Author: Susan George

What’s the most important word in the Bible? There are a lot of good answers: love, salvation, grace, and Jesus. We tend to think of important words in terms of belief: the most important words in the Bible must be about our belief, right? 

When I was studying at the Corrymeela community in Northern Ireland two summers ago, one thing that was said stood out above all others. It’s that we must hold relationships above beliefs. So often seminaries and churches focus so much on right belief, but we don’t spend enough time on right relationships. This idea of holding relationships above belief has changed my answer to the question: what is the most important word in the Bible?

The Christmas story reminds me of the power of this word. The angel says to Joseph, “‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’” And then in John’s gospel, we get the summary statement of what Christmas means: “The Word became flesh and lived with us.” It’s an unprepossessing little word, but this is the word that lies at the heart of Christmas and at the heart of the Christian faith. The word is “with.” 

Think back to the very beginning of all things. John’s gospel says, “The Word was with God. He was in the beginning with God. Without him not one thing came into being.” In other words, before anything else, there was a “with.” The “with” between God and the Word, or as Christians came to call it, between the Father and the Son. “With” is the most fundamental thing about God. And then think about how Jesus concludes his ministry. His very last words in Matthew’s gospel are, “Behold, I am with you always.” In other words, there will never be a time when I am not “with.” And at the very end of the Bible, when the book of Revelation describes the final disclosure of God’s everlasting destiny, this is what the voice from heaven says: “Behold, the home of God is with mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them.” 

We’ve stumbled upon the most important word in the Bible, the word that describes the heart of God and the nature of God’s purpose and destiny for us. That word is “with.” That’s what God was in the very beginning, that’s what God sought to instill in the creation of all things, that’s what God was looking for in making the covenant with Israel, that’s what God coming among us in Jesus was all about, that’s what the sending of the Holy Spirit meant, that’s what our destiny in the company of God will look like. It’s all in that little word “with.” God’s whole life and action and purpose are shaped to be “with” us.

At Christmas God said unambiguously, “I am ‘with’.” Behold, my dwelling is among you. I’ve moved into the neighborhood. I will be “with” you always. My name is Emmanuel, God “with” us.

The story of the Bible, the good news of the Gospel, the joy of Christmas is “with.” God is with us, but we are also designed and made to be with each other. We need each other. We cannot be Christian or truly human alone. 

So much of the Bible is about how to live well in this world with each other. The promised day of God looks like wolf laying down with lamb, lion and calf dancing with each other, all of God’s children at the same table with one another. 

We’ve been talking about “Home for Christmas” this Advent. Home isn’t a place; it’s a way of being and living. Home is with God and with one another not just in physical presence but in purpose and love and spirit. With is not always easy. Relationships are hard. Those who have large extended families and in-laws coming for Christmas may attest to the stress of “with.” We do not always live with each other well, as the news is quick to remind us. We are not home yet, the world is not as it should be.

God, above all, knows how exasperating, ungrateful, thoughtless and self-destructive company we can be. Most of the time we just want God to fix it, and spare us the relationship. But that’s not God’s way. God could have done it all on his own. But God chose not to. God chose to do it “with” us. Even though it cost the cross. That’s the wonder of Christmas. That’s the amazing news of the word “with.”

This fall and winter I have continued to have the privilege of making music with the kids of Derry Church.  Our schedule looks a little different this year from last year. Some parts are the same, on Sunday mornings from 9:00-9:15 am, I still make music with preschool through 5th grade children. On Tuesdays, however, we have done some rearranging.  From 5:45-6:05 pm, I make music with preschool children and their families; from 6:05-6:35 pm, I make music with K-2nd grade children; from 6:35-7:00 pm, I make music with 3rd-5th grade children; and from 7:00-7:20 pm, I ring bells and chimes with 3rd-5th grade children. All of our groups, especially our 3rd-5th graders have been BUSY!

The 3rd-5th grade group has already sung and rung in worship three times this school year, AND they are getting ready to do it again on Christmas Eve at 5 pm! We are looking forward to a slightly slower paced January. The songs they have been working on are much more complicated than what they worked on last year. The vocal range is larger, the songs are longer, and some have had multiple parts happening at once. The K-2nd group sang on Children’s Sunday and are getting ready to sing on Christmas Eve.  They are working hard on consistently staying in their singing voice, accurately echoing pitch, keeping a steady beat, and playing musical games together. Our new group, the preschool and family group, has been having fun exploring together. Adults and kids alike ride “Engine No. 9,” sing and move at rabbit or turtle speed, and learn songs together.

