Author: Susan George

There is nothing permanent except change. These words are true today as we witness changes occurring in almost every aspect of our lives including religious practices, economic and governmental systems, educational focus, social values, cultural norms and of course physical structures. Our physical church is no exception and this article seeks to briefly explore the evolution of our church buildings over the past 300 years. 

Worshiping in this place occurred around 1724 as frontiersmen and women gathered near a spring and pool of water. Other local churches were founded near a spring, so this watering source must have been an important location to gather and perhaps refresh themselves and their horses. Minutes of New Castle Presbytery in 1729 record a request from Derry Church for a supply pastor and Rev. Anderson was appointed to minister these settlers every fifth Sabbath. An actual building did not appear until Derry called its first minister, Rev. William Bertram (1732-1746). The Session House was built in 1732 and served the church and the local community in a variety of purposes including as a pastor’s study and meeting place for church officials, a classroom, a lending library, and community post office. By early 1741, Rev. Bertram and some Derry Church members petitioned the sons of William Penn for the land upon which Derry Church would be built.

Our second pastor, John Elder, became pastor in 1746 and served until 1791. As the congregation grew, the need for a larger structure was recognized and “Old Derry” was built in 1769 and later underwent repairs in 1831 costing $500. This structure served the congregation until 1883.  We have seen photographs of this clapboard structure with the communion table and chairs located outside the building, along with a pewter communion set. Today the pieces of furniture have been in continuous use and are used in our Chapel. The pewter communion set is still present at our worship services. When “Old Derry” was renovated in 1831, a new pulpit was installed. That 1831 pulpit is now restored and hanging on the wall of the east transept in the sanctuary.

In the 1870s, after the Civil War, church attendance began to drop. Frequently Derry was without a pastor and very few services were held in the church building. Maintenance on “Old Derry” was minimal at best. The church leaders decided that it was too expensive to restore the building, so in 1883 “Old Derry” was demolished. With a very small membership, future looking church leaders organized a Sunday School. Classes were held weekly and attendance began to increase with an average of 59 students per class. But, since there was no main church building, the church records were relocated to Paxton Presbyterian Church’s manse for safekeeping, but that backfired. In August 1894 there was a fire at the manse and most of Derry’s records were destroyed.

Since membership at Derry was very low in 1883 and there was no pastor, the building of a stone church was truly an act of faith. The community recognized the historical importance of Derry Church, so the Dauphin County Historical Society was instrumental in establishing a building committee for a new church building. The cost of this endeavor was estimated to be $7,000.  To raise funds for this project, Mrs. Charles Bailey of Harrisburg and Mrs. G. Dawson Coleman of Lebanon, along with descendants of former members, led this effort with assistance from Henry B. McCormick, member of Pine Street Presbyterian Church and a member of the Harrisburg Historical Society. Neighboring churches also contributed by donating funds for the Chapel’s stained-glass windows.

Derry broke ground in 1884 and by October of that year the cornerstone was installed. Construction delays were common due to slow fundraising, but the leaders persisted and the church was dedicated on January 6, 1887 during an 11 am worship service led by Rev. Albert Williamson. 

The original Chapel consisted of a bell tower, a west transept which held the choir, a sanctuary with chancel and a rear entrance. Beneath the Chapel (on a lower level) was a furnace room and classroom. Later in 1917, the women of the church (Ladies Guild organized in 1910) paid for the first indoor toilet located on this lower level. By 1928 the church leaders began to make plans to expand the Chapel. Plans included breaking through the east wall and adding an east transept and four classrooms on the first floor (our present Hammond Library and John Elder Classroom) with an assembly room and kitchen on the lower level.

Plans went forward but the stock market crash of 1929 temporarily suspended this project. In October 1934 Henry McCormick again stepped up and offered Rev. John Corbin a donation of $5,000 to help with the expansion plans. Non-member friends of Derry also donated over $6,000, so with construction loans from the Presbytery and Synod and pledges from the congregation, money was raised to cover the entire project’s cost of over $25,000. In addition, in 1935 Milton Hershey gifted each of the community’s five churches $20,000 each to help defray financial difficulties caused by the Great Depression. Since Derry was already expanding, the gift from Milton Hershey allowed Derry to add a vestibule to the Chapel entrance as well as improvements to the chancel and choir section, new chancel furniture, new carpet, and furniture and equipment for the newly added classrooms. A new pulpit was also built, its design inspired by the original pulpit from “Old Derry.” On December 8, 1935, Derry Church conducted its first worship service in its newly renovated and expanded building, now called the John Elder Memorial Chapel.

By 1950, the church Sunday School was well established and well attended. Church growth resulted in the need to expand the church building. Rev. Sheldon Blair was called to serve Derry (1950-1959) and during his tenure ground was broken on October 29, 1950 for an addition to the east of the Chapel. On November 11, 1951, the Christian Education Building was dedicated. This building added a new entrance and foyer, a nursery and children’s classroom, and office space on the main floor. The new lower level included a large social room with a raised platform at one end and a modern kitchen at the other. Today this space is known as rooms 6 and 7.  Additional classrooms filled the rest of the lower level.

