April 2025 Issue
- Liz Soltan
- Apr 2
- 6 min read
This is the Tidings for April 2025. If you have not done so already, please sign up on the bottom of the church's website (https://www.sttimsfoxchase.org ) to receive additional electronic news from the church.
A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KATHLEEN
Happy and Joyous Easter Season to Come, Beloveds,
Do you like to read? I can remember as a young girl, my family lived next to the town’s library. It was a rural community, and we happened to live in the village center, which consisted of a General Store, two gas pumps, the Post Office, the Town Hall and Court, the four-room school house …. And the Town Library. All pretty much in the space of one city block. My family lived in a renovated barn, and every other day I’d be over at the library. I was even on a first-name basis with the Librarian.
A few years ago, my Spiritual Director introduced me to a book that I read in pieces and over time. It’s not all that long, but I never really finished it; pieces of it, yes – several times, there was so much to savor, to tuck away for later. The book, written by Dr. Kate Bowler, is called No Cure for Being Human. Kate is a Professor of Christian History at Duke Divinity School. She is a faithful daughter, wife, parent, and friend. She was self-assured of so many things. Until she wasn’t. Her writing shares stories connecting us to the ordinary days we live – yesterday, today, and tomorrow – and her vision of her days are a mixture of the bright hues of resurrection and spring flowers – with the more “dim” colors of dirt and slightly withered plants. God is present more often than not in the sacredness of her words rather than the concreteness of telling us what God is like.
Kate is part of a study for treating her kind of cancer. The study is always measuring …. does the treatment reduce the tumors? Does she show signs of improvement? Every two months her cancer is measured, and she lives on the edge of the measurement of whether she will be able to remain in the study. She writes about how, before cancer, her world had its own kind of measurements. How much snow had fallen during the winter …. And how much water would come in the spring as a result. Her world after cancer has given life to a new kind of language.
One day Kate and her dad get to talking about how all measurements “used to be done.” Such as people who, for centuries, would measure length by their shoe size. As her dad continues to offer up examples about how people measured things like an acre, a yard, or a mile using their own abilities or body parts, Kate asks, “Isn’t that dumb? Shouldn’t everything be universal?” To which he responds, “I guess that depends on whether everything that matters can be counted.”
I wonder, is it possible to measure everything? And can those things that matter MOST to us even fit in any KIND of box? Can we really count and measure everything in our life? How do we count, or judge, or measure God’s creation in a sunset or a new flower breaking through the soil? How can you count the depth of your soul for your loved ones, your friends, or others whom you love so profoundly?
Kate comes to the conclusion that it takes an immense amount of courage to live. I believe that for sure the struggles and joys of life IS life – and its pace is a matter of life being, well, LIFE. God doesn’t design the difficulties. Yet, as Kate later writes, “Part of the mystery of the Trinity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-- is that we believe the divine is behind us, with us, and before us. We are pulled toward eternity, believing God is already there.”
Beloveds, in Christ, God gives us life forevermore and never, ever, leaves us to experience the vagaries and struggles of living it alone. Our time of Lent, and all that leads us towards the Cross and the Resurrection of our Lord is meant to call us to remembering not only death, but the great story of LIFE.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ST. TIM’S IN APRIL
NORTH EAST/NORTH WEST LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES: ST. TIM’S AND ST. PAUL’S HOST TOGETHER ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2.
This year, the event will be held at St. Tim’s, with supper starting at 6 pm, and the service at 7 pm. Todd Thomas, a professional baritone, will be the soloist. Many long-time members may remember Todd and his family from the days when his wife, Lisa Hemel Thomas, was the music director at St. Tim’s. Please plan to come to refresh your soul with fellowship and inspiration.
CHECK OUT THE LIVESTREAM VIDEO DEVOTIONS LED BY PASTOR KATHLEEN ON ST. TIM’S FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/sttimslutheranchurchfoxrok
HOPE’S TABLE IS SET FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 12, FROM 11 AM TO 1 PM
Tentatively planned--soup, ham, mac ‘n’ cheese, vegetable, and an Easter-themed dessert.
Come see what’s happening! If you would like to cook or volunteer, please call Liz Soltan at 215-828-1619.
