Welcoming Our 2024 Season Guests
Rev. Deborah Finley-Jackson, Ph.D. Family of Faith AME Church, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D., La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rev. Shannon Kershner, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia
July 21 Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan, St. Charles Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 28
August 4
August 11
August 18
August 25
September 1
Rev. Dr. Brandon Thomas, Myrtle Baptist Church, West Newton, Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois
Rev. Dr. Howard John Wesley, Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia
Rev. Dante Quick, Ph.D., First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset, New Jersey
Rev. Dana Allen Walsh, South Church, Andover, Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Aliya Browne, President, Union Chapel Board of Trustees, Oak Bluffs, Massachussetts
Services will be streamed and available for watching on Facebook, YouTube and through our website www.UnionChapelMV.org
Order of Service
PRELUDES: Praise and Rejoice Kurt Meyer
Footsteps in Faith
Celebration Fanfare
Jason W. Krug
Jason W. Krug
INTROIT: Ring the Bells of Heaven words: William O. Cushing music: George F. Root
TRUSTEE GREETINGS
Kathleen McGhee Anderson *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.”
LORDS PRAYER
*HYMN: #559 Here I Am, Lord Here I Am, Lord ANTHEM A Simple Song (from Mass) Leonard Bernstein David Behnke, baritone
PRAYER
PRAYER RESPONSE O Thou That Hearest Prayer
J. Burton, Wm. Peek
OFFERTORY Sweet By and By Joseph Webster
*DOXOLOGY #34 OLD HUNDREDTH
OFFERTORY PRAYER
ANTHEM Give Me Jesus African American Spiritual (arr. Moses Hogan) Ava Brown, soprano
SCRIPTURE
SPEAKER
Mark 6:14-29
“Texts within the Text” Rev. Shannon Kershner
*HYMN: #358 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Beecher BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Exuberant Praise Jason W. Krug
*Please stand if you are able
Rev. Shannon Kershner
Shannon Johnson Kershner is the current pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Kershner has previously worked as pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Illinois, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church in Black Mountain, North Carolina and Woodhaven Presbyterian Church in Irving, Texas.[1] She graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree before going on to receive a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary. While studying at Columbia, Kershner served as a Pastoral Intern in Texas and Georgia, most prominently at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, where she is now the pastor. Shannon has a husband named Greg Kershner, and two children. Greg is a Financial Advisor at Raymond James Financial and went to Baylor University before he attended Columbia Theological Seminary.
Our Music This Morning
West Tisbury Congregational Church Quartet Handbell Choir: Hope O’Brien (director), Becca Morrow, Ken Romero, and Nina Domenico. For the past three years, these four talented ringers have come together to create harmonious melodies that uplift and inspire us all. Their dedication to their craft is evident in every note, and their unity as a quartet brings a special resonance to their performances. The art of bell ringing requires precision, timing, and a strong sense of rhythm; it is a delicate dance of coordination and concentration. The Quartet Bells and the larger Handbell Choir are a part of the music program of the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury.
Ava Brown, soprano, is a twenty-four year old opera singer who has performed all over the country. In 2022, Ava graduated with her BA in vocal performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She is currently living in Los Angeles where she is pursuing her Master’s degree and is working closely with a conservatory where she leads masterclasses for young performers. Ava has won multiple awards, such as the Schmidt Vocal Arts national competition where she earned first place. She has studied at multiple programs, including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and Boston Conservatory’s summer program. Ava has been coming to the Vineyard every summer for her whole life and is excited to continue sharing her voice with the Union Chapel community.
David Behnke, baritone, is a graduate of the Master’s Degree Opera Program at Yale. He was a resident artist with the Tri Cities Opera Company and performed with music festivals across New England. After a career on Wall Street, he moved full time to Martha’s Vineyard in 2013. David has appeared with the Island Theater Workshop (Beast in Beauty and the Beast and Emile in South Pacific), has been an active recitalist performing opera, art song and Broadway, and has appeared as a frequent soloist with various Island organizations. He performs regularly with the Wicked Good Music Revue at the MV Playhouse
