Month: March 2024

• Approved the use of the church building for the following events:
  • Wedding of Megan Jenkins and Brady Demey (non-members) on Saturday, April 26, 2025, to be officiated by Pastor Stephen – use of the Sanctuary plus rooms for the wedding party.
  • Musical program and reception as requested by the American Guild of Organists-Harrisburg Chapter on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 4 pm using the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall and kitchen.
  • Senior Recital and reception featuring Mathias Van de Louw on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 4 pm in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. Derry Church members are invited to attend this event.
• Received a financial report from the Stewardship & Finance Committee.
• A cemetery workday to ready that area for various heritage events this year will be held on April 13. Volunteers interested in assisting should contact Bill Alexander.
• The Derry 300 Committee has purchased a bronze sign describing the location and
  importance of the Derry spring. The sign will be installed along the bank in the rear of the church overlooking the golf course fairway and Derry spring. The Session approved the painting of a mural consisting of scenes from the 1700’s which will be placed next to the spring. Claudia Holtzman will be painting the mural which will be on marine grade plywood.
• The Building & Grounds Committee submitted two Capital Procurement Requisitions for review and consideration. The first is to repair damaged Dryvit (synthetic stucco) on areas around the church damaged over time, and to inspect and repair/replace existing caulking around windows, sill ledges and joints. While the exact cost of the project will be dependent on damage discovered during the inspection, the estimated cost is $60,000. The second CPR is to add the final sections of downspouts and gutters to the rear of the church building. This is the final section of spouting/gutters to be replaced and added as other areas have been addressed. Cost of this project is estimated to be $30,000. The Elders will be reviewing these items with their respective committees. Final action will occur at the May stated Session meeting.
• Approved the Derry Discovery Days Board’s request to invite the Cool Beans Brew coffee truck to return to Derry on May 8, 2024, from 8 to 10 am to provide coffee, tea and other beverages to the DDD staff for Teacher Appreciation Week.
• It was the pleasure of the Session to meet with and receive the following new members on Sunday, March 17: Shauna Hoffman, Katelyn & Austin Laidler, Erica & Brendan MacFarlane, Ashley & Brian Shields, Linda Weller and David Whitenack.

9-10 AM SUNDAY, APR 21 IN THE LOUNGE

Are you a biker, hiker, kayaker, or someone looking to join other Derry members for a walk? The Wellness Task Force introduces the “Wellness Connections” planning team to facilitate informal meet-ups for Derry members and friends to participate in a variety of outdoor activities and fellowship. If you are interested in organizing or participating in an activity, join the team on April 21 or contact Tim Mosher.

On Sunday, April 7, the Day Trippers will attend the Paloma Irish Dancers performance at Derry Church at 4 pm, followed by 6 pm dinner at Hidden Still in Hershey. RSVP to Sue Whitaker by April 2.

The Derry Day Trippers social group welcomes everyone to participate in events they’re planning over the next few months. Contact Sue Whitaker for more information and to RSVP.

All Derry members belong to a Shepherd Group that offers care and support by geographic region. Our newest group — 99 — is for those who do not live in proximity to Derry Church. These Derry members live as far away as Florida, Texas, and Oregon, and worship regularly by live stream. Deacon Mike Reed oversees the new group. 

To find out more about Derry’s Shepherd Groups, contact Ellen O’Keefe, moderator of the board of Deacons.

Derry’s mission partner CWS Harrisburg will welcome more than triple the number of refugees that were welcomed last year. Funding sources do not adequately serve clients’  basic needs, especially those with more vulnerabilities including single mothers and those with severe medical issues. Your donations will be put to work immediately.

Send checks payable to CWS Harrisburg, 2101 N. Front Street, Building 3, Floor 3, Harrisburg, PA, 17110 or click to give online. Questions? Contact Erika Juran or call 717-660-5312.

• “Climate Change and Global Warming: What We Can Do” will be the morning program for the Spring Gathering of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Carlisle on Apr 13 at Falling Springs Presbyterian Church, Chambersburg. Registration begins at 9:15 am. The afternoon session, “Cancer Concerns for Women,” will be presented by Laura Umbrell, Oncology Navigator for Wellspan Chambersburg. A light lunch will be available for a small donation.
• PW Circle will meet on April 10 (instead of the 17) at 1 pm in the Lounge. The topic will be “Lydia Encounters Jesus in Worship.”

