Month: July 2021

6 PM SATURDAY, SEPT 11 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL 

“Who Is She? Women of the Bible Fashion Show” will follow the Lasses and Lassies banquet. The menu features appetizers, stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, carrots-green bean medley, and a light dessert. Gluten-free and vegetarian option available on request. Tickets and pricing available soon.

This year, Faithful Readers embraces the theme “Revitalize Your Reading Life” with shorter books chosen from a variety of genres. 

• Meet on Zoom at 2 pm on dates listed below. Email the church office if you need the meeting ID.
• Books will soon be available in the church library. Call the church office to confirm availability of the title you’d like to borrow: 717-533-9667
• Join the Faithful Readers on Facebook for more insight, information, and conversation

Sept 12: I’D RATHER BE READING: THE DELIGHTS AND DEMANDS OF THE READING LIFE by Anne Bogel. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, blogger and author Anne Bogel leads readers to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them the reader they are today. 

Oct 17: WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Grace Lin. A girl’s extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family’s fortune, encountering an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures on her quest for the ultimate answer.

Nov 14: CRANFORD by Elizabeth Gaskell. This classic novel is set in a small rural town where domestic peace is constantly threatened in the form of financial disaster, imagined burglaries, tragic accidents, and the reapparance of long-lost relatives.

Dec 12: CHRISTMAS: A CANDID HISTORY by Bruce David Forbes. Written for everyone who loves and is simultaneously driven crazy by the holiday season, this book provides an enlightening, entertaining perspective on how the annual Yuletide celebration got to be what it is today. 

Jan 9: TWO OLD WOMEN by Velma Wallis. Based on an Athabascan Indian legend passed along for many generations from mothers to daughters of the upper Yukon River Valley in Alaska, this is the suspenseful, shocking, ultimately inspirational tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe during a brutal winter famine.

Feb 13: EVERY HEART A DOORWAY by Seanan McGuire. “A mini-masterpiece of portal fantasy ― a jewel of a book that deserves to be shelved with Lewis Carroll’s and C. S. Lewis’ classics” ―NPR

Mar 13: THE SEEKER AND THE MONK by Sophfronia Scott. The author mines the extensive private journals of Thomas Merton, one of the most influential contemplative thinkers of the past, for guidance on how to live in these fraught times.

April 10: FINDING WONDERS: THREE GIRLS WHO CHANGED SCIENCE by Jeannine Atkins. Told in vibrant, evocative poems, this stunning novel celebrates the joy of discovery and finding wonder in the world around us.

May 15: THE PARTED EARTH by Anjali Enjeti. Spanning more than half a century and cities from New Delhi to Atlanta, Anjali Enjeti’s debut is a heartfelt and human portrait of the long shadow of the Partition of India on the lives of three generations of women.

Derry Church, thank you for your sponsorship at The Big Do. Because of your support, we were able to pant 5,324 trees across Central Pennsylvania. In total, we had 253 volunteers come to plant trees. It was amazing to see everyone get so excited, then be able to celebrate their hard work at the music festival. Thank you for helping us make change loud! Thank you, Maxwell Davis, the Stone Independent School, Lancaster

7 pm Monday, Aug 30
The Barbizon: The Hotel that Set Women Free by Paulina Bren
Discussion led by Eleanor Schneider
Liberated from home and hearth by World War I, politically enfranchised and ready to work, women arrived to take their place in the dazzling new skyscrapers of Manhattan. But they did not want to stay in uncomfortable boarding houses. They wanted what men already had: exclusive residential hotels with maid service, workout rooms, and private dining. Built in 1927, at the height of the Roaring Twenties, the Barbizon Hotel was designed as a luxurious safe haven for the “Modern Woman” hoping for a career in the arts. Over time, it became the place to stay for any ambitious young woman hoping for fame and fortune.

7 pm Monday, Oct 4
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Discussion led by Chris Gawron
A rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it – the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. 

Need the Zoom meeting ID? Contact Sue George.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 6/30/21

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
Income YTD:	$679,022	$625,000
Expenses YTD:	577,786	659,688
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	101,236	(34,688)

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions are in line with 2020.
• Committee spending generally in line with budget. 
• Cash flow is about $10K behind last year.

6 PM SATURDAY, JULY 31 IN THE SANCTUARY AND LIVE STREAMING

Join us to “engage” with the music of the great Billy Joel while considering the promise of God’s peaceable Kingdom and the power of community to help bring it to life. We’ll hear Grant Wareham bring Billy Joel to Hershey through piano renditions of favorites, we’ll have soloists sing some classics, and of course the congregation will get to sing along to some of Billy Joel’s greatest hits.

The Session House is getting an upgrade! New tempered glass is being inset with a seal that expands and contracts as the temperature changes, so there’s less likelihood of cracks and breakage. And while it won’t prevent damage from golf balls, this glass is stronger and can handle more stress.

• 

• 

5:30-8 PM MONDAY, AUG 23 AT MIKE & KAREN LEADER’S FARM • RAIN DATE: AUG 24

We don’t have all the details, but we can tell you this year’s church picnic will have lots of fresh corn roasted over hot coals, plus hot dogs and ice cream novelties. Cost is $2.50/person, but you’ll want to bring extra cash so you can order something from Mr. Sorrento’s food truck. You’ll enjoy fun and fellowship for all ages, and you can even go fishing (bring your own gear).

Click here to sign up for the Corn Roast!

