FOSTER MEMORIAL CHURCH, UCC THE CHRONICLE Volume 65, Issue 10 November BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: October 4

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1 FOSTER MEMORIAL CHURCH, UCC THE CHRONICLE Volume 65, Issue 10 November 2016 BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: October 4 Dear friends, This month, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Blessings. This is a prayer by Samuel Pugh that reminds us of our call from God in response to our abundance of blessings. O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry; When I have work, help me to remember the jobless; When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all; When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help; By word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen. Thanks to everyone, including our THREE photographers! DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 6. Please remember to turn your clocks back one hour. Blessings, Barbara SPECIAL OFFERING FOR HURRICANE MATTHEW RELIEF We are collecting donations for Hurricane Matthew Relief. You can bring donations to worship or mail to the church office. If writing a check, please make it out to the church with Hurricane Matthew Relief in the memo. Page 2

2 CROP WALK FOR HUNGER: October 16 Thanks to our 23 Foster folks who participated in all kinds of ways for the CROP Walk on October 16. Thanks also to ALL of our sponsors. We ll announce the total we raised soon! Friday, November 4: Quarter Auction: Doors open at 6 PM Admission: $5.00 which includes a numbered paddle, a beverage and a raffle ticket. Bring a roll of quarters and bid on a variety of items. So much fun! For more information, speak to Lori LaTaille. Saturday, November 5: Men s Club: Light Breakfast and Meeting: 8 AM Fall Clean Up: 9 AM Sunday, November 6 Pancake Breakfast: after 10 AM worship service Proceeds for our Sponsored Child, Tenzin Sunday, November 13 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Fellowship: 3PM Co-hosted by our church and Springfield Community Grace Baptist Church Guest Speaker: The Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director, MA Council of Churches Sunday: November 20 Thanksgiving/Stewardship: 10:00 AM Worship Service On this day, we will make our financial pledges for the coming year Page 3 Page 4

3 PANCAKE BRUNCH FOR TENZIN: November 6 Please plan on joining the Christian Education Board, our God Time children, students and guides in our annual Pancake Brunch for Tenzin on Sunday, November 6th in Fellowship Hall immediately following our morning worship. The menu will consist of pancakes, sausage, fruit cup and assorted beverages. A free will offering will be used to support our mission supporting Tenzin, a thirteen year old Tibetan refugee boy living in a school in India. FALL CLEAN UP: November 5 Autumn is here again and it s time for the annual Foster Memorial Fall Cleanup. The date will be Saturday, November 5th at 9:00 am (rain date Nov. 12th). The Trustees are asking for volunteers with rakes, shovels, etc. to help with leaf removal and general grounds cleanup. This is the more difficult of the cleanup days so if you can possibly lend a hand even for just a little while- all help is greatly appreciated! These days are really important for the upkeep of the grounds, so let s have a great turnout more people = easier work! THANKSGIVING/STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: November 20 Stewardship letter will be sent out soon, asking for pledges for the year to come. Our theme: Celebrating Stewardship. On November 20, we will bring our pledges forward to the altar as part of our Sunday morning offerings. For those who cannot be with us, please mail your pledge card to the church office. Every pledge is greatly appreciated. PERSONAL NOTE FROM PASTOR BARBARA My father, Ed Schenk, died on October 20. Thank you for all your prayers and support and beautiful flowers. Our family will miss him very much; at the same time, we celebrate that his heavenly life has already begun. THANK YOU FROM CHARLIE ROSOSKY Dear Foster Family and Friends, My thoughts have been with all of you during my illness and treatments while at Life Care of Wilbraham. I missed my home, my wife, my sons, and my daily routine of life. I also missed attending FMC and singing in the choir. I thank each and everyone of you who sent cards, so many, many cards, visits, telephone calls and continue check-ups to see how Judy was doing. The prayers for me (us) were greatly appreciated. I can hardly imagine the number of people everywhere who thought of me. Your gift of prayer was what I needed along with God's healing grace. Thank you so much. Blessings, Charlie Rososky GOD TIME THEME The theme of Telling Stories continues through November 20th. Our young people will explore how, when we align ourselves with God s will, we feel like we are a part of God s ongoing story. The logo depicts a circle of people sitting on a large book. One of the people is telling a story. While the book does not have a title, we can assume it represents the Bible God s story of unconditional love. Please take a moment to view the logo posted on the sanctuary doors. Page 5 Page 6

4 Upcoming Events Sunday, December 4 Christmas Fun following worship and coffee hour 1PM Dedication of Habitat Circle of Faith Build: 2 PM Sunday, December 11 Caroling at Keystone: 12 PM Service of Light and Peace: 2 PM in partnership with Tapestry Health Sunday, December 18 Christmas Pageant During 10 AM worship THE AFTERNOON FOSTERIANS The Afternoon Fosterians will meet on Wednesday, November 16 at 12:00 noon in the Friendship Room. The program will be Meal Solutions, presented by Rob Murray, Manager of Meal Solution Sales at Fresh Acres Market. Devotions by Marilyn Flynn. Hosts: Grace King and Joanne Gumlaw. All women are welcome. THE EVENING FOSTERIANS The Evening Fosterians will meet on Wednesday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. Speaker: Alicia Smith, Activities and Volunteer Coordinator, Pleasant View Senior Center, East Longmeadow s Council on Aging. Leaders: Beverly Aitken and Dianne Marceau. Hostesses: Pearl Kaplan, RoseAnn Durkee and Sandy Rowley. All women are welcome. Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve Service: 7 PM ALTER FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS Alter Flower Arrangement are still available for ordering for your Loved Ones. If you would like to place an order, please contact Evelyn or Anne. Thank you! The Flower Ladies Evelyn R. Sambolin Anne Cesan at Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day worship service for all ages at 10 AM Page 7 Page 8