DON’T FORGET TO HAND IN YOUR ORDER FORM TO DONATE FLOWERS TO DECORATE THE SANCTUARY FOR OUR EASTER SERVICE BY THE FLORIST’S DEADLINE, SUNDAY, APRIL 6.
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER AT ST. TIM
SUNDAY, APRIL 13: PALM SUNDAY SERVICE, 9:15 AM—TODD THOMAS RETURNS AS GUEST SOLOIST
APRIL 17: MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE, 4 PM
APRIL 18: GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE, 4 PM
APRIL 20: EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE, 9:15 AM: SPECIAL MUSIC BY ST. TIM’S CHOIR, LED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR, TIM BROWN
A NEW MINISTRY – MAKING CAPS FOR THOSE WITH CANCER
Calling all Knitters and Crocheters! Put your needlework skills to work, and at the same time, help those fighting cancer! Chemo caps help those undergoing cancer treatment feel more confident and comfortable as they deal with hair loss.
Hope Lodge, an American Cancer Society facility in neighboring Cheltenham, will be the recipient of our work.
Patterns, yarn, and decorative buttons are available in the cafe. Please make a photocopy of any pattern so that the original stays in the binder for others to copy and use. Finished caps can be given to Kathy Swift or left in the office to her attention. See how a little project can make a big impact!
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY (Thursday Evenings, from 7:30 to 8:30)
resumes on MAY 1ST. We are continuing our conversation about the Book of Acts. Call the church office or check the weekly bulletin for a Zoom link.
LOOKING AHEAD: MARK YOUR CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MAY 17: PLANT AND BAKE SALE
SUNDAY, JUNE 8: SPECIAL 9:15 SERVICE, BARITONE TODD THOMAS RETURNS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22: CHURCH PICNIC
JULY 7 -11: EVENING VBS—“CAMP FIRELIGHT”
ALSO: Sunday afternoons in June and July—Conversations about “what we as Lutherans believe” with Pastor Kathleen
Look for more details on these events in future Tidings, Sunday bulletins, our website, and Facebook.
LECTIONARY READINGS
Sunday, April 6: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; John 12:1-8
Palm Sunday, April 13: Procession with Palms: Luke 19:28-40; Readings and Psalm: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14—23:56; Luke 23:1-9 (alternate)
Maundy Thursday, April 17: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Good Friday, April 18: Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 (alternate);John 18:1—19:42
Easter Sunday, April 20: Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 65:17-25 (alternate); Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Acts 10:34-43 (alternate); Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18 (alternate)
Second Sunday of Easter, April 27: Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 118:14-29, , Psalm 150 (alternate), Revelation 1:4-8, John 20:19-31
WHO’S WHO ON COUNCIL
If you have a question or concern, reach out to any member. If you wish to attend a Council meeting—usually held the third Monday of the month-- please let us know beforehand.
· SUSAN FEOLA (PRESIDENT) -- 215-718-9600 or suefeola07@msn.com
· VANESSA FINEBERG (VICE PRESIDENT) —215-605-2653 or vfineberg@comcast.net
· SHARON MADDEN (SECRETARY)—267-205-1560 or shmadden8133@gmail.com
· KATHY SWIFT (TREASURER) –215-813-0824 or kswift6267@comcast.net
· DAWN WEBER CREEDON (EDUCATION)—215-828-6370 or ddirl@hotmail.com
· JOHN CREEDON (PROPERTY) –267-249-8369 or creedonsr@comcast.net
· TINA SNYDER (PARISH LIFE/SERVICE) – 267-879-4637 or jimntina87@comcast.net
· ELISA DAVIS (WORSHIP) —215-532-1773 or edsmjjd@gmail.com
· PASTOR KATHLEEN KERIN –201-638-8217 or kathkerin@gmail.com
THE NEXT CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, APRIL 21, AT 4:30 PM
PRESCHOOL NEWS
Things are hopping at our preschool, as our dedicated teachers help their students learn about the arrival of spring and the true meaning of Easter. (Look for new artwork to brighten our halls soon.) After their Easter break (April 14 through April 18), the children can look forward to a day at Tyler Farmstead in Bensalem at the end of the month. In the meantime, we predict our play yard will be hopping, too.
Seen at St. Tim’s in March ….
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