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!


January 2026 Newsletter

January 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • January 3, 2026
Dear friends, When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people --Howard Thurman As I write this, we are heading into the 12 Days of Christmas, the season of Christmastide. At the end of the twelve days, we begin the season of Epiphany. On Epiphany Sunday, (celebrated January 4 this year) we re-experience the story of the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child and his mother, Mary. As the season continues, our focus is on the early times of Jesus’ ministry on earth, his teachings, healings, and miracles. Themes for this season include God’s light and AHA! experiences of transformation. The liturgical color for Epiphany is white. During this holy season, may Jesus, the Light of the World, be revealed to us and through us. Blessings, Barbara

December 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • December 3, 2025
Dear friends, As we enter the Advent season, we are aware of God’s people, creatures and creation struggling for freedom, healing and wholeness. Our Savior Jesus came to earth, born as we are all born, to show us God’s intentions for the world, for justice and mercy, unity within diversity, and the deep peace of God’s shalom. In this holy season, may we focus on the reasons Jesus came to earth and do all that we can to shine God’s holy light of hope, peace, joy and love. Hear us, God, for we are praying Hear us, God, for we are laughing in our joy Hear us, God, for we are crying out to you Wondering what will be, what will be Speak to us, God, for we are listening Speak to us, God, for we are waiting for your voice Speak to us, God, in our hearts and all around Show us what can be, what can be – Chris Grundy Blessings, Barbara

November 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schnek • October 27, 2025
Dear friends, This month, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Blessings. I am grateful for the ways that we, as this community of faith, continue to offer encouragement and care for one another and shine God’s light of hope into the world. Blessings, Barbara Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider, whose guidance and care go before us... and whose love is with us forever. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the changes, to remember that we, too, grow and change from one season of life to another. Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As we see the beauty of Autumn, let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours... and let us give thanks in our hearts. --Author Unknown