After talking with the women in the NOW committee at the United Methodist Church, I’m wondering what I could possibly be doing with my free time. NOW is an acronym for Nurture Outreach and Witness, and co-chairs Sandy Joyce and Donna Leon, along with the organizer of the group, Barbara Spain, keep busy year-round.
I sat down with the women and the church’s pastor, the Rev. Roberta Williams, a couple of weeks ago. When I asked what kinds of things they work on throughout the year, I quickly found out it was more than I bargained for.
The committee’s been together for about 10 years, they told me, and began under the previous pastor, the Rev. Richard Rego.
“When people in the church had an idea for a ministry, they could come to this committee and we would help them realize their idea,” Sandy explained.
“The NOW committee is like the heart of the church,” Donna added.
There are the outreach programs most Islanders are familiar with — the Island Food Pantry and Clothes to Go, both housed in the United Methodists’ old stone church in Vineyard Haven. There are two Community Suppers — one hosted at the parish hall at the Campground on Saturday nights, and the other one at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown (it used to be at the Old Whaling Church) on Monday nights; both begin at 5:30 pm. The suppers start up the first Saturday and the first Monday in January, and continue until the last week of March.
“I think all of us that volunteer for the suppers, we get as much from it as the people who come,” Donna said.
The UMC has often talked to local restaurants and chefs, who have volunteered to prepare meals for their suppers. The parish hall has a large commercial kitchen. The meals are served on dishes at the church, not paper or plastic plates. In summer they sell food for the masses that come to Illumination Night.
“I’d guesstimate that we get about 10,000 people,” Pastor Williams said. “We start at about 5 pm, and a lot of families come. We try to make this building available to the community. It’s air-conditioned, and we make it available to other nonprofits. Last summer we had about six events sponsored by AA, the Cottagers, Jazz on the Vineyard, a group that helped build a conversation around race.” The Boy Scouts also use the building, and they sell popcorn during Illumination Night.
The NOW committee is busy with Little Dresses for Africa, a ministry where they sew simple dresses that can be let out and little britches with a drawstring waist for boys. The clothing is then shipped off to the Michigan headquarters of the Christian nonprofit, Little Dresses for Africa, and they distribute the clothing throughout the continent of Africa. This time of year the NOW committee collects hats, scarves, and mittens knitted and crocheted by volunteers, and they decorate a Christmas tree inside the church with the handmade goods, which eventually make their way to the Red Stocking Fund. The committee also began making prayer shawls a year ago.
“We make them and give them to parishioners who maybe have had a loss or need a little coziness in their lives,” Sandy said.
“It lets them know that we’re thinking of them,” Donna added.
They also are part of a backpack project that benefits the elementary and high schools on the Island.
Barbara explained that the Campground flea market in summer and the holiday bazaar held recently help to fund their outreach programs.
The committee gets together once a month regularly, though they admit it’s harder to do in the summer months. They brainstorm what to do, and have gotten parishioners together to craft ornaments, jewelry, candles, wreaths, cards, and swags to sell. And this year on Mother’s Day, they asked people to bring in donations of diapers and wipes, which were given to the Department of Children and Families. On Father’s Day, people donate children’s books that remind them of their dad or a dad figure in their lives, and those are given to the Red Stocking Fund.
The church has another committee that serves receptions after funerals, they donate blankets to Church World Service, and they go caroling at Windemere at Christmastime. The parish hall serves as a gathering place for AA groups, who held a Thanksgiving dinner there, and a New Year’s Eve party and dance.
“We want people to know that the church is here for them,” Pastor Williams said.
I think I realize that now, more than ever. If you’d like to find out more about the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard, reach out to them at 508-693-4424.
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The Chilmark Community Church hosts Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols on Dec. 24 at 5 pm. Sandra Atwood will be guest harpist. The Rev. Charlotte Wright says that the church has already begun its Community Suppers, on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm. They do not serve dinner on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.
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Good Shepherd Parish celebrates Christmas Eve with two Masses, at 4 pm and 5:30 pm, at St. Augustine’s in Vineyard Haven. On Christmas Day there’s a 10 am Mass, also at St. Augustine’s. Father Mike Nagle says the Community Suppers will be served on Thursdays from January through March, in the basement of St. Augustine’s Church.
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Herb Ward tells me that the Federated Church in Edgartown begins hosting its Lasagna Luncheons on Sunday, Jan. 6, from 12:30 to 2 pm, and will continue through the end of March.
He also sent along news about Christmas services at the church. They celebrate the final Sunday of Advent on Dec. 23 with their 10:30 am service. The annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is on Monday at 10 pm. The service includes music by the church’s choir under the direction of Peter Boak. There will be readings from the Bible telling the Christmas story, and everyone is welcome to come.
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Grace Church, at William Street and Woodlawn Avenue in Vineyard Haven, hosts a Blue Christmas service at 6 pm Thursday evening, Dec. 20. On Christmas Eve, Festive Holy Eucharist is at 5 pm. Traditional Carols begin at 9 pm, followed by Holy Eucharist at 9:30 pm.
There’s a Holy Eucharist service at 9 am on Christmas Day. On Sunday, Dec. 30, Grace Church offers Holy Eucharist at 8 am and Lessons and Carols at 10 am.
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St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown hosts a Christmas Eve family service at 4 pm; a choral service begins at 9:45 pm. A quiet Christmas service takes place on Christmas Day at 9 am.
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And I nearly forgot, Grace Church also sponsors the performance of Handel’s “Messiah, Part 1” on Saturday, Dec. 22, at 8 pm at the Old Whaling Church. More than 30 singers take part, and we can thank James Norton for reviving the annual performance a few years ago.
Wes Nagy conducts the chorus, with solos by Dorian Lopes, Martha Hudson, David Behnke, Maurice (“Buck”) Reidy, Jennifer Knight, Becky Williams, Dougie Norton, and Laura Gliga. Instrumental accompaniment will be offered by Liz Henderson and Mary Sossong, violins, Matthew Pelikan, viola, cellist Jan Hyer, and Steve Tully, flute. Griffin McMahon will be piano accompanist. Suggested donation is $20 to benefit the Island Food Pantry.
If you have news for Have Faith, please send it to connie@mvtimes.com.
