Skip to Main Content
- Received and welcomed new members: Ruth Barrick, Carol Hundley, Susan Jordan, April McClaine, Stephanie Zimmerer, and Tom Zimmerer.
- At the Session meeting on November 20, the Session met with incoming elders: Bobbie Atkinson, Kathy McGrath, Peggy Ladd, and Lynn Shirk and incoming deacons: Julie Harris, Courtney Garcia, Lynn Shirk and Twila Ziviello 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 the use of the church facilities for the following events:
- Harrisburg American Guild of Organists Pipe Organ Encounter June 22-27, 2025
- BSA Troop 2200 sale of grab-n-go Pork BBQ sandwiches for $10 on December15, orders will be taken on Sunday, December 8
- A review of Derry’s year-to-date financial report indicates a positive outlook for year end. Pledge cards continue to arrive bringing us closer to the 2025 budget goal.
- Approved a new policy entitled “Derry Presbyterian Church Confronting Racism and Discrimination Policy” as required by PCUSA.
- We are receiving submissions from other churches in the Presbytery for our Churches Helping Churches grant program.Pastor Stephen explained that another local church is struggling with the cost of repairing a stained-glass window and suggested that we open the grant program to community churches as well as those within our presbytery. The Session agreed and the policy document was amended accordingly.
- Approved a new staff position description for a full time Facilities Director and to hire Shawn Bentley for the position. The previous part time position of Property Manager was eliminated.
- The Session reviewed Pastor Stephen’s proposed Terms of Call for 2025 and recommend that they be approved at the upcoming congregational meeting on Sunday, December 8 at 11:30 am.
- Approved a Stewardship & Finance request to obtain a credit card for Summer Hakkinen from Northwest Savings with a $10,000 limit.
- Approved a new endowment fund generously created through an initial gift of $50,000 to financially support youth ministry trips and provide scholarships for youth to attend trips when needed.
- The annual Share the Love, Spread the Joy program will run from Dec 1 – 8 and includes collecting winter clothes for Allison Hill ministries, hat & mitten tree, collection of $30 Walmart gift cards for Derry Social Ministries and racetrack workers, sale of “Joy to the Burg” CDs to benefit the homeless population in Harrisburg, toy donations for Cocoa Packs, food bank contributions, and $5 Starbucks gift cards to hand out to random strangers.
- Approved a trial program beginning in January to provide free meals on Tuesday evenings. All members and visitors are welcome to the meals. This effort will be a slow rollout as we learn what to expect. Initially, information will be spread by word of mouth gradually letting the community know that this program is in place.
- Approved Mission & Peace’s request to name Gather the Spirit for Justice as the recipient of Derry’s portion of the 2024 Christmas Joy offering.
- Derry Discovery Days Board has arranged for the Cool Beans coffee truck to be in the church parking lot on Monday, January 6, 2025 to provide free drinks to the preschool staff.