Mar 2023 Session Highlights

March 22, 2023

  • Approved baptismal instruction and baptism for five families to occur over the summer months.
  • Approved several building use requests:
    • July 21, 2023 Fellowship Hall & Nursery. Requested by Lauren Talhelm on behalf of the Partners in Medicine group at Penn State Hershey.
    • May 6 & 17, 2024 Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall. Susquehanna Chorale 2024 spring
      rehearsal & concert.
  • Approved the creation of the new staff role and position description for a Faith Community
    Nurse. To support this position, a subcommittee of the Membership & Involvement Committee, known as the Health and Wellness Team, was created. This group will work closely with the Faith Community Nurse to help facilitate the health and wellness ministries of the church. The Personnel Committee has formed a search team, which will be identifying and interviewing candidates for the position.
  • Reviewed February’s financial reports.
  • The Stewardship & Finance committee submitted a Capital Procurement Requisition for 
    replacement of the roof on the Mansion Road property. The cost of the replacement is $12,225. This item will be reviewed over the next month by the church committees and voted upon at the April session meeting.
  • Approved dates to serve communion in 2024.
  • The children in the Children & Sacraments class will be permitted to assist with serving
    communion (with their parents’ help) at the Maundy Thursday worship service.
  • The Mission & Peace Committee has spent time considering several hands-on community
    projects to coincide with Derry’s 300th anniversary. They presented two local projects at the meeting, which the Session reviewed and approved:
    • The first project partners with Veterans of Pennsylvania in constructing a “tiny home” village in south Harrisburg (next to the PennDOT building) to house and support homeless veterans. Derry will be sponsoring one of the homes at a cost of $50,000 to be contributed by the end of 2023. We will have the opportunity to assist with the construction when it begins in 2024.
    • The second project is assisting with the construction of the 5th grade classroom at Logos Academy in Harrisburg. Derry previously helped the school’s expansion of grades 2 and 3. The cost of this project is $50,000 and fundraising will begin in 2024.
  • More information on both projects will be provided to all along with ways that individuals can contribute to these community mission projects.