News

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 8/31/21

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
Income YTD:	$833,531	$833,333
Expenses YTD:	787,608	879,580
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	45,923	(46,247)

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions are in line with 2020 and budget at this point.
• Committee spending generally in line with or under budget. 
• Cash flow at 8/31 is in line with last year.

11 AM MONDAYS BEGINNING OCT 4 IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM

Derry members will take turns leading this new group as it begins with a short study of Adam Hamilton’s book “Half Truths,” which examines some of the platitudes we typically say about God which aren’t completely accurate. To journey in faith along with this group of recent retirees, please contact Pastor Stephen.

10:30 AM SERVICE OF DEDICATION IN THE SANCTUARY (FACE MASKS REQUIRED) AND LIVE STREAMING • PLEASE RSVP FOR NURSERY CARE (AGES 1-3)

The service of dedication in the Sanctuary for the new-to-Derry Aeolian-Skinner organ will feature hymns, anthems, and a litany of dedication.

The Sanctuary Choir will sing Martin Shaw’s “With a Voice of Singing,” and the upper voices of the choir will sing “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” to a beautiful tune written by the American composer Calvin Hampton. The dedication will also feature his “Postlude on [the tune] Engelberg” as an extended introduction to the singing of the same hymn, which you may know as “When In Our Music God is Glorified.” Other hymns will be “Praise to the Lord” and “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus.” “Praise to the Lord” will feature our lower voices on a four-part arrangement a cappella.

We will have remarks from Nicholas Thompson-Allen, the organ builder in charge of the installation, whose father Aubrey presided over the initial installation in 1950.

The service will conclude with Charles-Marie Widor’s beloved Toccata from his 5th organ symphony. This was the final piece heard on Derry’s previous Reuter organ before it was dismantled.

Officer elections will follow the service, and there will be no 8 am worship.

4 PM ORGAN RECITAL IN PERSON (FACE MASKS REQUIRED) AND LIVE STREAMING
After more than a year of restoration, the 1950 Aeolian-Skinner Op. 1132 originally built for the Redeemer Church in New Haven, Connecticut, is ready for its inaugural organ recital presented by Grant Wareham, our Director of Music Ministry and Organist.

The program will highlight all the capabilities of the new-to-Derry organ, including soaring, pure flute tones of the new Harmonic Flute (1929 E.M. Skinner pipes that were not included in the instrument’s original installation) on Louis Vierne’s “Clair de Lune,” a bubbly prelude and a soaring fugue in Maurice Duruflé’s tribute to his fallen friend, Jehan Alain, in his “Prelude and Fugue on ALAIN,” and the organ used as a full orchestra in an organ transcription of Felix Mendelssohn’s “Overture to Ruy Blas.” The program will conclude with Max Reger’s Chorale Fantasy on “How Brightly Shines the Morning Star.”

Organist Grant Wareham is particularly excited to present the world premiere of “Up to Eleven,” a piece written specifically for this instrument by Derry’s own Dr. Jamie Mosher.

A free will offering will be received at this Arts Alive Cultural Series event.

ON SUNDAYS FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION WITH CHILDREN IN 10:30 AM WORSHIP

KIWI [Kids In Worship Instruction] • Age 4 – Kindergarten
MEETS IN THE CHAPEL • LED BY MRS. STEELMAN
KiWI offers children an opportunity to learn about the sacraments of baptism and communion, and to practice and better understand the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and the Doxology. Children will discover hidden beauty in our worship spaces and learn more about worshiping as a church family.

RECONNECT • Grades 1 & 2
MEETS IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM (JEC) BEHIND THE CHAPEL • LED BY ONE OF OUR PASTORS
Children will learn about our sacraments of baptism and communion, practice and better understand the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and the Doxology, and how to navigate the hymnal and Bible. This semester-long program is designed to help children RECONNECT with worship and be better equipped to participate. 

Parents, after worship you can pick up your children in the Chapel or JEC. Adults, extra hands are needed each week. Contact ME Steelman to volunteer.

Derry Church’s Mission & Peace Committee has approved an allocation of $5,000 from its 2021 budget to support the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) as they providing active response to recent natural disasters including Hurricane Ida, the flooding in Tennessee, and Colorado wildfires.

