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.

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