Month: August 2023

ME Steelman, who has served Derry as a part-time Children’s Ministry Coordinator and more recently as our full-time Director of Church Life and Connection, has decided to resign her position. ME has found that the demands of her new position, requiring evening and Sunday hours, have taken her away from her young family. Click here to read ME’s resignation letter, which goes into more detail about her reasons for leaving her position.

ME will be working at Derry until December 31, 2023 or until the Personnel Committee finds a replacement for her responsibilities. ME intends to continue worshiping with her church family, but will step away from the Christian Education Committee and the Membership Connections Committee for a period of two years. This will allow her successor and volunteers room to grow into those responsibilities. You will recall that Debbie Hough, our past Director of Christian Education, took a similar respite after her retirement.

The Personnel Committee is evaluating Derry’s needs in consultation with Session and committees and will develop a staffing plan to meet those needs.

Personnel Committee and Session members Julie Yutesler and Gregg Robertson will be pleased to answer any question you may have.

8:45 & 11:45 AM IN THE CHAPEL • WATCH ON YOUTUBE & FACEBOOK LATER IN THE WEEK

Join Pastor Stephen this year in a verse-by-verse study of the books of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. It’s an opportunity to dig into the context and meaning of these Biblical letters, eleven minutes at a time.

We start with 1 Peter, which centers on the role of apostles as chosen by God to share his Gospel. Because of this, their persecution can actually be seen as a gift because it offers them a chance to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus, which is fueled by hope in his return and victory over evil. If you miss a Sunday you can catch up online get that week’s handout from Pastor Stephen.

The women’s Monday night study group invites you to join them for their 2023-24 series beginning at 7 pm Monday, Oct 2. This year is hybrid: the group meets in room 7 and will use the church’s Zoom Room technology to connect everyone who would like to join remotely. Books will be available soon in the church library. No need to RSVP: all are welcome. Questions? Contact Sue George. To join on Zoom, click this link.

Oct 2: “The Woman They Could Not Silence” by Kate Moore
Leader: Jane Robertson

Nov 6: “Journey to the Common Good” by Walter Brueggemann
Leader: Eleanor Schneider

Dec 4: Christmas potluck & fellowship at Jane Robertson’s home

Jan 15: “A Leap of Faith” by David Latimer
Leader: Claudia Holtzman

Feb 5: Conversation/discussion around the Sunday sermon: what it means to each person, the impact in relationship to God and others and how it might encourage self reflection and what that might be.
Leader: Pam Jamison

Mar 4, Apr 1 & May 6: “The Liturgy of the Ordinary” by Tish Harrison Warren, leader TBA

Attention horn, trombone, euphonium & baritone players: the Derry Brass welcomes you to join them in providing music for 10:30 am worship. Rehearsals are held at Derry Church on Tuesday evenings. Please email Scott Ramirez or call him at 717-867-0399.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. Describe a time when you have been part of a joyful celebration. What made it special? How did it make you feel?
2. What does the word “glory” mean to you? How would describe the glory of God? Where do you see the glory of God manifested in your life or in the world?
3. “Water into wine” has become a cliché. Have you ever had the experience of something ordinary in your life becoming a means of grace? Did you recognize it at the time?

• Approved hiring Haily Radnor as Derry’s Nursery Childcare Leader. Derry Discovery Days submitted the following individuals as candidates for open positions: Krissy Leonard, Katie Pieper, Chelsea Kraus, Kelsey Freeman, and Stephanie Crandall. All were approved.
• Approved the following building use requests: Use of Room 1 during the DDD school year by Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 for speech/language therapy, use of the sanctuary on Thursday, December 28 for the wedding of Kate Valenziano & Bill Parrish, and use of the sanctuary/fellowship hall on Saturday June 8, 2024 for the wedding/reception of Dan Dorty & Sarah Hykes.
• Transferred the membership of Eric & Kimberly Goetter to South Aiken Presbyterian Church in Aiken, South Carolina.
• July income again was below budget with expenses also less than budget. Year-to-date actual income continues to be ahead of total expenses.
• The Personnel Committee requested that the hourly pay rate for Nursery Childcare Workers be raised from $12 to $15/hr to improve Derry’s ability to attract candidates for the position. The Session approved the request.
• Reviewed updated fee schedules for weddings and funerals, which have not been increased for many years. The Session approved the new schedules as submitted.
• Rev. Marie Buffaloe and Rev. Brad Bradburn wish to purchase Derry cemetery plots. Since they are not members of Derry, this request was brought before the Session for discussion. The request was approved.
• The Peace and Global Witness offering will be collected throughout September. Each church retains half of the offering collected and distributes it to a local mission project. This year, Derry’s half will be distributed to the Harrisburg YWCA.
• The Mission Committee requested that Alaa Haikal be permitted to use the church kitchen for food preparation which she will sell through CWS/Global Marketplace. Alaa is a skilled baker, and her use of the kitchen is supported by Loretta Chubb and will be supervised by the mission committee. The Session approved the request.