When Rev. Ira Reed was called as pastor (1959-1987), the need for a larger sanctuary was soon evident. The Chapel had room for 135 congregants and membership was growing. Although a new sanctuary was a few years away, improvements to the Chapel were made. Rev. Reed did not like preaching at the existing pulpit as his back was to the west transept and choir so a lectern was installed at the back rail in the center of the chancel and space for 40 more seats was found. This brought the total number that the Chapel could hold to 175 people. This expansion was still not sufficient, so a Building Committee was established. Groundbreaking for this Sanctuary occurred on March 7, 1965 and on February 13, 1966 the Sanctuary was dedicated along with its new organ. Significant features of this new building were an A shaped rear entrance facing East Derry Road and a long rectangular sanctuary with a center aisle. The chancel area was raised and faced with wood. The choir loft and organ were located above the chancel. The pulpit could be in the center of the chancel or moved to one side. This large sanctuary allowed Derry to grow its membership and church programs.

Rev. Dr. Richard Houtz was installed as pastor on May 6, 1990, and shortly thereafter the church leaders began considering how they might enlarge and improve the church facility. Rev. Houtz thought there were so many nooks and crannies and stairs connecting the various areas of the church due to additions and renovations over the years. He felt that there was room for improvements that would facilitate better use of the building. Before anything could be built, more land was needed so the manse had to be demolished. This three-story home with 18” limestone walls was used as a residence for ministers since 1924. Demolition was accomplished in 1993.

After rejecting one architect’s proposal, the architectural firm of Alexander/Muelken Studio submitted a proposal for the expansion. The church accepted the proposal and Chuck Alexander, son of church members Bill and Marion Alexander, served as design architect for the job. As someone who grew up at the church, he was able to keep the original orientation of the sanctuary, adding east and west transepts and a larger chancel area to facilitate Derry’s investment in its numerous music programs. The choir loft and organ were lowered to the chancel floor, a narthex area was created before one entered the front of the sanctuary, the main entrance to the church building was relocated to this narthex area and a lounge was added to the west transept. This expansion also included new offices, choir room, bathrooms, nursery, the atrium and a new Fellowship Hall. Interior designs were also implemented to accommodate this larger sanctuary. This remodeled sanctuary was dedicated on January 29, 1995.

Since then there have been additional interior and external cosmetic redesigns. In 2015 interior design renovations and a new exterior courtyard and walkways were added to our main entrance. Rev. Dr. Stephen McKinney-Whitaker was installed as pastor in 2017. The need for a larger, more powerful organ for the sanctuary was soon recognized. A new-to-Derry 1951 Aeolian-Skinner Organ was installed and dedicated in 2021.

As Derry approaches its 300th anniversary, it is important to remember the history of the people who worshiped here and the buildings that they created. Derry’s history is filled with productive times, and times when as a church it almost folded, but dedication, faithfulness and strength of our early friends and congregants have given us a legacy that we should cherish, uphold and adapt to our changing times. Our church is steeped in history and tradition, but it is also flexible, warm and welcoming, reflective of those who now call this our church home.

Editor’s note: To learn more about the evolution of Derry Church’s buildings, join members of the Heritage Committee at 9:15 am Sunday, April 30 in the John Elder Classroom and streaming.

Have you ever experienced a “God Wink”?  What’s that, you say? It is a message from God that comes through life circumstances, and that we can choose to learn from, if we open our hearts and minds to the fact that God has a hand in the circumstance.

Once I had a very dear friend who gave me a book about “God Winks.” This simple but enlightening book opened my eyes to a powerful concept that I had been experiencing for a long time, but to which I had not given a title.  

“God winks” happen when you open your mind to the concept that God speaks to us and shows us how God’s guiding principles become real in our lives, as we are faced with everyday situations and circumstances. Through these situations we are “nudged” into contemplating what message God is trying to give us, and how we can best live our lives in service to God and to each other, if we follow that message.

“Give me an example,” you say. Well, one that happened to my husband and me in the summer of 2021 involved Derry Church.

Our good friends, Susie and Dean Haine, asked us if we wanted to go with them to the Mt. Gretna Tabernacle to hear Dean’s pastor, Stephen McKinney-Whitaker and members of Derry Church lead worship that Sunday evening. Since the Mt. Gretna Tabernacle holds a special place in my heart from the days when I went to church camp there — plus the fact that we enjoyed sharing in activities with Susie and Dean — we said “sure.” We were blown away by the service, Pastor Stephen, and the friendliness of the Derry pastor and members who introduced themselves to us. They responded to our compliments on the service by inviting us to join them at Derry for other worship experiences.

It wasn’t long after that when Dean called and said, “Do you want to go along to Derry next Saturday night to participate in a worship service utilizing the songs of Billy Joel?”  “How intriguing” we thought, and we joined them in that adventure as well. After those two experiences (God Winks), Ron and I decided that we needed to more intently explore a “pull” that we were feeling from Derry Church (a fellow Presbyterian church of the Synod which is located four miles from our home rather than the 20 miles from our home church at that time).

We attended Derry Church on a Sunday morning and didn’t even sign the visitor registry because we wanted to remain “anonymous.” However, we did greet Pastor Stephen as we were leaving that morning and reminded him that we were Dean’s friends, to which he replied, “I remember.”

Much to our surprise, the next day when coming home from an errand, we found a loaf of Irish soda bread and a welcome package from Derry on our doorstep, with a note from Linda Chidester. The next day in our mail was a note from Pastor Stephen inviting us to call him for a “getting to know you” chat!  We hadn’t even given them our name or address, and here Derry was, giving us an invitation to get to know the congregation better. How could we deny the opportunity? Another God Wink! 

