, instead of a mowed lawn!  And, of course, do not use those nasty fertilizers that get into our water, and eventually harm us, just to have a green lawn! Give thanks for our Mother Earth!
 

Question One
     Besides our state wide candidates for office, there are also important ballot questions, voters will consider in November.
     Question One on the ballot has to do with a change in the constitution to allow a more progressive fairer tax structure hence it is known as the Fair Share Amendment or the Millionaires’ Tax.  Working families and small businesses struggled throughout the pandemic while super rich got even richer. The former groups contribute a greater share of their income to all forms of taxes averaging ten percent whereas very wealthy individuals contribute closer to six percent. Our flat income tax rate of 5% is not an equitable tax structure.
     What the amendment proposes as a more equitable solution. This constitution amendment would keep that  5% rate in place on incomes below one million. For those whose income exceeds one million, the additional income ( over one million) would be subject to an additional 4 cents on the dollar. This would generate about two billion dollars each year dedicated to education pre k-12 and higher education and needed infrastructure such as roads, dams, bridges and public transportation.
     Pro and con ads are now running on the major networks suggesting home owners and small businesses will be impacted. Only one percent of home sales generate enough of a capital gain tax after deductions to be affected by question one. Only 3% of business owners or shareholders earning more than one million in personal income would be affected by this change.
Question One has been endorsed by the Unitarian Universalist Association. To find out more information about the amendment itself, and about Raise Up Massachusetts,( a coalition working together to promote its passage and their work in the past) a link has been provided.  
     I'd welcome other questions that may arise about the amendment. My phone number and email address can be found in the Directory.    https://www.fairsharema.com/resources
Respectfully submitted by Sheila Hanley  

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2022 began yesterday, Thursday, September 15 and ends on Saturday, October 15. The 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Observance Theme is: "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation."  It is a time to appreciate and celebrate the colorful cultures, rich histories, and diversity of the American Latino community. What will you do to honor and celebrate our MV Latino community?

Common Cause Massachusetts
It’s time for us to organize for the general election in November, and we are hoping to expand to even more polling locations statewide!

We are looking for all kinds of volunteers - it doesn’t matter if you’re new or seasoned, we want you to join us in protecting election integrity in Massachusetts. You can sign up at https://protectthevote.net/   to volunteer with our election protection program!