News

SUNDAYS, FEB 6 & 20 •  ISSUES CLASS SERIES ON ZOOM LED BY DEBBIE HOUGH • CLICK TO JOIN • SIMULCAST IN ROOM 7

The answer to this question may be more assumptions than biblical knowledge. In these two class opportunities we will challenge our assumptions of the Holy Spirit and explore Old Testament and New Testament texts (not including Acts), which will give us a much broader and deeper picture of the Holy Spirit and what the Spirit does. Both sessions will be based on the works of Jack Levison, Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Biblical Hebrew at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Have your Bibles ready!

FEB 6: A Boundless God: The Holy Spirit According to the Old Testament
When you first think of the Holy Spirit, do you think of the story of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles? Jack Levison challenges our Christian assumptions of the Holy Spirit and guides us into an understanding that before the Holy Spirit was associated with the church, it was associated with the tabernacle, temple and synagogue. If we don’t understand the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, we will fall short in our understanding of what it is doing in the New Testament. Levison uses words for the actions of the Holy Spirit like: blowing, breathing, coming, resting, passing, pouring, filling, cleansing, leading and guiding. Join in as we explore how the Spirit’s story begins.

FEB 20: An Unconventional God: The Holy Spirit According to Jesus and the Gospels
We usually look to the writings of Paul or the Acts of the Apostles to gain our New Testament knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Jack Levison challenges us to focus on the four Gospels alone. Here we will witness how uncommon, astonishing, unconventional the Spirit is. Here we will witness the Spirit as part of a lifelong drama, consisting of conflicts whose flames Jesus fans. The uncommon presence of the Holy Spirit spanned Jesus’ entire life and in only one occurrence was Jesus rejoicing. Come and explore a new way of envisioning the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ and our lives. 

7 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 IN THE SANCTUARY AND LIVE STREAMING

This contemplative hour-long service led by Pastor Marie will include a sermon and celebration of the Lord’s supper along with imposition of ashes made from last year’s palm branches.

Because this Ash Wednesday service occurs on the first Wednesday of the month — our traditional night for committee meetings — those attending committees should be aware that the day or time of their March meeting may have changed. 

As Pastor Marie sorts out the books and treasures that accumulated in her office over the past 25 years, she is offering an assortment to the congregation. Maybe you’d like a small buffalo or a book of encouragement from Marie’s office shelves. Stop by the Narthex and help yourself to any of the items displayed on the tables outside the kitchen.

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If you enjoy working on jigsaw puzzles and can’t get enough of the puzzle swap available here at Derry Church, then this new Facebook group is for you! Join here to share photos and tips and see what other Derry puzzlers are up to!

8 & 10:30 AM SUNDAY, FEB 20 IN THE SANCTUARY AND LIVE STREAMING (10:30 AM)

Join us  for a worship service planned, written, and led by our youth! Derry Church youth will guide us through an exploration of the word “Evangelism,” thinking deeply about what evangelism means and how we might be effective evangelists. We will worship God with our minds, our voices, and our bodies through music, dance, scripture, and prayer. We can’t wait to worship with you!

Greetings from Sargodha. I am Youail and I study in class 9. I am from which is an agricultural city in Pakistan. Thank you very much for your love and concern in choosing me for scholarship. As I am in board class anxiously waiting for my exams which are becoming uncertain because of lockdown. But I am not loosing hope. Our school administration is going to have our send-up in November. I am trying my best to attempt nicely. Thank you very much again you are always in my prayers. May God protect you from coronel virus.

For 11 years, Derry Church has maintained a partnership with the Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan. PEB operates 25 schools, primary through high school, including some boarding schools, that serve more than 5,900 students. Derry, through the Friends of Sargodha group, has a particular relationship with the schools in Sargodha. 

Friends of Sargodha’s goal is to continue to provide ten scholarships every year. You can help.

A full scholarship for a day student is $370 a year, about a dollar a day. We are dividing that amount into ten shares, $37 each, to offer you the opportunity to support a portion of a scholarship. 

You can purchase one or more shares by writing a check to Derry Church notated “Pakistan Scholarship” or giving online through the church website and selecting “Pakistan Scholarship.” 

Read Claudia Holtzman’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2022.