A visit with Pastor Stephen, an invitation to join the choir for at least the Christmas season, and regular attendance and interactions with the Derry choir and other members of the church – including Linda, who lives in our neighborhood and always greets us warmly when we see each other on Sundays – slowly led us to make the decision to take the New Member Classes in April 2022, and ultimately change our Presbyterian membership to Derry Church.

“God Winks” don’t just happen to Ron and me. They can happen to everyone, in all aspects of their lives if they choose to embrace this concept. If we are open to seeing how God provides us with opportunities, through real life circumstances that impact our lives — and many times the lives of others with whom we interact — we constantly can receive spiritual uplifts (“faith boosts”) through these “winks” from God.

Since 1993, Derry Church and its members have been the cornerstone of my faith. My family and I are so thankful for the friendships, support and Christian leadership that Derry has provided us.

Hard work and faith were the cornerstone of life in the small West Virginia community where I grew up. Blue collar jobs in the mining or oil and gas industry provided income that supported our families. We learned early in our lives that hard work would usually bring positive results, success that carried over to the athletic field, wrestling mat and in the classroom.

Church life was very important.  We attended church services faithfully every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and prayer meetings on Wednesday night. We were taught that even in tough times faith in God and God’s plan for us would carry us through. My life has always been a balance between these two principles. I worked hard and had much success in sports and academic endeavors through high school, college, medical school and professionally, but encountered times when I had to rely on God’s plan for me.

There have been times in life both personally and professionally that hard work just wasn’t enough. I failed my first major medical school exam and thought this just was not going to work. Our son was born prematurely and had only a 20% chance of survival. Professionally, as an orthopedic oncologist, I cared for patients, who no matter how hard we worked, succumbed to their diseases. When my father and then my wife were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease within five years of each other, we searched high and low for treatment options even though we knew there was no cure.

It is in these most difficult times that my faith, even if I could not understand it, carried me and I was confident that everything would be ok. Professionally, as an orthopedic surgeon, I can objectively see the results of the work I do. Faith is a bit of a mystery to me because it cannot be seen or touched. I cannot explain why it brings me peace in difficult times but I am so thankful for my faith. It has brought me to a very happy place in life.

Since 1993, Derry Presbyterian and its members have been the cornerstone of my faith. My family and I are so thankful for the friendships, support and Christian leadership that Derry has provided us.

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 April we’re lifting up community involvement and the good work of Love INC of Greater Hershey. 

I became involved with Love INC over the past few years. The first time I volunteered was with the Sneaker Drive for students at Derry Township and Lower Dauphin school districts. I helped with the children’s sizing and trying on sneakers. The kids were so excited that it gave me joy just watching their reactions as they tried on new sneakers that they would have to start a new school year. 

God puts us where we are needed, but God also lets us be a part of a miracle. One of the students was so excited that he told me he looks forward to this week every year, otherwise he wouldn’t get new sneakers for school. Someone once said that it is better to give than to receive and I sure got a lot from giving in this situation – it was very rewarding. 

I have been helping with the Sneaker Drive for a few years and look forward to helping again in August. I enjoyed helping the students and their families so I decided it was time to look for more work with Love INC. I wanted to help at other times during the year. I checked with Scott Ramirez, also a Love INC volunteer, and was able to add the Personal Care Closet (PCC) work to my duties. 

I began helping with the PCC work last year and continue to support this ministry. We stock shelves with supplies and make bags for each family from the food bank who has requested personal care items. The PCC items include toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, body wash, deodorant, band-aids, cleaning supplies, diapers, trash bags, etc. Whatever the family has requested on their checklist, we put it in their bags and the bags are grouped together by food bank locations and taken there.

This year I have extended my commitment to Love INC to include being on the Board of Directors. I look forward to giving my input and helping out as part of a team to lead Love INC and working toward their goals throughout the year. I will also work with the board to make sure their vision and mission are known by the area communities. As a member of the Board of Directors I will continue supporting the programs of Love INC with my time, expertise, resources and commitment. 

Please continue to pray for Love INC, their staff and volunteers, and programs. If any of this information sounds like something you would like to be a part of, please contact me or Dale Forshey, Executive Director (717-835-0101).

UPCOMING EVENTS:

LACE UP WITH LOVE INC SNEAKER DRIVE provides new, name-brand sneakers to qualifying school-aged students at Derry Township and Lower Dauphin school districts. Sneakers collected June 4- Aug 2.

RUN YOUR RACE 5K + 1K FUN RUN on Saturday, June 24

LACE UP WITH LOVE INC SNEAKER DISTRIBUTION Thursday, Aug 3- Saturday, Aug 5

LOVING OUR COMMUNITY ONLINE AUCTION Thursday, Oct 5-Tuesday, Oct 10

Love INC of Greater Hershey serves people in need who either worship at one of its partnering churches or who live within Hershey, Hummelstown, or the Dauphin County portion of Elizabethtown. Programs include:

• THE CONNECTION CENTER: Receives, validates, and refers clients to appropriate services) Over 1,400 requests for assistance in 2022!
• THE PERSONAL CARE CLOSET: Supplies items not covered by food stamp benefits to those certified with the Hershey Food Bank, Hummelstown Food Pantry, and the Hershey Free Food Bank.
• HOMES OF HOPE: 24-month transitional housing program for those facing or at risk of homelessness.
• PARSONAGE MINISTRY: A warm place to stay at no cost to family members of adult patients at the Penn State Health Medical Center who travel 50+ miles to receive care.
• FAITH AND FINANCES: Financial mentoring through a 10-week course offered twice a year.
• TRANSPORTATION:  Coordinating necessary rides for those who need it.
• LACE UP WITH LOVE INC SNEAKER DRIVE: provides new, name-brand sneakers to qualifying school-aged students at Derry Township and Lower Dauphin school districts

Needs unable to be met by these programs may be referred to a local agency or a partner church, depending upon the circumstances of the request and the resources available.

