November 2024 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • Oct 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.

November 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 28 Oct, 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

October 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 04 Oct, 2024
Dear friends, October looks to be another active month of outreach ministries for the church, including Drive Through Donations for Open Pantry, Blessings of the Animals, Trick or Treat for UNICEF and the Greater Springfield CROP Hunger Walk. The CROP Walk started 47 years ago in Springfield and is the “oldest” walk of its kind in the city. Donations help our neighbors around the world through global and national partnerships with 25% staying in our local area, distributed through the Open Pantry, Lorraine’s Kitchen and Western MA Food Bank. The walk will be held on Sunday, October 6 at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Ave. Registration begins at 1 PM. There is DJ music and tee shirts for sale for $10.00. The walk begins at 2 PM. There is an option of a one mile or three-mile walk. I had an idea for all the walkers to carry a little CROP sign this year. Thanks to Robin who designed the signs and to members and friends for helping to make the signs! (Close to 100!) Kevin Withers is our CROP Treasurer this year. Please speak to him if you would like a walker/sponsor sheet. There are many ways to be a sponsor. We have small CROP WALK donation envelopes in the pews. Donations can be made with Kevin for our Team Donation Sheet. NOTE: all checks should be made out to CWS/CROP (not to the church) There is also a website through which donations can be made: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/team/foster-memorial-church-ucc Through the years, CROP WALK has been a vital outreach ministry for our church. Everyone’s support is so appreciated. Blessings, Barbara

September 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 02 Sep, 2024
Please note: Worship time changes from 9:30 AM to 10:000 AM, beginning on September 1. September marks the turning of the seasons. We are moving ahead with activities and ministries. Our Craft Fair Sale is coming up on September 7. Please speak to Lori if you would like to help. Rally Sunday, marking a new program year for church, will be held the next day. Wider church/community events: Everyone is invited to help us host International Peace Day on Sunday, September 22. We would also love to have folks from our church stop by to experience the event. Our CROP Hunger Walk will be held on October 6. Please see separate articles for more information about these and more upcoming events. September also marks the beginning of the school year in our region. Thank you to everyone for donations of school supplies for our partner, Rebecca Johnson School. Holy God, bless teachers and administrators, school staff, volunteers, and families. Bless everyone involved with education throughout the world During these uncertain and challenging times, We pray for the safety and well- being of all your beloved. All this we ask in the name of Jesus, who said, “Let the Children come to me.” AMEN. Blessings, Barbara
Foster Memorial Church

August 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 30 Jul, 2024
Dear friends, I hope everyone is enjoying the summer – it seems to be flying! Many events and special worship services are coming up! We also hope to have a Garden Tour – if we’re not able to have it in person, we will provide a filmed tour! This reminds me of a beautiful hymn: “The Beautiful Garden of Prayer” by Eleanor Allen Schroll: 1 There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting, There’s a place that is wondrously fair, For it glows with the light of His presence ’Tis that beautiful garden of prayer. Refrain: O the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer, O the beautiful garden of prayer! There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates To the beautiful garden of prayer. 2 There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting, And I go, with my burden and care, Just to learn from His lips words of comfort In the beautiful garden of prayer. [Refrain] 3 There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting, And He bids you to come meet Him there, Just to bow and receive a new blessing In the beautiful garden of prayer. [Refrain] Blessings, Barbara
Foster Memorial Church

July 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 04 Jul, 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,
Foster Memorial Church

June 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 04 Jun, 2024
Dear friends, June is here, with several special activities and events, including our Vendor Fair, Children and Youth Sunday, Flat Jesus project and more. Please see the articles and calendar in this newsletter for more information. And please note that our worship time will change from 10 AM to 9:30 AM beginning July 2.  Blessings, Barbara
A church with a steeple and a cross on top

April 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 30 Mar, 2024
Dear friends, This month, the season of Easter continues. It is a season of 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, which will be celebrated this year on May 19. Amid so many troubles and sorrows in the world, this season focuses on the Easter message that love is stronger than hate and death will never have the last word. May this focus encourage us and strengthen us to be Easter people, striving to follow Jesus our Savior, who showed and shows us how to shine God’s light of love and justice into the world. One of my favorite hymns for Easter season was written by Brian Wren: Christ Is Alive! Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. The cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with praises ring. Love, drowned in death, shall never die. Christ is alive! No longer bound To distant years in Palestine, But saving, healing, here and now And touching every place and time. Christ is alive! and comes to bring Good news to this and every age, Till earth and sky and ocean ring With joy, with justice, love, and praise Blessing in this holy season and in every season, Barbara

March 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 01 Mar, 2024
Dear friends, The season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday on February 14 and continues throughout the month until Easter Sunday, celebrated this year on March 31. During this season, we’re asked to devote time for inner reflection, taking stock of our lives. And we are called to reach out, in Christian service, to neighbors, near and far. One of the ways we do that each year in March is through our One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special offering. This year, the offering will be collected on March 10. The money from this offering is utilized through Wider Church Ministries of the UCC, to respond to a variety of global and local concerns by providing advocacy, sustainable development resources, long term disaster recovery support, and assistance for refugees and asylum seekers, working in collaboration with our partners locally and globally Our generosity ensures that the transforming power of love will continue to support our neighbors in need, here in our country and around the world. So, let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all. Galatians 6: 9–10, (The Message version) Blessings, Barbara **Reminder: Set clocks ahead one hour to get to church on time for Sunday, March 10**
A church with a steeple and a cross on top

February 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 31 Jan, 2024
Dear friends, The season of Epiphany, a season to focus on the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry continues through February 13. The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14. We will have an in-person worship service that evening at 7 PM. This service sets the tone for the season of Lent, inviting us to follow Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem, while embarking on an inward journey of self-reflection. This year, it coincides with Valentine’s Day, reminding us of Jesus’ self-giving love. We celebrate Holy Communion during this service, as well as Experiencing the Ashes. Please join us if you are able; we will also have a recorded Ash Wednesday service on our website at fostermemorial.org and on our Foster Memorial Church Facebook page. Throughout these Lenten days and nights we turn to walk the inward way, where, meeting Christ, our guide and light, we live in hope till Easter day. - James Gertmenian Blessings, Barbara 
January 2024 Newsletter

January 2024 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • 31 Dec, 2023
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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