This allocation is in addition to dedicated PDA donations already made by Derry members totaling $2,488. To give in support of PDA, click here and choose the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance box.

In Zambia, the Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) pursues programs to protect children in crisis and return them to family as soon as possible instead of institutionalizing them. Since 1998, they have sheltered over 1,000 babies and children between rescue and family placement. Since 2001, ACE community schools have provided daily lunches and education to more than 10,000 children who would otherwise miss out.  

A gift of $15.63 provides a full year of lunches and education to a child who would not attend school due to social exclusion, material poverty, or hunger. Bring your change in zip-closed bags, remembering to bag any foreign coins separately. Check that the bag is free of paper clips, pins, batteries, buttons — anything that is not legal tender — as these clog the coin sorting machine.  

Change 4 Children for the ACE is collected quarterly at Derry Church and will be received on Sunday, Sept 19 at the end of each service. Thanks, Derry!

Teaching or helping in the nursery, Sunday School classrooms, choirs, children and youth fellowships and other youth activities is an awesome way to help the children of the church learn that you value your faith and relationship with God.  

As Derry’s youth and children’s programming resumes, volunteers are needed for a variety of  activities:

• Contact Heidi Keene to volunteer in the nursery with young children (ages 1-3)
• Contact M.E. Steelman to volunteer with children’s programming (ages 4-grade 5)
• Contact Pastor Pam to volunteer with youth programming (grades 6-12)

All adults who volunteer with youth under 18 years of age must have their Safe Child Clearances up to date and on file with the church. Clearances are valid for 5 years and must be renewed every 5 years. Volunteers must also complete the Derry Safe Children Training Course. Contact Kathy McGrath for more information.

Derry Church appreciates all volunteers and is here to help you through the clearance process.

Join your church family at 8 pm Saturday, Sept 11 as Pastor Stephen offers a 15-minute video with prayers and reflections. We’ll gather online as a church family to reflect and share what we remember from that day. Use the link provided above, or go to Derry Church’s YouTube or Facebook pages to join the conversation.

9:15 – 10 AM SUNDAYS: OCT 17, 24 & 31 AND NOV 7 IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM • CLASSES REPEATED 6-7 PM WEDNESDAYS, OCT 20 – NOV 10 ON ZOOM

Learn more about the mission and ministry of Derry Church in a series of classes offered on Sunday mornings. Those who decide to join will be received on Sunday, Nov 14. Questions? Contact Pastor Marie. 

CLICK TO REGISTER (always appreciated, never required)

12-1 PM THURSDAY, SEPT 16 • REGISTRATION REQUIRED: CLICK HERE

For many, a daily meal is just a choice of what to eat for dinner. For those facing hunger, a daily meal poses a very different type of choice. It is often an impossible choice between food and other critical needs such as utilities, housing or medicine. This is our time to educate the public that “food shouldn’t be an impossible choice.” 

September is Hunger Action Month. Join the discussion at Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Virtual Town Hall. They will share updates on their mission, lessons they have learned over the past year and a half, how they will continue to build resilience and be a resource for our partners on the front lines.

Derry Church is a longtime supporter of the Food Bank through financial and volunteer support, and the Food Bank is an essential partner to many of the organizations we support.

“Moving for Krislund” is a Virtual Walk/Run/Bike event where supporters move for Krislund Camp and Retreat Center and raise money based on how many miles they go! 

Because this event is ran virtually over a month you can feel free to do your moving at your own pace, and you can get together with friends and family and move together with the community that supports Krislund Camp. 

Last year “Moving for Krislund” raised just over $30,000 with more than 60 movers and almost 100 supporters participating. This year’s goal is $25,000. Funds will support development of Krislund programming, as well as infrastructure and development of the property to better serve campers and year-round guests. Here is the breakdown of where the funds raised will be going this year:

• 25% towards Krislund’s Future (Endowment/Investments)
• 65% towards property and program development
• 10% towards Krislund Scholarships for summer 2022

Click here for more information and to sign up as a mover or a donor. Click here to support our own Pastor Pam, Krislund board member, as she gets moving for Krislund!