Month: October 2023

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 9/30/23:

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
Income YTD:	$894,650	$974,250
Expenses YTD:	$857,034	$1,028,161
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	37,616	($53,911)

Treasurer’s note: We are $91,527 below our projected budget. However we are $79,600 below our projected income. YTD our actual income-expenses is $37,616.

FOLLOWING 10:30 AM WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, NOV 12 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL • FREE!

Stay after church on Stewardship Sunday for a delicious soup & salad lunch (plus fun-for-all ages entertainment led by Pastor Stephen!) No charge to attend: just help us out with your RSVP so we can have plenty of chairs and tables ready. You’re invited to bring something sweet for the dessert buffet.

  RSVP for Lunch on Nov 12  

There is such a rich musical heritage in the history of the faith. I look forward to exploring that with the choirs and congregation, and am grateful and excited to be a part of the music ministry at Derry while Dan Dorty takes a short leave of absence. I believe J.S. Bach said it best: “Where there is devotional music, God is always at hand with His gracious presence.” — Mark O’Hearn

Mark been involved in sacred music from an early age. Mark has recently held position as the Director of Music at St. Pauls Episcopal Church, Bloomsburg. A native of Ashland, Mark resides in the coal region with his family. In his free time, Mark enjoys disc golf and gardening.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. Have you ever been given a gift that had a bit of danger to it, like a knife? How did you react and treat that gift?
2. How have you seen and experienced money beiing used for faithful and good purposes? What about for negative purposes?
3. We shouldn’t just spend our money on what IS important to us, but what SHOULD be important to us. What should be more important in your life than it currently is?

12:30-2:30 PM MONDAY, OCT 30 IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT • SIGN UP REQUIRED: CLICK TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR TIME SLOT 

CarFit is a FREE, interactive and educational program that teaches participants how to make the vehicle they’re driving “fit” them to increase safety, visibility, and mobility.

• Review 12 key areas of your fit to your car, such as adequate space from the steering wheel, proper seat belt use, and properly adjusted head restraints.
• Learn how to use and adjust your safety devices.
• Each checkup takes about 20 minutes. This is not a driving test or mechanical inspection.

• The steps connecting the parking lot behind Fellowship Hall to the lot along Mansion Road will be under construction over the next few weeks so a ramp with a railing can be installed. This is part of the drainage project that will be under way behind Fellowship Hall from mid-October to mid-November. Note that weekday parking spaces may be limited.
• There will be no Terrific Tuesday dinner or children’s programming on Oct 31 (trick or treat) or Nov 21 (Thanksgiving week).

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. How would you fill in the blank: God gives ____________________________________________?
   What has God given you?
2. Have you ever seen someone at an event hold up a sign which reads John 3:16? Why do you think they are doing this? If someone does not know the Bible, what might they think the sign means?
3. Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. Is it easier for you to ask hard questions at nighttime? Before you go to sleep, have you ever asked God a hard question? What question did you ask?

9:15 AM SUNDAYS, NOV 5 – DEC 3 IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM
NO CLASS ON THANKSGIVING WEEKEND (11/26)

The fall series of New Member Discovery Classes gives you the opportunity to learn more about the mission and ministry of Derry Church, and discover how you’d like to share your talents in the life of the church. You’ll also meet staff and leaders over the course of four weeks and tour the church. Those who decide to join will be received on Sunday, Dec 3.

Registration is appreciated by not required: sign up online or call the church office (717-533-9667).

MEET 4:30 PM MONDAY, OCT 30 AT DERRY CHURCH, TRAVEL TO GRANTVILLE

On the last Monday of the month we’re feeding the back-of-the-track workers at Penn National racetrack. Derry’s Hospitality Coordinator, Loretta Chubb, will provide the main course. Desserts are needed, along with your good help to serve the meal.

Contact Marilyn Koch (717-503-6248) to sign up.

• MEET 9:15 AM SATURDAY, OCT 14 AT DERRY CHURCH
• CARPOOL TO THE PENNDOT PARKING LOT IN HARRISBURG
• TOUR FROM 10-11 AM 

Here’s your chance to see and inspect the site where Derry Church will be building one of the Tiny Houses for Veterans next year! Participants MUST wear boots or closed toe shoes and RSVP to Jim Kroh.

Scroll down to read more details on the Tiny Homes for Veterans project.

This month in the library, indulge in the spooky feel of the season while you search for clues in one of our mysteries.

🔍  Grab a series title devoted to your favorite detectives: Chief Inspector Gamache (by Louise Penny), Blanche White (by Barbara Neely), or Brother Cadfael (by Ellis Peters)

🔍 Have a brush with the ghostly beyond in Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca

🔍 Be inspired by surprising sleuths like Perveen Mistry in The Widows of Malabar Hill, Lily Connor in Earth Has No Sorrow, or the septuagenarian crew in The Thursday Murder Club

🔍 Experience the twists and turns of Paula Hawkins’ psychological thriller, The Girl on the Train

🔍 Try a tangled tale set in our backyard in Picoult’s Plain Truth or Clark’s Shadows of Lancaster County

Our children’s section is also full of mystery in October as we highlight the many questions on our shelves. Find out Where Does God Live? What Color is Love? What Does the Sky Say? and Does God Know How to Tie Shoes? Come read with your kiddos on our comfy rug or take some titles home.

Search the “Mystery” keyword or find titles anytime in our online catalog. Or, stop in to browse the shelves (the library is just inside Entrance #1). While you’re there, don’t forget to add a riddle to the new graffiti wall or follow the clues to figure out our staff members’ favorite books and characters.

8:30-9:30 AM FRIDAY, OCT 20 AT LOGOS ACADEMY, 251 VERBEKE STREET, HARRISBURG 

The Logos Experience is an hour-long opportunity to experience Logos Academy Harrisburg and see what a quality and compassionate education in a Christ-centered environment looks like. The morning includes breakfast (fruit, coffee, pastry) with students followed by a school tour and a brief presentation about the mission and vision of our mission partner, Logos Academy Harrisburg. Bring your questions! Registration is required: go to logos.org/logos-experience. Can’t attend on Oct 20? Click the registration link for alternate dates.

The candles that make our Christmas Eve services magical won’t be ready without help from a team of volunteers. Sometime in November, the candle holders are cleaned and inspected, and short ones are replaced. On Christmas Eve, tubs of candles the tubs are placed at the entrances to the Sanctuary and the candles are handed out at each service. After the final service, the candles are returned to their tubs and taken to the attic. Will you be one of the volunteers who prepares our candles this year? Contact Cindy DeMuth.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. Do you remember an important call (a phone call, letter, invitation, offer) you have received ? What happened because of that call?
2. Frederick Buechner says “The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deepest hunger meet.” Where is that place for you?
3. The calling of God reflects the generosity of God because it declares that our lives matter and how we live matters. In one sentence how would you explain to someone how God calls you to live?

Come have some fun bidding on quality items while raising funds for Love INC of Greater Hershey! Bidding opens at 10 am Thursday, Oct 19 and closes at 8 pm Tuesday, Oct 24. Scan the QR code or click here to register and learn more. All proceeds benefit the programs of Love INC of Greater Hershey.