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 2/29/24:

For Derry’s 300th anniversary (1724-2024), the church commissioned a hymn from Rev. David Gambrell, associate for worship in the PC(USA) Office of Theology and Worship, and contributor to our “Glory to God” hymnal.

Set to the traditional Irish tune “Londonderry Aire,” the hymn “In Jesus Christ There is a New Creation” had its world premiere on March 17 at the Arts Alive Hymn Festival. This video is a recording of the world premiere performance. The congregation will sing it for the first time in worship on Heritage Sunday, April 28.

Here is the hymn text:

1. In Jesus Christ there is a new creation. the past is gone; a new life has begun. The time has come to bind up what is broken, return to God, and learn to live as one.

Refrain: Lift up your hearts and join the celebration! In Christ our Lord the promises are true. Sing praise to God, who made the earth and heavens, and even now in Christ is making all things new.

2. Through troubled times together we have traveled, yet every step has led us to this place. Now in Christ’s name we share a sacred calling: the work of peace, the ministry of grace. (Refrain)

3. There is a tree that stands beside the water — the tree of life, beside a living spring. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Beneath its shade the saints and angels sing. (Refrain)

9:30 AM SATURDAY, APR 13 IN THE DERRY CHURCH CEMETERY

In preparation for the rededication of the cemetery happening later this year, the Buildings & Grounds Committee has planned a work day to standardize the flags throughout the cemetery, wash and treat the marble tombstones for mildew, install two benches, and place pavers at the entrance to the cemetery. Many hands needed! Questions? Contact Bill Alexander.

Our 2024 confirmation students have been given $100 to bless an organization, mission, or cause they are passionate about. The students aren’t just donating $100: they are using it to start something with a bigger impact.

Anne Burke is preparing gift baskets to share with cancer patients in memory of her grandfather, and so far has enough supplies to assemble 19 baskets. To help Anne get additional supplies to fill more baskets, you can purchase from this Amazon wish list and items will be shipped directly to Derry Church.

Learn more on Sunday: see Anne in the Narthex, where she will be available to answer questions and share shopping lists.

Orange Day, the 25th of each month, is designated by Presbyterian Women to raise awareness of the exploitation of females worldwide and those who are working to end it. Two years ago in Iran, Jina Mahsa Amini’s death and the following protests made international headlines. She was arrested for opposing mandatory hijab. Of the Kurdish minority, she was beaten to point of being in a coma and died three days later. Her brother was also beaten. Protesters, even children, were beaten and killed in the following days.  

Today any female not wearing the veil faces persecution, expulsion from school or university, job loss, car confiscation, and other penalties. The government has instilled fear to enforce the “law.” Ammesty International is trying to investigate arrests and deaths of any protesting. Wear orange or an orange ribbon on Monday, Mar 25 to show your support for those endangered and those working to end the violence.

The Derry Church Golf League begins play on Tuesday, April 16 at Royal Oaks Golf Course near Lebanon. Play begins at 10 am through the month of May. From June to September, play begins at 8:30 am. All skill levels are welcome.

If you have an interest or need more information, contact Dave Szczesny or Ken Pearl.

“These Days” devotional booklets for April through June are available now for pickup at Derry Church.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, SEPT 27-29 AT KRISLUND CAMP, MADISONBURG

Join Derry families for a fun fall weekend at Krislund Camp near State College. The theme this year is Peace be with YOU. Family units will sleep in individual cabins and gather together in various buildings around Krislund for fun projects and activities including wagon rides, open gym at the Derry Rec Center, and s’mores by the fire. All activities are rain or shine. Interested? Please send at least one family representative to the John Elder Classroom for all of these meetings: 

6:45-7:30 pm Tuesday, Mar 19
6:45-7:30 pm Tuesday May 7
9-10 am Sunday June 2
6:45-7:30 pm Tuesday, Sept 10

For more information, contact Valerie Minnich.