While all the groups work very hard to get ready to lead worship, that is never the primary focus. Rather, we are exploring our faith together and building a safe, nurturing, joyful community in the process. These kids are kind, joyful, curious, and extremely hard-working. It is a privilege to be in community with them every week.

Come, rejoice and celebrate the wonder and mystery of the birth of the Christ Child with the choirs of Derry Church as they take you on a journey to Bethlehem! 

The Sanctuary Choir and Derry Ringers will  join with soprano and tenor soloists Nina Cline and Christian Seay to present our 2023 Christmas concert, Gaudete!* The concert features works by Dan Forrest, including his settings of O Little Town of Bethlehem for choir, piano, and soprano saxophone, and Angels from the Realms of Glory for four-hand piano and violin. 

The orchestra will accompany the choir in my setting of The First Noël, and you’ll enjoy  J. David Moore’s stirring setting of Gaudete with choir, soloists, and tambourine. Harold Darke’s alternate tune set to the text In the Bleak Midwinter features Nina and Chris accompanied by our Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. You’ll also hear accompanists well-known to Derry: pianists Mary Lemons and Kurestin Miller, and organist Mark O’Hearn.

Other works include Mary Did You Know?, Angels Carol by John Rutter, and Alfred Burt’s beloved Caroling, Caroling. The Derry Ringers will perform two well-known carols, Fum, Fum, Fum and the Ukrainian Bell Carol, more commonly referred to as Carol of the Bells. 

The concert begins this Sunday, December 10 at 2 pm** and 5 pm in the Sanctuary, but you’ll want to get there 10 minutes early to hear a pre-concert recital by our harpist, Marilla Clay.  Join us for a sojourn that begins with a star above the stable, on a cold winter’s night where Mary, Joseph, and the Babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, await the shepherds and wise men. As we lift our voices together, I pray that each audience member will be caught up in the most tender warmth of love that the most humble birth of Jesus gives to each of us.

* In case you were wondering, Gaudete means “rejoice” — an apt description for this concert orchestrated to fill your heart with Christmas joy.

** You can also attend the 2 pm concert by live stream, but I heartily encourage you to attend in person, if at all possible. Click here to download the concert program.

Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month (or close to it), the eNews feature article highlights the mission focus for the month. In December we’re lifting up the Christmas Joy Offering and Stop the Violence, recipient of a portion of that offering. 

On Sunday, when I push through the curiously heavy doors that lead into Derry Church, I’m reminded about how much God has blessed our church with many amazing gifts. With those gifts comes a weighty responsibility to do our best to love and support our neighbors in the community, especially the vulnerable.

Who is vulnerable? Surprisingly, the vulnerable look just like you and me. They have jobs, but maybe don’t make enough to support a family. They have children, but lack affordable healthcare or childcare. They have housing, but struggle to have enough left over each month to pay for heat and other utilities.  

God reminds us in Proverbs 31:8-9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

The Christmas Joy Offering is one of four special offerings received by the Presbyterian Church (USA) during the year.  This month and on Christmas Eve, Derry Church is receiving the Christmas Joy Offering. Derry Church will share a portion of our 2023 Christmas Joy Offering with Stop the Violence (STV) in Harrisburg. STV supports those that are vulnerable by providing counseling for women of domestic violence, as well as providing food, clothing, gifts and school supplies to families and elderly in need. 

Rev. Mim Harvey, President and Founder, provides this update:

This is a very sad time for our area, as we experience high levels of crime and poverty. Many mothers and grandmothers are raising children on their own. People are hurting. The high cost of food and necessities, like clothing and diapers, is also an issue for our community.

So, what will the Christmas Joy Offering mean to an organization like STV?

• Secure food that is delivered to seniors that are afraid to come out, that don’t have transportation, or that don’t have relatives.
• Fund Thanksgiving food baskets for over 100 families, including turkeys and the works for dinner.
• Purchase new coats for needy children.
• Support a drive-by Christmas party serving 125 children with Christmas toys and candy bags (with a special appearance from Santa Claus!).
• Provide blankets, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks to the homeless.

In other words, donating to the Christmas Joy Offering will mean fewer hungry mouths, warmer people on the streets, reduced anxiety for mothers, grandmothers, and the elderly. It will mean that children in the community will be happier and healthier.

