News

Change 4 Children will be collected on Sunday, Dec 10 to help fund programs of the Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) in Zambia.  

Salma shoulders the responsibility of being the primary breadwinner for a household of five: her three children and a younger sister who suffered a stroke. At times money is so tight that her heart breaks at the thought of not being able to buy simple things like shoes for her daughter. To keep the family afloat, Salma runs her own business selling charcoal. When she became a beneficiary of ACE’s Family Preservation and Empowerment Program, the skills training and resources she received helped her business to blossom. She now also makes rugs to supplement her income. She aspires to invest in a piece of land for security and stability as well as a legacy for her children.

Place coins in zip-closed bags, checking that all non-coin items have been removed (tokens, batteries, pins, paper clips, etc.). Bag foreign coins separately. Drop your coin donations in the designated baskets at church entrances. Thanks, Derry!

Thanks to everyone who made the 2023 Cookie Walk and Jumbles Shop such a success: those who baked cookies and called their shepherd group members, the set-up crew, those who sorted and priced items, worked on Saturday with sales and clean up, as well as all those who purchased cookies and jumbles shop items. The Cookie Walk raised $2,478.72 and the Jumbles Shop earned $999.25 for a total of $3,477.97. This does not include donations some made in lieu of cookies. Big thanks to Nancy Kitzmiller, Sally McKinney and Linda Chidester for their leadership.

Some cookie bakers have shared their recipes. Stop by the church office and ask for the recipe folder. We’ll make copies of any you’d like to take with you.

The next Presbyterian Women’s event will be the winter tea on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Bakers, pick up your cookie containers on the shelf above the coat rack in the Narthex through Sunday, Dec 17. Any remaining containers will be donated to Jubilee Ministries.

The annual Jim Cooper Memorial Blood Drive on Sunday, Dec 3 was a great success!

• 38 people were registered
• 31 units of blood were collected, which is a great deferral rate
• This drive will help to save up to 93 lives! Absolutely fantastic. Thank you, Derry Church!

2-4 PM WEDNESDAYS, JAN 10-APR 3 IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who walk alongside people through one of life’s most difficult experiences, offering support to those who are dealing with the loss of a loved ones from death.

Each GriefShare session is organized in two parts. During the first 30-40 minutes of the meeting, the group views a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. These videos are produced in an interesting-to-watch television magazine format featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies, dramatic reenactments and on-location video. Following the video, participants spend time discussing what was presented on that week’s video seminar and what is going on in each other’s lives.

This session continues weekly through April 3. Those interested may begin attending the GriefShare group at any time. Each session is self-contained, and any missed weeks can be joined when the next series is offered.

Register by contacting the church office (717-533-9667). No cost to attend. Child care is not available.

In addition to our prayers for peace, Derry Church has made equal contributions to two organizations working to help those affected by the recent violence. A donation to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will be used to assist people in Israel. The second has gone to the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem to aid in repairing the Ahil Hospital in Gaza. May we continue to offer our prayers for the peace negotiations and that these donations will aid recovery efforts in both areas. To hear a presentation on life in Gaza, attend Issues Class on January 7, 2024.

Six books have been selected for the Presbyterian Women’s Peace and Justice book discussion group for 2024:

• JAN 8: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• MAR 11: Our Missing Heart by Celeste Ng
• MAY 13: Transforming; The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians by Austen Hartke 
• JUL 8: A Place Called Home by David Ambroz 
• SEPT 9: Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
• NOV 11: Searching for Savanna by Mona Gable

These book discussions are offered on Zoom from 6:30-8:30 pm and all are welcome with advance registration. Questions for discussion or reflection will be sent with your registration confirmation. Click here to read more and register.  

Volunteer elves are needed for Paxton Presbyterian Church’s PW Santa Shops from Dec 4-14. Select a 2-3 hour commitment with start times varying from 8:30 am to 6 pm. Participating sites include Bethesda Mission for Women and Children, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, First Church of the Brethren, YWCA, Allison Hill Community Ministry, and YMCA. A schedule is posted on the PW bulletin board inside entrance #4.

7 PM FRIDAY, DEC 15 IN THE SANCTUARY

The Milton Hershey School senior division choir, New Horizons, will perform seasonal selections including “In the Bleak Midwinter.” This group of about 50 students between the ages of 14 and 16 are excited to perform at a venue outside of the school, and church members and the public are very welcome to attend.

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 homesick? What did that feel like?
2. What are some things that remind you that we aren’t home yet?
3. What are some glimpses of home you’ve seen in the past year?

7:30 PM FRIDAY, DEC 15 AT MESSIAH UNIVERSITY, CALVIN AND JANET HIGH CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
7:30 PM SATURDAY, DEC 16 AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE, LEFFLER CHAPEL
4 PM SUNDAY, DEC 17 AT MARKET SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HARRISBURG

Experience the magic of A Candlelight Christmas presented by the nationally acclaimed Susquehanna Chorale, a chamber ensemble comprised of 40 auditioned singers. This year’s Candlelight Christmas concerts will include Pachelbel’s Magnificat, Gloria by Randol Alan Bass, the music of Bob Chilcott, John Rutter, Mack Wilberg, and Stephen Paulus, as well as delightful settings of traditional carols including Jingle Bells. A pre-concert recital by Susquehanna Chorale accompanist, Derry’s own Dan Dorty, will be presented 15 minutes prior to each performance.

Participating from Derry Church are singers Janice Click Holl and Greg Harris. Click for tickets.

• Held the examination of two incoming Deacons and approved their ordination and installation on January 14, 2024.
• Approved extending an offer of part-time employment to Allison Cooper as a Nursery Childcare Provider. Scheduled a called Congregational meeting on December 10 to elect Pete Gawron as a Deacon to fill Michelle Califf’s unexpired term due to Michelle’s recent move. 
• Approved a request from Milton Hershey School to use the Sanctuary for a choral concert featuring the school’s Senior Division New Horizon singers on December 15 at 7 pm. Also approved use of Room 7B by the Cocoa Townes HOA to hold their annual meeting on December 4 at 6 pm.
• Giving continues to be below budget expectations. Expenses also continue to be less than the amounts budgeted, however, there will be large year end expenses in December.
• The Session is discussing restarting the traditional offering collection and greeting one another during Sunday worship services. Concerns include being able to recruit volunteers to perform ushering duties, when and how to include these items in the order of service, the impact of interrupting the livestreaming of the service, and congregational health. Discussions will continue.
• Approved Harrisburg’s Stop the Violence group as the recipient of Derry’s portion of the Christmas Joy Offering.
• Approved the addition of Peggy Ladd to the Derry Discovery Board, and DDD’s request to hold a winter fundraiser event on January 20 in Fellowship Hall. The event will include a pancake breakfast, crafts, and a silent auction. There will be a charge of approximately $20 per family to attend. 

Congratulations and thank you, Derry! We have not only reached but exceeded our goal of $50,000 in support of the Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania program to build 15 homes for veterans in the Harrisburg area. Construction of the community center is already under way and construction of the tiny home funded by Derry is expected to begin in January.

The excess funds will be held until the project is completed and then donated to VOPA to support some of the programs to be offered to the vets living in the village. Thank you for your support in helping our veterans to reintegrate into today’s society.

Derry friends, make your plans now to be part of Derry’s annual mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Be part of an international group immersed in the local culture that helps to build a new home for a Dominican family. You’ll also have the opportunity and joy to assist with Bible School activities. Cost is $1,600 per person with payment due by March 8. For further information, contact Pete Feil.