News

12 PM SATURDAY, DEC 7 IN ROOM 7B AND ON ZOOM

Derry friends, you’re invited to a “Zoom Party” with the Presbyterian Education Board (PEB) of Pakistan. Connect with Veda Gill and the staff of PEB as they introduce department leads and other team members, give a highlight about PEB’s curriculum, and share stories and videos of students.

Many Derry Church members provide scholarships for PEB students: here’s you chance to learn more about the lives being changed in Pakistan. We’ll join the party using Derry Church’s Zoom Room 7 as we gather with PEB supporters from all over the US.

Bring your lunch. Cookies & beverages will be provided. If you can’t attend at Derry in person, you’re welcome to join the party on Zoom from wherever you are.

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FRIENDS OF PEB GIFT CATALOG features a selection of meaningful gifts that directly support students and schools in Pakistan. View the online gift catalog

12:45 PM MONDAY, NOV 11 IN ROOM 7B

Join Pastor Stephen to debrief and decompress from the election in a loving, safe, and judgment-free environment. Share your hopes and fears and ask curious questions of people who may have voted different from you. This is a chance to be listen and love well with curiosity and compassion.

If we can’t have honest, hard conversations at Derry, then how can we model how to live and love well together? Pastor Stephen will moderate discussion using guidelines from the 3 Practices groups he has led in the past.

If you’d like to participate but this date doesn’t work for you, contact Pastor Stephen so another conversation can be scheduled.

Our new Finance Director, Summer Hakkinen, began her role at Derry Church on Monday, Nov 4. Summer is working side-by-side with Sandy Miceli through the end of the year and will take over when Sandy retires as of Dec 31.

Summer is a long-time member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), joining San Clemente Presbyterian Church (CA) as a teenager, and later transferring to Camp Hill when she moved to Pennsylvania in 2009 (with a stop in Texas in-between). Summer and her family are now members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, where Summer’s sister is the pastor. 

Summer has spent her entire career in the accounting field. As a Pennsylvania resident, she has worked for the Pennsylvania Child Care Association and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. She is an avid reader and gardener.

You can contact Summer by email and by phone: 717-533-9667, ext. 101.

12 PM – DUSK FRIDAY, NOV 22 • 8 AM – 3 PM SATURDAY, NOV 23

Bring your rakes and join the outdoor work crew as they prepare the church grounds for the winter. Pickup trucks and wheelbarrows are welcome and appreciated. 

9 AM – 12 PM SATURDAY, DEC 7 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

Start looking for that special cookie recipe! Derry Church families are encouraged to donate at least one batch of homemade cookies (2-4 dozen or more). Drop off on Friday, Dec 6 or by 9 am on Saturday. Include a label with name of the cookie. If cookies contain nuts, peanut butter or almond extract and the name does not reflect that ingredient, please list that information on the label.

Cookies are sold by the pound. Proceeds support Presbyterian Women’s mission goal for 2025. 

Jumbles Shop donated items are restricted to jewelry, nice Christmas decorations, collectibles, and items suitable for gifts, all in good condition. Items can dropped off in Room 7A from Dec 1-5. 

Contact Nancy Kitzmiller to volunteer for Friday set-up and Saturday sales and Jumbles Shop clean-up. Contact Doris Feil to help with the Cookie Walk.

On October 27, I did not attend Sunday services at Derry as usual — something that always centers me for the week ahead. Instead, I ran 26.2 miles through the streets of Arlington, VA and Washington DC to complete the Marine Corps Marathon and honor a promise I made to an amazing man, Mike Thompson. Mike taught me to love running – not an easy feat (no pun intended) since I spent the first 40 years of my life as a couch potato. I met him through a program called Team in Training, a fundraising arm of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where participants raise money in exchange for the training and support needed to do an endurance event, such as a marathon. Mike was my coach, then my friend.

And he was so much more, to so many more. 