As you think about how you can spread love and joy this holiday, consider giving to the Christmas Joy Offering and helping lift up those in need. Click here to donate online or notate checks “Christmas Joy Offering.”

To learn more about Stop the Violence and ways you can volunteer, contact me. 

Thank you, Derry Presbyterian Church. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow as a faith leader over the last five and a half years.  Thank you for your unending support and encouragement. Thank you for helping our children’s ministry programs grow by volunteering in our classrooms, surrounding us with your thoughts and prayers, joining us for special events, and sharing your gift of time, talents or financial contributions to our various programs. Thank you for joining with the Derry family for our whole church events like the Church Picnic and Corn Roast. Thank you for helping our Prime Timers program on Monday afternoons become a wonderful fellowship opportunity for the adults of the church.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to lead and serve you. 

This Thanksgiving season I find myself extra full of gratitude.  As I prepare to transition from my role as a church staff member to a congregation member, I feel incredibly thankful that I do not have to step away from this wonderful church family. While I will need to remove myself from our children’s ministry programs to allow Shawn Gray the opportunity to grow into his role at Derry, I am thankful that I can still be active in so many other ways.  

I am thankful to have Shawn joining us on December 1 so that we can share a month working together.  What a blessing for Derry Church to have this overlap time. I look forward to showing Shawn all the gifts that Derry Church offers to our church family, and the community, through our programming, education, care, time and talents.  

The next few months will be different for us all. However, if we focus on the many church blessings we have and allow that to guide our hearts, this time of transition will be more joyful. As I was preparing for many Thanksgiving lessons between Sunday School, KIWI, fellowship, my preschool classroom and Prime Timers, I came across the following quote from Maya Angelou and it has stuck with me…

“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” 

I hope during this time of transition at the church, and during the Thanksgiving season, that you will find a way to stay present and thankful. My prayers consistently include prayers of thanksgiving for the unending helping hands we seem to have for one another, the level of stewardship for our beautiful and vibrant church building, the warmth and joyfulness you feel as you enter our church for worship, the thoughts and preparations made for each program and event held at the church, and the genuine care, help and thoughtfulness shared by everyone. Being present and thankful is much easier when you are with this church family.

As we approach my last month working at the church, I want you all to know how thankful I am for the last five and half years. What a blessing this chapter has been in my life. I look forward to this next chapter together as I continue to worship, grow in my faith and share my gifts alongside each of you.

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

With love and gratitude, 

🙂 M.E.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18 

If you haven’t already heard or read about it, next year Derry Church will commemorate 300 years of being Presbyterian and witnessing to our faith in Christ. Planning has been under way for almost three years now. It is my hope that we will not only look back, but also celebrate who we are today and what we aspire to be in the future.

To that end, 2024 will be filled with opportunities to celebrate, to explore our history, and to fulfill our mission to proclaim God’s word, share God’s love, and practice God’s justice. The year-long celebration will feature events and educational opportunities to learn more about Presbyterian history and Derry Church’s past, special musical performances, church family gatherings, special mission projects and a rededication of our church cemetery, established in 1734.

HERITAGE
Derry Church has a rich and sometimes uncomfortable history. To help us better understand our past, each month we will be sharing an essay in the weekly eNews that explores different aspects of our history.

Sadly, many of Derry Church’s earliest records were destroyed in a fire. At that time Derry did not have a pastor, the old Derry sanctuary had been torn down the preceding year and the Chapel was under construction. The church records had been moved to the attic of the Paxton Presbyterian Church manse, which caught fire on August 24, 1894. Without those records, it would be difficult to try and write a formal church history. Instead, our goal with these essays is to put Derry Church in context with a broader history of the region and the state.

Once a month our worship services will include a heritage moment focused on the monthly topic. On another Sunday each month, a heritage moment will focus on a profile of one of our saints buried in our cemetery.

An important part of the anniversary year will be the rededication of our cemetery. During the past two years, the cemetery has undergone a major restoration. Two of the cemetery walls were rebuilt, gravestones were repaired and straightened, and volunteers cleaned gravestones. The cemetery was regraded and reseeded. Plans are underway to rededicate the cemetery as part of our Homecoming Sunday celebration that will be held next fall.

EDUCATION
The Adult Education sub-committee has developed a series of classes to explore the history of Native American and European settler relations during the 18th and 19th centuries. A series of five classes, one held each month as part of the Issues class, will be presented.

