News

Taken after the organ recital on Sunday, Oct 10, 2021, this photo shows those instrumental in bringing the Aeolian-Skinner Op. 1132 to Derry Church. Left to right: Nicholas Thompson-Allen, President, A. Thompson-Allen and Co., Grant Wareham, Geoff Johnson, head of Church of the Redeemer organ search committee and husband Damian, and Dan Stokes. 

This year’s Advent sermon series imagines how each Gospel writer celebrates Christmas in his own home. We’ll also explore how we celebrate the birth of Jesus in our own lives and homes through music, online discussion groups, and our Advent devotional.

For the 2021 Advent devotional, you’re invited to share a story about a meaningful or faithful tradition, event, or memory about celebrating the Christmas season in your house as a child, youth, or adult. These stories will invite our church family into our homes as we each reflect on how we celebrate the birth of the Savior and what it means for our lives.

Please send your story of 500 words or less to Pastor Stephen by Monday, Nov 15. Include a photo if you have one.

The 2021 Advent Devotional will be available for pickup at our Holiday Drive Thru on Sunday afternoon, Dec 5. 

10 AM SATURDAY, OCT 30 IN THE BACK PARKING LOT

Derry Church is hosting its first Trunk or Treat event for families of the church and the Discovery Days Preschool. Children can come dressed in costumes and trick or treat at various cars and tables set up in the back parking lot. Derry friends, you’re invited to decorate the trunk of your car (or a table) and hand out candy: click here to sign up. If you can’t come that day, you can support the event by providing donations of candy: bring bags to the church office.

5:45 – 7:15 PM TUESDAYS IN ROOM 7

Kids In Christ (K.I.C.) Club welcomes Derry Church children on Tuesday evenings to participate in creative ministries… fellowship groups, music ensembles (vocal and instrumental) and creation time. This program has a Vacation Bible School vibe where children rotate between classrooms and participate in all three areas of ministry.

K.I.C. Club is open to all children age 4 – 5th grade. Children must be signed in each week in Room 7, and have completed information and medical forms on file with the church. Once children are registered, their adult is free to hang out in the church, attend Tuesday night worship at 6:15 pm, or run a quick errand or two. Children will be dismissed at 7:15 pm from Room 7. MORE

Hope Within provides primary health care, counseling and dental care to the uninsured low-income residents of Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties. Through the grace and goodness of God, Hope Within is excited to share His love by offering excellent and free primary medical care, cost sliding scale counseling and donation-based dental care via the hands of more than 30 volunteer medical and dental providers, therapists and nurses.

Hope Within is seeking a part time (20 hours per week) Director of Development to enhance its efforts in serving the community. With this position, Hope Within desires to strengthen its relations with current donors and broaden its fundraising efforts, including new major donor cultivation, foundations, grants, special events and capital campaigns. The Director of Development will be responsible for establishing, implementing, and leading a comprehensive development program for Hope Within under the direction of the Executive Director.

Cover letters and resumes should be sent to David F. Sheppard, Jr., CAE (Ret), 924 Palmer Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 or by email to david.f.sheppard@gmail.com.

10:30 AM ON THE THIRD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE HOME OF JOAN THEAL

“What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus” is the theme for the 2021-22 Presbyterian Women’s Bible study. Face masks may be required.

If you’d like to lead a study group at a different time and place, please contact Doris Feil.

One wall of the atrium library received a fresh coat of paint last week as part of a makeover for this well-used, welcoming space

The communion table and organ console have been repositioned in preparation for the organ dedication and recital on Sunday, Oct 10. Please note the live stream will launch at 10:15 am and the prelude will begin at 10:20 am as Kathy Yingst, Dan Stokes and Grant Wareham take turns playing our new Aeolian-Skinner. At the end of the service, a congregational meeting will follow the postlude, with voting by Derry members attending in person. The meeting will be live streamed. 8 am worship and Pastor Stephen’s 11-Minute Lessons will return on Sunday, Oct 17.

The peace cranes have also returned to their roost. Thanks to Charlie and Joanne Koch and Josh Pearson for helping the cranes settle back into the rafters. They’ll be in flight until Advent begins.

A congregational meeting will follow 10:30 am worship on Oct 10 for the purpose of electing one elder for the class of 2022, six elders and five deacons for the class of 2024, and four church members to serve on the 2022 nominating committee.

These Derry members have accepted nominations: 

Elder, class of 2022: Tim Mosher

Elders, class of 2024: Becca Farbaniec, Cindy DeMuth, Tom Kitzmiller, Julie Yutesler, Pam Whitenack and Ryan Bartz

Deacons, class of 2024: Michelle Califf, Dave Hibshman, David Kuntch, Ellen O’Keefe and Susan Hubbell Whyte  

2022 Nominating Committee: Lauren Talhelm, Mike Leader, Lee Webber and Jane Robertson

• Approved baptism of Nikolai Minnich, son of Derry members, Sean and Valerie Minnich.
• Stephen Guenther has indicated that he will be stepping down as church Treasurer over the next year. Craig Kegerise has volunteered to accept this position. The Session thanks Craig for his willingness to offer his assistance and Steven for his leadership and financial expertise. The Session unanimously elected Craig as Vice Treasurer. He will be working with Steven and becoming familiar with the church finances as he prepares to take on this role.
• Reviewed the preliminary 2022 church budget and Stewardship Sunday plans.
• Approved revised “Guidelines for Burial of Cremated Remains in DPC Cemetery.” The revisions include increasing the cost of a plot to $1,000 and adding an administrative fee of 25% to the cost of the ground level marker.

BEGINS 10 AM OCT 20 AND CONTINUES THROUGH OCT 24 • PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE MINISTRIES OF LOVE INC OF GREATER HERSHEY • MORE

Featuring local artisans, neighborhood businesses, gift baskets, gift cards, home decor, electronics, services around the house, and homemade delicacies (pies and more!)

PERISHABLE Items may be picked up from the donor or delivered to the following locations: Hummelstown (17036), Hershey (17033), Middletown (17057), Palmyra (17078), Elizabethtown (17022). 

NON-PERISHABLE Items may be picked up curbside at the Love INC office during the week of Oct 25.

The Monday evening study group will Zoom at 7 pm to discuss the following books:

NOV 1: “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by David Grann
DEC 6: “Suzanne and Gertrude: A Novel” by Jeb Loy Nichols
JAN 6: “Stolen: The Astonishing Odyssey of Five Boys Along the Reverse Underground Railroad” by Richard Bell

Faithful Readers will Zoom at 2 pm on Sunday afternoons to discuss these books:

OCT 17: “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin 
NOV 14: “Cranford” by Elizabeth Gaskell
DEC 12: “Christmas: A Candid History” by Bruce David Forbes
JAN 9: “Two Old Women” by Velma Wallis

Contact the church office for Zoom login information.