Month: October 2023

I am so incredibly lucky to have grown up in Derry Presbyterian Church. The number of opportunities I have been given from when I was in elementary school in Pilgrim Fellowship to now as a college senior have been so numerous. I remember in Pilgrim Fellowship being lucky to have opportunities like going out to the apple orchard together, having lock-ins, and shopping together for our Giving Tree gifts. It was the little gatherings that really showed me God’s love in big ways.

As I got older, I joined Youth Group and started to go on trips! The first trip I ever went on was our Philadelphia missions’ trip in 2017. I was a freshman in high school, and I was very nervous to go on this trip. It was the first time I had ever been on a trip like this on my own. However, that trip opened a door to a new part of my life, traveling and serving. I am so grateful that Derry continued to give us trips to go on after that, like Montreat and Triennium! Each trip has helped me grow in God’s love and show his love to others. Because of these trips I was able to continue my love of serving by going to Poland on a service trip in 2022 and going to Italy this past summer to work with refugees! I am also excited to be able to go on a trip to Ireland next summer to learn about our church and grow in my faith while we’re there. 

Derry truly provides so many opportunities to grow and share God’s love, and it’s important to appreciate them and take those opportunities. You may never know the kind of impact it can make in your own life.

Pastor Stephen asked Ron and me to write this article for the eNews reflecting on how we can relate to the theme “God Gives,” which has been chosen for the Fall stewardship emphasis this year.

Carrying out this request actually gave us the opportunity to stop and reflect on the many many gifts that we have received from God, especially since joining Derry Church in May 2022.

During my lifetime, I have developed a theory that has been proven over and over again. Ron teases me about my commitment to it, but he has seen real results many times…whenever we engaged in acts of “giving to others” (of our time, talents, money or other resources) we have been rewarded many times over in one way or another. I truly believe that God has provided us with our needs (and then some) because we have been among the “givers” of life. [You have heard, I’m sure, that humans are sometimes classified as “givers” or “takers”.] We have come to believe that because God first gave to us… in response, and in trying to follow His example, we give to others – which results in us being rewarded with good feelings and/or positive outcomes in return.

Throughout our lives, God has provided Ron and me with choices to make, which, because of our choices, led us in directions that have been good for us. One of the choices he gave us in 2021 and 2022, was to come to Derry and eventually join this congregation.

We have found that the Derry congregation, as an entity, could definitely be classified as “a giver.” We developed this premise from our very first encounters with the church and its members, and continue to feel this way today, as exemplified by –

The friendliness and genuine caring that we have received from those we encounter at whatever church activity we attend…

The manner in which members (and their friends and family) are prayed for, and provided with visits, prayer shawls, meals, transportation, grief support, and whatever compassionate care is needed and/or appropriate…

The myriad of opportunities provided by the church for individuals to utilize their interests, skills and God-given talents, as well as the utilization of the resources of the congregation to serve others through the diverse programs that Derry has designed to reach out to the community…

The sense of belonging and accomplishment that we have felt by being active with the Sanctuary Choir under the leadership and care of Dan Dorty…

The detailed planning by the staff, and active participation by congregational members, that we have observed, which results in the coordination of every aspect of each worship service to make it flow smoothly and reverently…

The attention paid by the Session members to appropriately carry out the responsibilities of the governing body of this church, particularly in the area of personnel changes and needs…

The passionate dedication to, as well as the resources solicited and committed to, mission projects — which span ages, socioeconomic circumstances, geographic locations and various categories of societal needs… and,

The way in which Pastor Stephen reminds us of our responsibilities to God to carry out God’s plans (for this congregation, our community and this world in general), through our actions and interactions.

At Derry we have observed the congregation’s stated mission in action: God’s word is proclaimed, God’s love is shared, and there is a conscious effort to practice justice in God’s name. In response to what God has given to Derry Church, the extensive programming is the congregation’s gift to each other.

We are thankful that God has given us the opportunity to worship and interact with the members of Derry Church, and by doing so, to “give back to God” by sharing God’s love with others through the many loving efforts of this congregation.

When Elise and I moved back to the Hershey area in the mid 1960s, we were looking for a church home where we could raise our family in a caring church, a place where we could grow our faith through worship, mission, music and the youth program. We found that at Derry and started our journey in 1968.

