Interdenominational “as a place of worship for the summer community,” Union Chapel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places Organ Prelude Begins at 9:50 A.M. Sunday Worship Begins at 10:00 A.M.
August 9, 2026
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley Alfred Street Baptist Church - Alexandria, VA 55 Narragansett Avenue Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts
www.unionchapelmv.org
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley is the Senior Pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where he serves as only the eighth pastor in the church’s more than 200year history. Under his leadership, the congregation has grown to more than 12,000 members with a weekly viewership exceeding 25,000, expanding its impact through spiritual formation, community engagement, and social justice. A nationally recognized preacher and prophetic voice, Dr. Wesley is known for sermons that challenge, inspire, and speak to issues of faith and justice. Several of his messages, including When the Verdict Hurts, A Rizpah Response, and Tell Your Own Story, are archived in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He also leads SEEK, an annual Kingdom-wide fast that unites more than 25,000 participants in prayer and spiritual renewal, and mentors emerging clergy through his annual conference, The Convening. His ministry has earned numerous honors, including recognition by The Root 100, the United Negro College Fund, and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He received the NAACP Chairman’s Award for Social Justice and was inducted into the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. A native of Chicago, Dr. Wesley graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a degree in biomedical and electrical engineering before answering his call to ministry. He later earned his Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology as a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar and his Doctor of Ministry in preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Wesley serves on several educational and faith-based boards and is a fourth-generation Baptist preacher. A devoted father of two sons, Howard-John II and Cooper Reece, he enjoys golf, cooking, movies, and fellowship. Above all, his life and ministry are devoted to making the name of Jesus Christ known and glorified.
2026 Season 2026 Season Guests Guests
June 28 Rev. Joanne Hus
August 2 Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III
United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard (Note, this is a combined service with United Methodist, held at 40 Trinity Park, OB)
Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL
July 5 Claire Seguin, DNP, RN
Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA
August 9 Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital President & COO
August 16 Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson
The Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York, NY
July 12 Rev. Shannon Kershner
August 23 Rev. Maureen Gerald
Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
First Baptist Church of Princeton, Princeton, NJ
July 19 Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart
August 30 Rev. Jennie Salas
Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
July 26
Iglesia Presbiteriana en San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
Bishop William J. Barber, II, DMin. Repairers of the Breach President & Senior Lecturer
September 6 Pastor Kevin Wayne Johnson
Celebration Church at Columbia, Columbia, MD
Union Chapel Union Chapel Board Board of of Trustees Trustees
Rev. Dr. Aliya F. Browne, President Heidi Bryan, Vice President Stephanie Parker, Secretary Kamla Branche, Treasurer
Rachelle Browne, Brenda Bryan, Cindy Carter, MD, Lynette Glover, Alvin R. Johnson, Rev. Kevin Wayne Johnson, Louise Johnson, Robert Jennings, Sexton, Kathleen McGhee-Anderson, Roger Morris, Kevin Myatt, Haywood L. Perry III, Andrew Skeen, Ann Stewart, Ed Trayes, Diane Welburn, Lois Jean White, Sabrina Williams Trustees Emeriti:
William Adams, Joann Kidd, Anne H. Parsons, Trustee President Emeritus Richard Taylor
William D. Peek Jr., Music Director and Organist
ORDER OF ORDER OF SERVICE SERVICE
PRELUDE Four Preludes on Yoruba Church Hymns Godwin Sadoh INTROIT The Presence of the Lord Is Here Byron Cage TRUSTEE GREETING Haywood L. Perry III *INVOCATION “God of hope, we have sensed your spirit walking with us as we open a new door in our lives, felt your urging when we were reluctant to say yes to a new adventure. Come among us today. Open our eyes to truth wherever it may be found. Allow us to hear the siren song of knowledge and understanding.” LORD’S PRAYER Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. *HYMN I’ve Got Peace Like a River WHITNEY
ANTHEM I Shall Wear a Crown Roscoe Corner PRAYER OFFERTORY He’s So Real to Me Beatrice Brown *DOXOLOGY ANTHEM Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand words: Jennie Bain Wilson music: Franklin L. Eiland SERMON Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley *HYMN #426 Blessed Assurance ASSURANCE BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Yin Olodumare (Praise Jehovah) Godwin Sadoh
Our Musicians Our Musicians Today Today
Theresa Thomason Theresa Thomason’s vocal talent emerged as she grew up singing in church. Jazz, pop, and R&B later followed. Her winning performance at the world-famous Apollo Theatre was a stimulus to love the stage. Theresa has performed countless sold-out concerts in the U.S. as well as in European cities where she spent over 17 years headlining a theatrical concert she wrote and produced. Her career has spanned over two decades of performances and recordings with eighttime Grammy Award winner Paul Winter. She remains a featured artist with the Paul Winter Consort, performing at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Theresa appeared on Broadway in the musical Hot Feet, directed by Maurice Hines and featuring the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. Returning to the Apollo in 2012, Theresa performed for The Harlem Jazz Shines’ “Jazz à la Carte” with Wycliffe Gordon, Savion Glover, and Maurice Hines. The Wall Street Journal named this the “Best Jazz Event.”
Brenda Cline Fantastic award-winning illustrator, educator, musician, writer and vocalist Brenda Cline was born in New Jersey and is now living in the Caribbean. Raised in a household of musicians led by her father, who was a pastor, Brenda specializes in writing children’s music, child development, and Gospel music. Now a retired teacher, she is honored by a program named specifically for her contributions to her school.
Union Chapel Ministers’ Fund The Union Chapel Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledges the Walter Edison Lowe Estate, under the direction of Executor Stephen Ross Johnson, for generously sponsoring the 2026 Summer Ministers Program through the Minister's Sponsor Fund. To learn about supporting the 2027 Minister's Sponsor Fund, please contact Al Johnson at retiredjohnson47@yahoo.com.
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Today’s floral Today’s floral arrangements arrangements on on the the altar altar are are placed placed ... ...
By The Taylor Family in celebration of the wedding anniversary of Johnathan and Brittany Taylor. In celebration of the Chastang family's summer birthdays—Mark's (PopPop's), Cooper's, and Kennedy's—and in appreciation for another summer on the Vineyard with family and friends! As a Happy birthday to my beautiful wife, Andrea "Andi" Bullock. You continue to make our life together a true blessing and I am forever grateful. Happy Birthday. In memory of our fathers who left a legacy of love and family: John Theodore Conrad & Bertrand Wardell Ellis. And in celebration of our 35th wedding anniversary on August 31st. To God Be the Glory. By Trustee Haywood L. Perry III, in celebration of his first wedding anniversary with his beloved husband, Preston Hart Perry.
Union Chapel Union Chapel gratefully gratefully acknowledges acknowledges the the additional additional support support of of these these institutions for institutions for today’s today’s service service … …
The Black Alumni of Northeastern University R.H. Boyd in celebration of our 130th anniversary. Join us for our inaugural luncheon, Stories by the Sea, on August 11 at Harbor View Hotel. Good food. Good faith. Good joy. Today's fans are compliments of Black Joy Kitchen, Martha's Vineyard. As Prairie View A&M University officially begins its Sesquicentennial Celebration (150 years), the University is honored to sponsor Union Chapel today.
To sponsor a Sunday Service in the Chapel, please visit www.unionchapelmv.org/sundaysponsor-request