When Sue George asked me to write this week’s long read, admittedly I struggled to find a topic. So many things have happened over the last two-three years in the world and my own little corner of it that it’s hard for me to quiet my brain long enough to write anything more than a scientific manuscript or a standard operating procedure.
I decided to focus on a topic that has been important to me for years: disability and inclusion.

My exposure to disability and inclusion started early — my dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis years before I was born.  Although the 1970s were a wonderful time for music, movies, and lack of “helicopter parenting,” unfortunately, science was not able to provide many treatment regimens for MS and there wasn’t a lot of consideration of access to public places, including the church I grew up in, which was built in the 1960s. As the 70s progressed, so did my father’s illness. His need for mobility accommodations — first a cane, then a manual wheelchair and eventually, many years later, an electric wheelchair — were a part of his everyday reality. 

Church was very important to my parents. To get into my parent’s church, you either had to go up or down. There were two entrances plus a few egress exits from the basement, all with at least five steps each. The ADA was not a thing yet and “Universal Design” wasn’t either, at least in our small church, so the church had no elevators or ramps. Church dinners, for the most part, took place in the fellowship hall, which like many churches of that era, was in the basement. As you’d imagine, at a certain point, and after more than a few close calls regarding safety, the church decided to install a ramp at one of the entrances, and years later, they installed an elevator so that my dad (and only my dad at that time) could access the first floor classrooms and fellowship hall like all the other congregants. Those decisions, made in the 70s and early 80s, were certainly ahead of their time, but have come to be important in that church as the congregation has continued to age and they have an increased need for accessibility accommodations.  

Fast forward to 2006. Wally and I found our own church home and Kate, our older daughter, was being baptized. It was so wonderful that my dad was able to join us in the church and sanctuary without issues in his very large, reclining electric wheelchair and that there were pew cutouts so that he was able to sit with our family for that service. Little did we realize at the time that we, as a family, would go on to experience a whole other world of disabilities – invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities are defined as physical, mental or neurological conditions that are not (easily) visible from the outside, and yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities.  A lack of an obvious disability can easily lead to misunderstandings, false perceptions and judgment. Our experiences with invisible disabilities in our family have been a learning experience for us and those around us. As the years have progressed, we have made connections at Derry that are invaluable. We have found people who embrace the commitment we all make when a child is baptized to support, care for, and nurture those we present or who present themselves to God.

Just before the pandemic, I became involved in Derry’s Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee that has focused on identifying and providing accommodations that allow many kids and adults to continue to worship and participate in programming held here at Derry.  We’ve been able to provide education for the staff of Derry Discovery Days regarding diversity and inclusion, as well as specifically provide individualized support so that members and visitors in our congregation can participate in Terrific Tuesday, church school, and youth activities. 

If you are interested in learning more about Derry’s Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, please feel free to contact me or Kristy Elliott. Just like in my dad’s case, accommodations and inclusion will certainly help others beyond those you see and help today.

Last Wednesday, the Session approved creating a Faith Community Nurse (FCN) position at Derry. A FCN is a licensed, registered nurse with specialized education in integrating faith and health. They serve within faith communities to build on and strengthen the capacity of individuals and families to become stewards of their health as guided by their faith tradition.

I worked with a FCN in my previous congregation and it was such a valuable ministry to the church and its members. The position is a pastoral care resource I’ve really missed since coming to Derry. There have been numerous times in my ministry here when I wished we had an FCN. In fact, I journaled a long list of those times over a 45-day period that I shared with the Session as we discussed this new role. I believe a Faith Community Nurse will be a huge asset to our staff and church community. 

Derry’s FCN will be a:

Health Counselor: Listen to and speak with persons regarding their health issues and problems. Make home, hospital and nursing home visits as needed. Offer presence and prayer during times of crisis and celebration.

Health Advocate: Assess/observe individuals for any health-related needs and interests. Speak up for individual needs and offer possible solutions (i.e. accompanying to medical appointments).

Health Educator: Provide health information and health awareness including educating people about different chronic conditions and diseases. Emphasize preventative health care through education, screening and assessments. Promote the understanding of the relationship between faith and health. Facilitate educational workshops, support groups and free clinics as developed within the FCN health ministry (i.e. Blood Pressure Screening Sundays, education events).

A Link to Resources: Help congregation members navigate the healthcare system and connect them to local resources as well as other Derry members who are experts in specific medical fields or other health care areas. 

A Spiritual Presence: Work in conjunction with the Derry pastoral care team (pastor, Deacons, Shepherd Group leaders) in the care-giving ministry of the church. Listen, pray, support and encourage through personal visits, telephone calls and other means of contact.

The FCN will NOT provide invasive/hands-on skilled care or provide medical diagnoses, replace regular medical appointments, maintain medical records, or fill pill dispensers. The FCN is a resource, educator, and advocate and not a nurse who will treat medical issues.

The FCN will start out as part-time (15-18 hours a week) as we assess how this new ministry is working and what the needs of the congregation are. 