• New start time for Prime Timers weekly fellowship changes to 12:45 pm as of Monday, Sept 11
• New start time for Derry’s weekly evening worship in the Chapel moves to 6 pm beginning Tuesday, Sept 12

“Rally Day” Sunday School Kick-Off
9:15 AM SUNDAY, SEPT 10 
Each year we love to kick off our programs with a joyful day of celebration! Mark your calendars now and make plans to join. Children can check out their new classroom spaces, meet teachers and have fun getting to know their classmates. 

Kids Fellowship is Back!
12 PM SUNDAY, SEPT 10
Kids in grades 3-5 are invited to our first fellowship event of the program year following the 10:30 am service. We’ll join forces with our youth group and take over GET AIR in Harrisburg. 

Music & Creative Arts
5:45 PM TUESDAYS BEGINNING SEPT 12
Come have dinner at the church on Tuesday evenings, then stick around for music and creative arts programming. 

10:30 am – 12 pm Thursdays in room 7
This study group, led by Jan Nixon, will discuss Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine.

9:15-10:15 am Sundays beginning Oct 8 in room 2
Weekly study group led by Jenn Owsley. The letter of James is a short book with a lot of wisdom and practical advice on living the faith we profess. This discussion-based class will use James as a guide to sharing how our faith plays out in our day-to-day lives, priorities, and choices. Participants will be challenged through this letter to reflect on how we follow Christ’s teachings and share His love with the world, and how we can do it better. 

11:45 am Sundays in the Chapel
Pastor Stephen’s 11-minute lessons are back! Join him as he takes the books of First and Second Peter verse by verse as together we get to know and understand these complete letters.

11 am Mondays in the Hammond Library
This weekly study group will be considering When Christians Get It Wrong by Adam Hamilton. Contact Claudia Holtzman for more information.

7 pm on the first Monday of the month beginning Oct 2 in Room 7 and on Zoom
First up for the monthly women’s study group is a discussion of Kate Moore’s The Woman They Could Not Silence, led by Jane Robertson. Contact Sue George for more information.

1 pm on the third Wednesday of the month beginning Sept 20 in the Lounge
The Presbyterian Women’s Morning Circle Bible study for 2023-24 is Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts. For more information, contact Doris Feil.

More options with Pastor Stephen:

• Men’s breakfast at 7:30 am on the first Wednesday of the month in Fellowship Hall
• Monthly Bible Study with Prime Timers, 12:30 pm Mondays in room 7 (12:45 pm beginning Sept 11)

Derry Church and Rebuilding Together Greater Harrisburg have been given permission to begin construction of a ramp at 197 Houston, Grantville. The posts have been set. If you would like to help complete the project, further construction will begin at 10 am Wednesday, August 30. Bring a lunch and something to drink. If you can be there, please contact Charlie Koch or Pete Feil.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. When are you most impatient? What is really hard for you to wait for?
2. Have you ever wanted God to act sooner on a prayer, a request, or a change? What was it like waiting and seeing nothing happen? What feelings did that cause?
3. What does it mean for you to trust God even when it’s hard to wait on God to act? Have you ever experienced God acting in the past that helps you remember to trust in the future?

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 7/31/23:

Treasurer’s note: July income was again below budget. July expenses were below budget. Income vs expenses for July was $29,981.

