July 2024 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • July 4, 2024

Dear friends,


Reminder: Our worship service time shifts to 9:30 AM from

July 7 through August.

 

Everyone’s Help is Welcome!

The events and ongoing ministries listed- and others not listed - in this newsletter are OPEN to anyone who would like to get involved. Please speak to the contacts below or to me for more information:

(Apologies for any omissions)

 

Craft Fair/Vendor Fairs/Raffles: Lori LaTaille

July Pancake Brunch: Pastor Barbara & Keith Walker

Prep for Loaves and Fishes: Joanne & Peter Wells

Serving Loaves and Fishes: Joe Rosati

Choir: Frank Jackson

CROP Hunger Walk and Drive Through: Jeanie Marsh

Finance Board: Kevin Withers

Foster Softball: Matt Kobjack & Wilberth Condega Ortiz

Garden Angels and Altar Design: Judy Milano & Gerri Thompson

Cutting Edge (help with lawn and gardens): Keith Walker

Bun Run – delivering baked goods to Loaves & Fishes: Sandy Moore

International Peace Day/Just Peace Group: Bob Loesch

Deacons (support for worship & care:) Mary Caron

Trustees (buildings and grounds): Jim Cummings

Christian Ed, God Time, readers for worship, Coffee Hour, Filmed Worship Service & Nursery Volunteers: Pastor Barbara

Fosterians Women’s Group: Lori LaTaille & Judy Milano

Men’s Group: Biff Simpson

Delegates: Susan Tarantino & Bob Loesch

 

Blessings in this summer season,




July Calendar


July-August 11: Collection of school supplies for Rebecca Johnson

 

Saturday, July 13 1-3 PM:

Drive Through Collection of Food for Open Pantry

 

Sunday, July 28 at 10:30 AM:

Pancake Brunch with performance and singalong by Keith Walker Fundraiser for our church's Sprinkler System


August Calendar

 

Sunday, August 4 at 10:30 AM:

10th Anniversary of Waving for Peace

(Rain date: August 11):

 

Saturday, August 10 1-3 PM:

Drive Through Collection of Food for Open Pantry

And School Supplies for Rebecca Johnson

 

Sunday, August 11 during worship:

Blessing of School Supplies

 

Tuesday, August 27:

Hosting Distribution of Crop Hunger Walk materials

 

September:

 

Sunday, September 1:

Worship Service time resumes at 10 AM

 

Saturday, September 7:

Craft Fair: 9-3 Vendors asked to provide tables and set up

 

Sunday, September 8 during worship:

Rally Sunday: First Day of the Church School Program Year

 

Saturday, September 14:1-3 PM

Drive Through Collection of Food for Open Pantry

 

Sunday, September 22:

Hosting International Peace Day:


Ongoing:


Sunday mornings:     

God Time and Nursery Care

Coffee Hour after worship


Monday afternoons:

Waving for Peace from 3:30-4 PM


Wednesdays 5-6PM 

Cutting Edge Group


Third Thursday:       

Prep for Loaves and Fishes Dinner


Third Friday:           

Serving Dinner at Loaves and Fishes


Last week:                 

Delivering baked goods to Loaves & Fishes



SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR REBECCA JOHNSON


We will be collecting school supplies through August 11. Needed: Everything from pencils to backpacks, notebooks, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, and two and four pocket folders and more! Thanks to everyone for your support!


PANCAKE BRUNCH & PERFORMANCE/SINGALONG WITH KEITH WALKER


Sunday, July 28 at 10:30 AM

This is a Fundraiser to help with expenses for our church's sprinkler system. Please speak to Pastor Barbara if you are able to help in the kitchen or hosting.


MONTHLY DRIVE THROUGH: July 13 from 1-3 PM


Collection of Food for Open Pantry

We also collect food for Open Pantry each Sunday during our worship services. This summer, we will also be collecting school supplies.


WAVING FOR PEACE ANNIVERSARY


Sunday, August 4, following worship

All are welcome to help us celebrate TEN years of Waving for Peace on Monday afternoons. We will wave for a half hour. Chairs are provided. All ages welcome!


SPECIAL MUSIC SCHEDULE:

 

6/30              Pickup Choir

7/7                 Women’s Choral Group

7/14               Roxy & Steve Bailey, Vocalists &

Instrumentalists

7/21               Sue Mcnary, Soprano

7/28              Barbara Schenk & Keith Walker

Vocalists & Instrumentalists

8/4                 Men’s Choral Group

8/11               Frank P. Jackson, Pianist

8/18               Pickup Choir

8/25              Kathy Schoeck, Violinist

9/1                 Pickup Choir

 

Everyone is invited to join the Pickup Choir. Women are invited to join the Women’s Choral Group and men invited to join Men’s Choral Group. Rehearsals will be held in the sanctuary on Sunday at 8:45 AM. Please speak to Frank Jackson for more information.

CRAFT FAIR


Saturday, September 7th: 9 AM-3PM

Vendors Welcome!

Outside and Inside Spaces Available

Cost: $30.00 per vendor

We request that vendors supply their own tables

 

Speak to Lori LaTaille for more information!

413-626-9040 or lorilhi@aol.com

There will also be lunch items for purchase

and Gift Basket Raffles.


FOSTER SOFTBALL SEASON IS HERE!

https://www.interchurchsoftball.com/fields/

 

There are three weeks left to the season!

Tuesdays: July 9, 16 and 23 beginning at 5:30 PM.

Please contact Pastor Barbara for game locations, because there might be changes. The games on the 9th are scheduled to be played at Bethany Assembly Church in Agawam.

The locations for July 16 and 23: TBD

 

Everyone is always welcome and encouraged to come!

Go, Foster team!


april newsletter

April 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • March 29, 2025
Dear friends, These are tumultuous times for our nation. At the time of this writing, we have scheduled a Prayer Service for our Nation for Sunday, March 30 from 4-4:30 p.m. This brief service will include special music and time for shared prayers. As I was thinking about the state of our nation and the continuation of our Lenten season, these beautiful words from a Lenten hymn, “Before the Cross of Jesus,” came into my mind and heart: The hopes that lead us onward, The fears that hold us back, Our will to dare great things for God, The courage that we lack, The faith we keep in goodness, Our love, as low or pure - On all, the judgment of the cross Falls steady, clear, and sure. Yet humbly, in our striving, O God, we face its test. We crave the power to do Thy will With Him who did it best. On us let now the healing Of His great Spirit fall, And make us brave and full of joy To answer to His call. Blessings and Peace, Barbara

March 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • March 4, 2025
Dear friends, Please be sure to read Peter Well’s article about an important discussion on the Intersection of Faith and Politics and opportunities for next steps. ** The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 5; we will hold an in-person worship service that evening at 7 PM. The season continues until Easter Sunday, which is celebrated this year on April 20. One of the ways we can put our faith into action during this season is through our One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) Special Offering. The money raised from this offering is utilized through the UCC’s Wider Church Ministries to respond to a wide variety of global and local concerns. This year’s OGHS theme is “Be The Light.” Our grateful thanks to Sharon Gormbley for a special OGHS Sharing/Engagement Calendar that runs from March 9 – March 29. The calendar is attached to this newsletter. We also have fun “Fish” Coin/Money boxes at church, available on Sunday mornings. We will collect our OGHS special offering on Sunday, March 30 during our worship service. In this holy season, and in these tumultuous days, may we be bearers of God’s light – and take actions to “Be The Light.” In Christ, Barbara
FosterMemorial Church

February 2025 Newsletter

By 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.