October 2025 Newsletter

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


CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER


October:


Friday, October 3: Quarter Auction: Doors open 6 PM

Saturday, October 4: Men’s Breakfast: 8:20 AM (Front parking lot)

Sunday, October 5: Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

Sunday, October 5: Crop Walk for Hunger

Monday, October 6: FMC hosting Hampden UCC (Association Meeting)

Saturday, October 11: Food Drive For Open Pantry:

Sunday, October 12: Just Peace Team Meeting

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

Sunday, October 26: Pancake Brunch for Tenzin/Trick or Treat for UNICEF - Prayers for the Nation: 4 PM


November:


Saturday, November 2: Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM

Friday, November 7: Quarter Auction: Doors open 6 PM

Saturday, November 8: Drive Through 1-3 PM

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

MONTHLY QUARTER AUCTION: October 3


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: Greater Springfield Crop

Hunger Walk. 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.

Monthly quarter auction

MEN’S BREAKFAST: Saturday, October 4


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 :


Oct. 5 from 11:30AM-3PM

OCTOBER FOOD DRIVE: Saturday, October 11: 1-3 PM


We collect food for Open Pantry on the second Saturday of

each month. This month, we are also collecting donations of pet

toys and food in honor of our Blessing of the Animals event on

October 19 (see separate article)

Food Drive Fundraising

ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE PETS: Sun. Oct 19 at 2PM


Join us for this special event! All pets must be on a leash or in

a carrier. Photos of pets also welcome! Everyone is also invited

to bring pet food, toys and supplies to be donated to Thomas J.

O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. New or gently

used towels are especially needed. Everyone is welcome, no

matter if you bring pets or just want to enjoy the event. In

case of rain, this will be a Drive Through Event in our back

parking lot!

TRICK OR TREAT FOR UNICEF/PANCAKE BRUNCH FOR TENZIN: Sunday, October 26


During worship on Sunday, October 26 everyone is invited to

bring donations (coins or bills) for “Trick or Treat for

UNICEF.” All children and youth are invited to dress in

Halloween costumes. Following will be a Pancake Brunch:

Proceeds to help fund our sponsorship of Tenzin, a Tibetan

refugee youth living with her family in India.


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

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