diff --git a/server/modules/Events.js b/server/modules/Events.js
index 3b46dc9..e6797da 100644
--- a/server/modules/Events.js
+++ b/server/modules/Events.js
@@ -313,32 +313,14 @@ const Events = [
     },
     {
         id: EVENT_IDS.TIMER_EVENT,
-        stateChange: async (game, socketArgs, vars) => {
-            const timer = vars.timerManager.timers[game.accessCode];
-            if (timer) {
-                // Update game state based on timer command
-                switch (vars.timerEventSubtype) {
-                    case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.PAUSE_TIMER:
-                        timer.stopTimer();
-                        game.timerParams.paused = true;
-                        game.timerParams.timeRemaining = timer.currentTimeInMillis;
-                        break;
-                    case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.RESUME_TIMER:
-                        // resumeTimer() returns the timesUpPromise, but we don't await it here
-                        // because timer completion is already handled by TimerManager.runTimer()
-                        timer.resumeTimer();
-                        game.timerParams.paused = false;
-                        game.timerParams.timeRemaining = timer.currentTimeInMillis;
-                        break;
-                }
-            }
-        },
+        stateChange: async (game, socketArgs, vars) => {},
         communicate: async (game, socketArgs, vars) => {
             const timer = vars.timerManager.timers[game.accessCode];
             if (timer) {
-                // Communicate timer state to clients and other instances
+                // Handle timer operations and communicate state to clients and other instances
                 switch (vars.timerEventSubtype) {
                     case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.PAUSE_TIMER:
+                        timer.stopTimer();
                         vars.gameManager.namespace.in(game.accessCode).emit(
                             GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.PAUSE_TIMER,
                             timer.currentTimeInMillis
@@ -354,6 +336,9 @@ const Events = [
                         );
                         break;
                     case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.RESUME_TIMER:
+                        // resumeTimer() returns the timesUpPromise, but we don't await it here
+                        // because timer completion is already handled by TimerManager.runTimer()
+                        timer.resumeTimer();
                         vars.gameManager.namespace.in(game.accessCode).emit(
                             GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.RESUME_TIMER,
                             timer.currentTimeInMillis
@@ -397,32 +382,14 @@ const Events = [
         /* This event is a request from another instance to consult its timer data. In response
         * to this event, this instance will check if it is home to a particular timer. */
         id: EVENT_IDS.SOURCE_TIMER_EVENT,
-        stateChange: async (game, socketArgs, vars) => {
-            const timer = vars.timerManager.timers[game.accessCode];
-            if (timer) {
-                // Update game state based on timer command
-                switch (socketArgs.timerEventSubtype) {
-                    case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.PAUSE_TIMER:
-                        timer.stopTimer();
-                        game.timerParams.paused = true;
-                        game.timerParams.timeRemaining = timer.currentTimeInMillis;
-                        break;
-                    case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.RESUME_TIMER:
-                        // resumeTimer() returns the timesUpPromise, but we don't await it here
-                        // because timer completion is already handled by TimerManager.runTimer()
-                        timer.resumeTimer();
-                        game.timerParams.paused = false;
-                        game.timerParams.timeRemaining = timer.currentTimeInMillis;
-                        break;
-                }
-            }
-        },
+        stateChange: async (game, socketArgs, vars) => {},
         communicate: async (game, socketArgs, vars) => {
             const timer = vars.timerManager.timers[game.accessCode];
             if (timer) {
-                // Publish timer state to other instances
+                // Handle timer operations and publish timer state to other instances
                 switch (socketArgs.timerEventSubtype) {
                     case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.PAUSE_TIMER:
+                        timer.stopTimer();
                         await vars.eventManager.publisher.publish(
                             REDIS_CHANNELS.ACTIVE_GAME_STREAM,
                             vars.eventManager.createMessageToPublish(
@@ -434,6 +401,9 @@ const Events = [
                         );
                         break;
                     case GAME_PROCESS_COMMANDS.RESUME_TIMER:
+                        // resumeTimer() returns the timesUpPromise, but we don't await it here
+                        // because timer completion is already handled by TimerManager.runTimer()
+                        timer.resumeTimer();
                         await vars.eventManager.publisher.publish(
                             REDIS_CHANNELS.ACTIVE_GAME_STREAM,
                             vars.eventManager.createMessageToPublish(
diff --git a/server/modules/singletons/EventManager.js b/server/modules/singletons/EventManager.js
index 3231311..933d69e 100644
--- a/server/modules/singletons/EventManager.js
+++ b/server/modules/singletons/EventManager.js
@@ -146,15 +146,9 @@ class EventManager {
                         game.accessCode,
                         args,
                         ackFn,
-                        false,
+                        true,
                         eventId
                     );
-                    // Refresh and sync game state after timer events
-                    await gameManager.refreshGame(game);
-                    await this.publisher?.publish(
-                        REDIS_CHANNELS.ACTIVE_GAME_STREAM,
-                        this.createMessageToPublish(game.accessCode, EVENT_IDS.TIMER_EVENT, this.instanceId, JSON.stringify({ timerEventSubtype: eventId, socketId: socket.id }))
-                    );
                 } else {
                     await this.handleAndSyncSocketEvent(eventId, game, socket, args, ackFn);
                 }