February 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • January 31, 2025

Dear Friends

The season of Epiphany, a season to focus on the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry, his teachings, healings and ministries, continues for a longer period of time this year. Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the season of Lent, will be on March 5; Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 20.


Themes for the season of Epiphany include God’s light and AHA! experiences of transformation. The liturgical color for Epiphany is white. 


One of my very favorite hymns is fitting for this season:

I want to walk as a child of the light

I want to follow Jesus

God set the stars to give light to the world

The light of my life is Jesus


In him there is no darkness at all

The night and the day are both alike

The Lamb is the light of the city of God

Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

                                                       

Kathleen Thomerson

MEN’S BREAKFAST


All men of the church are invited to join on the first Saturday of the month for breakfast at a local restaurant. We meet at 8:20 AM in the front parking lot. All are welcome and invited to bring friends!

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING


We are collecting soup through the end of February for a special mission ministry called “Souper Bowl of Caring.” All soup will be donated to the Emergency Food Cupboard of The Open Pantry. Our support is appreciated. Let’s see how much soup we can collect!!

JUST PEACE TEAM MEETING


The Just Peace Team will meet on Sunday, February 9, after worship. All are welcome.

RECORDED/PRINT WORSHIP SERVICES


We have recorded worship services for each Sunday, posted on 

You Tube, our website at http://www.fostermemorial.org/videos/

And on our Facebook page. Worship services are also provided in print through the mail each week for those without computer access. Please call the church office if you would like to be included on our “snail mail” weekly mailing list. 

EYE TO THE SKY


If we need to cancel worship or another special event during the winter season, we will try to post on Channel 22. We will have an outgoing message on our church office voicemail (413-782-2112) if worship or major event is cancelled. For smaller meetings, please contact the Chair. Reminder: We provide film services, available on our Facebook page and on our website at fostermemorial.org.

FEBRUARY DRIVE THROUGH DONATIONS OF FOOD

Saturday, February 8, 1-3 PM


Our focus will be collecting soup for Souper Bowl of Caring. All non-perishable food donations are appreciated, to be donated to The Open Pantry.       

FUNDRAISING BY GROCERY SHOPPING: 

BIG Y GIFT CARDS


Thank you to everyone who has purchased Big Y gift cards through our new fundraising program.  For each card purchased, the church will get a benefit of 5%. It doesn’t sound like much, but together, we are raising almost $200 per month for the church—just by our regular shopping. It’s handy to keep a card in your wallet to be used at Big Y or Fresh Acres or the Big Y gas pumps. See Jeanie Marsh if you would like to order any cards for yourself or for others. 

NEW: MONTHLY QUARTER AUCTONS:

FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

SAVE THE DATE FOR FIRST AUCTION: MARCH 7


We are going to begin having Quarter Auctions on the first Friday of each month. Our church will have guarenteed proceeds from these auctions, and every month, some of the proceeds will  also be donated to a non-profit, including our church for our mission outreach ministries. This month’s proceeds will go to help fund meals we provide each month for Loaves and Fishes.


On March 7, doors will open at 6 PM; auction starts at 7 PM. 

Bring quarters and friends for a fun evening and a chance to win some great items fron our vendors! There will also be a raffle! Admission: $5 for two paddles. Bring a non-perishable food item for a free third paddle. Dinner food and snacks will be available for purchase. For more information or to help (we especially need “runners”), please speak to Lori.

ANNUAL MEETING: THANK YOU


Thank you to everyone who participated in our Annual Meeting last Sunday. Thank you to our Deacons and friends for the delicious soup luncheon, helpers, and Lori for our raffle. Thank you to Bruce Moore, our Moderator, who led the meeting. We appreciate everyone who is serving on boards, committees and teams. 


The Annual Reports and the Approved Budget were distributed at the meeting and by email to our email Blast List. The reports and approved budget are available at the church.

