Learn how people around the world are using prayer for healing. National speaker John Adams brings his experience to the Island Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Society in Vineyard Haven. With illustrations from his personal experience, Mr. Adams will show how anyone can use thoughtful, intelligent prayer to improve their health and advance their happiness.

The Federated Church of Edgartown is sending volunteers on a 10-day mission to New Orleans in November to continue the rebuilding work the church youth group began last December.

With the passing of the second anniversary of Katrina, and with so much left incomplete, inadequate, or non-existent in this still-ravaged area, the volunteers feel called to lend additional physical, emotional and spiritual support.

The Dragonfly Gallery, in conjunction with the Periwinkle Studio (diagonally across the street), is featuring a retrospective show of Virginia Reilly Gosselin’s art work spanning more than 50 years.

A graduate of Endicott College in 1956, she worked in the art department of newspapers and advertising agencies until she began freelancing for Stanley Home Products. From the early 1980s to the present, Ms. Reilly Gosselin has been creating her whimsical pen and inks as well as her expressive drawings and paintings. All will be on display, and most for sale.

Poets Donald Nitchie, Jill Jupen and Clark Myers lead the lineup at the next, and possibly last, Outerland live poetry event of the year. Other poets, too, will have an opportunity to present their work, new or old, in an open reading segment.

The event is set for Thursday, Sept. 20, at 9 p.m. at Outerland at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. There is no cover charge.

There is something evil and ugly lurking in the rules of the United States Croquet Association, and that is the rule that tournament matches should be played regardless of the weather — and this means rain.

It rained on the first day of the Edgartown Croquet Club’s tournament, with four matches being played in the morning and six played in the afternoon. A traditional courtside luncheon was served from Soigne, all according to the rules in the rain.

Renaissance House, a retreat for artists, celebrates its fifth year of survival with a benefit spoken word show on Friday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, and the public is invited to read.