DECEMBER 2025

Liz Soltan
Dec 4, 2025
6 min read

COUNCIL NEWS

IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND A COUNCIL MEETING—USUALLY HELD THE THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH-- PLEASE LET US KNOW BEFOREHAND.

OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ANY COUNCIL MEMBER:

· 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 (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

OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, AT 4:30 PM.

NOT SURE WHO’S WHO ON COUNCIL? Here’s a helpful display.

ADVENT IS HERE!

ADVENT RESOURCES FOR DAILY PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS

ARE NOW AVAILABLE on the table in the back of the church. Pick one up this Sunday!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENT GROUP DEVOTION AND STUDY:

TUESDAY AFTERNOONS IN ST. TIM’S LIBRARY, beginning December 2 at 4:00 pm.

WEDNESDAYS IN PERSON AT ST. PAUL’S-OLNEY, at 12 Noon

THURSDAY EVENINGS, 7:30-8:30 pm, on Zoom (Ask Pastor Kathleen for the link.)

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KATHLEEN

But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36 We've all heard the expression. A public official is asked when the highway project will be completed. A frustrated parent is quizzed about the whereabouts of an errant teenager. A merchant is queried about when the high price of a commodity will come down again. The common answer: "God only knows." That expression is really an attempt to suggest, "Nobody really knows." Or, if anybody does know, it's God -- but God isn't telling. Jesus' message to us in Matthew 24:36-44 is striking. Concerning the return of the Son of Man, Jesus himself is in the dark. So are the angels, God's messengers. That seems amazing to us. Jesus is coming back, but he himself doesn't know when. How long will the universe last? God only knows. Will it end as the book of Revelation suggests, or is that description an example of symbolic writing, not to be taken literally? God only knows. Will everyone be saved, or only those with pure theology or pure hearts? God only knows. We can be content to leave the knowledge of last things to the mind of the Creator. Who can better serve as the custodian of such knowledge than

the one who put it all together in the first place? Who really knows when Jesus will come again? Dear Ones, about the time and hour we do not know. Plenty of folks have tried to calculate numbers and seasons and history to come up with the exact date -- for the end of the world, they call it. I haven't yet experienced their timelines to be correct. As for the end of the world? I suspect that rather than the end, it will be a glorious beginning. Welcome to the month of December and our Advent Anticipation, Dear Ones!

—Pastor Kathleen

[1] Taken from the Book of Faith, While We Wait, by Augsburg Fortress.

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DATES TO REMEMBER

Ø DECEMBER 6 (SATURDAY): POP-UP COOKIE/BAKE/PLANT SALE

Ø DECEMBER 7 (SUNDAY): CHOIR SINGS at 9:15 AM SERVICE

Ø DECEMBER 13 (SATURDAY): HOPE’S TABLE, 11 AM TO 1 PM. Come and bring a friend to our community lunch. On the menu: “Christmas Dinner”—ham, mac ‘n’ cheese, pineapple stuffing, birthday cake. (IF YOU’RE ABLE TO HELP SERVE OR TO COOK AHEAD OF TIME, PLEASE GIVE LIZ SOLTAN A CALL at 215-828-1619).

Ø DECEMBER 14 (SUNDAY): GUEST SOLOIST at 9:15 AM SERVICE

Ø DECEMBER 21 (SUNDAY, AFTER SERVICE): DECORATING DAY: Want to get that Christmas feeling? Like Pizza? Please plan to stay after our service to help decorate the Sanctuary.

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

CHRISTMAS EVE (December 24) SERVICE AT ST. TIM’S—NOTE THE NEW TIME: 3:00 PM

WITH COMMUNION, SPECIAL MUSIC, AND A CHILDREN’S MESSAGE.

CHILDREN ATTENDING WILL RECEIVE A BOOK FROM PASTOR KATHLEEN TO SHARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

PLAN TO COME EARLY TO GET A GOOD SEAT.