Mike coached me through my first marathon in 2002, and a few more over the past 20 years. Meanwhile he kept running his own. When he was approaching #50 and I was approaching #10, we made a “gentleman’s agreement” to run them together. God had other plans: Mike died on April 26, 2020. But, for me, a promise is a promise, so the singlet I wore to run the marathon on 10-27-24 proclaiming “This One’s For Mike” got him #50. 

It also jump-started the fundraising for a scholarship that my husband, John, and I have established to honor Mike’s legacy. Running a marathon is not easy. Yet when you do it for someone or something you believe in, there is no doubt you will finish. So, two of my friends, and Mike’s running converts, ran “This One’s for Mike” together. And, other runners have been donating to the scholarship in honor and memory of the lessons they have learned from Mike. 

Mike was passionate about everything he did in life, not just running. He was a guidance counselor at Middletown Area High School where he was a staunch advocate for all students. He believed every boy and girl should have the opportunity for a meaningful and purposeful life. He worked every moment to make that happen. He developed career pathways – programs that begin in grade school to get kids thinking about how they want to spend their life. That interest transitions into a functional education through middle and high school, preparing them for a work life they will love. Those career pathways are now state mandated for every high school in Pennsylvania, thanks to Mike rolling them out to guidance counselors statewide.

We hope that The Michael D. Thompson Scholarship will honor his passion for years to come.

Helping others succeed in whatever they do in life was what Mike did. Compassion and love for anyone in need drove him. Spreading God’s love and practicing God’s justice was fundamental to Mike. This legacy scholarship can make sure that continues.

Navy Chaplain Drew Stockstill preached several times at Derry Church and was the pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, our mission partner in Allison Hill. He has written a thought-provoking article reflecting on the church, the military, and how the Body of Christ can offer meaningful support to veterans of the US Armed Services. Click here to read it.

You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Corinthians 9:11-12

Each year Presbyterian Women and Friends heed the call of Paul to “supply the need of the saints” through giving to the Thank Offering. This grant program allocates 40% of the funds to health related ministries. Of the eight grants this year, six serve people in the United States and two are international.

From the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, Voices of Jubilee brings together incarcerated youth and their families with mentors who have experienced incarceration and others who want to help. They provide pastoral care for youth and advocate for a more humane judicial system by providing support for youth who are in detention and in prison in Virginia, along with their families. They provide training and hospitality dinners to create communities that transform lives and embody the hope of the Gospel.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Presbyterian Ministries with Vulnerable Children protects and cares for at-risk children through outreach programs in congregations, neighborhoods and schools. The grant will provide training for a project that moves away from centralized programs that rely on physical structures and instead builds local social safety nets. Care of homeless children is offered by host families in Presbyterian Church in Congo congregations and the prevention of child neglect, abuse and abandonment is coordinated by church committees. Building this organizational structure will provide community based support to vulnerable children in a more effective and sustainable manner for years to come.

The scriptural passage tells us that we must give in a way that honors God, plain and simple.  Everything belongs to God first. As we receive more blessings in life, we are more able to give generously. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. 

Your gifts will bless many others. You may use the offering envelopes in the pew racks, give online or mail donations to the church office. Make checks payable to “PW Thank Offering.”  Thank you for your generosity.

“Under the Oaks at Derry Church” picture books are available in the church office during the week. Office hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday-Friday. Copies are also available on Amazon for $25 each.

Proceeds from your $20/book purchase will benefit the peace forest initiative in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

10:30 AM – 12:15 PM SUNDAY, NOV 17 

Loretta Chubb served as Derry’s Coordinator of Hospitality Ministries for the past 15 years. She retired last month and now her Derry Church family is throwing HER a well-deserved party! Loretta will be recognized during the 10:30 am service on Sunday, Nov 17, and the reception following will be given in her honor. If you’d like to help with the festivities, contact Amanda Bentley.

Cards for Loretta can be brought with you that day or mailed to Derry Church, 248 E. Derry Rd, Hershey PA 17033. Write “Loretta” beneath your return address label to make it easy to sort cards from the regular church mail.

