July 2026 Newsletter

Foster Memorial Church • June 29, 2026
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Dear friends,

Earlier in June, a letter was sent to the members and friends of the church, informing everyone about my upcoming resignation, effective August 31. This will mark almost 18 years as pastor of this church. I am also planning to retire after almost 40 years of serving churches in Maine, New York, CT and MA.

 

From now until the end of August, I will be working with a team of volunteers to assure that things I have been doing are passed on for others to learn and carry out in this “in between time.” We are also finding people to step in to help with things my husband Keith has taken on, including our sound systems, sprinklers and more.

 

Amy Pawle, our church moderator, and other members of our church leadership are already working with our Area Minister on next steps concerning pastoral leadership for the church. You will be hearing more from Amy about this soon. If you would like to contact Amy directly, her email address is amy.pawle@gmail.com

 

I thank you all for the privilege of serving among you. You are an amazing congregation. You are so faith-filled, and you have a strong sense of identity as a Just Peace church, an Open and Affirming church and a member church of the United Church of Christ. Your next pastor will be blessed by you and your devotion to serve God through so many ways.

 

Keith and I will miss you and we wish you all God’s blessings as you move forward together in Jesus’ name.


Blessings,

Barbara


July


Sunday, July 5th

Worship moves to 9:30am


Sunday, July 5th

Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser


Saturday, July 11th

Food Drive: 1-3pm


Sunday, July 12th

Just Peace team meeting: all are welcome


Sunday, July 26th

Prayers for the Nation: 4pm


August


Saturday, August 1th

Men's breakfast: 8:20am


Sunday, August 2nd

Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser 11:30am - 3pm


Saturday, August 8th

Food drive through: 1-3pm


Sunday, August 9th

12th Anniversary of Waving for Peace Ministry


Sunday, August 30th

Pastor Barbara's final service


Sundays: Waving for Peace after coffee hour

Mondays: Waving for Peace from 3:30 - 4pm



TEXAS ROADHOUSE FUNDRAISER: Sunday, July 5th


Show this graphic to your server for our fundraiser


MENS BREAKFAST: PLEASE NOTE:


The next Men's Breakfast will be held on Sunday, August 1 because of the 4th of July weekend.


JULY SPECIAL RAFFLE


Throughout the month of July

We are going to hold a special raffle throughout July to help fund our Loaves and Fishes ministry. Each month, volunteers prep and serve dinner for the guests at Open Pantry’s Loaves and Fishes at South Congregational Church in Springfield. Thank you for your support!!




SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR REBBECA JOHNSON


We will be collecting school supplies through August 9. 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!



MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE


Saturday, July 11 from 1-3 PM in the back parking lot

All non-perishable food collected is donated to The Open Pantry. Our focus foods are rice and pasta.  We will also be collecting school supplies for Rebecca Johnson school.



JUST PEACE TEAM MEETING: SUNDAY, JULY 12th FOLLOWING WORSHIP


This meeting is open to everyone.



FOSTER SOFTBALL SCHEDULE


The Inter-Church Softball League's season has begun!

Website https://www.interchurchsoftball.com/

There is also a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WesternMAChurchSoftball

Everyone is always welcome to attend the games! Go, team!



GARDEN "SOCIAL"


Our Garden Angels, Judy and Gerri, are going to host a “Garden Social” for everyone. The date for this event will be announced soon.



WAVING FOR PEACE ANNIVERSARY


We will mark the 12th Anniversary of our Waving for Peace ministry on Sunday, August 9 following worship.



PASTOR BARBARA'S FINAL SERVICE AND RECEPTION: SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th


Please save the date and spread the word. The reception will follow our 9:30 AM worship service.



By Barbara Schenk • August 27, 2026
September 2026 - Foster Memorial Church, UCC From our Moderator, Amy Pawle: While we enjoy long summer days and reflect on Pastor Barbara’s 18 years of ministry with us, your executive board and the three transition teams have also been hard at work, looking towards our future with hope. We met with our new Area Minister, Rev. David Jones, our church profile is active with the UCC, and we have received interest in the Interim Pastor position from area clergy. To view our profile, please use this link: http://oppsearch.ucc.org/id/7192 Also feel free to post on your social media! We are blessed to have pulpit coverage for September and October by our retired clergy members, coordinated by Peter Wells.  Pastoral care is being provided by Rev. Dr. Bob Loesch starting in September. In addition to pulpit coverage and pastoral care, our members have stepped up to fill in many of the small tasks that keep the church going: Facebook postings, photography, filming, prayer chain, email blasts, opening the church, the carillon, and many more.
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 Barbara Schenk • May 26, 2026
Dear friends,