• Re-elected Steven Guenther and Craig Kegerise as Co-Treasurers and Kathy Yingst as Clerk of Session for 2022.
• Scheduled Derry’s annual meeting for Sunday, February 13, 2022.  
• In preparing for the annual meeting, the session reviewed Dr. McKinney-Whitaker and Rev. Pamela Meiland’s Terms of Call for 2022. The session voted to recommend the terms as presented to the congregation for review and approval at the February 13 annual meeting. Information regarding the transition of duties as Pastor Marie retires will also be shared with the congregation at the annual meeting.
• The Treasurer shared the 2021 year-end financial reports. Both church income and expenses for the year were below budget. We ended the year with an approximate $27,000 loss, which will be covered with funds from the Anderson Trust.
• Steven Guenther reviewed the Agreed-Upon Procedures report prepared by the accounting firm of Boyer and Ritter. The report reviewed Derry’s procedures, internal controls and balance sheet for the period ending 12/31/20 and found no exceptions.
• Tim Mosher presented an update on Covid infections in our area. While the high positivity rate that has been occurring over the past months seems to be stabilizing, elevated hospitalizations and the virulent nature of the Omicron variant continue to impact our local health care system. Derry’s mask mandate remains in place at present. The session will continue to monitor our response. 
• The session approved moving forward with repairs to the exterior of the Scout House in the amount of $25,000 – $10,000 for stone masonry repair, $10,000 for painting, and $5,000 for carpentry & contingency. The funds for the work will be taken from the Futures Fund.
• The Communications & Technology Committee submitted a Capital Procurement Requisition to upgrade Derry’s exterior signage. These signs, which are located on and around our building as well as at the corner of Mansion Road and Rte. 422, are deteriorating, some have fallen down, and are inconsistent in design and construction. The approximate cost of the upgrade is $33,000 with funding coming from Derry’s Capital Facilities account. After reviewing proposals from several sign companies, the committee is recommending Stoner Graphix as the contractor for the project. This proposal will be reviewed by Derry’s committees and voted upon at the Session’s February meeting. 
• Stewardship & Finance requested approval of a transfer of $250,000 from the Futures Fund to the Capital Facilities Fund. This transfer will help with repairs in and to the church building.
• A fundraising proposal from the Christian Education Committee for a summer youth trip to Acadia National Park in Maine was approved. The proposal will offer a series of fundraising tiers at which individuals and families can donate.
• Elected all active Elders as Presbytery Commissioners for 2020. Elders Ann Kroh and Tim Mosher were elected to serve on Derry’s 2022 Nominating Committee.

9-10 AM SUNDAY, JAN 30 IN ROOM 7 AND STREAMING ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE, FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE

“Pediatric Mental Health in the Era of COVID” will be presented by Derry member Jolene Garcia, MD, practitioner in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Penn State Health. In these difficult times, we all have experienced hardships and may have struggled physically, socially and emotionally. The last two years have been exceedingly difficult for our children, teens and young adults. Prior to COVID and its impact on our world, there was growing concern for an increase in the number of youth experiencing mental health problems. Since COVID the amount and severity of children and adolescents with psychiatric illness has greatly increased.

This class will cover concerns about pediatric psychiatric illness since COVID entered our world, and some insights and interventions will be reviewed. There will be time for questions as well as thoughts on faith and discussion of best practices and the need for care of self, family, friends and our community.

On Feb 6 & 20 Issues Class will be on Zoom as Debbie Hough presents “Come, Holy Spirit, Come,” a look at the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, New Testament and in hymns.

The Board of Directors at Family Promise has approved a plan for the safe return to the weekly church rotation schedule that was in place prior to the pandemic. This is good news because a greater number of people will be provided services. It also means that volunteers will once again have the opportunity to build relationships with the families.  

The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hershey is scheduled to host families the week of Feb 13-20. Derry’s role, as partnering church, is to provide meals, transportation, and overnight chaperones. Please use the links below to volunteer. For more information, contact Jane Robertson. Thanks, Derry!

Click here to serve as a van driver

Click here to serve as an overnight chaperones

Click here to provide a meal

3:15-3:45 PM SUNDAY, JAN 30 AT ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, 5TH AVE BETWEEN 50TH & 51ST STS., NYC AND LIVE STREAMING

For this 30-minute recital, our Director of Music Ministry will present Rachel Laurin’s Étude Héroïque, Op. 38 (2012), Jean Langlais’ Cantilène from Suite Brève (1947), and Max Reger’s “Wie schön leucht’t uns der Morgenstern” from Two Chorale Fantasias,Op. 40 (1899). Read more.

I am Ismal from class 6. My father is a driver. We are three sisters and my grandparents are living with us. My mother is a housewife. My father can’t pay my fee and because of your hand in mine, I can reach to the edge of my dreams. You are an important part of my life. I work very hard and wish to become the strong support of my family. This is possible just because of your support. Myself and my family pray for your health and for your long life.

For 11 years, Derry Church has maintained a partnership with the Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan. PEB operates 25 schools, primary through high school, including some boarding schools, that serve more than 5,900 students. Derry, through the Friends of Sargodha group, has a particular relationship with the schools in Sargodha. 

Friends of Sargodha’s goal is to continue to provide ten scholarships every year. You can help.

A full scholarship for a day student is $370 a year, about a dollar a day. We are dividing that amount into ten shares, $37 each, to offer you the opportunity to support a portion of a scholarship. 

You can purchase one or more shares by writing a check to Derry Church notated “Pakistan Scholarship” or giving online through the church website and selecting “Pakistan Scholarship.” 

Read Claudia Holtzman’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2022.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 12/31/21

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
Income YTD:	$1,216,671	$1,250,000
Expenses YTD:	1,243,950	1,319,368
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	(27,279)	(69,368)

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions ended up lagging PY and budget
• Expenses were generally in line with budget, with personnel being lower due to some reduced staffing and other differences
• We ended the year with about a $27k loss which we plan to cover with a transfer from the Anderson Trust