The Session also approved the creation of a Health and Wellness Team to support the work of the FCN. The Health and Wellness Team encourages wellness — physical, spiritual, relational — as a faithful response to God, and as a commitment to a healthy congregation as well as healthy families, and communities.

The Team carries out its task by assessing the wellness needs of individuals, families, and the congregation at large. It meets those needs through health promotion, the Faith Community Nurse Program, educational programs, dissemination of information, referral services, and periodic health screenings such as monthly blood pressures with the Deacons. The work of the Health and Wellness team supports the pastoral ministries provided by the Board of Deacons, the Membership Involvement Committee, and the staff.

The Team will work closely with the Faith Community Nurse (FCN) by providing support, oversight, and a team to help facilitate the health and wellness ministries of the church. The FCN will provide direction and leadership to the Team to carry out its purpose, and the Team will help connect the FCN to needs in the church and potential volunteers.

The Health and Wellness Team will be comprised of representatives from the Deacons, Personnel Committee, Membership & Involvement Committee, and members in health-related fields. 

I am excited for the gifts a Faith Community Nurse will bring to Derry. We are already advertising the position and hope to have interviews in April. Please be in prayer for the church and the search team as we discern who God is calling to serve Derry in this important ministry of health, wellness, and care. If you have any questions about this position, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Gregg Robertson, or Julie Yutesler.

Looking back on the past three years since COVID-19 came to the US, it is hard to measure the impact of this pandemic.  There are the statistics; more than half a billion cases worldwide and almost seven million deaths; although actuarial models based on estimated “excess global mortality” place the number closer to 20 million deaths. Numbers allow us to compare and analyze tragic events, but they are an incomplete measure. To put things in perspective it is estimated that the bubonic plague of the 1300s resulted in close to 200 million deaths, wiping out half of the European population. In terms of deaths, COVID-19 doesn’t even rank in the top five deadliest plagues.  Just in recent times HIV claimed more than 36 million lives. 

It is empowering to think that our knowledge, and technology helped to reduce mortality from COVID. It certainly did. But COVID highlighted our vulnerabilities, and if we are to learn from this experience we must acknowledge our flaws. History teaches us that another pandemic will occur. We just don’t know when. The question is, can we be better prepared from our experience with COVID-19? Here is my personal list of lessons learned:

Lesson 1: Transformation of the vaccine development paradigm. A major success story of COVID-19 was the development of an effective vaccine. In 326 days, we were able to move from discovery of a new genomic sequence to authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine by a stringent regulatory authority. Subsequent to the initial roll out, the industry has quickly developed and delivered modified vaccines with high efficacy against new severe COVID-19 variants. All of this with an outstanding safety profile. This would not have been possible without investment in research on mRNA and genome sequencing technology decades ago. We should not minimize the incredible impact vaccination had on our ability to respond to the COVID pandemic. It is remarkable that despite a series of mutations that increased the transmissibility, COVID has become a very manageable illness for most of society. In large part this is a result of an effective vaccine and our commitment to invest in basic research. In anticipation of the next pandemic, the industry needs to build on this success and develop an even more efficient process to identify emerging viruses before they spread and then have the infrastructure and processes in place to develop, test, and distribute new vaccines in under 100 days.

Lesson 2: We have a remarkable ability to innovate and adapt in a crisis. The early phase of the COVID-19 response was a period of tremendous innovation. Seemingly overnight we shifted to remote work, education, and worship. Zoom became part of the everyday vernacular. Disrupted supply chains spawned new sources of products and resources. We began 3D printing of personal protective devices such as face shields and masks. Distilleries shifted from vodka to hand sanitizer. Virtual doctor visits — a concept that for years was bogged down by regulatory and financial bureaucracy and poor IT infrastructure — became widely available in a matter of weeks. New technologies were adapted for surveillance of local outbreaks. Thermometers linked to a web-based platform were shown to be able to predict local outbreaks several weeks before there was a rise in positive cases and hospitalizations. Wastewater treatment plants began testing for viral antigens to identify early introduction of new variants into communities. In the later stages of the pandemic technologies for home testing were developed and became widely available.  

A common theme that drove this innovation was that it came from the bottom up, through interdisciplinary teams that were motivated to cooperate to solve common problems. Barriers were removed and those most closely involved with the problem were empowered to create solutions. We need to find ways to encourage and sustain that spirit of positive innovation, creativity, and collaboration. We live in times of rapid change that will continue to challenge our ability to adapt and respond to emerging challenges.

Lesson 3: Trust forms the basis for an effective pandemic response.  Trust is the social contract that allows individuals to work collectively to achieve the level of commitment and resilience necessary to persist through the challenges of an ongoing pandemic. In a 2022 study published in the journal Nature researchers found that all countries where more than 40% of survey respondents agreed with the statement “most people can be trusted” achieved a near complete reduction of new cases and deaths following the first peak in COVID-19 cases. More trusting societies were able to bring down cases and deaths faster and implement containment efforts more effectively. Societal trust is more closely correlated with better COVID-19 outcomes than a country’s wealth or public health infrastructure. 

In reflecting on our own response, a decline in public trust in science and government impaired our public health preparedness and response. The politicization of our response to COVID-19 led to mistrust in vaccination and public health policies. The low level of health literacy in the US population compounded the problem as even major media outlets were challenged to differentiate data produced by rigorous science from poorly substantiated or false claims. The scientific community must be more transparent in communicating the science that drives policy and rigorously review the outcomes of policy decisions based on prior assumptions. Oftentimes in hindsight well intentioned policy can be wrong. 

