January 2026 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • January 3, 2026
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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

BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR 2026/SPECIAL MEETING

We will hold an Informational Meeting about the Budget Proposed for 2026 on Sunday, January 18, following our worship service.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING: SUNDAY, JAN. 25

Our church’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25 after worship. There will be a special soup luncheon, provided by the Deacons and friends. A free will offering will be collected; all proceeds will help to fund our dinner ministry for Loaves and Fishes. Although voting is limited to church members, we also encourage church friends 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 2026 budget and other business that may be brought before the meeting. Your participation is both needed and appreciated. Please plan to attend.

REPORTS FOR ANNUAL REPORT

All written reports should be completed by January 7. Please email reports to Pastor Barbara. Thank you.

PLEDGES FOR 2026

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. Boxed envelopes are in the hallway next to our Friendship Room. Please sign the clipboard if you do not see your box of envelopes and would like to receive them. Thank you for your support!

JANUARY SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 3: Men’s Breakfast: 8:20 AM

Sunday, January 4: Epiphany Sunday/Texas Roadhouse

Sunday, January 4: Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

Saturday, January 10: Food Drive for Open Pantry 1-3 PM

Sunday, January 11: Just Peace Meeting after worship

Sunday, January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday/Blankets Offering

Sunday, January 18: Budget Proposal Meeting 11 AM

Sunday, January 25: Annual Meeting/Soup Luncheon                     


Ongoing:

God Time, nursery care Sundays at 10:00 AM

Waving for Peace, Sundays at 11:30 & Mondays from 3:30-4 PM

MEN'S BREAKFAST

Men's Breakfast will be held on Saturday, January 3. All men are invited to meet in the church’s front parking lot to leave for breakfast at 8:30 AM.

BIG Y GIFT CARDS

See Jeanie Marsh to order Big Y gift cards. This is an ongoing fundraiser for the church. Thanks for your support!

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. These are words we are invited to reflect on during the year to come. You can contact Pastor Barbara to select star word for you if you are unable to come to worship. Or, you are welcome to select a word from the stars below.

JANUARY FOOD DRIVE

This month’s Drive will be held on Saturday, January 10: 1-3 PM in our back parking lot. We will be collecting Food for Open Pantry. Our focus foods: Soup, pasta and rice.

JUST PEACE TEAM MEETING

Our Just Peace team has an open meeting on the second Sunday of each month, following worship. All are welcome.

COLLECTION OF JACKETS AND COATS

We will continue to collect new and gently worn coats and jackets for all ages throughout this month. All donations will be distributed through Rebecca Johnson School, Gray House and Loaves and Fishes. Thank you for your support!

"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 18. 

WAVING FOR PEACE

We witness for peace every Sunday after coffee hour and Mondays from 3:30-4 PM. All are welcome! We don’t wave if the weather is bad (heavy rain or snow or ice). We keep an “eye to the sky” especially in the winter months!

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Everyone is invited to start collecting soup for SOUPER BOWL OF CARING outreach ministry. 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.

EYE TO THE SKY

If we need to cancel in-person worship or another special event during the winter season, we will post on local TV channels. For smaller meetings, please contact the Chair or Facilitator. NOTE: A pre-recorded worship service is available for viewing each week.

GREATER SPRINGFIELD CAMPAIGN NONVIOLENT SPECIAL EVENT FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

Everyone is invited to a special program entitled “Living The Gospel with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sister Dr. Thea Bowman.” Guest speaker: Sister Melinda Pellerin

 

Monday, January 19, from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Mary, Mother of Hope Church 840 Page BLVD, Springfield, MA 01104

Co-Sponsored by PAX CHRISTI MA & Sisters of St. Joseph

 

Contact Bob Loesch or Pastor Barbara for more information.


LOOKING AHEAD - FEBRUARY

Sunday, February 15: “Shrove Sunday” Pancake Brunch: Fundraiser for the Afghan family

Wednesday, February 18: Ash Wednesday service: 7 PM

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.

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