After several years, I was ordained as an Elder and joined the Worship Committee. In the early 1970s the Vietnam war was a contentious time for the youth and adults. The Worship Committee got the youth involved in plays and musicals starting in 1971. It was expanded with adults and youth, not only from the congregation but the community who participated in plays and full musicals. This was the start of the Vesper Series, which later began ARTS ALIVE! We continue today to praise God through music and the arts with ARTS ALIVE!  thanks to the support of our congregation and the community.

Elise and I had a number of opportunities to travel with the Derry travel group over the years. One of the most emotional trips was to Israel, where we had communion at the tomb, walked where Jesus walked, and touched the Jordan river where Jesus was baptized. Another trip was taking a journey in parts of Europe to many of the early biblical sites and tracing how Christianity spread throughout the world. In 1999 we traveled to Northern Ireland, where we traced our Derry heritage and witnessed reconciliation in that area.

We know that all of the programs at Derry require participation and finances. The foundation for my wanting to help others started when I was 10 years old. The church I grew up in was looking for a family to adopt in Germany after WWII and help them to recover. My family adopted a family of five in Germany.  Although we were a family of six children, we would send a care package to the family every three months for several years. Still, today I remember that act as forming my future giving ministry.

Over the years Elise and I supported Derry with our time and money as best we could.  We filled out the envelopes each week for many years before changing to online giving.

Elise was one who worked behind the scenes. She helped me prepare communion for over 25 years.  She cut the bread while I filled the cups, then she would check to see that everything was  just right on the communion table.

Elise’s journey at Derry ended earlier this year, but her journey continues with the Lord.  We appreciate the caring congregation we have at Derry for the many cards and prayers, and for the choir coming to our home and singing hymns for Elise. We also appreciated the comfort provided by the caring people of Hospice who saw us through this difficult time.

We were blessed to find a church home that provides so many ways to grow our faith — through worship and many programs, and through our strong mission focus locally and around the world.

Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month, the eNews feature article highlights the mission focus for that month. In October we’re lifting up the 2023 CROP Walk, one way we can take action to care for hungry people in our community and around the world. This message written by Jane first appeared as a feature article in the 2011 eNews and is just as relevant today as it was 12 years ago.

Post worship fellowships, Terrific Tuesdays, corn roasts, cookie walks: these are just a few of the food-related events that we enjoy here at Derry Church. We sure do love to eat! 

Fortunately for us, food is abundant. But that’s not the case for many people around the globe, as well as here in the United States. Worldwide, over a billion people are hungry – half of them are children. In the U.S. more than 36 million do not get enough to eat.

Sometimes when I hear troubling statistics such as these, I wonder what can I possibly do to make a difference? Perhaps you, too, have had similar thoughts. Well, one thing we can do is to make a commitment to participate in the 38th Annual Hershey/Hummelstown Crop Hunger Walk on Sunday, October 22.

Top reasons why you should support this walk:

• It is great exercise – a lovely 5k walk on the grounds of the Milton Hershey School.
• It is a family- friendly/pet-friendly mission event.
• It is an opportunity to socialize with folks from the community.
• Your donation will help meet our community goal of raising $10,000.
• In past years we’ve had as many as 60 walkers. With your participation, Derry could top that number this year.
• 25% of the money raised stays in our community to support local food banks
• 75% of the money raised is used by Church World Service to feed hungry people around the globe.

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS WALK: 

It is the Christian thing to do.

…if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noon day. 

(Isaiah 58:10)

Ok, now that I have convinced you to participate, here is what you need to know to get started:

1. Mark your calendar and join the Walk on Sunday, October 22 at 2 pm on the Milton Hershey School grounds. 
2. Invite family, friends, and leashed pets to join you.
3. Request donations from family, friends, and neighbors.
4. Register for the walk online or at the registration table in the Narthex on Oct 8, 15, and 22 between services and after the 10:30 am service. Registration and donations will also be accepted at the CROP Walk. Look for the registration table near the start line.
5. Make a donation: you can give online or make checks payable to CWS/CROP.
6. Contact Marilyn Koch, Carl Rohr, or me if you have questions.

That’s it. Simple! So mark your calendar, recruit your family and friends, lace up your sneakers, and let’s all help to end hunger – one step at time.