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- At the Session meeting on December 18, the Session met with incoming officers: elders Bill Alexander and Matt Smoluk, and incoming deacon Lynn Porter, to examine them as required by the Book of Order. All were approved and will be ordained/installed at Sunday worship on January 12, 2025.
- The Session approved a request from the Susquehanna Chorale to use the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, January 18 from 9 am-12 pm.
- Updates to the active membership roll were approved.
- Approved Derry’s 2025 operating budget as follows: $1,399,951 income, $1,443,081 expenses, leaving a projected deficit of $43,130. Historically, expenses are less than budget projections and with the addition of a portion of the income from the Anderson Trust, any shortfall, if it occurs, can be minimized. The Session also reviewed and approved the budget for the management of Derry’s rental properties.
- Stewardship & Finance reported that with the end-of-year giving and underspending of budgets by the committees, we will end 2024 with a budget surplus. The Session will address how to use the surplus at the January 2025 meeting when final 2024 figures are available.
- Using the Churches Helping Churches grant program, the Session awarded grants to two churches in the Carlisle Presbytery: Wells Valley and Monaghan. A third grant was made to Wesley AME Zion Church in Harrisburg through the Futures Fund.
- Financial counters who will assist Summer Hakkinen with the preparation of contribution deposits were approved.
- Approved a Stewardship & Finance request to obtain a credit card for Shawn Bentley from Northwest Savings with a $5,000 limit.
- Approved the Presbyterian Women 2024 collections: Blanket + Fund, Birthday and Thank offerings. The Cookie Walk Jumbles Shop event will be held Saturday, Dec 6.
- The Session is thankful for member contributions to the Terrific Tuesday free meal program. To bolster the fund for 2025, $7,500 was moved from the Futures Fund to the meal program.
- The term of active service will end in January for elders: Ryan Bartz, Cindy DeMuth, Becca Farbaniec, Tom Kitzmiller, Pam Whitenack and Julie Yutesler. Thank you to these elders for their leadership over the past three years, which included many upgrades to the church building, staff transitions, and celebrating Derry’s 300th anniversary.