FRIDAY EVENING, FEB 21 THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING, FEB 23, 2025 AT KENBROOK BIBLE CAMP, 190 PINE MEADOW ROAD, LEBANON

Women of Derry Church, you’re invited to a weekend getaway for fellowship and spiritual renewal! Derry’s own Rev. Nancy Joiner Reinert will lead the retreat centered on the theme “God, the Master Gardener.” As we gather as a community of women, our hopes are to appreciate the infinite expanse of ongoing creation, consider what creation spirituality looks like, experience the gifts of nature, design spiritual practices, ponder where those practices may lead us, and grow in relationship with each other through study of scripture, conversation, and worship experiences of awe, sorrow, gratitude, wisdom and praise.

Cost for two nights’ lodging and four meals is $280/person single occupancy, $225 double occupancy, and $180 triple/quad occupancy. Or attend Saturday only for $50/person. Our group will stay in a lodge that sleeps 30 and requires a short outdoor walk to get to the dining room. 

  Register for the 2025 Women’s Retreat  

• At the Oct 13 congregational meeting, new elders, deacons, and nominating committee members were elected. Elders: Bobbie Atkinson, Bill Alexander, Peggy Ladd, Kathy McGrath, Lynn Shirk & Matt Smoluk. Deacons: Courtney Garcia, Lynn Porter, Emily Spingler, Julie Harris, & Twila Ziviello. Nominating: Suzie Gloeckler, Heidi Keene, Chris Cooper & Sara Matthews.
• At its October meeting, the Session reviewed Derry’s year-to-date financial report. The Stewardship & Finance Committee also shared a letter from independent accountants, Boyer & Ritter reporting on their recent review of Derry’s financial records. The review found no evidence of mismanagement or fraud regarding the financial procedures or records of the church.
• Approved building use requests from:
  • Peter Sirotin on behalf of Market Square Concerts for a musical program on March 26, 2025 at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary – $600 fee plus piano tuning
  • Dan Dorty for a rehearsal of the Mt. Gretna Bible Festival Mass Choir on May 4, 2025 in the Sanctuary – no charge
  • Carly Wilfong for a Zumba Dance fundraiser for the Four Diamonds fund on Saturday, October 26 in Fellowship Hall – no charge
• Approved a new Wedding Policy, which updates our policies and fees associated with weddings for both members of Derry and non-members.
• The Mission & Peace Committee submitted several motions, all of which were approved:
  • November donation drive to collect hats/gloves/scarves, gas cards, & cleaning supplies for the Veterans Village in Harrisburg to coincide with Veterans Day
  • To offer English as a Second Language classes in Rooms 1 & 2 beginning Jan 6 through May 12, 2025
  • Hold a soup and bake sale on Tuesday, Nov 5 (election day) to benefit the ESL program
  • December donation drive for the annual Giving Tree items: $25 Walmart gift cards and hats/scarves/gloves for all ages
  • Fundraisers for Friends of Sargodha to benefit Pakistan scholarships: Greeting cards, ornament sale, Shares for Scholarships, March Mission Madness
• The Session approved a Capital Procurement Requisition submitted by Building & Grounds in an amount not to exceed $25,000 to repair/paint drywall in the Pastor’s office, remove the 30-year-old carpet in the office suite, library, elevator and steps to the upper level, and install new carpet tiles in those areas. On September 22 a sewer line back up damaged Pastor Stephen’s office and portions of the office suite. As a result, drywall and carpeting was removed and discarded. Renovations are underway to repair the damaged areas and carpet installation is scheduled for early November.
• Reviewed and approved the lease of 275 Mansion Road to Cory Earl for a one-year lease term beginning Nov 1 at a monthly rental of $1,600 and a security deposit of $1,600. At the end of the lease term the lease converts to a month-to-month term.
• Approved presenting an offer of employment to Summer Hakkinen as Finance Director beginning on November 1