October 2023 Newsletter
Dear friends,
October looks to be another active month of outreach ministries for the church, including Trick or Treat for UNICEF, our 11th (!) Annual Blessing of the Animals, our monthly Drive Through for Donation of Food, Pasta Fundraising Dinner and the Greater Springfield CROP Hunger Walk.
The CROP Walk started 46 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 and locally through the Open Pantry, Lorraine’s Kitchen and Western MA Food Bank.
The walk will be held on Sunday, October 15 at Trinity UMC on Sumner Ave. Registration begins at 1 PM with some fun music and a pre-walk presentation by Meteorologist Brian Lapis. The walk begins at 2 PM. Judy Milano, Jeanie Marsh, Vivian Gonzalez and I serve on this year’s Planning team.
We need walkers, sponsors, and help once again with volunteers at the walk and with our “Welcome Back Team!” Please speak to me if you can help. Please see Ted Owczarski for walker sheets. Everyone’s support is much appreciated. Checks should be made out to: CWS/CROP.
You can also donate on-line to our Foster team. It’s easy!
Just use this link:
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2023/team/foster-memorial-church-ucc
Blessings,
Pastor Barbara
Calendar
| Sunday, October 8th | Just Peace hosts Open Conversation after worship |
| Saturday, October 14th | Monthly Drive Through 1-3 PM Collection of Food for OP and Jackets |
| Sunday, October 15th | CROP Hunger Walk of Greater Springfield |
| Wednesday, October 18th | Church Use for CPN retreat |
| Sunday, October, 22nd | Blessing of the Animals 2 PM |
| Saturday, October 29th | Fundraising Pasta Dinner |
| Sunday, October 29th | Trick or Treat for UNICEF During worship, donations collected for UNICEF Children & Youth invited to wear Halloween costumes |
Meetings of boards and teams and groups:
Just Peace Team: Sunday, October 8 after worship
Exec Team/Finance Team: Wednesday, October 11 at 6>30/7:157 PM
Ongoing:
Worship Sundays at 10 AM
God Time (church school) and childcare provided each Sunday
Filmed worship services filmed on Wednesday afternoon and posted each week on our church Facebook page and website
Waving for Peace: Mondays 3:30 – 4:00 PM
Monthly prep for Fishes and Loaves dinner: Thursday before the Third Friday of each month
SEPTEMBER DRIVE THROUGH: Saturday, Sept 9th
Time: 1-3 PM in our church parking lot. We will be collecting food for the Open Pantry. REMINDER: We collect non-perishable food for Open Pantry every Sunday. All donations are so appreciated.
October Drive Through: Saturday, October 14: 1-3pm
We’ll be collecting food for Open Pantry. Just a reminder: We collect nonperishable food every Sunday during worship. Thanks for your support.
Food for Open Pantry: Food Items Needed
We asked Jonathan, staff member at Open Pantry, what foods most needed: His response:
Please note: all foods are to be non-perishable.
Needed: canned tuna, vegetables and fruit, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, rice and beans and soup. He asked to please make sure food is not expired. Thank you to everyone for your donations to help our neighbors who experience food insecurity. Reminder: We collect non-perishable food each Sunday during worship for Open Pantry.
Loaves and Fishes: Needed: Delivery of our Monthly Meal
Our grateful thanks to Peter and Joanne Wells, who continue to do the shopping and organize the cooking of our monthly meal and to our team who do the food prep.
We are in need of someone to deliver the meal to South Congregational Church in Springfield, either on the Thursday afternoon we prepare the meal or on Friday morning (always the third Friday). Please speak to Joanne or Peter if you can help. Thanks!
Annual Blessing of the Animals. Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 2pm
Join us for this special event! All animals must be on a leash or in a carrier. Photos of pets also welcome! Everyone is also invited to bring pet food, toys and supplies to be donated to Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. New or gently used towels are especially needed. Everyone welcome, no matter if you bring animals or just want to enjoy the event.
Trick or Treat for UNICEF. Sunday, October 30th
During worship on Sunday, October 30, everyone will be invited to bring donations (coins or bills) to be donated to UNICEF. All children and youth are invited to dress in Halloween costumes on this day. There will also be special God Time activities on this day!
Fundraising Pasta Dinner. Saturday, October 28th at 6pm
Please support our dinner! All proceeds will go to our church’s ministries. And please invite family and friends. We would like to make this as successful a fundraising event as possible.
There will be a sign-up sheet at church for those who are able to attend.
On the menu: Pasta with meat sauce (option: non-gluten pasta with meatless sauce) Also rolls, salad, beverages and dessert.
Tickets: $15.oo for adults; $10.00 for kids under 12.
We also need help with set up, serving and clean-up. There will be a separate sign up for volunteers. You can also speak to Judy Milano if you are able to help.
Hope to see you there!
Just Peace Open Conversation
The Just Peace Team will meet Sunday, October 8 after coffee hour, with an open discussion about Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Mon, October 9). This discussion will be similar to our open discussion about Gun Violence. The Indigenous Peoples Agenda in the MA state legislature (supporting five bills) has been one of the issues we have been following this past year.
Garden Tour Video
If you haven’t watched our Garden Tour Video for 2023, here’s the link for You Tube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAMzRCfUcAE&t=4s
Our thanks to our Garden Angels, Judy and Gerri, and angel helpers!
If you would like to help with yard work, please speak to Mark Coughlin or Keith Walker. Thanks to all who are helping!