4 PM SUNDAY, AUG 22 AT CAMP HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 101 N. 23RD ST, CAMP HILL

The Presbytery of Carlisle and the Congregation of the Camp Hill Presbyterian Church invite you to celebrate the ordination and installation of of The Rev. Stuart Seelman as Associate Pastor, Family and Intergenerational Ministry. This special worship service of the Presbytery of Carlisle will include participation from pastors and elders throughout the presbytery. Stuart’s father, the Rev. Dr. Paul Seelman, will preach.

A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. RSVP to (717) 737-0488 or aebeling@thechpc.com. This service will be live streamed on the Camp Hill Presbyterian Church website and Facebook page.

Orange Day on Sunday, July 25 is an opportunity to show support for those who are working to end the exploitation of women and children. Victims of labor and sex trafficking are often subject to debt bondage. Many are trapped in a cycle of debt because of having to pay for all living expenses in addition to initial transportation expenses. Fines for not meeting quotas and/or “bad” behavior can used to increase debt. 

7 PM SUNDAY, JULY 25 AT THE MT. GRETNA TABERNACLE

The Chorus of Alden Place invites you to enjoy their narrated program, “Through the Years,” comprised of American music from the landing of the Pilgrims to World War I. In addition to early American music, the program features “A Stephen Foster Trilogy,” “Cohan’s Big Three,” the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “God Bless America.” The chorus is directed by Darrell Woomer, retired chaplain at Lebanon Valley College, and includes Derry members (and choir members) Alan and Cathy Olson. Free will offering.

Click to watch Derry’s own Piano Guys, Mike Klucker and Grant Wareham, as they perform classic works by Franck, Faure, Rachmaninoff and more on Sunday afternoon, July 11!

7 PM TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 ON THE FRONT LAWN, WEATHER PERMITTING

In celebration of all of God’s creatures and their presence in our lives, Derry Church offers its 14th annual worship service that includes a blessing of animals. Animals on leashes, in a kennel, or otherwise controlled are invited to attend along with their owners. The worship service will include praise songs and hymns in addition to a hands-on blessing of animals and the people with whom they live. Dress is casual.

You’re also invited to bring donations for the Humane Society as an outreach to those who help care for animals in need of help and homes. Requested items include non-scoopable cat litter, puppy training pads, paper box lids (for litter boxes), metal pet dishes, sheets, towels, blankets, paper towels, garbage bags of any size, dust pans and brushes, odor neutralizers, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, and gift certificates to pet stores, grocery stores, and hardware stores. 

We don’t have all the details, but we can tell you that dinner in Fellowship Hall will be back this fall. Loretta Chubb and her crew will be serving a hot meal, salad, beverage and dessert from 5-6 pm on Tuesdays from October through April… and the first meal will be stuffed shells. $5 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12, free for ages 0-4.

In addition to the meal, there will be handbell and choir rehearsals for children and youth, time for fellowship, and evening worship in the Chapel a new time: 6:15-7 pm. Watch for more details in coming weeks!

Downtown Daily Bread provides services to Harrisburg’s homeless people, offering daily breakfast and lunch, clothing, a Day Shelter with showers, and counseling services. Downtown Daily Bread remained open every day during the pandemic, with limited volunteer opportunities to protect the health and safety of both the dedicated staff and clients.

• Downtown Daily Bread is now open for volunteers to help serve breakfast every weekday from 7- 8 am. Two volunteers are permitted at a time. Contact Craig Smith (717 566 4757).
• Downtown Daily Bread is in need of underwear for clients using the Day Center and shower facilities. New packages of underwear may be dropped off between the doors at Derry Church’s office entrance, or contact Craig for pickup.  All sizes can be used, but medium and large sizes for both men and women are most needed.

Downtown Daily Bread is a mission project of Pine Street Presbyterian Church. It’s located on Third Street in downtown Harrisburg, directly across from the Pennsylvania state capitol. 

Click this link to find the volunteer opportunity that’s right for you!

Learn more about the sneaker drive and how you can donate footwear

Love INC of Greater Hershey needs YOU and 100+ more volunteers to help prepare for and fit fresh young feet with new sneakers to return to school in August. From calling registered families to schedule and inventorying each pair donated to greeting and registration to foot sizing and sneaker fitting, friendly faces of all abilities are needed to get over 400 pairs of sneakers to the Lower Dauphin and Derry Township students who need them.

Student volunteers are welcome! Please note: any student who attends Derry Township or Lower Dauphin School Districts may volunteer in the Sneaker Closet only during distribution. This is to preserve the privacy of students they may know who are receiving sneakers. There are many opportunities ‘pre-distribution’ for volunteers of all ages! If all of the sneaker closet spaces are full, contact the Love INC office and speak with Michelle.

COVID-19 INFORMATION: We will follow the CDC recommendations at the time of the volunteer activity and any policies at the location of that activity, such as Trinity United Methodist and First United Methodist Churches. Vaccinations are NOT a requirement to volunteer.

Questions? Call the Love INC office: 717-835-0101.

Church mailboxes have a new home between rooms 1 & 2 on the lower level. When you’re dropping off information, please do check the yellow signs above the mailboxes and the shelf labels behind the doors to make sure you’re placing items in the correct box: names on many boxes have changed or have been consolidated into shared committee boxes.

Derry Church celebrates with two Derry members celebrating service anniversaries at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: 

• Urs Leuenberger, 35 years of service, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute
• Tim Mosher, 30 years of service, Radiology