THIS JOYFUL EASTERTIDE AND CHANGE
A note to the congregation from Vicar Kyle…
The fifty days of Easter are marked by stories of change in the lives of Jesus and his followers: Mary Magdalene sees her Lord, Thomas believes in the resurrection, the two disciples encounter Jesus on the road, and so forth. These gospel texts are characterized by sorrow being transformed into joy.
Yet, we know that change is also disruptive. Best-laid plans are not always guaranteed, and our Christian faith constantly reminds us that the Holy Spirit sometimes blows where she will. And I believe it is the Spirit’s work that has led to this upcoming change.
The original plan was for me to serve as your intern until September 30, 2023. It is with mixed emotion that I must conclude my internship three months early, with my last Sunday being June 25. I was recruited for and have accepted the position of the Grace Professor of Leadership and Director of Contextual Formation (Internships) at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, starting July 1.
My decision to accept this new faculty position was helped by the caring and supportive community here at St. Tim’s, which changed me and awakened a desire to think about new ways of forming leaders, who can not only preside and preach on Sunday morning but also take on the challenges of public ministry in the 21st-century. This new faculty position at LTS will allow me to do so in a similarly caring environment.
I have been in contact with our conference dean and the Synod to make sure that the upcoming transition can be as smooth as possible. Until I leave at the end of June, we will continue to do amazing ministry together, and I believe those experiences will also contribute to my upcoming teaching.
MORE PASTORAL TRANSITION NEWS
As explained during our March 12 Congregational Meeting, St. Tim’s has been assigned a consultant from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod to guide us through the transition process: Pastor Sandra Brown.
Pastor Brown, who served as pastor at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church from 1994-2013, is also familiar to many of us because of her work as dean of our local conference.
You may hear from Pastor Brown in the next few weeks as she helps Council prepare a Mission Site Profile (MSP). This profile will outline where we are now and where we hope to be in the future. The Synod will consider our MSP in looking for prospective pastoral candidates for St. Tim’s.
ST. TIM’S OBSERVANCE OF LENT CULMINATES IN SPECIAL SERVICES AND MUSIC DURING HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Lent began at St. Tim’s with an Ash Wednesday service on February 22 at 4 p.m. The next week, St. Tim’s and Zion Lutheran Church co-hosted the first of a series of Lenten Supper/Services for the North East/North West (NE/NW) Conference of churches on Wednesday evenings.
During the next five weeks, members of St. Tim’s observed Lent in various ways. Some continued to attend the Wednesday suppers/services at various churches throughout the Conference. Others participated in St. Tim’s Lenten book study. The book discussed, Today Everything is Different, focused on how prayer can effect change in our world. The group, led by Vicar Kyle, met every Wednesday.
On Palm Sunday, undeterred by brisk winds, a hardy group of St. Tim’s members recalled Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem by waving palms and singing praises as they walked from the play yard to
the Huntingdon Pike entrance to open our Sunday service.
On Easter Sunday, about 85 to 90 people attended our service. Adding to the sense of celebration was beautiful music provided by our talented choir, directed by music director Timothy Brown, and accompanied by a musical quartet. A special coffee hour followed.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL RETURNS!
Once a highlight of the summer for both St. Tim’s and the surrounding neighborhood, our evening Vacation Bible School was forced to take a hiatus for the past three summers because of the pandemic. But the good news is that this summer VBS will return, July 24 through 28. Led by Susan Feola, our director of Christian education, our program will be "Discovery on Adventure Island." We’re blessed to have a wonderful set, thanks to St Augustus Lutheran Church of Trappe, PA. Our greatest need? Volunteers.
Adult volunteers are needed in many areas: group leaders, music, games/recreation, opening and closing skits, snacks, and crafts.
Also, we need the entire congregation’s help in inviting their young neighbors to attend VBS—either as teen assistants (age 13 and up) or as students (from preschool to age 12). Monetary contributions toward the children’s snacks would be appreciated, too.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JULY 24-28
6:30 to 8:15 pm
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CARROLLS
During our Sunday, April 16, service, we rejoiced with new members Thomas and Lori Carroll as their sons received the sacrament of Baptism and Communion.
Landon is baptized.
Nathan receives Communion for the first time.
Preschool News
CONGRATULATIONS TO ST. TIM’S LITTLE SCHOLARS
Linda Yesenosky, preschool educational director, reports that the three-year-old class and their families will end their school year on a sweet note with an “ice cream social” in our renovated play yard on Wednesday, May 24.
On Friday, May 26, the PreK class will celebrate their graduation with a song-filled ceremony, followed by a gathering for the children, their parents, and families.
Many thanks to our dedicated teachers, who are already planning for the next school year.
QUESTIONS (AND REMINDERS
Do you miss Amazon Smile? Check out the Shop Raise fundraiser at https://shopraise.com/support/sttimsfoxchase
Want to get rid of clutter? Keep bringing in those new and used sneakers, used eyeglasses and hearing aids, as well as printer cartridges.
Feeling creative? Consider becoming a Holy Knit Wit. Val Filipenko and Anna Molnar (215-782-8562) will be happy to explain how to make prayer shawls for cancer patients. (More about this inspiring ministry in our next Tidings.)
Like making people smile? Donate treats (baked or bought) for coffee hour. Call Vanessa Fineberg at 215-605-2653 or jot your name on the sign-up sheet in the Café.
Believe in the power of prayer? Join our Prayer Team. Call or text Rich Soltan at 215- 828-1617 for more information.
Have an idea or comment you would like Council to consider? Contact any Council member. We want to hear from you.
OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS SUNDAY, MAY 28.
FEAST OF JUSTICE OPENS A SECOND SITE
On May 11, Feast of Justice will celebrate the opening of its new site at the Northeast Services Hub (6434 Castor Avenue). Residents of Northeast Philadelphia can not only participate in FOJ’s pantry, but also find help with mental health, employment, and immigrant issues at the Services Hub, as well as assistance from state representative Jared Solomon’s office there.
BOOK NEWS
Congratulations to Vicar Kyle on the publication of his book, Church After the Corona Pandemic: Consequences for Worship and Theology.
The book is a collection of essays from noted theologians who consider how many congregations during the pandemic adopted digital worship (similar to the livestreaming of Sunday services St. Tim’s introduced this year) because in-church worship was not possible. The experts ponder what impact those experiences will have on how congregations “do church” after the pandemic.
A copy of the book has been donated to our church library in honor of its editor. If you wish to borrow it, please leave a note on the office desk, and return the book there.
LECTIONARY READINGS for Upcoming Sundays
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 28
Numbers 11:24-30 (alternate)
Acts 2:1-21 (alternate)
John 7:37-39 (alternate)
June 4
June 11
June 18
June 25
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