May 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • April 25, 2025

Dear friends,


The joyful season of Easter continues this month. This season

lasts 50 days and ends on Pentecost Sunday, celebrated this year

on June 8. During this season, we focus on Jesus’ appearances to

his followers after his death and resurrection.


The Easter season, coinciding with the season of spring, can

remind us of new life springing up around us in gardens.

One of my favorite garden-themed hymns is “The Beautiful

Garden of Prayer,” written by Eleanor Allen Schroll in 1920, which

includes these words:


      There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,

There’s a place that is wondrously fair,

       For it glows with the light of His presence

’Tis that beautiful garden of prayer.

      There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,

And I go, with my burden and care,

      Just to learn from His lips words of comfort

In the beautiful garden of prayer.


   Refrain:

O the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,

O the beautiful garden of prayer!

There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates

To the beautiful garden of prayer.


Blessings,

Barbara

May Calendar


- WORSHIP EACH SUNDAY AT 10 AM:

Nursery Care and Church school provided


- Friday, May 2 at 7 PM

May Quarter Auction (see article)


- Saturday, May 3 at 8:30 AM

Men’s Breakfast

Meet at the front parking lot at 8:20 AM


- Sunday, May 4 after worship

Meeting of Just Peace Team: All welcome


- Saturday, May 10, 1:00 -3:00 PM

Drive Up Collection of Food Donations for Open Pantry


- Saturday, May 17 at noon

May Gathering for Fosterians (all women welcome)

May 2nd Monthly Quarter Auction


Doors open at 6 PM, and the auction begins at 7 PM. Everyone is invited to bring quarters and friends for a fun evening and a chance to win some great items from our vendors! There will also be a raffle! Admission: $5 for two paddles. Our mission is: Community Survival Center. Bring a non-perishable food item, to be donated to The Survivial Center, for a free third paddle. Dinner food and snacks will be available for purchase.

Fosterians Gathering: Saturday, May 17 from 12 PM-2PM


Our focus is a “Women’s Special Tea Gathering.” We will have a light luncheon, followed by a “Tea Cup Auction.” Please bring an

unwrapped new or very gently used item for auction prizes. Proceeds will go to help with church projects. We will also be talking about the upcoming Vendor Fair/Yard Sale. All women are welcome and invited to bring friends. Please let Lori or Judy know you are coming for our luncheon count. Wearing of spring hats is encouraged!

Cutting Edge Team: Wenesdays from 5-6 PM


We have a new team of volunteers who are assisting our Garden Angels with outdoor work. When it rains, the team comes in to take on short projects. Everyone is welcome to help. The team works each week for one hour. If you would like more information, please speak to Keith Walker.

Ongoing Fundraiser: Big Y Gift Cards


Thank you to everyone for your support! The church benefits 5% from this fundraiser, which is adding up nicely! Please see

Jeanie Marsh if you would like to order cards.

Upcoming Events


  • Friday, June 6: Quarter Auction
  • Saturday, June 7: Men’s Breakfast
  • Saturday, June 14: Vendor Fair/Tag Sale
  • Saturday, June 7: Drive Through Donations for Open Pantry
  • Sunday, June 8: Children and Youth Sunday/Pentecost Sunday
  • Sunday, June 16: Last Sunday for Choir
  • Sunday, June 22: Cancer Care Special Offering
  • Waving for Peace: Each Monday from 3:30-4 PM

VENDOR FAIR & YARD SALE

Saturday, June 14, 2025 9 AM-3 PM


Rain or shine!!


If you would like to be a vendor,

please call Lori at 413-626-9040 or email lorilhi@aol.com


New and gently used items for sale! Something for everyone!


Bake Sale, Lunch food for purchase and a fun Gift Basket Raffle!


Volunteers are Needed!


Help is needed for set-up, clean-up, cashiers, Bake Goods table,

lunch prep and serving and more. It takes the help of many

members and friends of our church to make this fundraiser a

success. Please speak to Lori or Judy Milano if you can help.

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.