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.
September 6, 2026
Reverend Kevin Wayne Johnson Celebration Church at Columbia, Columbia, MD Union Chapel Board of Trustees 55 Narragansett Avenue Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts
www.unionchapelmv.org
Reverend Kevin Wayne Johnson
The Reverend Kevin Wayne Johnson serves as Deputy Pastor, Celebration Church, Columbia, Maryland with varied responsibilities that include discipleship & Christian education, leadership development, and Bible Study. Pastor Johnson is Pastor Emeritus, Accokeek First Church of God, Accokeek, Maryland. He is a preacher, author, business owner, board director, and retired federal government senior leader following a 34-year career with the Departments of Defense and Treasury. He was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by the Biden/Harris Administration. In 2001, he founded Writing for the Lord Ministries, a Christian-based publishing company, and has authored or co-authored 24 books that have earned 30+ literary awards on topics that include faith, success, book writing, book marketing, finance, and leadership. Pastor Johnson has served the local church since 2001 as a deacon, associate pastor, and senior pastor and has preached the Word of God across the U.S.A., Kenya Africa, Turks and Caicos, and London England. From 2009-2011, he was commissioned, licensed, and ordained into the Christian ministry as a minister by Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana, the Chesapeake, Delaware, Potomac (CDP) District. Long before that, his maternal Grandmother, "Granny," prayed and prophesied that he would be a preacher when he was eight years old. Pastor Johnson has been married to Gail for 33 years and they are both graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business, Richmond, Virginia. From their union they raised three sons - Kevin, Chris, and Cameron. They have one God daughter, Heather, and two God granddaughters, Marley and Kynzlee. Pastor Johnson is a swimmer, walker, sports enthusiast, and avid reader. He firmly believes that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.
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 Rev. 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 Paul Alexander, Rachelle Browne, Brenda Bryan, Cindy Carter, MD, Lynette Glover, Sharon Graham, Robert Jennings, Sexton, Alvin R. Johnson, Louise Johnson, Rev. Kevin Wayne Johnson, Kathleen McGhee-Anderson, Roger Morris, Kevin Myatt, Haywood L. Perry III, Andrew Skeen, Raynya Simmons, 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 Rhosymedre Ralph Vaughan Williams INTROIT Lord, We Give Thanks to Thee Undine Smith Moore TRUSTEE GREETING Kamla Branche *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 #74 Eternal Father, Strong to Save MELITA ANTHEM We Shall Walk through the Valley African American spiritual, arr. Undine Smith Moore
PRAYER RESPONSE O Thou That Hearest Prayer J. Burton, Wm. Peek OFFERTORY Maria, Mater gratiae Gabriel Fauré, Op. 47, No. 2 *DOXOLOGY *HYMN #577 Sing a New Church NETTLETON SERMON Pastor Kevin Wayne Johnson Depart to Serve *HYMN #708 Go Forth for God GENEVA 24 BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Fugue in C Major, BWV 531 Johann Sebastian Bach
Union Chapel Union Chapel Quartet Quartet
Becky Williams, soprano Martha Hudson, alto Dorian Lopes, tenor David Behnke, baritone
Music Notes Music Notes
Lord, We Give Thanks to Thee and the setting of We Shall Walk through the Valley are by Undine Smith Moore (1904 – 1989), a composer and educator who taught piano, organ, and music theory for 45 years at Virginia State University, where she also co-directed the university’s Black Music Center. At age 20, she was the first graduate of Fisk University to receive a full scholarship to the Juilliard School, where she graduated cum laude in 1926. Maria, Mater gratiae (Mary, gracious mother), by the great French composer Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924), is sung today by Martha’s Vineyard’s mother /daughter vocal duo, Martha Hudson and Becky Williams. Becky is an active singer, pianist, songwriter, and music teacher who performs in a range of styles, from classical and opera to jazz and pop. Martha, who holds music degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Teachers College of Columbia University, has sung with the Union Chapel quartet for over 30 years. About the About the Chapel Chapel
Union Chapel was designed by Samuel Freeman Pratt and built in 1870 as the architectural and community focal point of Oak Bluffs’ Copeland District, designed by landscape architect Robert Morris Copeland. For more information about the building and history, visit vineyardtrust.org.
Today’s floral Today’s floral arrangements arrangements on on the the altar altar are are placed placed ... ...
In honor of Rev. Kevin W. Johnson's Godfather, William Davenport. Brenda and William Davenport brought Rev. Kevin and his family to Martha's Vineyard as their guests 30 years ago. Rev. Kevin and Gail never left their happy place. In loving memory of Al and Carolyn Carter. We still miss you with our whole hearts. With love, Cindy Carter & Zachary Lyncee In loving memory of our grandparents, Ruby & Harry McCraw and Elvinna and Array Yarborough. With love, Cindy Carter and Zachary Lyncee In memory of Christine P. McGhee. A faithful member of Union Chapel. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Her spirit lives in our hearts, on the porches of School Street and high up in the balcony of our church, worshipping with us.
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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