Liz Soltan
- Mar 15, 2023
- 5 min read

MARCH and APRIL ISSUE

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ST. TIM’s:

ST. TIM’S IS AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE SEPA SYNOD

One of Vicar Kyle’s first acts as our bridge pastor was to help us complete an application for a grant from a special Southeastern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod initiative. As explained in our award letter, “[T]he Forward Together in Faith campaign has been funding congregations to network, innovate, communicate, and equip leaders to thrive in these ever-changing times.”

The title of St. Tim’s project is Engaging Worship in a Digital World, and it essentially involves starting to “livestream”—what some of us might call “broadcast”—our Sunday service online. Many churches discovered during the pandemic that livestreaming has helped them connect not only to their members but also to others in the community.

We were awarded the grant in early January. A person of many talents, Vicar Kyle researched and installed the equipment needed to expand our Wi-Fi. (Our cost-sharers, the Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, eager to use Wi-Fi in their services and education, contributed to the cost of the Wi-Fi expansion.)

The night St. Tim’s hosted the first Northeast/Northwest Conference mid-week Lenten service was our livestreaming “premiere".

You can watch that service and upcoming services on the St. Tim’s Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/sttimslutheranchurchfoxrok

SPECIAL LENTEN PROGRAMS AT ST. TIM’s

· Group Bible Study – Tuesdays, 4 pm. Join an informal discussion of New Testament readings, led by Vicar Kyle.

· Lenten Book Club – Wednesdays, 4 pm.

Today Everything is Different: An Adventure in Prayer and Action

Author Dirk G. Lange, a noted theologian, shares insights into how prayer shapes our spirituality and our response to the world. We begin Chapters 1-2 with Vicar Kyle on March 8 and continue through March 29.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES

* PALM SUNDAY – 10:15 am, April 2

* MAUNDY THURSDAY – 4 pm, April 6

* GOOD FRIDAY – 4 pm, April 7

* EASTER SUNDAY –10:15 am, April 9

(Our music director, Tim Brown, is planning a special program featuring our choir and brass instrumentalists. Come hear!)

LOOK in your weekly bulletin for a form to order flowers to decorate the sanctuary for Easter. You can also call Katie McAlorum on Tuesdays or Thursdays (9 am to 12 noon).

NORTHEAST/NORTHWEST MIDWEEK LENTEN SOUP SUPPER AND EVENING PRAYER SERVICE

On March 1, with the much-appreciated help of Zion Lutheran Church (Olney), St. Tim’s hosted the first of five Wednesday night Lenten services offered by the NE/NW Conference. The series focuses on the stories of salvation that are traditionally read at the Vigil of Easter.

The soup suppers begin at 6 pm, and the services at 7 pm.

Here is the schedule of churches:

+ March 1: St. Timothy Lutheran Church

Creation (Genesis 1:1--2:4a)

+ March 8: St John's Lutheran Church (3101 Tyson Avenue, Mayfair)

Flood (Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13)

+ March 15: Tabor Lutheran Church

(4839 N. Mascher St, off Roosevelt Blvd.)

Deliverance at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21)

+ March 22: St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (5918 N 5th St, Olney)

Salvation freely offered to all (Isaiah 55:1-11)

+ March 29: Redemption Lutheran Church (8001 Bustleton Avenue, Rhawnhurst)

Deliverance from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:1-29)

If you would like more information about attending, give Liz Soltan a call at 215-828-1619. Livestreaming of these services is available on each congregation's Facebook page.

MORE NEWS….

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SET FOR MARCH 19

Please plan to attend our Annual Congregational Meeting after our Sunday service. We need your input as we plan for the future.

CHURCH COUNCIL TO MEET WITH OUR TRANSITION CONSULTANT

Our first meeting with the transition consultant the SEPA Lutheran Synod has assigned to assist us as we seek a new pastor will be on March 12. We will do our best to keep the congregation informed as we go through this detailed, important process. Your cooperation and questions will be much appreciated.

CHANGES COMING FOR THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR—NO MORE ATTIC TREASURES, PLEASE

After 15+ years of working as co-chairs of the Christmas Bazaar, Tina Snyder and Barbara Huber feel that selling gently-used items is not the best direction for our fund-raising efforts. Tina explains that sorting through the many, many donations, then re-packing the unsold items, is just physically too demanding for the faithful crew of volunteers (members, friends, and friends of friends), she has recruited through the years.

What is most discouraging is that thrift shops and charitable organizations, once eager to pick up any unsold items, now insist that they be delivered to them. These organizations also have become very choosy about what they will accept because, thanks to the pandemic, they face a glut of donations and fewer buyers.

Church Council is considering other fundraising efforts, perhaps smaller craft or baked goods sales, and are always eager to hear your ideas. We thank Tina and Barbara—and the many volunteers who contributed to the Bazaar’s past success and reputation in the community with their talent, energy, cheer, and welcoming smiles!

FOOD MINISTRY DAYS

Our neighbors are still in need, so we continue to support Caring for Friends and Feast of Justice

Our next food ministry days are SATURDAY, MARCH 18, AND SATURDAY, APRIL 15, FROM 11 AM TO 1 PM. Please bring your meal donations – a protein, starch, and vegetable—to the Fillmore Street entrance. Don’t worry: CFF is not looking for gourmet food—just everyday home-cooked meals that senior citizens would enjoy. Favorites include meatballs and pasta, chicken in gravy with mashed potatoes, and meatloaf and mac’ & cheese.

Volunteers will package your contributions into the special tins Caring for Friends provides. If you would like to see what it’s all about, you are welcome to observe (or help) now that pandemic restrictions have lessened.

You can also bring your donations of canned goods, diapers, and hygiene products for Feast of Justice on those Saturdays.

Another option is to bring your Feast of Justice donations when the church office is ordinarily open-- Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 am to 12 noon. Please call first to let our church secretary, Katie McAlorum, know you are coming.

“SOUPER” BOWL SUNDAY

The Eagles may have disappointed us, but the people of St. Tim’s came through for Feast of Justice by donating many cans of soup in our special “Souper” collection on February 12. Thanks for your generosity.

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

John Creedon, Dawn Weber, and

Ruth McDonnell

Ø Thanks to all who returned their Volunteer Response Survey. You will hear from a Council Member soon! If you haven’t returned your survey, remember it’s never too late to volunteer.

STEWARDSHIP EXTRAVAGANZA: GENEROSITY AND VITALITY IN THE NOW NORMAL

Council members Carolyn Denzel, Kathy Swift, and Liz Soltan attended a day-long conference on stewardship offered by the SEPA Synod on Saturday, January 21. After an inspirational greeting by Bishop Patricia Davenport and a worship service, the attendees participated in various seminars. One theme common among all the speakers was that congregations must accept that even before the pandemic, attendance at all religious services began declining in the US. We must not look back; we must look at where we are now, and reach out to connect with people where they are now—online or in person.

ADDING TO OUR COLLECTIONS

You can increase St. Tim’s coffers while reducing clutter at home. Bring in your used/new printer cartridges. We’ll sort through them and send the appropriate ones to a recycling company that will pay us a fee for each they accept.

We also continue to collect used sneakers, eyeglasses, and hearing aids in the collection boxes near the coat rack.

LECTIONARY READINGS

March 5

March 12