July 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schnek • June 30, 2025
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Dear friends,


One of the blessings of this season is gardens, both flowers and vegetables.

 

There’s a hymn I love called “Come to Tend God’s Garden.” When I read the words, written by John A. Dalles, I am reminded that God does not intend for us to be overwhelmed or feeling in despair amidst these tumultuous days. We are called to sow seeds of hope and much more:

 

Come to tend God’s garden, seeds of hope to sow,
Planting fields of justice, watching mercy grow!
In an arid wasteland, spread a verdant heath!
In a land of tumult, cultivate God’s peace!

 

As we tend God’s garden, from its furrows rise
Stems of fresh beginnings, stretching toward the skies!
Graciousness, our meadow, joyfulness, our root,
Unity, our foliage, righteousness, our fruit!



Blessings,

Barbara

Summer Schedule for Worship

Our worship services will be held at 9:30 AM for the months of July and August. Please help us spread the word!


July


Saturday, July 5
Men's Breakfast: 8:20am


Sunday, July 6
Worship Moves to 9:30am

Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

Saturday, July 12
Food Drive Through: 1-3pm

Sunday, July 13
Just Peace Team Meeting: All are welcome

Sunday, July 27
Prayers for the Nation: 4pm


August


Saturday, August 2
Men's Breakfast: 8:20am


Sunday, August 3
Waving for Peace 11th Anniversary

Sunday, August 3
Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser 11:30am - 3pm

Saturday, August 9
Food Drive Through 1-3pm


July 1 - August 10
Collection of School Supplies for Rebecca Johnson School

Sundays: Waving for Peace after coffee hour
Mondays: Waving for Peace from 3:30 - 4pm

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!

Waving for Peace on Sunday Mornings & Mondays


All are invited to participate in waving for peace on Sunday mornings after worship and coffee hour. We will also continue waving on Mondays from 3:30 – 4:00 PM. We will mark the 11th Anniversary of our Waving for Peace Ministry on Sunday, August 3.

Men's Breakfast: Saturday, July 5


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!

Monthly Food Drive


Saturday, July 12th from 1-3pm in the back parking lot


All non-perishable food collected is donated to The Open Pantry. Our focus foods are rice and pasta.  

NURSERY HELPERS


We are looking for two more volunteers for our nursery, to help once a month or once every other month. Please speak to Pastor Barbara if you would be able to help. It’s so much fun!

School Supplies for Rebecca Johnson


We will be collecting school supplies through August 10. Needed: Everything from pencils to backpacks, notebooks, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, two and four pocket folders and more! Thanks to everyone for your support!


June Quarter Auction: Thank You


Thank you to Lori, our coordinator and to everyone who helped with our June Quarter Auction. We raised $700.00 for the church and $100.00 for our special Cancer Care Offering. We also collected food for the Open Pantry.

 

Our next Auction is scheduled for Friday, September 5. We always can use more volunteers. And people to play the auction! It’s a true fund raiser as well as  “fun raiser,” with two mission components each month and an opportunity to welcome new friends to our church!


Vendor Fair/ Yard Sale: Thank You


Thank you to everyone who helped to make our recent Vendor Fair/Yard Sale a success! Despite the weather (which could have been much worse!) we did very well, raising over $2,500.00 for the church! Grateful thanks to Lori and Judy, our vendors, all volunteers and everyone who came out to support the event! We are so grateful!

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