September 2024 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • September 2, 2024

Please note: Worship time changes from 9:30 AM to

10:000 AM, beginning on September 1.

 

September marks the turning of the seasons. We are moving ahead with activities and ministries. Our Craft Fair Sale is coming up on September 7. Please speak to Lori if you would like to help.  Rally Sunday, marking a new program year for church, will be held the next day.

 

Wider church/community events: Everyone is invited to help us host International Peace Day on Sunday, September 22. We would also love to have folks from our church stop by to experience the event. Our CROP Hunger Walk will be held on October 6. Please see separate articles for more information about these and more upcoming events.

 

September also marks the beginning of the school year in our region. Thank you to everyone for donations of school supplies for our partner, Rebecca Johnson School.

 

Holy God, bless teachers and administrators,

 school staff, volunteers, and families.

Bless everyone involved with education

throughout the world

 

During these uncertain and challenging times,

We pray for the safety and well- being of all your beloved.

All this we ask in the name of Jesus, who said,

“Let the Children come to me.” AMEN.


Blessings,

Barbara



September Calendar:

 

Worship Service time resumes at 10 AM

 

  • Saturday, September 7: Craft Fair: 9 AM-3 PM
  • Sunday, September 8 during worship: Rally Sunday: Just Peace Team will meet after coffee hour
  • Saturday, September 14: Drive Through 1-3 PM
  • Sunday, September 22: Peace Day Event 3-5 PM


October Calendar:


  • Saturday, October 5: Men’s Club meet at 8:20 AM
  • Sunday, October 6: Crop Walk
  • Saturday, October 12: Drive Through: 1-3 PM
  • Sunday, October 20: Blessing of the Animals
  • Sunday, October 27: Trick or Treat for UNICEF


November Calendar:

  • Friday, November 1: Quarter Auction
  • 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


Craft Fair


Saturday, September 7, 2024: 9 AM-3 PM

Indoor and Outdoor Vendors

Location: Our church


If you would like to be a vendor,

please contact Lori at 413-626-9040 or email lorilhi@aol.com

Quality Crafts: Something for everyone!

Lunch for purchase and a fun Gift Basket Raffle!


We need Vendors and Helpers. Please contact Lori




God Time/Rally Sunday


Rally Sunday, the beginning of a new program year for God Time/Sunday school, will be held SUNDAY, September 8, followed by an Ice Cream Social for everyone. Please help us spread the word!!



SEPTEMBER DRIVE THROUGH : Saturday. Sept. 14


Time: 1-3 PM in our church parking lot. We will be collecting food for the Open Pantry. REMINDER: We collect non-perishable food for Open Pantry every Sunday. Our focus foods are pasta and rice. All donations are so appreciated.



INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY: May Peace Prevail

 

We are hosting this event for the third year!

Date/Time:  September 2, 2024, from 3:00-5:00 PM

Rain Plans:    Inside the church

 

Representatives from area groups/organizations/faith communities working on issues of justice and peace will gather to mark and celebrate International Peace Day. Each organization will be invited to set up a table with resources and share information and conversation with other participants and guests. We will also have art activities, music, and light refreshments.


Please speak to Pastor Barbara or Bob Loesch if you can help us to host this event. And please spread the word to neighbors and friends to come and find out more about how people in our local area are addressing issues of justice and peace.



Greater Crop Walk: Save the date: October 6th


The CROPWALK is the oldest and first walk of its kind in our city of Springfield. 75% of the money raised works around the world; 25% is distributed to our neighbors in nrrf through local agencies. This year’s walk will be held on Sunday, October 6. We gather for the walk at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Ave, at 1 PM. The walk kicks off at 2 PM; we walk through Forest Park (either one or three miles) and return to Trinity for refreshments.

 

We always need helpers with refreshments and our “Welcome Back” team, as well as walkers and sponsors. Please speak to Pastor Barbara or Judy Milano if you are able to help.



SUMMER MUSIC


Thank you to everyone who provided special music for our worship services over the summer, with special thanks to Frank Jackson, our Organist and Choir Director, who coordinated the musicians and music.

 

Our thanks to: “Pick-Up” Choir, Frank P. Jackson, Men’s Choral Group, Women’s Choral Group,, Keith Walker & Pastor Barbara, Roxie & Steve Bailey, Sue Mcnary and Kathy Schoeck.



RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES


Along with in-person worship service, we offer pre-recorded worship services, posted each week (and special services) on YOU Tube, on our Foster Memorial Church Facebook page and on our church website: http://www.fostermemorial.org/videos/ Worship services are also provided in print through the mail each week for people who do not have access to the internet. Contact the church office if you would like to receive the service in the mail or join our email list.



THANK YOU


Thank you to everyone who served this summer as…

God Time Guides, nursery helpers, garden angels, deacons and ushers, coffee hour leaders and teams, those in charge our church finances, our film crew, wavers for peace, lift operators, members of boards, committees, teams and many more who serve behind the scenes! 


By 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
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
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