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.


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