10:30 AM TUESDAY, MAR 19: MEET AT 1933 FORSTER STREET, HARRISBURG

Members of the Mission & Peace Committee invite you to join them for a tour of the new Bethesda Women’s Shelter, then serve the women lunch at noon. Karen Leader and Kristen Campbell are organizing meal: you can help by providing a dessert or some bread. RSVP to Karen Leader at 717-608-3337. Carpooling can be arranged. 

• Change 4 Children supports the mission of Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) in Zambia where 2,306 vulnerable and orphaned children were helped to find family, education and community last year.  They have purchased a 10-acre farm in rural Chongwe, about 30 miles east of Lusaka. It is already producing chickens and vegetables that are brought to Lusaka to help feed children in ACE care and fund their work through sale at local markets as a steady income. Chilyaze Chiwavu, the farm manager, hopes to build an organic integrated farm, which can also teach young Zambians the importance of land cultivation, fostering connection, community and mental health. A secondary pump system is needed to furnish enough water to further this goal. Look for baskets on Sunday to drop off your donations. Place coins in zip-close bags, with any foreign coins bagged separately. Check that extraneous items such a paper clips, batteries, pins are not in the bag. 
• Thanks to all who helped with the Lenten luncheon on Mar 6, whether baking cupcakes, making salad, setting up, serving, cleaning up or removing tables and chairs. Thank you! 

4 PM SUNDAY, MAR 24 • SANCTUARY 

A pioneering oboe, bassoon, and piano ensemble, The Poulenc Trio has garnered international recognition over its 20-year history. With performances in 47 U.S. states and at prestigious music festivals around the world, including the Ravello Festival in Italy, the San Miguel de Allende Festival in Mexico, and the White Nights Festival in Russia, they have firmly established themselves as one of the most active and sought-after touring piano-wind ensembles in the country.

Market Square Concerts presents the program, which features musicians Irina Kaplan Lande on piano, Aleh Remezau on oboe, and Bryan Young on bassoon. Click for more details and tickets ($35 each).

Feb 2024 Session Highlights 

• Elected Greg Taylor as President and Tracey Kinney as Vice President of the Derry Presbyterian Church, Inc.
• Approved the use of the church building for two upcoming weddings:
  • Claire Folts and Alex Petterson on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 5:30 pm
  • Tiffany Mittereder & Chris Damron on Saturday, May 31, 2025
• Reviewed and approved the Covenant of Agreement between Derry Church and Shawn Gray which will go into effect upon Shawn’s ordination. Use of this format is required by the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry for supply pastoral services.
• The Clerk presented the 2023 Church Statistical Report, which was reviewed and approved.
• The Stewardship & Finance Committee submitted several requests affecting Derry’s Northwest and Vanguard accounts. All were approved:
  • Close out a low-interest money market account in the amount of $87,000 at Northwest Savings and open a 12-month CD at a higher interest rate at that institution
  • Add Greg Taylor and Duncan Campbell as authorized signers on all Northwest accounts
  • Keep Duncan Campbell and Greg Taylor as authorized signers on Derry’s Vanguard accounts and remove all other previously approved signers
  • Link the Northwest checking account to the Vanguard Money Market account
  • Obtain a credit card with a $5,000 limit for Shawn Gray.
• In reviewing church accounts, the Treasurer found that pre-paid pledges totaling $50,000 had been recorded in a dedicated account. Stewardship & Finance requested approval to distribute this amount one-half to the Legacy Fund and one-half to the Capital Facilities Fund. The Session supported this request.
• Building and Grounds requested permission to use approximately $1,800 from the Cemetery Fund to purchase 20 brass flag holders and 23 flags to mark specific graves in Derry’s cemetery. The Session approved the request.
• Derry’s One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be split equally between PCUSA, for disaster, hunger, and development ministries, and Bridges to Community’s ministry of building homes.
• Session supported a request from Pastor Stephen and Tom Kitzmiller to use up to $1,000 from the Futures Fund to purchase items not previously donated for Anne Burke’s confirmation project, Ian’s Baskets.

