September 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schnek • August 26, 2025

Dear friends, 


We are going to be really busy in the next few months here at Foster! Highlights for September include Rally Sunday with an Ice Cream Social and our September Quarter Auction. On September 21, we will be hosting the International Peace Day Fair/event, where agencies and faith communities come together for an afternoon to share about work being done on issues of justice and peace in our local region. Please join us!


One of my favorite hymns about justice is “For Everyone Born.” Some of the words, by Shirley Erena Murray, include:


For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead 


For everyone born, a place at the table
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free.


Chorus: And God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!


Blessings,

Barbara


CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER


September


Thursday, Sept. 4: FMC Hosts Crop Rally 5 PM

Friday, Sept. 5:  Quarter Auction: 7 PM

Saturday, Sept. 6: Men’s Breakfast: 8:20 AM

Sunday, Sept. 7: Worship Resumes at 10 AM

Sunday, Sept. 7: Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

Wednesday, Sept. 10: Finance Board/Exec Board

Saturday, Sept. 13: Monthly Food Drive: 1-3 PM

Sunday Sept. 14: Rally Sunday

Sunday, Sept. 21:        FMC hosts Peace Day Event: 3- 5 PM

Thursday, Sept. 25: Pastor hosts local UCC clergy

Saturday, Sept. 27:   Fosterians 11:30 AM

Sunday, Sept. 28: Prayers for the Nation: 4 PM


October (highlights)


Friday, October 3: Quarter Auction: 7 PM

Saturday, October 4: Men’s Breakfast: 8:20 AM 

Sunday, October 5: Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

Sunday, October 5: Crop Walk for Hunger: 

Monday, October 6: FMC hosting Hampden UCC Association Annual Meeting 

Saturday, October 11: Food Drive for Open Pantry

Sunday, October 12: Just Peace Team Meeting

Sunday, October 19: Blessing of the Pets/Animals: 2PM

Sunday, October 26: Pancake Brunch for Tenzin11 


ONGOING


MONTHLY QUARTER AUCTION: SEPTEMBER 5


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! This month, a portion of our proceeds will go to: Rebecca Johnson School. Bring a School Suppy item for a free third paddle! Dinner food and snacks will be available for purchase.


MEN’S BREAKFAST: Saturday, September 6


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, September 7: 11:30 AM – 3 PM



Fundraiser event

MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE: Saturday, Sept. 13


Time: 1-3 PM in our church parking lot. We will be collecting non-perishable food for the Open Pantry. REMINDER: We also collect non-perishable food for Open Pantry every Sunday. All donations are so appreciated. 


GOD TME/RALLY SUNDAY: Sunday, September 14



Rally Sunday, the beginning of a new program year for God Time/Sunday school, will be held on SUNDAY, September 14, followed by an Ice Cream Social for everyone. Please help us spread the word!!


INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY: May Peace Prevail



Sunday, September 21: 3- 5 PM Rain Plans: Inside Our Just Peace Team is hosting this event. Please speak to Pastor Barbara if you would be able to help. We would also hope many of us can participate in this special annual event. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with agencies and faith Show this to your server for our fundraising benefit. communities who are working on issues of justice 


FOSTERIANS: Sat, September 27 11:30 AM



All women welcome! Theme: Big E! There will be a Pizza lunch with a free will offering taken to cover costs. Please RSVP with Lori LaTaille or Judy Milano. Desserts are also needed.


GREATER SPRINGFIELD CROPWALK FOR HUNGER: October 5 1:00 PM


Please save the date for the walk: Sunday, October 5. We gather for the walk at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Ave, at 1 PM. The walk kicks off at 2 PM; we walk through Forest Park (either one or three miles) and return to Trinity for refreshments. We always need helpers with refreshments and our “Welcome Back” team, as well as walkers and sponsors. Please speak to Pastor Barbara if you can help.


ANNNUAL BLESSING OF THE PETS: Sunday, October 19 at 2:00 PM



Join us for this special event! All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. Photos of pets also welcome! We will also be collecting pet food and supplies for Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center

By Barbara Schenk March 27, 2026
April 2026
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.
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