July-August Issue

Liz Soltan
Jul 9
8 min read

This is the Tidings for July-August 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.

God’s blessings to all who are celebrating a birthday in July or August. Join us at coffee hour after the service on the first Sunday of your birthday month to celebrate your special day!

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KATHLEEN

Dear Ones,

I have a book on my desk that was shared with me; its title is Take This Bread--by Sara Miles. In smaller print, the cover reads: The Spiritual Memoir of a Twenty-First Century Christian. I've begun to read the book slowly--pieces here and there. I am always intrigued by the title ... and its promise of something inside that will sustain me, enlighten me, and give me continued courage and strength to keep living as a Christian in the tattered center of the Twenty-First Century. This is the story of a woman who was a cook and injured on the job, but later was hired by the Center for Constitutional Rights to help lawyers write about human rights in Nicaragua. Yes, there's a story of the time in between, but the primary core of the book is about discovering one's life lived in the presence of the Almighty and the reality that it is the community that gives us life and sustenance. As Miles describes settling down and living in San Francisco, she writes about her experience of discovering what communion awakened in her: "Just like strangers who'd fed me in El Salvador or South Africa, I was going to have to see and understand the hunger of other, different men and women, and make a gesture of welcome, and eat with them. And just as I hadn't "deserved" any of what had been given to me ... I didn't deserve communion myself now. I wasn't getting it because I was good. I wasn't getting it because I was special. I certainly didn't get to pick who else was good enough, holy enough, or deserving enough to receive it. It wasn't a private meal. The bread on that table had to be shared with everyone in order for me to really taste it." The bread had to be shared with everyone in order to really taste it. I suspect many are familiar with the phrase, “It takes a village” to raise up a child. Yet, it also takes a village to support each other in living. It takes the wisdom learned and shared by others, with us, to help us to care for our families and ourselves. Certainly, when we are wrestling with difficult choices and harsh experiences, actions of the community can revive us to survive.

Let this summer in – and allow it to bring to you the full and rich taste of the village of Christ’s love among us. Let the summer bring new life, creativity, rest, renewal, and a new way of seeing where God calls you TO and where God calls you OUT.

Peace, Pastor Kathleen

SUMMER NEWS FROM THE STAFF:

DURING THE MONTH OF JULY, THE OFFICE WILL BE OPEN ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS. Please leave a message if you call and no one answers; we will return your call. Our Office Manager, Katie McAlorum, will be taking some well-earned vacation time sometime during the month.

DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST, THE OFFICE WILL BE OPEN ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, AS USUAL. Staff will be planning for the coming year, and all non-immediate administrative issues will be kept to a minimum. Pastor Kathleen will be available, as usual, for visits and Pastoral Care concerns. She can be reached on her cell at 201-638-8217. Bible Study, meetings, and all other scheduling will break for the month and begin again mid-September. Pastor will be taking vacation time early in September.

WE WELCOME AIDEN McAlorum TO THE TIP TOP CLEANING STAFF. THANK YOU TO ED LORD AND AIDEN FOR KEEPING OUR BUILDING IN TIP TOP SHAPE! Please keep in mind that during July and August, they may be taking time for respite.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PRESCHOOL STAFF FOR A FANTASTIC YEAR! The staff will be out of the building during July. The classroom rugs will be cleaned before mid-August and will be ready when the staff members return to prepare for a new school year. Please keep in mind that the building may be busier than usual beginning in mid-August. In a time when some congregations are experiencing a slow-down in student registrations, our preschool is FULL for the '25-'26 School Year! Wonderful News!

LUTHERAN 101 PROGRAM CONTINUES DURING JULY! Join us on Monday evenings, July 14 and 28^th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Cafe as we talk about Luther's Catechism and touch on what being Lutheran means for living. New members are invited and will be received into the congregation in the Fall. Council members will be attending the 28th with us! See Pastor Kathleen if you have any questions.

AND KEEP IN MIND…

THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY SCHEDULE

During July we will review four areas in the Old Testament:

1. Abraham and God's Choosing

2. The Psalms and the Voice of the Heart

3. The Prophets and the Unwanted Word

4. God's Faithfulness

Our Thursday evenings Zoom Bible Study will break for the month of August

and return in mid-September.

CAMP FIRELIGHT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!

JULY 7 TO JULY 11

6:15 to 8:15 pm

See the attached flyer for all the facts about St. Tim’s exciting Vacation Bible School program. Get in touch with Susan Feola (215-718-9600) or Dawn Weber (215-828-6370) to see

how you can join in the fun as a volunteer!

FAITH & MUSIC CAMP OPENS AT ST. PAUL'S IN GLENSIDE!

