November 2024 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • October 28, 2024

Dear friends,

 

This month, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Blessings. 

I am grateful for the ways that we, as this community of faith, offer encouragement and care for one another and hope into the world.

 

 

A Prayer for Thanksgiving

God of all creation, we give you thanks.

Every day is a gift. Each day is a blessing.

Open our eyes to see your living presence in each other.

Help us grow stronger each day, in faith, hope and love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Savior,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

forever and ever. AMEN

 

--Author Unknown


 

Blessings,

Barbara


Daylight Savings


Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 3. Please remember to set your clocks back one hour the night before.

November Calendar:

  • Saturday, November 2:  Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM
  • Saturday, November 2:  Fosterians 12-2 PM
  • Saturday, November 9:  Drive Through 1-3 PM
  • Saturday, November 9:  Quarter Auction
  • Friday, November 15:  Music Box 7 PM
  • Sunday, November 24:  Thanksgiving/Stewardship Sunday


Ongoing:

  • Worship Sundays at 10 AM with God Time (church school) and

childcare provided each Sunday

  • Pre-recorded worship services posted on Sunday mornings on You Tube, Facebook and our website at fostermemorial.org
  • Waving for Peace: Mondays 3:30 – 4:00 PM
  • Monthly prep for Fishes and Loaves dinner: Thursday before the third Friday.
  • Serving Dinner on the Third Friday at South Church at 4:30 PM

 

If you would like a copy of the bulletin and meditation mailed to you, please contact the church office.



Quarter Auction:

Saturday, November 9th

Doors open at 3:30pm - Auction starts at 4:30pm


Address: Foster Memorial Church, UCC
179 Wilbraham Rd. Springfield, MA

Admission: $5 for two paddles
Bring a non-perishable food item for a free raffle ticket


Bring a friend and your quarters for a chance to win some great items!


Something for everyone!  Food and Snack available for purchase


Vendors and Raffle


For more information, please call or text Lori at 626-9040


Fosterians Gathering: Sat. November 2:


There will be a gathering for the Fosterians on Saturday, November 2 from 12-2 PM. The theme for the gathering will be PUMPKINS! There will be a light lunch served (with a free will offering) If you would like to help, please speak to Lori LaTaille or Judy Milano. Please also let them know you are coming, so we can get a count for lunch. All women of the church are invited, and we love to have guests!


November Coat and Jacket Drive


For the months of November and December, we will be collecting new and gently used jackets for all ages.


November Drive Through: Satuday, Nov. 9 1-3pm


We will collect jackets and coats along with non-perishable foods.

NOTE: We collect non-perishable food for the Open Pantry each Sunday during our worship service.


Thanksgiving / Stewardship Sunday: Nov. 24


A Stewardship letter will soon be distributed to everyone with a pledge card enclosed for the year to come. On November 24, Thanksgiving/Stewardship Sunday, we are invited to bring our pledge cards to our morning worship service. For those who cannot be with us, please mail your pledge cards to the church office. Please contact the office if you do not receive a pledge letter by November 15. Every pledge is greatly appreciated and a symbol of our engaging together to continue to “be the church” and further God’s realm, right where we are. 


December:

Special Gatherings / Services: More information to come!


Sunday, December 1:  Christmas Fun/Pancake Fundraiser for Tenzing

Saturday, December 7:  Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM

Saturday, December 7:  Fosterians Gathering 12:00 PM

Sunday, December 8:  Blessing of Gifts for Gray House:

Saturday, December 14:  Drive Through: 1-3 PM

Sunday, December 22:  Christmas Pageant during worship

Tuesday, December 24:  Christmas Eve Service 7 PM


Christmas Gifts for Gray House


Throughout November and early December, we will collecting new toys and games to be distributed through the Gray House for children and youth in our local area. Gifts for teens will also be collected; ideas for teens include blankets, gift cards, and toiletries. Please bring gifts unwrapped.


Save The Dates:

Collecting New Winter Outerwear


Through December 24, we will be collecting new mittens, hats, scarves and gloves for all ages for our Mitten Tree.


Fosterians Gathering: Saturday, December 7 at noon


All women of the church are invited to a luncheon hosted by the Fosterians. A light lunch will be provided. We’ll have a “Yankee Christmas Swap” (bring gifts $5-10 to swap) and collect donations (suggested; $5) for holiday bags to be distributed to our confined members and friends. Please let Judy or Lori know that you are coming or call the office at 782-2112. Friends are invited too! 


Pancake Brunch For Tenzing/Christmas Fun: Sunday, December 1


On this Sunday, we will have a fundraising Pancake Brunch with a free will offering to support our sponsored youth, Tenzing, a Tibetan refugee living in India with her family. After brunch will be addition to a delicious brunch, we will have a gingerbread house craft for the children and a winter craft for all ages.

August 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schenk • July 28, 2025
Dear friends, I hope everyone is enjoying the summer – it seems to be flying. I know we have been very concerned about issues going on that are dividing our nation. Decisions being made can shake us to the core, daily. We have started Waving for Peace on Sunday mornings, in addition to Monday afternoons, and the response from our neighbors passing by has been overwhelmingly positive. We will also be looking for more ways to advocate for God’s justice in the coming days, including our hosting an International Peace Event in September. There are many hymns that can move us onward and upward with hope and conviction of faith. One of these is entitled Community of Christ, with words by Shirley Erena Murray. Community of Christ, through whom the world must sound- Cry out for justice and for peace the whole world round; Disarm the powers that war and all that can destroy, Turn bombs to bread and tears of anguish into joy. When menace melts away, so shall God’s will be done. The climate of the world be peace and Christ its sun; Our currency be love and kindliness our law, Our food and faith be shared as one forevermore. Blessings, Barbara

July 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schnek • June 30, 2025
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
Foster Memorial Church

June 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schnek • May 30, 2025
Dear friends, June is here, with several special activities and events, including our Vendor Fair, Children and Youth Sunday, Special Offering for Cancer Care and more. Please see the articles and calendar in this newsletter for more information.