Long-time nursery worker Sue Fox has retired, and we’re celebrating her care and ministry to the children of Derry Church on Sunday, Sept 10. You’re invited to bring cards for her that day, or mail cards to the church ahead of time. Even better, your presence is welcome and appreciated on this special day.

The Parsonage Ministry Manager provides day-to-day leadership for two Love INC Parsonages. This position is responsible to lead the volunteer House Managers and Housekeepers at each location, monitor building operations, and network with Social Workers and Care Coordinators at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. This part-time position reports to the Love INC Executive Director. View job description and apply.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. Do you ever feel over-worked, over stressed, and over committed? How did you get that way?
2. How do you practice sabbath rest, and if you don’t, what keeps you from it?
3. How does worship help you remember what is important in life and what our time is for? How could worship do that better?

REGISTRATION 9:15-9:45 AM SATURDAY, AUG 19 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

All women are invited to the PW in Carlisle Presbytery Gathering at Derry Church. For the morning session, Emily Sutphin — associate minister at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church — will introduce this year’s PW Bible study, “Sacred Encounters.”  

The afternoon program, Refugee Resettlement, provides insights and information on Derry’s experience with helping a Syrian refugee family settle in the community. A light lunch will be served ($5 donation). 

RSVP to Doris Feil or Loretta Chubb.

11:45 AM SUNDAY, AUG 13 IN THE YOUTH ROOM

Youth and parents who would like to learn more about Derry’s 2023-24 Confirmation program are invited to meet in the Youth Room with Pastor Stephen after Sunday worship.

Confirmation is an opportunity for youth to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus and be a member of the church. Confirmation is typically for youth in 8th and 9th grades, but exceptions can be made.

Questions? Contact Pastor Stephen.

12 PM MONDAY, SEPT 18 AT SKYLINE COMMONS PARK, UPPER PAVILION, 305 SHORT STREET, WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP

Save the date for a combined Derry Day Trippers and Prime Timers potluck lunch! 

More information will be available closer to the event. Questions? Contact Kathy McGrath (717-635-5525).

9:15-10:15 AM SUNDAYS, AUG 13-20-27 IN ROOM 2

Join Jack Keene and friends for a three-part video series, “Christian History Made Easy” presented by Dr. Timothy Jones. Participants will watch a 30-minute DVD on early church history, then spend the remaining class time discussing what they heard and saw.

Here’s the schedule for this adult education series:

AUG 13:  The First Christians 1-100 AD. The general question is proposed, “Can you be a Christian without dealing with history?”  This timeframe is when God enters history in the form of Jesus Christ. Christianity is an historical faith. There were many witnesses, not all recalling Jesus in the same manner. There is a study of Luke’s writings, and an account of Rome burning and how it was blamed on early Christians. 

AUG 20:  Defending the Truth 100-300 AD. Discusses the modern effect of The Da Vinci Code. There were many different Christianities in the early church. How were the books of the New Testament chosen? Defines the Christian beliefs of the Ebionites, Docetists, Gnostics and the Marcionites. 

AUG 27:  From Persecuted to Preferred 300-500 AD. Emperor Diocletian split the Roman Empire into East and West.  Galerius convinces Diocletian that Christians were against him and thus Christians became persecuted.  Constantine and his army subsequently captured Rome and Constantine became a Christian Emperor. Christianity first became legal. The Council of Nicaea convened bringing together church leaders from all over. The “real St. Nicholas” is documented.

Here’s a quick look at upcoming Derry Church events you can add to your calendar. More details coming soon:

10:30 am Sunday, Aug 20
BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS/Sanctuary

7 pm Thursday, Aug 24
CHOIR REHEARSALS BEGIN/Room 7

Friday & Saturday, Sept 8-9
CONFIRMATION RETREAT/Gretna Glen

Sunday, Sept 10
RALLY DAY
RECEPTION FOR SUE FOX, NURSERY CAREGIVER

Tuesday, Sept 12
TERRIFIC TUESDAY KICKOFF/Fellowship Hall (5 pm)
DERRY RINGERS REHEARSALS BEGIN/Choir Room (7:30 pm)