A learning tour to Lancaster County is planned to explore parts of our history that we might not know regarding Presbyterian and European settler relations with Native peoples. It is our hope that these opportunities to learn about our past will help us to ask questions about how we might respond to this history. 

Pastor Stephen and his wife, Courtney, will offer classes to explore the Scottish and Irish origins of Presbyterianism and why Derry’s founders chose to settle here in Central Pennsylvania.

There will also be an opportunity for all Derry members to join together in reading a special book. Authored by Reverend David Latimer, A Leap of Faith: How Martin McGuinness and I Worked Together for Peace, is a memoir of how two men stepped out of their comfort zones to work together towards change and reconciliation in Derry, Northern Ireland. A variety of discussion groups will be created to explore this book. Reading and discussing the book will be a wonderful opportunity to prepare for the arrival next fall of the author, David Latimer, Derry’s homecoming weekend special guest.

Derry Church children are already exploring our church history through the growth and development of the church campus over the past 300 years. Through artwork and writing, the children are creating a Derry Church history picture book that will be available for sale in the fall of 2024. Monies raised will be directed towards mission as decided by the authors and artists. A group of 11 Derry teens will travel to Northern Ireland next July to participate in a week-long program at the Corrymeela Community to build peacemaking skills.

MUSIC AND WORSHIP
The 2024 Arts Alive season will feature a variety of concerts and performances. Of particular note will be a performance by the Paloma School of Irish Dance on April 7. On March 17, our Director of Music Dan Dorty will present a Hymn Festival, conducted by Linda Tedford, director of the Susquehanna Chorale. The year will conclude with the annual Christmas concert.

Music is an important part of Derry in worship and outreach. Derry Church has commissioned David Gambrell, a noted hymnist, to write a hymn in recognition of our 300th anniversary. The hymn will be added to the pew hymnals and be introduced on Heritage Sunday, April 28, 2024.

HOMECOMING
While friends and former members of Derry Church are always welcome, a special Homecoming celebration has been scheduled for the weekend of September 21-22. The Homecoming celebration will be an opportunity to invite  past members, staff, and ministers to come and join in the celebration.

On Saturday night, September 21, a more formal ticketed dinner will be held with a keynote speaker and special program.

Sunday, September 22, 2024, will feature a special worship and homecoming reception following the 10:30 am service. Our special guest will be Reverend David Latimer, retired pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Reverend Latimer will be the keynote speaker for the  Saturday evening event and will preach on Sunday.

MISSION
Mission is at the core of Derry Church’s mission statement as we share God’s love and practice God’s justice. When we began making plans for how we might celebrate this significant milestone, the Anniversary committee asked the Mission & Peace Committee to propose a mission project that would reflect Derry’s commitment to serving others and sharing our abundant resources. In response, the Mission & Peace Committee proposed not one, but two projects: to support homeless veterans by funding the construction of a tiny home in a new community being created to support homeless veterans in Harrisburg, and to fund the construction of a new classroom for Logos Academy in Harrisburg. These two projects will allow Derry Church members to practice God’s justice and share God’s love, not only by sharing our financial resources but also participate in the construction. 

KEEPSAKE
At previous anniversary celebrations, a variety of commemorative items were created: plates at one time were very popular. For the 275th, a beautiful large print of the church was commissioned and a replica of a communion token was created. For this anniversary, we turned to blacksmith and former member, Mark Smith. As he has done for several years, Mark will create a Christmas ornament that will serve as our anniversary keepsake. Mark will use copper from downspouts and gutters that were replaced on Derry Church’s building. The ornaments will be offered for sale beginning next fall, with the money continuing to fund scholarships for students at the Sargodha Schools in Pakistan.

I hope everyone will be able to participate in one or more of the opportunities planned to celebrate and honor this significant milestone in our church’s history. 

Our stewardship theme this year is “God Gives.” God Gives. It’s a simple, yet powerful statement that undoubtedly has a different meaning to each of us. Two words. Boundless interpretation.

God gives us our health. God gives us food for our table and shelter over our heads. God gives us the sunrise and the sunset. These are just a few examples of the simple interpretation of this statement.

I have thought deeply this stewardship season about how God Gives to my family through Derry. I have the honor of serving as Derry’s Stewardship & Finance Committee Chair and my wife, Kristen, is a member of the Mission Committee. Our boys, James and Brooks, have grown up in this church and have been Pilgrims, members of the choir and participants in youth group.  In fact, James will be traveling to Ireland next summer with other members of the youth group to study conflict and learn about reconciliation and peacemaking. What a tremendous experience this will be for him, and one that he would not have, if not for God’s giving through Derry. 

