News

Claire Folts is no stranger to Derry Church which she began attending at age three. As a child and youth, she was an active part of Derry’s music program and participated in many of its vocal and bell choirs. After graduating from Hershey High School, she attended St. Olaf College where she received B.A. degrees in Music Education and Religion. At St. Olaf she was a violist in the St. Olaf Orchestra, a soprano in several vocal choirs, rang in the St. Olaf Handbell choir, and directed the Manitou Handbell choir. After college, she spent two years teaching music to children, youth, and adults in Guyana, South America at the Guyana Lutheran Music Academy. Upon returning to the States, she taught kindergarten-5th grade elementary general music for five years in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Last year she returned to Hershey and, with Derry’s help facilitating her final project in March and April, completed her Master of Music in Music Education with a Kodaly Emphasis from Capital University. She is excited to report she just received her diploma this week! This school year, in addition to serving as the Director of Children’s Music at Derry Church, she is teaching kindergarten and first grade general music in the Derry Township School District as well as private violin, viola, and piano lessons.

At Derry, Claire will be working primarily with preschool through 5th grade children. She can’t wait to begin making music with them and using it as a vehicle to explore, question, and express their relationships with God. They will be singing, drumming, dancing, ringing, and playing together on Tuesdays nights. She hopes to see many kids there!

9-10 AM SUNDAYS, SEPT 11-OCT 2 IN ROOM 7 AND STREAMING ON DERRYPRES.ORG, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK

Do you know what it means to be Presbyterian? Have you ever wondered how Presbyterians differ from your Methodist or Lutheran or Episcopalian friends? What distinguishes Presbyterians from all other flavors of Christianity? Come and find answers to these and other questions in a four-part study based on The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) led by the Reverend Charles (Buz) Myers, Ph.D., an ordained Presbyterian minister who is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Gettysburg College. Read more.

6:30 PM THURSDAY, SEPT 22 AT SPRING GATE ESTATE/BREWERY, 579 DEVONSHIRE ROAD, HARRISBURG

Young adults, test your recall of fun facts and enjoy fellowship and friendly competition with Derry friends! Food available from 717Tacos & Chef Tony. Free, with a chance to win great prizes.

CUB SCOUT PACK 200 for boys and girls grades K-5

• Meets Mondays 6:30-7:30 pm at Derry Church. Check out the Pack at recruiting night: 6:30 pm Monday, Sept 12 at Brookside Park, Hershey!
• Contact William Day 

BOY SCOUT TROOP 200 for boys grades 6-12

•  Meets Mondays 6:45-7:45pm at the Scout House
• Contact Chris Kalmbacher 

SCOUT TROOP 2200 FOR GIRLS grades 6-12

• Meets Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm at the Scout House
• Contact Brian Holley 

10 AM – 2 PM SATURDAY, SEPT 24 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL • $10 DROP-IN FEE, CHECKS PAYABLE TO FOUR DIAMONDS

Support Four Diamonds’ mission to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research! Multiple Zumba instructors will participate during the event, and snacks and water will be provided (bring your own water bottle). 

What is your favorite toy to play with right now?

Kennedy Damron:
My Lil Woodzeez sets

Noah Ganse:
My new baseball glove or dinosaur shaped nerf gun 

Calista June:
My ninja ropes course

Genevieve Minnich:
Wii video games: Mario Kart Racing and Disney Infinity

Adam Owsley:
My favorite right now is a foam airplane that does loops outside

Live stream regulars let us know they’ve joined us for worship by clicking through to sign the guestbook on our live streaming page. Alert users will notice we’ve added a new guestbook option below the streaming video player. Use either one, and if you prefer one better than the other, let us know in the guestbook comments. 

Sept 1 is the first day for Dan Dorty, Derry Church’s new organist and director of music ministry. He’s off and running with the first Sanctuary Choir rehearsal at 7 pm tonight in room 7, and all are welcome to attend.

Dan Dorty most recently served as the Director of Music and Organist at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Mechanicsburg. Previously he was the organist and music director at Camp Hill Presbyterian Church. A Shippensburg native, he grew up in Shippensburg and Newville Presbyterian churches.

Dan is the collaborative pianist and organist for the nationally recognized Susquehanna Chorale. He also serves on the Mount Gretna Summer Bible Festival board and accompanies its 200-voice massed choir. He has collaborated with such well-known composers and arrangers as Joseph M. Martin, Lloyd Larson, Howard Helvey, Heather Sorenson, Patti Drennan, Mary McDonald, and Kristyn and Keith Getty. He attended Messiah College, where he majored in church music with a concentration in organ.

Dan maintains a private studio, teaching organ, piano, and voice in Boiling Springs, PA. He frequently serves as an accompanist in the surrounding communities. He has accompanied the Messiah College Choral Arts Society, the Wheatland Chorale, Central Pennsylvania Oratorio Singers, the Harrisburg Opera Company, Men in Harmony, and many other choirs, professional vocalists, and instrumentalists.

Dan is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the American Guild of Organists, where he serves on the board of the Harrisburg chapter. 

Here’s what you need to know about Derry’s annual bus trip to NYC:

• You can sign up in the Narthex on Sunday mornings beginning Sept 11: forms will be available at the insert rack outside the kitchen
• Bus departs Derry Church promptly at 7 am SAT NOV 19 and leaves NYC at 7 pm, returning at approximately 10:30 pm
• $60 per person for transportation only, and checks will be held until the bus is filled. Then payment is non-refundable unless your seat can be filled.
• Enjoy a day on your own in NYC to go shopping, sightsee or take in a show
• Bring your own snack or beverage
• There will be no stops along the way
• Sponsored by the Sanctuary Choir
• Questions? Contact Cindy Royer

MEET 11 AM FRIDAY, SEPT 23 AT THE HERSHEY THEATRE, 15 E CARACAS AVE • RSVP TO SUE WHITAKER BY MONDAY, SEPT 12

The Derry Day Trippers invite you to join them for a tour of the Hershey Theatre. Most of the tour is on the ground floor. There is no elevator so if you have mobility issues, you can remain on the ground floor and one of the guides will stay with you and tell you about the part of the theater you cannot access.

After the tour, the group will go to the Hotel Hershey for lunch and each person can order and pay for their meal. 

Everyone is welcome to join this truly “Hershey” experience. Payment for the tour ($15/person) is due to Sandy Miceli in the church office by Wednesday, Sept 14. 

5 PM THURSDAY, OCT 13 AT THE HERSHEY GARDENS

Check-in and silent auction for premier items begin at 5 pm with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar available. Guests may enjoy complimentary access to the butterfly atrium and gardens prior to a buffet dinner at 6 pm. Reserve your seat no later than Oct 6 for $75/person. Walk-up seating on the night of the dinner is not available. All proceeds from this event benefit the ministries of Love INC of Greater Hershey.

The Online Community Auction happens Oct 9-13 and all may participate at no cost save the online items you may win at auction. Register now.

Cathy and Alan Olson are once again hosting a potluck social at their home at 1004 Grant Circle in Lebanon at 5 pm Sunday, Oct 2. Please bring your favorite covered dish. We will provide beverages, cups, plates, napkins and eating utensils. 

Questions? Contact Shepherd Group Leader Richard Carty or Cathy Olson.