January 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • January 21, 2025

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.

January Calendar


  • Sunday, January 7: Epiphany Sunday
  • Saturday, January 13 1-3 PP Collection of Donations of Food for Open Pantry       
  • Sunday, January 14: Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday/Blankets Offering
  • Sunday, January 21: 11: AM Budget Proposal Meeting         
  • Sunday, January 28: after worship. Annual Meeting Begins with luncheon                     
  • Ongoing:
  • God Time, nursery care Sundays at 10:00 AM
  • Waving for Peace, Mondays from 3:30-4 PM

Star Words


Everyone is welcome to receive a Star Word for the year ahead. We will be distributing them throughout this month on Sunday mornings. If you would like one emailed to you, please contact Pastor Barbara. These are words we are invited to reflect on during the year to come. Or, select a word from the stars below.


Budget Presentation for 2024/Special Meeting


We will hold an Informational Meeting about the Budget Proposed for 2024 on Sunday, January 19, following our worship service.


Notice of Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 28th


Our church’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 26 after worship. There will be a special soup luncheon, provided by the Deacons and friends. There will be a free will offering; all proceeds will help to fund our dinner ministry for Loaves and Fishes. Although voting is limited to church members, our church friends are also encouraged to attend. The meeting will include the acceptance of annual reports, the election of officers and board and committee members, discussion and voting on the 2024 budget and other business that may be brought before the meeting. Your participation is very much needed and appreciated. Please plan to attend.


Reports for Annual Report


All written reports should be completed by January 5. Please email reports to Pastor Barbara Thank you.


Pledges for 2025


Thank you to everyone who has already made a financial pledge to the church. All pledges are a blessing and greatly appreciated. Pledge letters and cards are available in the entryway to the sanctuary. Pledge envelope boxes are in the hallway next to our Friendship Room. Please sign on the clipboard if you would do not see your box of envelopes. Thank you for your support!


Jauary Drive Through Collection of Donations


Saturday, January 13: 1-3 PM Back parking lot

We will be collecting Food for Open Pantry


Men's Breakfast


Men's Breakfast will be held on Saturday, January 6. All men are invited to meet in the church’s front parking lot to leave for breakfast at 8:30 AM. Contact Biff Simpson for more information.


"Blankets+" Special Offering


Each year, over 8000 congregations and organizations across the nation collect donations for the offering of CWS (Church World Srvice), providing funds to help people in need around the world. Our donations help provide:

*Blankets, tents, food and other emergency supplies in the wake of a disaster.

*Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant their fields

*Wells for families living in drought prone areas

*Literacy training for women struggling to realize their potential

*And much more!



We collect a special offering for Blankets + on Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday, observed this year on January 14. 


Looking Ahead: Souper Bowl Sunday


Everyone is invited to start collecting soup for SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY, celebrated on February 11. We will be collecting soup throughout January and February. Our donations will help our neighbors who receive services through the Open Pantry, here in Springfield.


Pledges for 2025


Our grateful thanks to everyone who made a financial pledge to the church for the coming year. We have pledge cards available in the entryway to the sanctuary. Or you can call the church office at 782-2112 to have a card mailed to you. 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. 

May 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • April 29, 2026
Dear friends, The joyful season of Easter continues this month. This season lasts 50 days and ends on Pentecost Sunday, celebrated this year on May 24. During this season, we focus on Jesus’ appearances to his followers after his death and resurrection. One of my favorite hymns for this season is In The Bulb There is a Flower by Natalie Sleeth. In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody. There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. Blessings, Barbara

April 2026 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • March 27, 2026
April 2026

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.