May Issue

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KATHLEEN

Before you disappear

into yourself,

Let your heart wander

this mundane creation.

Notice the space and

bless the ones who care for it.

Notice the sounds and

bless the ones who make them.

Be present until you sense

tenderness that surrounds you.

There are stories

and dreams and fears in this place

though you might never know their details.

Wonder with them

and offer yourself to their mystery. [1]

[1] Taken from Ordinary Blessings by Meta Herrick Carlson. 2020 Fortress Press

The title of this blessing is "For Waiting in Public." What grabbed my attention as I moved through several of these blessings was the display of our inner process for feeling and caring … and thinking. In my sermons, I sometimes talk about deeply looking at and considering the faces of people you pass by each day. Perhaps someone that you held the door for at Wawa, or someone you notice while waiting online at the food store. Or the neighbor you see coming home from work, worn out, tired, or thrilled and excited.

This small but huge blessing calls us out of a habit of sleepwalking or simply just an unintentional unawareness of all that goes on around us each day. People in public are really not so different than people in private. The things that drive their emotions and the work that fuels their minds in the author's consideration are largely the same. We are the "we" in both spaces. But in the public spaces -- especially in places of care -- we can also notice that neither are our struggles alone. Because, look! There is another faithful follower, another part of God's Kingdom of Grace! Welcome…and Love.

Peace, Dear Ones, Pastor Kathleen Kerin

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ST. TIM’S IN MAY

Calling all St. Tim’s Bakers! St. Tim’s second annual Plant and Bake Sale will be Saturday, May 17th at 10 am. Last year was quite the success with plants and baked goods galore! Please share your baking talents again and make this year’s event even better! Your baked goods can be dropped off Thursday morning (May 15th) to the church office or brought the day of the sale. As always, St. Tim’s thanks you for your participation as we bring good things to Spring!

OUR NEW MINISTRY – MAKING CAPS FOR THOSE WITH CANCER--CONTINUES

St. Tim’s talented knitters and crocheters are the best, as the photo below shows. They are using their needlework skills to help people dealing with 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. Make a difference in someone’s life.

THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY RESUMES THURSDAY, MAY 1st

We re-open for the Easter Season and will meet through the end of July. We are currently studying the Book of Acts. We are online every Thursday evening from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Please see your bulletin for the link - also offered below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87518760017?pwd=31gC9dKHVfzkDtOLO4xH2LWYmlNAsK.1. Get to know your community right from your own home! Join us.

SYNOD ASSEMBLY GATHERS IN A NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR!

One hundred and forty-six (146!) congregations (with over 200 active pastors) will be meeting at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale this year on Friday and Saturday, May 30th and 31st—a new location and a new (later) date in May. St. Tim's will be represented well by Sharon Madden, Kathy Swift, and Pastor Kathleen. Bishop Bryan Penman will be speaking under the theme of "Ponder Anew.” Pondering future directions, transition ministries, and vitality, Bishop Penman is thinking "outside the box" about being church and equipping lay people in our congregations. Look for your St. Tim's folks to share about the Assembly in June!

BISHOP PENMAN WILL BE OUR GUEST ON SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH, FOR WORSHIP AND COFFEE HOUR FOLLOWING.

Please plan to attend worship that Sunday and let's show him a warm welcome from the St. Tim's family of faithful folks! We will also be welcoming Todd Thomas back for a third opportunity to Worship in Song.

LOOKING AHEAD: MARK YOUR CALENDAR

SATURDAY, MAY 17th: PLANT AND BAKE SALE

SUNDAY, JUNE 8th: SPECIAL 9:15 SERVICE, BARITONE TODD THOMAS RETURNS

SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd: CHURCH PICNIC

JULY 7th-11th: 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, May 4: Acts 9:1-6 [7-20]; Psalm 30;Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

Sunday, May 11: Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17;John 10:22-30

Sunday, May 18: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35

Sunday, May 25: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5

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, MAY 19, AT 4:30 PM

PRESCHOOL NEWS:

Director Linda Yesnenosky reports that the children have one more class trip for this school year--a visit to Tyler Farmstead in Bensalem. The kids will have a chance to feed and pet the animals and to take a pony ride at the end of the trip. Their annual Play Day at Jarrett Playground is on May 9th. (Here’s hoping for good weather, last year's picnic was a rain out.) Also, Pastor Kathleen will be meeting with the preschoolers one last time on April 28th. She plans to join the 3s on their Water Play Day, which is May 19th!

Preschool wraps up on May 21st for the 3s class and May 23rd for the Pre-K class with a graduation. Why not attend? The teachers are excited to dress the children in traditional caps and gowns! The school received a very generous donation from the National Christian Foundation, thanks to a nomination from a Pre-K parent (and his company). Because the grant made it possible for the Preschool to purchase re-usable caps and gowns, future Pre-K classes will benefit as well.