November 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schnek • October 27, 2025

Dear friends,


This month, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Blessings.

I am grateful for the ways that we, as this community of

faith, continue to offer encouragement and care for one

another and shine God’s light of hope into the world.


Blessings,

Barbara


Thanksgiving is

a time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider,

whose guidance and care go before us...

and whose love is with us forever.


Thanksgiving is

a time to reflect on the changes,

to remember that we, too, grow and change

from one season of life to another.


Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

As we see the beauty of Autumn,

let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours...

and let us give thanks in our hearts.


--Author Unknown


CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER


Saturday, November 1: Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM

Sunday, November 2: Texas Roadhouse: 11:30 AM- 3 PM

Friday, November 7: Quarter Auction 7 PM

Saturday, November 8: Food Drive Through 1-3 PM

Sunday, November 9: Just Peace Team: after worship

Sunday, November 23: Thanksgiving/Stewardship Sunday

Sunday, November 30: Prayers for the Nation: 4 PM


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 YouTube, Facebook and our website at fostermemorial.org

Waving for Peace: Sundays after coffee hour & amp; 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



MEN’S BREAKFAST: Saturday, November 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!

FUNDRAISER: TEXAS ROADHOUSE :


Sunday, November 2 from 11:30AM-3PM

INTERFAITH GIVING THANKS CELEBRATION: Sunday, Nov. 2


Sunday, November 2 from 2-4 PM Dodge Room, Campus Union Springfield College


NOVEMBER QUARTER AUCTION: Friday, Nov.7


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 Tapestry Health, a leading

expert in critical public health issues, serving over 26,000 residents annually in our local area and beyond. Admission:

$5.00 for two paddles. Bring a non-perishable food item for a FREE third paddle! Dinner food and snacks will be available for

purchase. Note: This will be our last Auction until next spring.

NOVEMBER DRIVE THROUGH: SAT. NOV. 8: 1-3 PM


We will collect jackets and coats along with non-perishable

foods for Open Pantry. NOTE: We collect non-perishable food

for the Open Pantry each Sunday during our worship service.

THANKSGIVING/STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: NOV. 23


A Stewardship letter will soon be distributed to everyone with a pledge card enclosed for the year to come. Our Stewardship

theme this year is: Stewardship is Love in Action. On November 23, 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 3. 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!

Saturday, December 6: Men’s Breakfast: meet at 8:20 AM

Saturday, December 6: Fosterians Gathering: 1-3 PM

Sunday, December 7: Christmas Fun after worship

Sunday, December 14: Blessing of Gifts for Gray House

Sunday, December 14: Just Peace team after worship

Saturday, December 13: Food Drive Through: 1-3 PM

Sunday, December 21: Christmas Pageant during worship

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Service 7 PM

FOSTERIANS GATHERING: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 from 1-3 PM



All women of the church are invited to a fun afternoon. 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!


CHRISTMAS FUN: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7


During coffee hour, we will have a few special crafts for the

season. If you would like to help, please speak to Pastor Barbara.



CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR GRAY HOUSE


Throughout November and early December, we will be 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. The gifts will be blessed

on December 14. ALL gifts are appreciated. Looking for ideas?

Gray House wish list on Amazon can be found at

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/H94002T42N4Q/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex



COLLECTING NEW WINTER OUTERWEAR:


Through December 24, we will be collecting new mittens, hats,

scarves and gloves for all ages for our Mitten Tree.

October 2025 Newsletter

By Barbara Schnek • October 3, 2025
Dear friends, October will be a very active month of events for our church’s outreach ministries. Please see separate articles in this newsletter. One of these events is the Greater Springfield CROP Hunger Walk. This Walk started 48 years ago in Springfield and is the first/oldest walk of its kind to be held in the city. Donations help our neighbors around the world through global and national partnerships with 25% staying in our local area, distributed through the Open Pantry, Lorraine’s Kitchen and Western MA Food Bank. This year’s walk will be held on Sunday, October 5 at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Ave. Registration begins at 1 PM. There is DJ music and tee shirts for sale for $10.00. The walk begins at 2 PM. There is an option of a one mile or three-mile walk. Kevin Withers is our CROP Treasurer this year. Please speak to him if you would like a walker/sponsor sheet. Donations can be made with Kevin for our Team Donation Sheet. NOTE: all checks should be made out to CWS/CROP (not to the church) There is also a website through which donations can be made: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/team/foster -memorial-church-ucc All online donations will be matched, made possible by a generous donation from Bethesda Lutheran/East Congregational Churches. Over the years, CROP WALK has been a vital outreach ministry for our church. Everyone’s support is so appreciated. Blessings, Barbara
Foster September ews etterr

September 2025 Newsletter

By 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 Socia 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

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