News

• Re-elected Kathy Yingst as Clerk of Session and Michelle Curry, CPA of Achenbach & Curry, as Treasurer for terms of one year.
• Greg Taylor of Stewardship & Finance reported that due to generous congregational giving and underspending by church committees, we finished 2024 with a positive change in net assets of $86,243. After discussion, the Session approved adding 50% of this overage to the general budget equity account to be available for use towards a potential deficit at the end of 2025, 25% to the Capital Facilities Fund, and 25% to Mission for special projects.
• The Session reviewed and approved Pastor Shawn’s 2025 Covenant of Agreement.
• Tom Davis and Mike Leader will be Session’s representatives on the Nominating Committee.
• All active Elders were elected as Commissioners for the 2025 Presbytery meetings.
• The Session amended Derry’s Building Use Policy by adjusting the impact fees charged to outside groups. In the future, any non-profit group wishing to use space within the church will be given a 25% discount on the rental fee.
• Approved the use of the Chapel and Fellowship Hall on March 15 by the Children of the American Revolution. This group is staying in Hershey for its state conference and is interested in using Derry for a short memorial service due to our historic cemetery. They plan to lay a wreath on a grave of a Revolutionary War veteran as a remembrance.
• The Churches Helping Churches grant program has been renewed for 2025. New applications should be submitted by April 15. This year’s budget for the program is $30,000 which will be taken from the Futures Fund.
• This May through July, Emma Burke will be working as a summer AV Intern. Emma is studying public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University.
• Two Easter worship services will be held this year at 9 and 11 am. Breakfast will be served from 8 until 10:30 am.
• The Christian Education Committee’s request to add one additional paid nursery worker for Terrific Tuesdays was approved. Personnel will look for additional nursery workers to create a pool of back-up workers to ensure compliance with the Safe Children Standards.
• Danielle Gobel was hired as a Derry Discovery Days substitute.
• Derry is working with the Friends of PEB to gather a group of 8-12 people who will travel to Pakistan in October. Up to $30,000 from the Futures Fund has been approved to defray some of the costs associated with the trip for Derry members and PEB in Pakistan.
• The Membership Connections Committee would like to give each new member family a copy of the 300th anniversary children’s book. They will solicit sponsors for book donations for this purpose.

9:15-10:15 AM SUNDAYS, FEB 23-MAR 16 IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM

The winter series of New Member Discovery Classes gives you the opportunity to learn more about the mission and ministry of Derry Church, and discover how you’d like to share your talents in the life of the church. You’ll also meet staff and leaders over the course of four weeks and tour the church. Those who decide to join will be received on Sunday, Mar 16.

Registration by Feb 19 is appreciated but not required: sign up online or call the church office (717-533-9667).

Derry Discovery Days Preschool has immediate openings for Derry Church families in their 1- and 2-year old classrooms. These classes meet 2-4 times a week from 9-11:30 am and offer great socialization and early learning with our loving teachers. Contact Laura Cox, preschool director, to set up a tour or to register.

The 2025 directory will be printed in late March, so now is a great time to have a new photo taken — especially those families whose children have grown up a lot since their last photo. Anyone who would like a new photo (or who never had a photo taken) is encouraged to have one taken by Sue George on Sunday mornings following the worship services, or you can stop in the church office during the week. To schedule a time, send Sue an email. Or look for Sue in the Narthex or Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings.

On Orange Day, Presbyterian Women focus on the exploitation of females worldwide by wearing orange or an orange ribbon.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Pennsylvania ranks among the top states in reporting cases. One of the most persistent myths is the assumption that it exclusively involves abduction or kidnapping, but this is true for less than 10% of trafficking cases nationally. Instead, traffickers groom their victims over time, exploiting vulnerabilities like age, poverty, substance abuse or unstable housing. Many victims already know their traffickers, and most traffickers are of the same ethnic group as the victims.

Wear orange Saturday to show support for those trying to end human trafficking.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 12/30/24:

As the new year begins, our office staff is working to cut down on paper waste (we recycle lots of Sunday bulletins). One way we can do that is by printing fewer copies. Bulletins will be available at all the entrances: take what you need as you enter, and share if possible. Consider if you need to take one: at the 10:30 am service, you can participate without a bulletin. We invite you to give it a try!

4 PM SUNDAY, FEB 16 IN THE SANCTUARY | FREE WILL OFFERING

The Knotwork Band — Kevin Long, Tommy Kochel and Victoria Visceglia — is a Central Pennsylvania trio that performs Celtic folk music from Ireland, Scotland, England, and Brittany, as well as American and World music with ties to Celtic folk music. The band’s music has the strong influence of such modern groups as The House Band, Lúnasa, Old Blind Dogs, and Silly Wizard (as well as Andy M. Stewart solo).

The wide spectrum of musical styles (ranging from beautiful airs and waltzes to sprightly jigs and reels) and the variety of instrumentation (silver flute, high and low whistles, wooden flute and piccolo, guitar, resophonic mandolin, hardanger mandolin, banjo mandolin, cittern, bodhráns, bones, and vocals make The Knotwork Band at home performing at all venues imaginable.

Presbyterian Women are collecting items for hygiene bags that will be given to clients at the Domestic Violence Center in Harrisburg. Here’s a list of needed items:

• Wash cloths
• Large-tooth combs
• Tissue packets 
• Deodorants
• Disposable razors
• Travel-sized toothpaste, shampoo, lotion and soap

Drop donations in the PW basket in the mission closet in the lending library downstairs. Donations accepted through May. Thanks, Derry!

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

10 AM SUNDAY, JAN 26 AT WESLEY UNION A.M.E. ZION CHURCH, 2219 N. 5TH STREET, HARRISBURG

Pastor Stephen has been invited by Pastor David Miller to preach at his church, and you’re invited, too! Pastor Miller has led two Issues Classes at Derry on the history of the AME Zion Church (part 1 and part 2) and our youth have also worshiped at the Harrisburg church. 

Pastor Shawn will lead worship at Derry Church on Jan 26.

5 PM SATURDAY, FEB 8 IN THE SANCTUARY

The night before Annual Meeting Sunday, Derry Church reprises “Basically Broadway:” members and friends of Derry singing new and classic Broadway favorites. It will be a fun night of laughter, music, and fellowship.

In person only, no live streaming. Nursery care available with RSVP: call the church office at 717-533-9667.