November 2024 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • October 28, 2024

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.

 

 

A Prayer for Thanksgiving

God of all creation, we give you thanks.

Every day is a gift. Each day is a blessing.

Open our eyes to see your living presence in each other.

Help us grow stronger each day, in faith, hope and love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Savior,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

forever and ever. AMEN

 

--Author Unknown


 

Blessings,

Barbara



Daylight Savings


Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 3. Please remember to set your clocks back one hour the night before.


November Calendar:

  • Saturday, November 2:  Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM
  • Saturday, November 2:  Fosterians 12-2 PM
  • Saturday, November 9:  Drive Through 1-3 PM
  • Saturday, November 9:  Quarter Auction
  • Friday, November 15:  Music Box 7 PM
  • Sunday, November 24:  Thanksgiving/Stewardship Sunday


Ongoing:

  • Worship Sundays at 10 AM with God Time (church school) and

childcare provided each Sunday

  • Pre-recorded worship services posted on Sunday mornings on You Tube, Facebook and our website at fostermemorial.org
  • Waving for Peace: Mondays 3:30 – 4:00 PM
  • Monthly prep for Fishes and Loaves dinner: Thursday before the third Friday.
  • Serving Dinner on the Third Friday at South Church at 4:30 PM

 

If you would like a copy of the bulletin and meditation mailed to you, please contact the church office.




Quarter Auction:

Saturday, November 9th

Doors open at 3:30pm - Auction starts at 4:30pm


Address: Foster Memorial Church, UCC
179 Wilbraham Rd. Springfield, MA

Admission: $5 for two paddles
Bring a non-perishable food item for a free raffle ticket


Bring a friend and your quarters for a chance to win some great items!


Something for everyone!  Food and Snack available for purchase


Vendors and Raffle


For more information, please call or text Lori at 626-9040



Fosterians Gathering: Sat. November 2:


There will be a gathering for the Fosterians on Saturday, November 2 from 12-2 PM. The theme for the gathering will be PUMPKINS! There will be a light lunch served (with a free will offering) If you would like to help, please speak to Lori LaTaille or Judy Milano. Please also let them know you are coming, so we can get a count for lunch. All women of the church are invited, and we love to have guests!



November Coat and Jacket Drive


For the months of November and December, we will be collecting new and gently used jackets for all ages.



November Drive Through: Satuday, Nov. 9 1-3pm


We will collect jackets and coats along with non-perishable foods.

NOTE: We collect non-perishable food for the Open Pantry each Sunday during our worship service.



Thanksgiving / Stewardship Sunday: Nov. 24


A Stewardship letter will soon be distributed to everyone with a pledge card enclosed for the year to come. On November 24, 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. Please contact the office if you do not receive a pledge letter by November 15. 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. 



December:

Special Gatherings / Services: More information to come!


Sunday, December 1:  Christmas Fun/Pancake Fundraiser for Tenzing

Saturday, December 7:  Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM

Saturday, December 7:  Fosterians Gathering 12:00 PM

Sunday, December 8:  Blessing of Gifts for Gray House:

Saturday, December 14:  Drive Through: 1-3 PM

Sunday, December 22:  Christmas Pageant during worship

Tuesday, December 24:  Christmas Eve Service 7 PM



Christmas Gifts for Gray House


Throughout November and early December, we will collecting new toys and games to be distributed through the Gray House for children and youth in our local area. Gifts for teens will also be collected; ideas for teens include blankets, gift cards, and toiletries. Please bring gifts unwrapped.



Save The Dates:

Collecting New Winter Outerwear


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


Fosterians Gathering: Saturday, December 7 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/Christmas Fun: Sunday, December 1


On this Sunday, we will have a fundraising Pancake Brunch with a free will offering to support our sponsored youth, Tenzing, a Tibetan refugee living in India with her family. After brunch will be addition to a delicious brunch, we will have a gingerbread house craft for the children and a winter craft for all ages.



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.
By Foster Memorial Church June 29, 2026
Dear friends, 
By Barbara Schenk May 26, 2026
Dear friends,