News

Meet Anaya, One of Derry Church’s PEB Scholarship Recipients 

I am studying in 1 class. Thank you so much for granting me the scholarship. I am studying with great interest because I want to become a doctor in the future. Thank you.

For ten 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. 

Our goal is 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 Rev. Nancy Reinert’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2021.

Notes of Thanks

Thank you, Derry Church, Pastor Stephen and Pastor Marie for phone calls and prayers in the death of our son-in-law, Jimmy Uhrich. Thanks for keeping our daughter in your prayers.
Simon and Pat Yingst and Karen

Just a short note of thanks for the prayers, cards and phone calls I received after my recent surgery. They are greatly appreciated.
Loretta Chubb

Thank you, members of Derry Church, for your sincere thoughtfulness in sending food, flowers, phone calls, cards and shawls to support our family following the death of Ronald Walker. You are true friends. Michele, Debbie and I, as well as our families, were pleased many of you shared how Ron touched your lives. For some of you, it was many years ago and for some it was recently. We cannot thank you enough for thinking of all of us in so many thoughtful ways.
Martha Walker, Michele Smith, Debbie Duszak, and our families

You’re Invited: Presbytery Meeting on Feb 27

9 AM-12 PM SATURDAY, FEB 27 ON ZOOM

Join the Presbytery of Carlisle as it prepares for post-pandemic life. Included in this Zoom gathering will be several break-out rooms for pastors, elders, and deacons to engage in learning for their roles as church officers. There are choices for those who are new to the role and want the basics, as well as options for those who are ready for a deeper dive.

We welcome pastors and elder commissioners along with any Ruling Elders and Deacons who wish to attend. The line-up of workshops is below. Click this link to pre-register so Zoom break-out rooms can be assigned. Once registered you will be redirected to a webpage providing the Zoom link. Read more, including details on the breakout meetings offered that day.

Epistemology and the Search for Truth: Week 1

How do you know if what you know is true? How do you know if a news report is correct? How do you know if you are are justified in a belief? How do you know if you are thinking rationally? These and other questions of the “how do you know?” variety are the business of epistemology, the area of philosophy concerned with understanding the nature of knowledge and belief. Join Pastor Stephen for the first class in a series on “Epistemology and the Search for Truth.” This 18-minute class offers a brief overview epistemology and why it is important.

Meet Tabish, One of Derry Church’s PEB Scholarship Recipients 

Greeting from Sargodha. I am Tabish. My school is one of the famous school in city. I am writing this note to thank you for your help and support. I am actively involved in extra-curricular activities. This year our school won sport gala. Now Independence celebration are going on. The bazaars and streets are decorated with flags. Thank you again for your generosity and support. I promise you I will work very hard.

For ten 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. 

Our goal is 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 Rev. Nancy Reinert’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2021.

More Winter Reading Opportunities

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

  • MAR 1The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
  • APR 5: Caste, The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

The Faithful Readers will Zoom at 9:15 am* Sundays to discuss these books:

  • FEB 21 (*2 PM)Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  • MAR 21: The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
  • APR 18: Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now by Maya Angelou

Download the complete Faithful Readers list for 2020-21 and check out the Faithful Readers’ Facebook Group.

Copies of all books are available in the church library: contact Teresa to request a copy.

Looking for the Zoom Meeting ID? Check the weekly eNews or contact Sue George.

January 2021 Session Highlights

  • Re-elected Kathy Yingst as Clerk of Session and Steven Guenther as Treasurer for 2021.
  • Approved a transfer of membership for Louella Grgic due to relocation.
  • The Treasurer shared the 2020 year-end financial reports. As expected, the church income for 2020 was approximately $30,000 below 2019 and $75,000 under budget. Expenses for 2020 were also below budget as we did not have an Associate Pastor or full-time Music Director for the entire year. Committees were conservative with spending. As a result, there is an approximate budget surplus of $80,000. At the request of the Stewardship & Finance committee, the Session approved distribution of the surplus funds as follows: $15,000 to Mission and Peace; $5,000 to Camp Krislund; $40,000 to Derry’s Capital Improvement Fund; and the remainder to be used as a cushion for the 2021 potential budget deficit.
  • The Stewardship & Finance Committee has spent several months reviewing Derry’s Gift Acceptance and Investment policies. The revised policies were presented to the Session and approved.
  • The Elders reviewed our current building opening policy, and based on recommendations from the Covid Task Force, voted to keep the current policy in place. There are several variables with the new strands of Covid that are appearing and numbers for cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been steady since December. Many would like to establish a reopening date; however, at this time the Session has not set a specific re-opening date pending improvement in the vaccine rollout and number of cases.
  • There was unanimous agreement that we communicate with our members to let everyone know that we are continually reviewing the plans for reopening, planning new things for keeping us connected, and praying for all. A mailing will be sent to all members and a video created to communicate our discussions.
  • Derry’s annual meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2021. Due to Covid-19 restrictions the meeting will be held via Zoom.
  • In preparing for the annual meeting, the session reviewed Dr. McKinney-Whitaker and Rev. Pamela Meiland’s Terms of Call for 2021. There are no changes to Pastor Stephen’s terms from 2020 and Pastor Pam’s terms are the same as when she was called to Derry. The session voted to approve the terms as presented and recommend them to the congregation for review and approval.
  • Elected all active Elders as Presbytery Commissioners for 2020.
  • The AA group has been meeting at Derry for many years. The group uses room 10 and enters the church through the door off Mansion Road at the rear of the sanctuary. While the group has not been meeting over the past year, they have continued to pay $250 quarterly for the space. Session voted to discontinue these payments while the group is not meeting and to reimburse them for the money paid over the past year.

Meet Hossana, One of Derry Church’s PEB Scholarship Recipients 

Dear friends, I am Hossana. I am studying in one class. I would like to thank you for your support. I cannot tell you how much it means to me. I am studying very hard. Thank you.

For ten 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. 

Our goal is 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 Rev. Nancy Reinert’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2021.