Friday-Sunday, Sept 22-24
KRISLUND FAMILY WEEKEND/Krislund Camp

4 pm Sunday, Sept 24
ARTS ALIVE PIANO/ORGAN CONCERT with Dan Dorty and Tyler Canonico/Sanctuary

The following are questions you are invited to ponder and discuss this week with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. Has a loved one ever had a problem, pain, or suffering that you couldn’t fix? How did you feel and what did you do?
2. Calvin’s idea of “Total Depravity” doesn’t mean we are awful, but that even at our best we can mess things up. Have you ever tried to help someone or do something good for someone but ended up making things worse?
3. Sometimes we have to do all we can to make things right and sometimes we need to let God handle it. That takes wisdom. How do you know when to try to fix a situation and when you need to leave it to God?
4. How can trusting that “God can make it right” help you offer forgiveness and find peace in the midst of pain or injustice?

Stop by the church nursery on Sunday morning and say hello to Haily Rador, our new Nursery Child Care Leader. In this role, she provides nurturing, loving care for the young children of Derry Church, and coordinates and schedules paid nursery staff and volunteers to assure adequate coverage.

Haily and her family moved to Pennsylvania in 2018 after her husband retired from the Air Force. She is mom to five children in a family that includes two dogs, a parakeet, three fish, two leopard geckos and a bearded dragon. Haily has more than 18 years’ experience working in childcare, including two years at Derry Discovery Days’ Preschool.

Haily loves music (singing), hiking, RV-ing, playing sports (she coaches and plays volleyball), watching movies, the outdoors and (almost) all creatures. The Radnor’s youngest two kiddos attended preschool at DDD where she fell in love with the kids and people of Derry Church.

Says Haily, “I am so excited to be at Derry with the children and their families and look forward to meeting you!”

1-2 PM WEDNESDAY, AUG 23 (AND SUBSEQUENT FOURTH WEDNESDAYS) ON ZOOM: CLICK TO JOIN

“Health Time with Nurse Beckie “ is a new one-hour health class on Zoom presented by our own Faith Community Nurse, Beckie Freiberg. Join her on the fourth Wednesday of each month to discuss a new health topic.

Beckie will give a 15-20 minute presentation, followed by discussion and questions. On Aug 23, the focus will be on Lyme disease and ticks, and in following months she will cover topics including diabetes, type 1 & 2 and metabolic syndrome, cold and flu season precautions, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, health maintenance and screenings, and what you need to know before traveling internationally.  

You and your friends and family are invited to join Beckie for these informative conversations. Contact Beckie with your suggestions for future Health Time topics.

August is the final month to Let Reading Take You Places in Derry’s Ruth Codington Lending Library.

It’s time to travel the globe and “book” your ticket to anywhere! See India through the eyes of 17 year old Lakshmi in The Henna Artist, head to Victorian England in Anne Perry’s mystery No Graves As Yet, or find out the fate of the Price family’s mission in the Belgian Congo in Barbara Kingsolver’s Poisonwood Bible. Get a head start on our 300th Anniversary trip with a book on Scottish customs, learn about the three faiths of Jerusalem, or peruse the biblical prints of Japanese printmaker Sadao Watanabe. And if you still haven’t followed Liz Gilbert through Italy (Eat), India (Pray), and Bali (Love), now is your chance!

While you’re at the library picking up your next entry in the Summer Reading Contest (Aug 13 deadline approaching fast!), visit the Staff Shelf to see their travel reading recommendations. Then, add your votes to the This or That graffiti wall (eat cacio y pepe in Italy OR carne asada in Argentina?) Don’t forget, you can browse books any time in our online catalog.

Here’s a new way to keep the conversation going after Sunday worship: gather your family, friends, small group, or committee to discuss a few questions based on the sermon. Here are four questions for the week of August 6: 

1. What comes to mind when someone talks about the Book of Revelation? What’s been your impression of the book?
2. What did you learn about Revelation and its context from the sermon?
3. What image, illustration, story, phrase, or message really stuck out to you from the sermon? Why?
4. Do you believe there will be a day when all that has gone wrong will be made right? What do you hope that looks like specifically for you right now?