April 2026 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • March 27, 2026

Dear friends,


We begin this month with Holy Week , and celebrate Easter

Sunday on April 5. Following is the season of Easter, which lasts

50 days until Pentecost Sunday, celebrated this year on May 24.


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



Maundy Thursday Service: April 2 In-Person Service at 7 PM


This service focuses on the Last Supper Jesus shared with his

disciples. There is also a Service of Tenebrae (“Shadows”)

including special scripture readings of the Passion of Jesus.



Good Friday Service: April 3

Please note: Filmed Service Only


The focus for this service is the crucifixion of Jesus, through the

lens of “The Symbols of Good Friday.” The film will be posted on

our website at fostermemorial.org, You Tube, and on our Facebook

page.



Easter Sunday Services: April 5 In-Person at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM


Our early service features the construction of our “Flowing

Cross.” Our 10 AM service includes special music by our Chancel

Choir and the “Unpacking of our Alleluias!” Please join us as we

celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!



Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser


Show this graphic to your server for 10% proceedsfor the church. Thanks for your support!


APRIL MONTHLY QUARTER AUCTION: April 10


We are holding our next Monthly Quarter Auction on Friday,

April 10. Doors open at 6 PM, and the auction begins at 7 PM.

Everyone is invited to bring quarters and friends for a fun

evening and a chance to win some great items from our vendors!

There will also be a raffle! Admission: $5 for two paddles. Part

of our proceeds will go to One Call Away Veterans Support

Center (OCA). Bring a non perishable food item, to be donated

to OCA, for a free third paddle! Dinner food and snacks will be

available for purchase.


MENS’S BREAKFAST: NOTE DATE CHANGE


Just for this month, the men will meet on the second Sat,

April 11 at 8:20 AM in the front parking lot. All men welcome.

(Usually this is held on the first Sunday of the month)



April


Thursday, April 2: Maundy Thursday 7 PM

Friday, April 3: Good Friday FILMED service

Sunday, April 5: Texas Roadhouse

Friday, April 10: Quarter Auction 7PM

Saturday, April 11: Men’s Breakfast 8:20 AM

Saturday, April 11: Drive Through 1-3 PM

Sunday, April 12: Just Peace meeting

Sunday, April 19: Prayers for the Nation

Monday, April 20: Trustees meeting: 6:30 PM

Saturday, April 25: Fosterians: 1-3 PM

*Please note date change


FOOD DRIVE FOR OPEN PANTRY: Sat. April 11 1-3 PM In our back parking lot


Our focus foods are pasta and rice. All non-perishable food is appreciated.



JUST PEACE TEAM MEETING: Sun. April 12


Our Just Peace Team meetings are held after worship in the

Foster Room next to the kitchen. These meetings are always open to everyone.



PRAYERS FOR THE NATION: Sunday, April 19

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE


Because of a wider UCC event happening on our usual date, this
will be held on Sunday, April 19. Time TBD.



FOSTERIANS GATHERING: APRIL 25: 1-3 PM


All women are welcome and welcome to bring friends.

We’re having a Spring theme with a Tea Cup Auction. You’re

invited to bring a new or VERY gently used item for the

Auction. Help with hosting and donations of desserts are

needed. Please contact Lori or Judy if you can help or need

more information.



ONGOING


Sunday mornings: Church School and Nursery Care, Coffee Hour after worship, Waving for Peace

Mondays: Waving for Peace: 3:30-4 PM

Wednesdays: Filming Sunday Service 2 PM, Cutting Edge Group: 5-6 PM

Second Wed.: Finance Board/Executive Board

Thurs. before 3rd Fri: Prep for Loaves and Fishes Meal

Third Friday: Serve Dinner: Loaves & Fishes

Last week: Deliver baked goods to L & F


RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES


Along with in-person worship service, we offer pre-recorded

worship services, posted each week (and for special services) on

YOU Tube, on our Foster Memorial Church Facebook page and on

our church website: http://www.fostermemorial.org/videos/


SAVE THE DATES


Friday, May 1 Quarter Auction

Saturday, May 2 Men’s Breakfast

Sunday, May 3 Texas Roadhouse fundraiser

Saturday, May 9 Drive Through for Open Pantry

Sunday, May 10 Just Peace meeting

Sunday, May 31: Prayers for the Nation

Saturday, June 6 Yard Sale/Drive Through



VENDOR FAIR & YARD SALE

Please contact Lori if you would like to be a

vendor or would be able to volunteer.


Saturday, June 6, 2026

9 AM-3 PM Rain or shine!!

Foster Memorial Church, UCC

1791 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA

(Sixteen Acres)

March 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • March 2, 2026
Dear friends, The season of Lent began on February 18 and continues until Easter Sunday, celebrated this year on April 5. (See the schedule for Holy Week included in this newsletter) 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 15. 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. Attached to this newsletter is an activity calendar for Feb. 22- March 15 to help us gain deeper understanding about the work of this offering. Thank you to Sharon Gormbley for designing this calendar. Blessings, Barbara FUNDRAISING BY GROCERY SHOPPING: BIG Y GIFT CARDS Thank you to everyone who has purchased Big Y gift cards for our fundraising program. For each card purchased, the church will get a benefit of 5%. It doesn’t sound like much, but together, we are raising almost $200 per month for the church—just by our regular shopping. It’s handy to keep a card in your wallet to be used at Big Y or Fresh Acres or the Big Y gas pumps. See Jeanie Marsh if you would like to order any cards for yourself or for others. PRE-RECORDED FILMED SERVICES We continue to offer recorded worship services for each Sunday, and special holy days, posted on You Tube, on our website at http://www.fostermemorial.org/videos/ and on our Facebook page. through to the end. Thank you to all who gave their time, talent and treasure throughout the year. The amount entered for Receipts does not include unplanned transfers from our savings or other accounts needed to pay  bills from month-to-month.

February 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • January 22, 2026
Dear friends, The season of Epiphany, a season to focus on the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry, continues through mid-February this year.On Sunday, February 15, we will hold our annual Pancake Brunch, marking the end of the Epiphany Season. We combine this with a fun Mardi Gras theme! Our free-will offering for the brunch will go to help support the Afghan family with whom it is our blessing to walk alongside. They are doing very well; this month marks the fourth year since their arrival to Chicopee and the beginning of our very blessed relationship! The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 18. 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 being invited to embark on an inward journey of our own self-reflection. 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. Blessings, Barbara 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 
January 2026 Newsletter

January 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • January 3, 2026
Dear friends, When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people --Howard Thurman As I write this, we are heading into the 12 Days of Christmas, the season of Christmastide. At the end of the twelve days, we begin the season of Epiphany. On Epiphany Sunday, (celebrated January 4 this year) 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 God’s light and AHA! experiences of transformation. The liturgical color for Epiphany is white. During this holy season, may Jesus, the Light of the World, be revealed to us and through us. Blessings, Barbara