AUGUST 18 – 22

THIS YEAR'S MUSICAL AND BIBLE STORY IS MALICE IN THE PALACE,

A STORY OF ESTHER.

Young people from 1st through 7th grade are welcome to learn and then present a full musical at the end of the week! There will be presentations about different musical instruments and an opportunity to learn how to play some of them. During the week they will sing and hear stories of the Bible, make crafts, and participate in service projects too. Pastor Kathleen will be the Bible Story Teller and also lead crafts and service projects for the week.

Check out the link below for more information and to sign up!

https://stpaulsglenside.org/events/music-camp/

SPECIAL TOY COLLECTION: CHRISTMAS IN JULY (DEADLINE: JULY 23):

Have you always wanted to be Santa Claus? No need to put on a furry red suit, you can be Santa--as many times as you like--by helping the Centurions Motorcycle Club provide gifts for children at Shriners’ Hospital. See the attached flyer for more details.

Let’s help the Philadelphia Chapter of the Centurions Motorcycle Club with their

29th Annual Toy Drive for Shriners Hospitals for children.

We are looking for donations of toys that are new and in original packaging, and are suitable for infants to teens. Toys suitable for children with limited mobility are encouraged. Monetary donations are accepted as well.

(Stuffed animals, plush toys and items depicting violence are not accepted.)

Examples of appropriate toys include: hard plastic toys depicting popular characters; coloring books; craft supplies; board games; card games; puzzles; books; building toys.

All donations can be dropped off in the library on Sundays or call the office at 215-745-4453 to arrange drop off during the week. The deadline is July 23rd.

LECTIONARY READINGS

JULY 6: Isaiah 66:10-14 . Psalm 66:1-9 . Galatians 6:[1-6] 7-16 . Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

JULY 13: Deuteronomy 30:9-14 . Psalm 25:1-10 . Colossians 1:1-14 . Luke 10:25-37

JULY 20: Genesis 18:1-10a . Psalm 15 . Colossians 1:15-28 . Luke 10:38-42

JULY 27: Genesis 18:20-32 . Psalm 138 . Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19] . Luke 11:1-13

AUGUST 3: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 . Psalm 49:1-12 . Colossians 3:1-11 .

Luke 12:13-21

AUGUST 10: Genesis 15:1-6 . Psalm 33:12-22 . Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 . Luke 12:32-40

AUGUST 17:Jeremiah 23:23-29 . Psalm 82 . Hebrews 11:29—12:2 . Luke 12:49-56

AUGUST 24: Isaiah 58:9b-14 . Psalm 103:1-8 . Hebrews 12:18-29 . Luke 13:10-17

AUGUST 31: Proverbs 25:6-7a . Sirach 10:12-18 (alternate) . Psalm 112 . Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 . Luke 14:1, 7-14

NAME SOME THINGS THAT NEVER GO ON VACATION:

If you guessed gas, electric, water bills, and other costs of running a church, you are right! Please keep that in mind. After all, doesn’t our sanctuary AC feel great in July and August?

Also, if you can, please remember our collections for our neighbors in need. The Feast of Justice food bank says the most needed items in the summer months are juices, cereals, spices, paper products, and personal care items.

We continue to collect used sneaker and eyeglasses, as well as food staples for the pantry at Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase.

If you—or perhaps a bored grandchild? – are looking for something to do during the summer months, consider making meals for Caring for Friends or Knots of Love caps for the chemo patients served by Hope Lodge. If you’re shopping online or in the store, don’t forget to use the ShopRaise app.

OUR CHURCH COUNCIL WILL HAVE NO FORMAL MEETINGS IN JULY OR AUGUST.

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

SUSAN FEOLA -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

IMPORTANT REMINDER

To help us to provide good pastoral care, please call Pastor Kathleen Kerin at 201-638-8217 if:

You are in need of prayer

Are ill or hospitalized

A baby is born in your family

You are planning to marry

You want to receive the sacraments of Baptism or Holy Communion

You are moving

Your phone number or email address has changed

AN EXTRAORDINARY SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Bishop Bryan Penman presided and preached at our Sunday service on June 29. The service was uplifting and inspirational. Many thanks to Pastor Kathleen Kerin and the Worship Committee led by Elisa Davis and Kathy Swift, as well to our Music Director Timothy Brown and our Sanctuary Choir, guest baritone Todd Thomas, Susan Feola and our Church Council, Worship Assistant Isabel Hyczko, and lector Carolyn Denzel, and all those present, either in person or online.

The fellowship at our coffee hour, as always, was excellent, and the lovely spread provided and served by Tina Snyder and Carol Delgado certainly added to the joyful spirit of the occasion. If you missed the service, you can view it on our Facebook page until July 29.