June 2023 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • June 5, 2023

Dear friends,

 

June is here, with several special activities and events, including our Vendor Fair, Children and Youth Sunday, Relay for Life special offering and more. Please see the articles and calendar in this newsletter for more information.

 

And please note that our worship time will change from 10 AM to 9:30 AM beginning July 2.

 

Blessings,

Barbara



Our Vendor Fair & Yard Sale


Sunday, June 3, 2023

9am - 3pm

Rain or shine!

Vendors and yard sale with new and gently used items for sale!

There will also be, lunch food for purchase, special music,

a fun Gift Basket Raffle and more!


June Calendar

Saturday, June 3 Vendor Tag Sale
Thursday, June 8 Evening with Bob Loesch
Saturday, June 10 Drive Through Collection for OP
Sunday, June 11 Children and Youth Sunday/Ice Cream Social
Sunday, June 18 Coffee Hour for Relay for Life


SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR WORSHIP


Our worship services will be held at 9:30 AM beginning July 2 and continuing through September 3. Please help us spread the word!


GOD TIME SUMMER SCHEDULE


We are looking for Volunteers to facilitate God Time (church school) for July and August. Please speak to Pastor Barbara or Lori LaTaille if you would be able to help.


RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES


Along with in-person worship service, we offer 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: https://www.fostermemorial.org/videos

Worship services are also provided in print through the mail each week for people who do not have access to the internet. Contact the church office if you would like to receive the printed service in  the mail.



EIGHTH (AND FINAL) EVENING WITH THE REV. DR. BOB LOESCH, our Writer in Residence


Thursday, June 8th at 6:30pm

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87332441207

Meeting ID: 873 3244 1207

Or: Dial 305-224-1968

 

On this eighth and final Zoom gathering in this series Bob will read and discuss another short story he has written from his published book Out On A Limb and other stories. “Tony Gandolfo’s Story” includes Tony’s first-person review of life as an Italian Catholic living in Springfield, his family and his long career as a driver for Peter Pan Bus Lines from 1976-2016. He tells about the November 23, 2012 natural gas explosion across the street from his condominium on the corner of Worthington Street and Chestnut Street.



SUNDAY, JUNE 18th: RELAY FOR LIFE: SPECIAL COFFEE HOUR


We have been supporting Cancer Research through RELAY FOR LIFE for many, many years. This year, we are going to have a special Coffee Hour to raise funds on Sunday, June 18 after worship. We will collect donations for our Relay for Life offering (Checks to be made out to The American Cancer Society). Donations can also be brought to church anytime or mailed to the church office.



GOD TIME GUIDES AND NURSERY VOLUNTEERS


The Christian Education Board would like to thank this year’s God Time Guides who worked with our children and youth throughout the school year on Sunday mornings. Thank you to Mary Lynn Hunter, Karen Coughlin, Robin and Kevin Withers, Lori LaTaille, Matt Kobjeck, Kim Kobjack, Sharon Gormbley and Alice Kempf for sharing your gifts and talents with our young people. We are so very grateful to you all!

Thank you to Hayley LaTaille, our nursery care provider and our nursery volunteers: Amy Pawle, Joanne Wells, Karen Coughlin, Aubrey Kobjack and Ellie McRobie.



THANK YOU TO OUR CHOIR


Our Chancel Choir will take a break for the summer, but there will be opportunities for anyone who would like to join us for both Men and Women’s “Pick Up” Choirs over the weeks of summer: Stay tuned for more information! Our grateful thanks to our Organist and Choir Director, Frank Jackson and to our choir members: Pam Corey, Becky Crampton Kamukala, Sandy Moore, Bev Weinhold-Shultz, Charlie Shultz, Vivian Gonzalez, Gerri Thompson, Gay and Ted Owczarski, Pastor Barbara, Joe Rosati and Eric Sutter.   



FOSTER SOFTBALL SEASON IS HERE!


https://www.interchurchsoftball.com/fields/

The Inter-Church Softball League's season has begun! Website above. There is also a Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/WesternMAChurchSoftball

Everyone is always welcome! Go, Foster team!



MONTHLY DRiVE THROUGH COLLECTION OF DONATIONS FOR OP SATURDAY, JUNE 10: 1-3PM


We will be collecting non-perishable food to be donated to Open Pantry. All non-perishable food donations are appreciated!

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