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ST. PAUL’S-OLNEY WILL HAVE ITS CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE AT 8:00 PM

IN ITS SANCTUARY AT 5900 N.5^TH STREET. A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CHOIR WILL SING DURING THE SERVICE.

CHRISTMAS DOESN’T END AT 12:00 AM, DECEMBER 26.

THAT’S WHY OUR 9:15 AM SUNDAY SERVICE ON DECEMBER 28—THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON—WILL INCLUDE AT LEAST THREE ADDITIONAL HYMNS, CORRESPONDING SCRIPTURE TEXTS, AND A BRIEF MESSAGE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE READINGS. MAKE THE MOST OF THIS CHANCE TO SING A FEW “EXTRA” CAROLS!

PRESCHOOL NEWS: LEARNING THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Linda Yesenosky, preschool director, reports that our little scholars received a Nativity activity from Pastor Kathleen as an Advent gift. By Christmas, the children will know the Nativity story well, because all month they are diligently rehearsing their re-telling of the story of the first Christmas. They will present what they’ve learned in a performance on Friday, December 19, at 9:15 am (or shortly later, depending on when the novice performers are ready). ALL ARE INVITED.

And because Christmas is also about the joy of giving, the children will be able to purchase gifts for their families at a Secret Santa Shop (December 5 and 8). Christmas break begins December 19.

NEWS FROM THE SYNOD

Check out these EVENTS sponsored by the Lutheran Synod of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Jerusalem Ministries presents

THE LIVE NATIVITY

Sunday, December 7, 2025

3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Jerusalem Lutheran Church

733 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA 18960

Family, friends and neighbors are all welcome to see the sights and sounds of the season come alive in this free dramatic presentation including live animals. Continuous performances are given every 15 minutes. For more information, please call 215-257-9423.

NEW DATE!

FAITH ALIVE WORSHIP LEARNING LAB

January 10, 2026, from 9 am to 2 pm

Lutheran Church of God's Love, Newtown

How can we best serve our young people both IN WORSHIP and outside of it? Let's learn new ways to welcome and include children. Join with Pastor Kathleen for this free, informative program.

ENGAGING GENEROSITY, A ROADMAP FOR VITALITY

Join the Synod Stewardship Team for a day of new ideas and worship!

January 24, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 West Main Street in Lansdale. Choose from more than 9 workshops--each one focusing on a different perspective of good Stewardship planning in our congregation. Come join Pastor Kathleen. St. Tim’s will cover the registration fees for the day.

CATCHING UP WITH THE BUSY FOLKS AT ST. TIM’S

THE CUBS and SCOUTS OF TROOP 226 COLLECTED 1,363 FOOD ITEMS FROM OUR ROCKLEDGE NEIGHBORS TO FILL THE SHELVES AT ST. PAUL’S-OLNEY’S FOOD PANTRY

COUNCIL PRESIDENT SUSAN FEOLA AND LIZ SOLTAN AT THE SIGHT & SOUND PRESENTATION OF NOAH. IT WAS OUR FIRST JOINT BUS TRIP WITH REDEMPTION AND ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCHES.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME?

AND THE SOUP KEEPS COMING….

ST. TIM’S IS HAVING A SOUP-PLANT-BAKE SALE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, FROM 10 AM TO 2 PM.

COME PICK UP YOUR FAVORITE SOUP OR HOLIDAY TREAT!

See our Facebook page for more photos: www.facebook.com/sttimslutheranchurch/foxrok

PRAYER MINISTRY

The Prayer Team is ready to lift you or your concern in prayer. No concern is too small or insignificant. If you need prayer, talk with one of our team members: Carolyn Denzel, Sue Feola, Vanessa Fineberg, Barbara Huber, Isabel Hyczko, Tom Lyden, Tina Snyder, Rich Soltan, Verna Clohecy, and Pastor Kerin.

LECTIONARY READINGS

DECEMBER 7

DECEMBER 14

Luke 1:46b-55 (alternate)

James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

DECEMBER 21