September 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • August 27, 2026
September 2026 - Foster Memorial Church, UCC From our Moderator, Amy Pawle: While we enjoy long summer days and reflect on Pastor Barbara’s 18 years of ministry with us, your executive board and the three transition teams have also been hard at work, looking towards our future with hope. We met with our new Area Minister, Rev. David Jones, our church profile is active with the UCC, and we have received interest in the Interim Pastor position from area clergy. To view our profile, please use this link: http://oppsearch.ucc.org/id/7192 Also feel free to post on your social media! We are blessed to have pulpit coverage for September and October by our retired clergy members, coordinated by Peter Wells.  Pastoral care is being provided by Rev. Dr. Bob Loesch starting in September. In addition to pulpit coverage and pastoral care, our members have stepped up to fill in many of the small tasks that keep the church going: Facebook postings, photography, filming, prayer chain, email blasts, opening the church, the carillon, and many more.

August 2026 Newsletter

By Foster Memorial Church • July 31, 2026
August 2026 – Foster Memorial Church, UCC Interim Search Update The Interim Search Team (Amy Pawle, Alice Kempf, Bruce Moore, Mary Caron, Kevin Withers & Rev. Bob Loesch) has completed our church profile, and it is now active with the UCC. This is the first step in finding an intentional interim pastor to guide us through the search for our next settled pastor. The profile introduces the church to pastors nationwide who are searching themselves, similar to a job posting. Any candidate who is interested in our profile will send their profile to us through the UCC, and the Interim Search Team will decide whether to interview them. The interim pastor will serve for around two years, working ¾ time, between 30 and 35 hours per week. Since it is unlikely that we will find an interim pastor by the end of August, the Executive Board is now working to find people to lead worship for the next few months. We met with our new Area Minister, Rev. David Jones, on Monday, July 20; he will be assisting us with this and the interim search. Rev. Bob Loesch is providing pastoral care starting September 1st. Please contact Amy Pawle, our moderator, with any questions. She can be reached at amy.pawle@gmail.com. Special Invitation Please join us for the retirement and final worship service of Rev. Barbara Schenk on Sunday, August 30 at 9:30 AM , followed by a special coffee hour at 10:30 AM. Calendar of Events August Saturday, August 1 — Men’s Breakfast, 8:20 AM Sunday, August 2 — Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser, 11:30 AM – 3 PM Saturday, August 8 — Food Drive, 1 – 3 PM Sunday, August 9 — 12th Anniversary of Waving for Peace Sunday, August 9 — Blessing of School Supplies Sunday, August 30 — Pastor Barbara’s final worship service / farewell September Reminder: Worship changes back to 10 AM. Friday, September 4 — Quarter Auction, 7 PM Saturday, September 5 — Men’s Breakfast, 8:20 AM Sunday, September 6 — Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser, 11:30 AM – 3 PM Saturday, September 12 — Food Drive, 1 – 3 PM Sunday, September 13 — Rally Sunday Sunday, September 13 — Just Peace Team Ongoing Sunday mornings — Church School and Nursery Care; Coffee Hour after worship; Waving for Peace Mondays — Waving for Peace, 3:30 – 4 PM Wednesdays — Cutting Edge Group, 5 – 6 PM Thursday before the 3rd Friday — Prep for Loaves and Fishes Dinner Third Friday — Serve Dinner at Loaves and Fishes Last week of the month — Deliver baked goods to Loaves & Fishes (Bun Runners) Save the Dates Sunday, October 4 — CROP Walk for Hunger Men’s Breakfast: Saturday, August 1 All men of the church are invited to join on the first Saturday of the month for breakfast at a local restaurant. We meet at 8:20 AM in the front parking lot. All are welcome and invited to bring friends! Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser Sunday, August 2: 11:30 AM – 3 PM Show this to your server for our fundraising benefit.

July 2026 Newsletter

By Foster Memorial Church • June 29, 2026
Dear friends,