For example, a recent 2023 systematic review of 12 randomized clinical trials with 276,917 participants was unable to demonstrate that masking made any difference in the transmission of respiratory viruses. Systematic reviews of randomized clinical trials are generally regarded as the highest level of evidence in measuring the effect of an intervention, and this one was published in the Cochrane Library, generally regarded as the gold standard for systematic reviews. Science can be humbling. Some may say that these results indicate masking mandates were flawed, which may be true. A critical review of the original studies used in the analysis highlights how difficult it is to perform a rigorous experiment on mask effectiveness. Unlike a drug trial where you can measure drug levels, it is difficult to ensure people are following the experimental protocol and actually wearing (or not wearing) a mask.  

The important lesson to be learned is that science is not truth. It is an ongoing formal process that gets us closer to the truth. If we are to be more successful in the next pandemic, we must improve scientific literacy in the population, be humble, and be honest and transparent in communicating the results. Having mutual respect, understanding, and the humility to accept results that may challenge our personal biases is a critical first step in developing trust as we navigate the next pandemic response.

Lesson 4: We lack justice in delivery of healthcare. COVID-19 highlighted the impact of social determinants of health tied to the longstanding impact of poverty and racism.  With the exception of the first COVID-19 surge, U.S. counties with the lowest median income had death rates at least two times higher than that of the counties with the highest income. Individuals in poorer communities were more likely to be uninsured and have less access to high quality health care.  They are more likely to have conditions that increase the risk of death from COVID-19 such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and pulmonary issues. They were more likely to have occupations that made it more challenging to adopt behaviors that reduced exposure, such as remote work.  

Significant disparity in COVID-19 outcomes were correlated with race.  Data from the CDC show that Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander people experienced higher rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths than White people when data are adjusted to account for differences in age by race and ethnicity. Globally disparities in wealth and public health infrastructure led to persistent pockets of high virus transmission contributing to new more transmissible and virulent variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that then returned to reinfect wealthier countries that seemingly had the pandemic under control. A key lesson from the pandemic is we are all as vulnerable as the least among us.  

Lesson 5: Adjusting to the long-term impact of the pandemic will be challenging.  COVID will have long-term socioeconomic consequences that will remain with us for many years to come. Humanity has been traumatized and we will need to accept that the recovery will be slow. The social isolation of the pandemic has strained our support networks and social norms. It has brought to the surface the strain on mental health in modern society. Many are suffering from the effects of burnout, depression, addiction, and other mental health problems. It has forced us to reconsider our relationships to work and society, and reset our expectations of what is normal. Whether it is the “great resignation”, “quiet quitting”, or early retirements, 2021 and 2022 saw close to 100 million Americans quit their jobs.  Inflation resulting from higher competition for trained employees and supply costs seems to have temporarily peaked, but we will continue to feel the impact of these factors in many industries reliant on a trained workforce.  

Health care has been particularly hard hit. A survey by the consulting firm Morning Consult reported that one in five healthcare workers quit their job since the start of the pandemic, and that up to 47% of healthcare workers plan to leave their positions by 2025. This is resulting in substantial staffing shortages in many rural and underserved urban hospitals. Data from the HHS Department indicates 25% of Pennsylvania hospitals are facing critical staffing shortages leading to reduction or closure of patient services. Given the aging population of the healthcare workforce and smaller numbers of individuals entering the profession, these staffing shortages will likely worsen at a time where the demand from healthcare is increasing. Time will tell how these factors will impact future access to healthcare.  

As with many life changing events, COVID-19 brought out the best and worst of humanity. Hopefully we can build on our successes and find the resolve to fix our flaws. There are several themes in the lessons learned from COVID-19.  We must have mercy for each other, even those with whom we have disagreement. We must practice justice and compassion for the most vulnerable in our society. We must be humble. These are not new lessons. They have been with humanity throughout time. The lessons from COVID-19 are written in Micah 6:8 “what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Hopefully when faced with the next pandemic we will practice justice, mercy, and humility. That will prepare us well.

January brought lots of excitement in the music corner of Derry Church with the arrival of the Lee Ann Taylor Steinway. At the same time, the Communications & Technology Committee (CTC) celebrated another achievement: the installation of a Zoom Room downstairs in Room 7.

The Zoom Room makes it possible for us to host first-rate hybrid meetings, a capability we’ve never been able to handle well until now. The setup consists of two screens: one on the left allows a presenter to share a Powerpoint or use the screen as a whiteboard that can be seen in the room and by Zoom participants. It has a built-in camera and microphone that allows those on Zoom to hear the presenter and the people attending in Room 7. The screen on the right displays everyone who is joining by Zoom. They can be seen and heard by everyone in Room 7 and take an active part in the discussion.

The best use of the Zoom Room is for meetings like Session and Deacons. Both of these groups used the Zoom Room in February, giving us a chance to learn how the technology works. Every use teaches us something new and as we learn and improve, my hope is that more groups will discover and find benefits from using this technology and extending their gatherings to those who can’t attend in person. Let me know if you’d like to use the Zoom Room for your next meeting: it’s easy to learn.

Derry’s new outdoor signs are now in place across the church campus and I hope you are pleased that the signs provide a cohesive, unified look and clear directions. The staff likes being able to tell vendors and guests to “enter the building at door #1” — it’s so much easier than trying to explain how to drive around the building to the office entrance.