Thanks to Derry member Dan Poeschl, we’re now podcasting the Sunday sermons: find them on the Spotify platform.

From time to time, we’ll invite friends to podcast their reflections based on the three discussion questions which are printed in the bulletin each week. On Feb 25, Nancy Reinert and Debbie Hough had a conversation about Pastor Stephen’s sermon, “Listening Within Creation.” Hear the sermon and their reflection at this link. 

Be sure to follow Derry Church on Spotify so you don’t miss an episode.

6 PM TUESDAY, MAR 12 IN THE CHAPEL

For our 300th Anniversary Celebration, Derry Church has commissioned a new hymn that will debut at the Hymn Festival on Sunday, Mar 17. This hymn was written by Rev. Dr. David Gambrell, an Associate in the Office of Theology and Worship for the PC(USA) in Louisville, Kentucky.

You may have seen his name in our Glory to God hymnal, where you’ll find 14 hymns of his hymns. To help us get acquainted with his work, we offer a David Gambrell hymn sing led by Debbie Hough and Dan Dorty. You won’t get to sing all 14 of David’s hymns, but we will do our best, plus celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

If you like to sing or if you just like to listen, plan to attend.

MEET 12:45 PM MONDAY, MAR 18 AT DERRY CHURCH, OR 1:30 PM AT LOGOS ACADEMY, 251 VERBEKE ST, HARRISBURG (NEAR MIDTOWN SCHOLAR BOOKSTORE)

You’ve heard about Logos Academy, one of Derry’s mission partners. Now you can see it for yourself: join the Prime Timers to visit the independent Christ-centered school that offers a rich education of mind and soul to the children of Harrisburg.

Derry Church has partnered with the school for several years, supporting the school’s effort to add new grade level classes through financial gifts and on-site volunteering. As part of our 300th Anniversary mission projects, Derry Church has set a goal to raise $50,000 to help Logos Academy build a new 5th grade classroom. The March 18 trip is an opportunity for anyone who would like to learn more about the school and its mission to serve families regardless of faith commitment or financial means.

Would you like to ride in the church van? RSVP to Pastor Stephen.

10 AM SATURDAY, MAR 23 • GATHER IN FELLOWSHIP HALL 

For children age 0 through fifth grade! Egg hunters will be sorted into these three groups: 

• Birth through 36 months
• Age 3 – first grade
• Grades 2-5

Bring your own basket/bucket/bag to collect eggs. All egg hunts begin at 10:15 am. In the event of inclement weather, egg hunts will be held indoors.

Lots and lots of individually wrapped, peanut-free candy is needed to fill 500-700 plastic eggs for our March 23 egg hunts. Drop donations in the white basket at the center of the Ruth Codington Library, lower level.

Volunteers needed to stuff all those eggs! Join the fun on Mar 19 as part of our Terrific Tuesday evening activities.

4 PM SUNDAY, APR 7 IN THE SANCTUARY • FREE WILL OFFERING

Founded in 2015 with a handful of students meeting in a kitchen, the Paloma School of Irish Dance has grown into a school of more than 100 students. Dancers have participated in hundreds of performances across central Pennsylvania, from nursing homes to concerts with Celtic bands from Ireland. See them in action at this exciting Arts Alive 300th anniversary event! 

The excitement! The fun! The epic emails written by commissioner Pete Steelman! Yes, folks: it’s almost time to make your “March Madness” bracket picks in support of Derry Church’s “Mission Madness” fundraiser that benefits student scholarships for the Sargodha School in Pakistan.

A suggested $10 donation per entry can be made on the church’s secure online giving portal or see Pete in the Narthex on Sunday mornings this month. If you participated last year, you should be automatically re-enrolled in the Yahoo site where you will enter your picks. If you are new, or unsure if you played before, or have a new email address, just email Pete Steelman and he will add you to the mailing list.

A trophy and engraved plaque for the overall winner will be presented next month, as well as multiple engraved medals for winners of subgroups (Best Youth, Best in Staff, Best on Session, Best in Music etc). And yes, you can also look forward to Pete’s traditional nicknames, updates, and jovial banter that recaps the action after every round of games.