Have Faith: The Wishing Tree
Polly Simpkins is one of those people who lifts your spirits just by having a conversation with you. And that’s extraordinary. I happened to notice her family has their annual Wishing Tree up in...
Have Faith: Grieving takes all forms
Grief is funny sometimes. Years after my mother died, I broke down in tears at the grocery store when I got to the salad dressing aisle and saw the Wishbone Italian dressing on the...
Have Faith: A spiritualist’s journey
I don’t often get an opportunity to talk to people who have a different perspective when it comes to their faith journey, so when Pam Hoopes emailed me a couple of weeks ago, I...
Have Faith: A new minister for the Island
The Island welcomes the newest minister for the United Methodist Church community, the Rev. Joanne Hus. I was able to chat with her on Tuesday about how it feels to be here, and how...
Have Faith: Teaching the children (and adults)
The calendar at the Religious School at the Hebrew Center is booked solid with traditional celebrations for the next few weeks. The congregation celebrates Rosh Hashanah on Saturday, Sept. 16, followed by Yom Kippur...
Have Faith: Reflection on the past
One of the visits I like to make when I go back to see friends in Syracuse is to my old church, All Saints, in the Syracuse University neighborhood. They welcome me back with...
Have Faith: Love with justice
If you’re looking for an uplifting and motivational read (and author), I’m recommending the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III’s “Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times.” I first heard Moss...
Have Faith: Summer services
If you’re a church geek like myself, you love summer on Martha’s Vineyard. More places of worship are open, and they all seem to be thriving — even those that have their share of...
Have Faith: Chabad on the Vineyard
I met Rabbi Tzvi Alperowitz the way I meet a lot of people, through emailing back and forth over the past year. We finally met in person last Sunday when I visited Chabad on...
Have Faith: Thinking about Juneteenth
Last month, my 33-year-old daughter decided she would dig deeper into our ancestry by doing a whole lot of online research. She definitely went down a rabbit hole. I was delighted when she reported...
Have Faith: Forgiveness
Editor’s note: From time to time, the “Have Faith” column is written by guest writers connected to the Island’s faith communities.
Forgiveness is one of the key tools of Christian faith. And knowing Jesus forgave...
Faith and Climate: Faith-based climate action
The Martha’s Vineyard Interfaith Climate Action Team is formed of volunteers from several different faith communities. If yours is not represented, please join us — our contact information is mvicat2040@gmail.com.
We’ve been meeting regularly to...
Have Faith: Prayer
Do you ever say a quick prayer before you do something, like have an important conversation you’ve been dreading, or making a decision that’s been weighing on you, or maybe before writing a column...
Back to the earth
When we visited our friend Bobby a few days before her death, she strongly expressed a final wish — she wanted a green burial. Bobby was a science teacher all her working life, and...
Easter and Passover services
Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center
The Hebrew Center, at 130 Center St., Vineyard Haven, hosts its annual Community Passover Seder on Thursday, April 6, at 5:30 pm, remotely and in person. Rabbi Caryn Broitman leads the...
Have Faith: A new way
At a time when the Catholic Church, along with other denominations, is experiencing a decline in membership, one family on the Island is joining the faith community at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Parish this...
Have Faith: Changing the world
Every once in a while I hear from people who might be having an interesting speaker coming to visit, and this time it was Susan Murphy who called. Next Saturday, March 25, at 2...
Have Faith: New minister in Edgartown
I had a great visit last week with the new minister of the Federated Church in Edgartown, the Rev. Mark Winters. It was a dreary day outdoors, but that was in contrast to our...
Have Faith: Interfaith connections
As Christians, we are supposed to share the good news of Jesus Christ. But how do we do that if people run from us, or the conversation comes to a halt because they know...
Honoring St. Brigid
Ireland’s ancient goddess, Brigid, long beloved and venerated in the hearts of the people, has been granted national recognition with an annual public holiday. Her official status is now recognized as equal to that...