Recently a change was made to the large monument sign along East Derry Road: the original dimensional letters that looked great in the daytime cast shadows from the uplighting at night, making the sign hard to read. So the dimensional letters came off and were replaced by flat surface signs. This change saved us about $2,000, a happy benefit and win all around, and the sign is much easier to read at night.

In case you haven’t already heard, here are more recent changes you should be aware of:

• The WiFi upgrade throughout the church building was completed in December and tweaked in January to fix a few glitches. We now have a faster, more secure network and a stronger firewall to protect staff computers and copiers. Visitors to Derry Church should have an easier time connecting to the “Derry Guest” network and enjoy faster speeds and better coverage through the building. A new access point was added in the Lounge.
• New choir monitors have been placed in the Sanctuary to make it easier for those in the choir to hear anyone speaking from the pulpit or the other microphones.
• Along with the choir monitors, four new condenser microphones and a new pulpit mic have been installed thanks to the generosity of Derry members who gifted this equipment to the church. It’s great to have better quality mics for the choir and our musicians. The new pulpit mic has been more temperamental than we expected, so we’ve added an extension to bring the mic closer to those speaking from the pulpit.

Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month, the eNews feature article highlights the mission focus for the month. In March we’re lifting up the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s  One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

Received between February 22 and April 9, the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together to work for a better world by advancing the causes of justice, resilience, and sustainability. For over 70 years, these efforts of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have provided relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed. 

OGHS is administered through three programs: 

PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (PDA) is well-known for its rapid response to natural and international disasters by supplying funds to help initiate the recovery process. Through its long-term partnerships with several Middle East church councils, PDA has been able to rapidly respond to the recent devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. PDA also continues to support relief efforts in the US related to recent hurricanes and flooding, as well as aiding refugees resulting from the conflicts in Syria and the Ukraine. 

PRESBYTERIAN HUNGER PROGRAM (PHP) works to alleviate hunger and eliminate its root causes. Some of this is accomplished through providing animals, bees, and seeds, promoting better crop selection and agricultural methods, fair trade practices, and family gardens. They also seek to supply better and more nutritional foods, secure loans for income-producing projects, tree planting, and establish wells and sanitation systems, as well as addressing labor and environmental issues. 

SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE (SDOP) works in partnership with people in economically poor areas in the United States and around the world. The aim is to invest in communities responding to their experiences of oppression, poverty and injustice, thus helping them develop solutions to their particular problems in areas such as cooperatives and workers’ rights, farming, skills development, and immigration/ refugee issues.  

This year our OGHS Offering will again be divided equally between PC(USA) and Bridges to Community (BTC), the non-profit organization which has coordinated Derry’s mission trips to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic for over 20 years. In June we will return to the Dominican Republic to help build a house for a needy family. By working with the family, local masons, and community members, a safe and secure house can be completed in about one week. With the BTC model, new homeowners are encouraged to pay into their local community fund, which can then be used by the community at their discretion for selected improvement projects. 

The Mission and Peace Committee has set a goal of $18,000 for this year’s OGHS Offering. You may give online or by check made payable to Derry Presbyterian Church notated OGHS. Enclose it in the OGHS envelopes located in the pew racks. Taken together, your contributions to the OGHS Offering, with our goal of $18,000, will enable both PC(USA) and BTC to assist many people in need, improving their quality of life. Thank you, Derry, for your generous support! 

This past Sunday we were led in worship by our talented youth, and as we finished the postlude, I couldn’t help but leave worship feeling uplifted, enriched, and overcome with joy and feeling that I had been in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We were blessed by their singing, the spoken word, choreographed dance, and God’s Hidden Hands Puppet Ministry. Mayangela Speicher eloquently spoke on joy and the more profound meaning within this three-letter word. Where do we find joy in our own lives and faith journey? Where do we look for assurance and peace that God is with us, working through us, and present in our lives? Where do we see joy in our church? What does it mean to be joyful in the Lord?

Since being called to Derry Church in September as your Director of Music and Organist, life has been a whirlwind of change and adjustment, growing in faith and trust, learning new schedules, memorizing many names and faces, keeping many to-do lists and checking them twice. The vibrant music ministry of this church is a dream come true and an answer to many prayers, made so by each member of the many choirs. I have found fulfilling joy in working with the Sanctuary Choir and Derry Ringers, welcoming new members, and watching the choirs grow in number, musicianship, and faith. Their passion for ringing and singing is inspiring, and their care and support have brought joy each week as we pray together and become a musical family of brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Terrific Tuesdays have become a highlight in my week: working with the youth singers brings joy through their energy, spirit, and laughter. Our children’s music ministry is growing through the leadership of Claire Folts and Debbi Kees-Folts. What a joy to see classrooms full of children singing, playing drums, and ringing handbells and chimes! 

As a congregation, you have brought incredible joy in your appreciation and support of this church’s arts and music ministry. The Lee Ann Taylor Memorial Steinway and Sons Concert Grand Piano has been a testament to that unwavering support. Thank you for appreciating the value of the music in worship and the impact and mission that this new piano will have on future generations. February 12, 2023 was memorable as we dedicated this incredible instrument in Lee Ann’s honor. We were privileged to have Ruth Slenczynska play in worship and sign our new piano. Ruth is a joy!

As I have come home to my faith tradition in the Presbyterian church, I am seeing God anew in innumerable ways, and Derry Church has been one of the greatest joys in my life. When Sarah and I announced our engagement in early February, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from our church family in cards, letters, emails, and well wishes, always followed by a hug. We have found joy in the warmth of Derry Church, a church with the sweetest people on earth, nestled in the heart of the sweetest place on earth. 

