News

DROPOFF DEADLINE: FRIDAY, APR 1

Derry Church is hosting its annual Easter egg hunt on April 9, and we need your help: please drop off bags of individually wrapped, nut-free candies in the “Easter Treats” basket in the mission closet in the atrium library by Friday, Apr 1. We’ll be filling dozens of eggs for multiple age groups, so any and all donations are welcome and appreciated.

NEW SERIES BEGINS SUNDAY, MAR 13! 8:45 & 11:45 AM IN THE CHAPEL OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE OR FACEBOOK ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS OR LATER

Join Pastor Stephen in the season of Lent as we consider the “A’s of Atonement”: how different theologians whose names begin with A have interpreted Jesus’s death on the cross, and how His death atoned for our sins, reconciled us to God, defeated death, and makes eternal life possible.

Our 2022 “Shares for Scholarships”campaign has come to a close, and your response was overwhelming: 19 new donors have joined with others renewing their scholarship gifts from last year, for a grand total of $13,296! Thank you for your generous outpouring of love for the children of Pakistan. Your gifts make it possible for more than 30 students to benefit from a year full of learning. We can’t thank you enough for your kindness. Bless you and shalom from Derry’s Friends of Sargodha committee!

4 PM SUNDAY, MAR 20 IN THE SANCTUARY • HOSTED BY THE HARRISBURG CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS

Organist Scott Montgomery is associate director of music at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and teaches private piano and organ lessons. He is widely known as a concert organist throughout the country and abroad. His recital will feature the works of Bach, Franck, Miller, and Price.

Notable performance venues for Scott Montgomery have included the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Philadelphia, PA), Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA), Ball State University (Muncie, IN), and Heinz Chapel at the University of Pittsburgh.

Additionally, organists and other interested people are invited to Lebanon Valley College’s Miller Chapel at 32 E. Sheridan Avenue for the workshop on “On-the-Spot-Hymn Playing” at 10 am Saturday, March 19.

Questions? Email Tyler Canonico or call (717) 257-1270 ext. 18.

TUESDAYS BEGINNING APR 12 AT ROYAL OAKS GOLF COURSE, LEBANON

Play begins at 10 am through the month of April. From May to September, we will begin play at 8:30 am All skill levels welcome. To sign up, please contact Ken Pearl or Jim Warnock.

4 PM SUNDAY, APR 10 IN THE SANCTUARY • AN ARTS ALIVE EVENT • FREE WILL OFFERING

The Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster is a community program serving approximately 160 children and youth in kindergarten through grade 12. Representing nearly 65 congregations, 45 schools, and 15 denominations, singers develop a rich musical repertoire from around the world and across time while being equipped for a lifetime of service to the church and community. The mission of MCCL is training children and youth to glorify Jesus Christ through excellent choral singing.

THURSDAY, MAR 24 AT WILSON COLLEGE, CHAMBERBSURG • MORE

Lecture: 10:30 – 11:45 am Jesus’ Parables as Jewish Stories
Jesus told parables to fellow Jews: recovering that original setting corrects their frequent anti-Jewish interpretations, provides a grounding for better Jewish/Christian relations, and offers new insight into both ancient and present-day ethics.

Workshop: 1:30 – 3:30 pm: Understanding Jesus means Understanding Judaism
(Designed for clergy, religious educators, and interested persons)
This workshop details the popular misconceptions about Jesus’ Jewish context found in sermons and church-based educational curricula, explains their origins, and offers new and helpful ways to read the New Testament.

Amy Jill Levine (“AJ”) is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford International University of Religion and Peace and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, and Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt. Many of her books and videos have been used in Bible studies at Derry Church. The first Jew to teach New Testament at Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute, AJ describes herself as an unorthodox member of an Orthodox synagogue and a Yankee Jewish feminist who seeks to correct anti-Jewish, sexist, and other harmful interpretations of the Bible.

Derry Church has extended nursery care to children between birth and 23 months. Volunteers are needed to support this caring ministry to our youngest children: contact Heidi Keene for details.

On Tuesday, March 1 the Session approved the following guidelines based on recommendations from our COVID task force. Please know that you may continue to wear a mask whenever you’re at church.

FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH:

• Face masks optional at worship services on Sundays at 8 am and Tuesdays at 6:15 pm
• Use of face masks continues on Sundays at 10:30 am worship services
• Masks are optional at post-worship activities including fellowship and 11 Minutes Lessons
• Each group, committee, gathering or adult Sunday school class may determine their own mask policy
• Face masks are not required in the building during the week or in the office, unless requested by the person or group with whom you are meeting
• Anyone working directly with children under 5 must wear a mask.
• Use of face masks continues for all youth and children’s activities 

BEGINNING APRIL 1 (barring another significant spike in covid infections):

• Face masks optional at all church-wide worship services, events, and functions (this includes the choir)
• The west transept of the Sanctuary (closest to the lounge) is designated seating for those who prefer to continue wearing face masks
• Committees and groups can set their own mask rules 
• Anyone working directly with children under 5 must wear a mask
• Youth and children’s ministry leadership teams are empowered to make masking rules based on the activity, participants, and other situations 

We are aware that no decision made by the Session will have universal support. We hope this provides options while also addressing the varied concerns and desires of Derry members. The Session will meet again on March 16 to re-evaluate the guidelines and timetable. READ MORE about the rationale behind these decisions.

The war in Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis for the Ukranian people. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the country and many more left in the country are in need of relief aid. The Session of Derry Church has approved matching gifts up to $25,000 from the Futures Fund to provide help and support to the people of Ukraine. 

Gifts made online to Ukraine Relief, or checks made out to Derry Church and notated “Ukraine Relief” will be matched by the church up to $25,000 and split between these two relief agencies:

• CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE aims to reach four million Ukrainians with immediate aid and recovery, food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance — prioritizing women and girls, families, and the elderly.
• Voices of Children Foundation, a charitable foundation based in Ukraine, focuses on addressing the psychological effect of armed conflict on young children. Founded in 2015 in response to conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the organization provides art therapy, mobile psychologists, and individual therapy to affected children.

Giving to these two organizations allows us to provide funding for two groups currently working on the ground in and around Ukraine but who are very different. One is a large international NGO with many resources and partners that enable them to meet a variety of needs. The other allows us to invest directly into Ukraine and its people by supporting a Ukranian organization that helps children through the trauma of war. 

This is our chance to love our neighbors in a real and tangible way. Please consider a donation to this cause. You are invited to share this information so friends and family can have their gifts matched, too. 

9-10 AM SUNDAYS, MAR 6-27 IN ROOM 7 AND STREAMING ON DERRYPRES.ORG, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK

This four-week series is presented by Lee Barrett of Lancaster Theological Seminary. The religious environment of the United States is changing rapidly and dramatically. Affiliation with religious institutions is declining, dipping below 50%. Pollsters discover that a pervasive lack of interest in religion is increasing in younger generations. In this environment of accelerating secularism and religious indifference, many of the faithful are worried about the future of the church.

To address this issue, we will first investigate some of the causes of this shift in cultural sensibilities. Then we will consider the nature and purpose of the church according to the Reformed tradition, for the church must remain faithful to its mission. Finally we will imagine ways in which this rich heritage can be enacted in our shifting cultural context so that it can grip the minds and hearts of new generations

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. 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.

You may pre-register on Yahoo now, although picks cannot be made until “Selection Sunday” in mid-March.

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.