God gives so much to our family through the opportunities afforded to us by our church. When the Mission committee began to consider how Derry might host a refugee family, none of us knew exactly what this effort might entail. Indeed, it has been an effort—a herculean effort–with so many individuals providing their time and energy to ensure a successful experience for the Haikal family from Syria. Kristen has enjoyed her time with Alaa; my kids have gotten to know the Haikal kids, spending time with them at HersheyPark and Adventure Sports. I can fully attest to the fact that while we have done our best to provide the Haikals with a loving home in Hershey, God has certainly given to us in the form of this beautiful family. We are better off as a family and as a church for this opportunity that God has given to us.

I encourage you to give some thought to how God gives through Derry; and by doing so, think through the importance of our gifts to Derry. As the stewardship campaign winds down for the year, the pledges that we make to Derry will determine the opportunities that Derry can provide us in the coming year, our 300th anniversary year as a church. It will be a significant year in the life of Derry Church, and we have the opportunity to help shape this milestone year through our individual gifts. To this end, please join us after church on Sunday, November 12 for a soup and salad lunch as we celebrate the many ways God Gives.

God gives in many wonderful ways, from the simple to the complex and everything in between. If you think about your own experience at Derry, maybe you have felt God’s imprint of giving through the wonderful acts of kindness and love that the church affords us. I know that we have, and this giving has meant so much to our family’s spiritual growth.

A young woman came to the door of Christ Lutheran Church and rang the bell.  As I opened the door and greeted her, I could see the expression on her face: she was concerned and looked uncertain. And she was very pregnant. She spoke no English, and my Spanish is limited. Thanks to Google Translate, I was able to discern that she was looking for the medical outreach clinic and she was told that the church could help her. I escorted her to the entrance of the clinic and explained to her in my broken Spanish that she could talk with a nurse who could help her directly. As we entered the lobby which had other people waiting to be seen, I introduced her to the nurses who immediately took her under their wing to offer her care and support.  

This is a typical day at Christ Lutheran Church and one of the biggest reasons I wanted to come to here. I serve as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church as well as the executive director of the health ministries. My background includes extensive history in politics and government, entrepreneurial coaching, and at a food pantry. During my previous call, our congregation did a variety of ministries with those who were unhoused and in poverty.  

I want to thank Derry Church for being a crucial partner for the Health Ministries at Christ Lutheran Church, going back to 2017.  I look forward to seeing that relationship grow and strengthen as we continue helping our neighbors in need.  

The Health Ministries at Christ Lutheran Church include a free medical outreach clinic which is visited by an average of 800 people each month with an assortment of health needs. The clinic is staffed by nurses from Penn State Health who offer care and support for every person who enters the clinic. Because of partners like you, Christ Lutheran Church is able to ensure that the clinic has all the supplies it needs including non-prescription medication, bandages, socks and underwear, reader glasses, and more.  

We also host a free dental clinic that takes place three times a month.  The clinic is staffed by dentists in the area who volunteer their time and expertise, as well as dental assistants who are paid by the church to be onsite for the clinic. The dental clinic sees between 6-12 patients each time it is open, and the main focus is on people who are experiencing active pain, offering fillings as well as tooth extractions. Plans are in the works to expand the dental clinic by moving it to the first floor, which would give us the ability to add an additional chair and be able to see even more patients.  

In January, we will be launching our newest clinic which we are calling “Healthy on the Hill.” One of our nurses recently became a Licensed Nurse Practitioner, giving her the ability to prescribe medication as well as refer people for tests. Much of the focus of this clinic will be working with people who have chronic conditions such as diabetes, which require more consistent medical attention and care for the patients’ wellbeing.  

Along with these ministries, Christ Lutheran Church also partners with Harrisburg Area Community College. Every nursing and dental hygiene student in their respective programs spends at least one rotation through the clinics at the church. This means that students are getting important hands-on experience that helps shape their career.  It’s been reported back to me from the instructors that the students’ time at the Health Ministries of Christ Lutheran Church are some of the most important and formative parts of their education.  

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry.  We could not do this without you, quite literally.  Because of your support, so many people’s lives are positively impacted, and they can start to receive healing. You help make Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries that happen here a special place of healing. Thank you!

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.