Thank you for sharing the light and love of Christ and for bringing joy as we share this faith and music journey together, giving God glory, praise, and adoration while giving thanks each day for all the joys God has showered upon us.

The joy of the Lord is our strength is the theme for Youth Sunday 2023. Joy is mentioned 430 times in the Bible and happiness only 10. In the book of Galatians 5:22, joy is included in the gift of the Spirit. But what is joy?

When we think of joy we first think of smiles, happiness, and Christmas mornings. Joy is not just happiness; it can exist with a myriad of other emotions. Joy can coexist with sadness and sorrow. Joy is not the absence of grief or pain or challenge. 

One of our definitions of joy is the feeling that the Lord is with you and knowing that God helps you through the bad times. We are reminded of God’s love, strength, and presence in our life and that brings up joy. That joy strengthens us for the good times and the bad times we know we will encounter. Through the joy of the Lord we have confidence that everything is going all right … or in the words of St. Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well and all manner of things shall be made well.” It doesn’t mean everything will always be okay or work out the way we desire in this life, but the joy of the Lord gives us strength to persevere and find the blessing.

On Youth Sunday, joy will be expressed with song, dance, worship, puppets, and an awesome sermon by Mayangela Speicher. 

We invite you to come and experience the spirit of the joy of the Lord of Sunday, February 19. We hope you enjoy the service as much as we will enjoy leading you in worship!

For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20

I love this scripture verse and the truth of these words. One of the great blessings Derry Church offers is the ability to gather. Yes, we gather for weekly worship, but we also gather to eat, talk, play, plan, create and dream. Our times together lead us to wonderful discussions, learning experiences, stories we never knew, and a chance to pause, reflect and maybe even see things from another perspective. This is true not only for the adults of our church, but for the children as well. Derry’s Children’s Ministry programs have so many of these amazing moments happening, and I am excited to share some of them with you.

Our Sunday mornings are full of energy and excitement as we gather together with friends to sing, learn, explore, share and play.  We begin our morning with songs of praise and thanksgiving. This time gets the blood flowing through fun sounds and movements and paves the way for our story of the day. We then move to our classrooms…

Preschool (ages 2-5) gather in the Nursery Suite
Kindergarten – 2nd gather in Room 3
Grades 3 – 5 gather in Room 5

…where the learning continues through story, creative exploration and games. 

Our KIWI (Kids In Worship Instruction) class has had a wonderful time learning more about worship through exploring common symbols of faith, the words and meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, and the importance of confessing our sins and giving thanks for our many blessings. This time together also allows this group (ages 4-6) the opportunity to build friendships with their peers. 

Our Kids’ Fellowship (grades 2-5) has been so fun to work with! These kids have a wonderful connection with one another and enjoy all kinds of activities as they simply love hanging out together. Our gatherings have included a “beach party,” a chair volleyball tournament, and a mission project day.  Later this month we’ll have a pancake breakfast and silly fun in our PJs. This time together lets us continue to build relationships, something that helps make our faith journey stronger and more meaningful.

Terrific Tuesday is back and better than ever! Fellowship Hall is packed with families and friends of all ages enjoying the opportunity to eat and have fellowship. Adults have the chance to talk and get to know one another better, and the children are filling our classrooms and making Tuesday evenings fun and engaging for all. Our Tuesday evening programs of music and creative arts are designed to help the children connect more with one another as the evening gathering is more relaxed than Sunday mornings, but it also offers the children a chance to dig deeper and learn through a variety of creative techniques. It is truly a wonderful evening for all ages!

Now that I share about all the excitement and fun, I also need to share that we are looking for more helping hands to keep it going! We have wonderful leaders for all our programs, but need volunteers to help in each classroom and support the children.  I would love to welcome more adults into our Childrens’ Ministry spaces as I know you will love joining our faith filled adventures!  Each volunteer will need to complete the following before working with our children or youth…

• PA Child Abuse History Clearance
• PA State Police Criminal Record Check 
• FBI Criminal Background Check and History Record, required if the volunteer has lived in PA for less than 10 consecutive years; this also includes fingerprinting
• Derry Church Safe Children Training class (approx. 45 min and can be done in person or via Zoom)
• Children Volunteer Application and Disclosure Statement every five years, which needs to be signed and witnessed by someone other than a direct relative. This form also satisfies the requirement for volunteers who have been residents of PA for 10 consecutive years or more to affirm that they are not disqualified from service based upon a conviction of an offense under Pennsylvania Title 23 Chapter 63 Section 6344(c)

I encourage you to join us. Please email me with any questions or to get started with your clearance paperwork. 

Now that our programs are running strong, our Christian Education committee and Children’s Ministry Team members have discussed the Sunday morning schedule and how to structure it moving forward.

Starting Sunday, February 26 (as Lent begins), Sunday School for ALL AGES will be held 9:15-10:15 am.

• Children will gather in Room 4 (then proceed to their classrooms after music time)
• Youth will gather in the Youth Room
• Issues Class in Room 7 and on Zoom
• Bible Study in Room 2

**Coffee is always available in the coffee nook just outside the church kitchen**

I look forward to watching our programs continue to grow. I look forward to welcoming many more children into our spaces to learn and grow closer to God. And I look forward to having more adults join us to help our programs continue to meet the needs of this growing ministry.

I hope to hear from many of you soon!