November 2023 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • November 1, 2023


Dear friends,

 

This month, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Blessings. 

I am grateful for the ways that we, as this community of faith, offer encouragement and care for one another and hope into the world.


Psalm 100



1Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

2Worship the Lord with gladness!

Come into God’s presence with singing.

3Know that the Lord is God!

It is God who made us, and to God we belong;

we are God’s people, and the sheep of God’s pasture.

4Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and God’s courts with praise. Give thanks to God, bless God’s name.

5For the Lord is good;

God’s steadfast love endures forever,

and God’s faithfulness to all generations.


 

Blessings,

Pastor Barbara




DAYLIGHT SAVINGS


Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 5. Please remember to set your clocks back one hour the night before.




NOVEMBER DRIVE THROUGH


Our November Drive Through Collection for Open Pantry will be held on Saturday, November 11 from 1-3 PM. We will be collecting food as well as coats and jackets for all ages.

 

We collect non perishable food for Open Pantry each Sunday. We are also collecting coats and jackets for all ages on Sunday mornings during November and December. Thanks for your support!



THANKSGIVING / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: NOV 19


A Stewardship letter will soon be distributed to everyone ,with a pledge card enclosed for the year to come. Our theme this year is: “Grateful Hearts.” On November 19, Thanksgiving/Stewardship Sunday, we are invited to bring our pledge cards to our morning worship service. For those who cannot be with us, please mail your pledge cards to the church office. Also, please contact the office if you do not receive a pledge letter soon. Every pledge is greatly appreciated and a symbol of our engaging together to continue to “be the church” and further God’s realm, right where we are. 



Ongoing:


Worship Sundays at 10 AM

God Time (church school) each Sunday

Filmed worship services filmed on Wednesday afternoon and posted each week on our church Facebook page and website: fostermemorial.org

Waving for Peace: Mondays 3:30 – 4:00 PM

Monthly prep for Fishes and Loaves dinner

 

If you would like a printed copy of the bulletin and meditation by mail, please contact the church office.



NOVEMBER / DECEMBER OUTREACH


Beginning November 19 through December 10, we will be collecting toys and games and gift cards for children and youth, to be distributed through the Gray House. Please bring gifts unwrapped. The gifts will be blessed on December 10. Most needed: gifts for teens: suggestions include robes, blankets, toiletries and gift cards.



Through December 24, we will be collecting new mittens, hats, scarves and gloves for all ages for our Mitten Tree.



FOSTERIANS GATHERING: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 AT NOON


All women of the church are invited to a luncheon hosted by the Fosterians. A light lunch will be provided. We’ll have a “Yankee Christmas Swap” (bring gifts $5-10 to swap) and collect donations (suggested; $5) for holiday bags to be distributed to our confined members and friends. Please let Judy or Lori know that you are coming or call the office at 782-2112. Friends are invited too! 



PANCAKE BRUNCH FOR TENZING


We usually have a fundraising Pancake Brunch in November to support our sponsored youth, Tenzing, a Tibetan refugee living in India with her family. This year, we’re moving the brunch to Sunday, December 3. In addition to a delicious brunch, we will have a gingerbread house craft for the children and a winter craft for all ages.



CROP HUNGER WALK: OCTOBER 15

Thank you to everyone who supported our local CROP Hunger Walk this year! Thank you to our sponsors! We had a great team of walkers, “Welcome Back” greeters and hosts for refreshments at the Walk. Thanks to all!



BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS


Thanks to everyone who supported our Blessing of the Animals on October 22. We had great weather for the event - and lots of pets!



PASTA SUPPER: OCTOBER 29


Thank you to Jim, Judy and all our volunteers for a wonderful pasta dinner! Thank you to Lori, for the beautiful gift bag raffles. Thank you to everyone who supported the dinner. It was a very successful fundraiser for the church.


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.
Foster Memorial Church

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

By Barbara Schenk • January 31, 2025
Thanks to everyone who wrote Annual Reports for 2024. These reports help us to reflect on and take note of the many ways our church was active in the past year. Through all of our ministries, we continued to strive to live into being an Open and Affirming Church and a Just Peace Church through the words of our Church Purpose Statement

January 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • January 21, 2025
Dear friends, With the new year comes a new church season, Epiphany, which begins on January 6. On the Sunday closest to this date, (January 7 this year), during our worship, 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 light and AHA! experiences of transformation. The liturgical color for Epiphany is white. As we remember the light of God shining through the earthly ministry of Jesus, so, in the midst of troubled times for our nation and world, may we remember our own call to shine God’s light. A prayer for this season, by Godfrey Rust: For those seekers who put truth before comfort and hope before security we give thanks. Grant us a wise man’s hope – light in darkness, use for our gifts, God at the end. During this holy season, may Jesus, the Light of the World, be revealed to us and through us. Blessings, Barbara This is also the season when we gather for our church’s Annual Meeting. The Executive Board has been working on arrangements; please see separate articles and please plan to join us.
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