5 CHRISTMAS FUN WORKSHOP December 4 On Sunday, December 4th the Christian Education Board will hold their annual Christmas Fun Workshop following the Sunday morning coffee hour. The workshop will begin at 11:30 a.m. and continue through 1:00 p.m.. The program will be on going with participants able to come in at any time. Starting at 12:00 p.m. there will be a finger food luncheon (small sandwiches, cookies and treats) with special holiday beverages available throughout the workshop. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and take part in making craft items for the Christmas season. Crafts will be appropriate for ages from 3 to 103. If you are interested in helping please call Lori LaTaille at We have craft ideas available if you are interested in working a craft table. COATS FOR KIDS Our Rebecca Johnson Partnership team, along with the CE Board is collecting new and gently used winter coats for those students in need of them during the cold winter months. Diane Mulhern and Bev Weinhold are coordinating this collection with boxes located in the narthex and back hallway. So please look through your closets for those coats or jackets that your children or grandchildren may have out grown and give a new life and owner. Sizes can range from 4 to 18. Thank you for your help. SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT In an effort to keep everyone informed as the year progresses, the Executive Board voted to publish a summary financial report in each edition of The Chronicle based on the Treasurer s most recent report. The summary report of Income and Expenses as of September 30, 2016 is as follows: INCOME: 9/30/2016 YTD Budget Page 9 % of Budget TOTAL RECEIPTS $10, $107, $159, % TOTAL EXPENDITURES $19, $108, $171, % YTD DEFICIT/SURPLUS -$1, $11, % BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION Thank you for your continued help in collecting Box Tops and Labels for Education. These help provide supplies for the school. Collection boxes can be found in the narthex and in Fellowship Hall. Page 10

6 LET S CELEBRATE Happy Birthday to all of our members and friends who were born in November: 3 - Dorothy Morgan Happy 100th! 3 - Peter Dejnak 5 - Enid Miller 5 - Barbara Nason 14 - Jeanne Millot 16 - Lisa Thatcher 20 - Stella Warner Happy 100th! 25 - Tom Howells 28 - Jeanine Maagero Happy Anniversary to all of our members and friends celebrating their anniversary this month! November 4 - Dot and Skip Koszalka November 14 - June and John Dakers November 17 - Gail and Dave McFadden November 21 - Pat and Dick Pond CORRECTION: Joanne & Joseph Gumlaw celebrated their anniversary on October 16, We apologize for misspelling Joanne s name. PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER Our church, Bruce Breuer, Marilyn Breuer, Lynda Kinney, Lester Leonard, Rob Marinello, Adell Kenyon, Ken Padden, Bonnie Flynn, Malala Yousafzai, Mary Veraneau, Katherine Kelb, Karen Kelb, Joe Leas, Susan Kowinski, Enid Miller, Shirley Kane, Lisa Rodriguez and Mary Wassung We are a joyful, welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community of Christ followers, eager to shine God's love by connecting people through partnerships and service that foster peace and hope in our neighborhood, wider community and world. Foster Memorial Church, UCC 1791 Wilbraham Road Springfield, Massachusetts Office Telephone (413) Pastor s Study (413) Office Hours: Tues., Wed., & Fri., 9a.m.-3p.m. fostermemorial@msn.com Web: Facebook: Foster Memorial Church Minister: Rev. Barbara Schenk Choir Director & Organist: Frank Jackson Administrative Assistant: Carrie Marino Childcare: Eneidamarie Gonzalez WE ARE AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CHURCH ALL ARE WELCOME! God is still speaking If you would like your birthday and/or anniversary included in The Chronicle or have updates to our prayer list, please contact Carrie in the Church Office at (413) or fostermemorial@msn.com. Thank you! The deadline for submitting articles or announcements for the December issue of The Chronicle is November 18, Page 11

7 November 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 2:00 Keystone Worship 7:00 Deacons Meeting 3 4 9:00 AA Group 6:00 Quarter Auction 5 8:00 Men s Group 9:00 Fall Clean Up 6 10:00 Worship 11:00 Tenzin s Brunch 11:30 C.E. Board/ Grace Baptist Election Day 6:30 Campus Neighbors 9 10:00 Staff Meeting 7:00 Evening Fosterians 10 6:30 Finance Meeting 11 9:00 AA Group :00 Worship 11:30 Grace Baptist 3:00 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service 14 6:30 Trustees Meeting :00 Afternoon Fosterians 7:00 Executive Board Mtg 17 Loaves & Fishes Dinner Prep 18 9:00 AA Group 5:00 Loaves & Fishes Dinner Chronicle Closes 19 12:00 Grace Baptist 20 - Stewardship Sunday 10:00 Worship 11:30 Grace Baptist :30 Chronicle Folding :00 AA Group :00 Worship 11:30 Grace Baptist 28 6:15 Missions Team Mtg Tues, Wed., Fri. 9:00 AM 1:00 PM