News

You may be someone who has fond memories of “Vanna White,” Derry’s church van for many years. It was used to transport children, youth and adults to mission trips, Montreat, skiing adventures and much more. Now the van has a new home and new life at Krislund Camp!  The camp will be using it for transportation across the grounds. They send their sincere thanks for the donation.

Thanks for all the birthday cards, treats, meals, gift and calls and visits. I appreciate all your love and support. A special thank you to the choir group that came over to my house to sing on my birthday — it was great. All enjoyed the music and fellowship! Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and support! God bless, Teresa & Bill Hutcheson

Thank you on behalf of the entire Bridges to Community team for your continued and most generous support. Your recent gift in the amount of $7,844.50 will be directed toward housing and other needs in the Dominican Republic. Your generosity is essential to achieving our mission both there and in Nicaragua.

Despite the pandemic and the resulting cancellation of our volunteer trips through 2021, Bridges to Community continues to employ local masons and laborers to build houses, schools, and other much needed infrastructure in the communities we serve.

In 2021 with your gift and others, we are continuing to:

• Complete the school in La Guama, DR
• Build houses and latrines in both Nicaragua and DR
• Assist our communities in Nicaragua in cleaning up from last fall’s two Category 4 hurricanes
• Support our 44 remaining scholarship students in Nicaragua
• Introduce a new virtual building experience with our communities in the DR

We are hoping to restart our volunteer trips in 2022. Thank you for helping Bridges make it through this very difficult year.

5:30-6:15 PM THURSDAYS BEGINNING SEPT 2 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

Get moving with Zumba Gold® (low-impact) fitness classes: part-dance, part-fitness, and all fun! 

• $5 per class or $45 for a 10-class punch card
• NO classes Sept 23 and Oct 14
• Wear masks and bring a water bottle: stay hydrated!

Questions? Contact licensed Zumba® Instructor Judy McMillen.

1. The mini blinds on the enclosed porch at one of the Homes of Hope transitional houses need to be replaced. The blinds were measured and ordered by a professional, and one volunteer is able to help. One or two more volunteers are needed to help hang the blinds, preferably during the day. There are about 10 blinds to be hung.
2. A client is looking for someone to come into her apartment to do a hair cut. It needs to be someone experienced with African American hair. She is willing to pay for this service.

If you can help, contact Michelle Miduri, Director of Operations for Love INC of Greater Hershey (717-835-0101).

The Derry Township community is now in an area of high COVID spread and transmission. In response, our COVID Task Force met on Zoom recently to consider changes to our current policy and submit its report to Session. At its Aug 18 meeting, Session approved the following task force recommendations:

• In keeping with CDC guidelines, require masks for ALL indoor gatherings, including worship services
• Continue choral and congregational singing with masks and social distancing
• Continue mask requirements for all children’s events (under age 12) 
• Recommend mask use for outdoor gatherings

When our region returns to moderate or low community spread, the task force and Session will make changes in keeping with lower transmission rates.

Welcome Derry’s newest members, who were received by the Session on Sunday, Aug 8! You’ll see their video introductions in 10:30 am worship on Sunday, as well as in next week’s eNews. L-R, top row: Reath Edwards, Bill & Lisa McGregor and Bob & Carolyn Foster and their son Kevin. Bottom row: Pat & Ivo Meilands, Emily & Joe Spingler and their daughter Frankie, and Barb & Joe Sciacca.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 7/31/21

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
Income YTD:	$741,642	$729,167
Expenses YTD:	669,191	769,636
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	72,451	(40,469)

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions are behind 2020 and budget at this point, but the last week of July hasn’t been booked yet.
• Committee spending generally in line with budget. 
• Cash flow at 7/31 is in line with last year.

SANCTUARY CHOIR 
Rehearses 7-8:30 pm Thursdays in Room 7 beginning Aug 26
Sings for 10:30 am worship services

DERRY LOW VOICE ENSEMBLE (TENOR-BASS)
Rehearses and sings occasionally

DERRY HIGH VOICES (SOPRANO-ALTO)
Rehearses and sings occasionally

DERRY MINI ENSEMBLES (SKILLED SINGERS)
Rehearses and sings challenging repertoire on occasion

Contact Grant Wareham for more information and to sing with any of these groups.

Singing opportunities for children and youth coming soon.

The scale of the disaster facing Haiti after the Aug 14 earthquake is becoming clearer. The quake and its aftershocks have left almost 1,300 people dead, thousands more injured and an unknown number of people are still missing. At least 13,000 homes were destroyed and roads, bridges and communication systems have been severely damaged. This catastrophe comes on top of Haiti’s ongoing struggles with endemic hunger and poverty, COVID-19 and continuing civil unrest, and as Tropical Storm Grace bears down on the region.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas through our established local partners and in collaboration with ACT Alliance and its members. The PC(USA), through PDA and together with regional World Mission colleagues, will remain active throughout the entire recovery process, accompanying our partners in the area as they determine long-term program needs and providing financial support for rebuilding and resilience.

As this earthquake (followed by a tropical storm) continues to cause destruction and loss of life, please pray with us that the communities affected by this event and those offering assistance will be strengthened, have their needs met and be reminded of the hope found in God. 

To support the work of PDA in Haiti and around the world, give online by clicking here and selecting the PDA box, or write checks to Derry Church notated PDA.

Presbyterians Today is the award-winning, general-interest magazine of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Inside every issue you’ll find:

• Uplifting stories and photos about individual Presbyterians, congregations and church leaders
• Bible studies and reflections
• Christian perspectives on contemporary issues and events
• Mission news from home and abroad
• Denominational news and updates

Want to read it first? Feature articles available at this link.

In past years, there was a nominal charge to subscribe to the magazine, and now it’s FREE! Whether you’re a current subscriber who wishes to continue — or a new one — simply email Jackie Carter from the PC(USA) staff and let her know that you wish to receive Presbyterians Today. Include your name and address in the email. To unsubscribe at any time, email Jackie. 

Derry will no longer have a group subscription, or be involved in the subscription process. If you prefer, you can also choose to receive it digitally. 

How is the denomination able to offer the magazine free of charge? The annual Planning Calendar, used by many church staff across the denomination, includes paid ads that generate enough revenue to cover the magazine’s cost.

Dear friends, thank you for your prayers, visits, flowers and phone calls through all these years! Prayers were answered throughout this time. Praise the Lord! Sharon Jenne

I would like to thank my church family at Derry for their prayers, phone calls, the prayer shawl, and flowers during my recent tests and surgery. Bob White

11:30 AM WEDNESDAY, SEPT 22 AT MEMORIAL LAKE STATE PARK, EAST HANOVER TWP, LEBANON COUNTY 

The Derry Day Trippers is a new group for active adults interested in taking local (and perhaps not so local) day trips. 

Join Sue Whitaker and Pat Meilands on Sept 22 to talk about the possibilities: Wolf sanctuary (and time in Lititz), Longwood Gardens, Sight and Sound Theater, SpringGate Vineyard, and more. Bring a side dish or desert to share, and we’ll provide chicken as the main dish. Bring your ideas for trips!

RSVP to Pat Meilands. Please include your name, how many attending, and your phone number.