September 2024 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • September 2, 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



September Calendar:

 

Worship Service time resumes at 10 AM

 

  • Saturday, September 7: Craft Fair: 9 AM-3 PM
  • Sunday, September 8 during worship: Rally Sunday: Just Peace Team will meet after coffee hour
  • Saturday, September 14: Drive Through 1-3 PM
  • Sunday, September 22: Peace Day Event 3-5 PM


October Calendar:


  • Saturday, October 5: Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM
  • Sunday, October 6: Crop Walk
  • Saturday, October 12: Drive Through: 1-3 PM
  • Sunday, October 20: Blessing of the Animals
  • Sunday, October 27: Trick or Treat for UNICEF


November Calendar:

  • Friday, November 1: Quarter Auction
  • 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


Craft Fair


Saturday, September 7, 2024: 9 AM-3 PM

Indoor and Outdoor Vendors

Location: Our church


If you would like to be a vendor,

please contact Lori at 413-626-9040 or email lorilhi@aol.com

Quality Crafts: Something for everyone!

Lunch for purchase and a fun Gift Basket Raffle!


We need Vendors and Helpers. Please contact Lori




God Time/Rally Sunday


Rally Sunday, the beginning of a new program year for God Time/Sunday school, will be held SUNDAY, September 8, followed by an Ice Cream Social for everyone. Please help us spread the word!!



SEPTEMBER DRIVE THROUGH : Saturday. Sept. 14


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. Our focus foods are pasta and rice. All donations are so appreciated.



INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY: May Peace Prevail

 

We are hosting this event for the third year!

Date/Time:  September 2, 2024, from 3:00-5:00 PM

Rain Plans:    Inside the church

 

Representatives from area groups/organizations/faith communities working on issues of justice and peace will gather to mark and celebrate International Peace Day. Each organization will be invited to set up a table with resources and share information and conversation with other participants and guests. We will also have art activities, music, and light refreshments.


Please speak to Pastor Barbara or Bob Loesch if you can help us to host this event. And please spread the word to neighbors and friends to come and find out more about how people in our local area are addressing issues of justice and peace.



Greater Crop Walk: Save the date: October 6th


The CROPWALK is the oldest and first walk of its kind in our city of Springfield. 75% of the money raised works around the world; 25% is distributed to our neighbors in nrrf through local agencies. This year’s walk will be held on Sunday, October 6. We gather for the walk at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Ave, at 1 PM. The walk kicks off at 2 PM; we walk through Forest Park (either one or three miles) and return to Trinity for refreshments.

 

We always need helpers with refreshments and our “Welcome Back” team, as well as walkers and sponsors. Please speak to Pastor Barbara or Judy Milano if you are able to help.



SUMMER MUSIC


Thank you to everyone who provided special music for our worship services over the summer, with special thanks to Frank Jackson, our Organist and Choir Director, who coordinated the musicians and music.

 

Our thanks to: “Pick-Up” Choir, Frank P. Jackson, Men’s Choral Group, Women’s Choral Group,, Keith Walker & Pastor Barbara, Roxie & Steve Bailey, Sue Mcnary and Kathy Schoeck.



RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES


Along with in-person worship service, we offer pre-recorded worship services, posted each week (and special services) on YOU Tube, on our Foster Memorial Church Facebook page and on our church website: http://www.fostermemorial.org/videos/ Worship services are also provided in print through the mail each week for people who do not have access to the internet. Contact the church office if you would like to receive the service in the mail or join our email list.



THANK YOU


Thank you to everyone who served this summer as…

God Time Guides, nursery helpers, garden angels, deacons and ushers, coffee hour leaders and teams, those in charge our church finances, our film crew, wavers for peace, lift operators, members of boards, committees, teams and many more who serve behind the scenes! 


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,